2003
The Sustaining of Church Officers
May 2003


“The Sustaining of Church Officers,” Ensign, May 2003, 23–24

Saturday Afternoon Session
5 April 2003

The Sustaining of Church Officers

My brothers and sisters, President Hinckley has requested that I now present to you the General Authorities, Area Authority Seventies, and general auxiliary presidencies of the Church for your sustaining vote.

It is proposed that we sustain Gordon Bitner Hinckley as prophet, seer, and revelator and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Thomas Spencer Monson as First Counselor in the First Presidency; and James Esdras Faust as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.

Those in favor may manifest it.

Those opposed, if any, may manifest it.

It is proposed that we sustain Thomas Spencer Monson as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Boyd Kenneth Packer as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; and the following as members of that quorum: Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry, David B. Haight, Neal A. Maxwell, Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, M. Russell Ballard, Joseph B. Wirthlin, Richard G. Scott, Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. Holland, and Henry B. Eyring.

Those in favor, please manifest it.

Any opposed.

It is proposed that we sustain the counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators.

All in favor, please manifest it.

Contrary, if there be any, by the same sign.

In view of his announced appointment as President of Brigham Young University, it is proposed that we release Elder Cecil O. Samuelson Jr. as a member of the Presidency of the Quorums of the Seventy and as general president of the Sunday School.

All who wish to join with us in doing so, please manifest it.

It is proposed that we release J. Devn Cornish as an Area Authority Seventy because of his call as a mission president. All in favor, please manifest it.

It is proposed that we sustain Elder Merrill J. Bateman as a member of the Presidency of the Quorums of the Seventy and as general president of the Sunday School, with John H. Groberg and Val R. Christensen to remain as counselors.

All in favor, please manifest it.

Any opposed, by the same sign.

It is proposed that we sustain Elder Bruce D. Porter as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy and Elders Mervyn B. Arnold, Shirley D. Christensen, Clate W. Mask Jr., William W. Parmley, and W. Douglas Shumway as new members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy.

All in favor, please manifest it.

Any opposed.

It is proposed that we sustain the following as Area Authority Seventies: D. Fraser Bullock, Luis G. Chaverri, Ronaldo da Costa, Stanley G. Ellis, Randy D. Funk, José A. García, Robert H. Garff, Julio G. Gaviola, Francisco I. Gímenez, Carlos A. Godoy, S. Horacio Guzmán, Yu Chen Ho, Beaver T. Ho Ching, Robert Koch, G. Steven Laney, Barry Lee, Miguel A. Lee, Kuen Ling, Lamont W. Moon, Alexander A. Odume, Adesina J. Olukanni, Fernando D. Ortega, Antonio R. Oyola, Adilson de Paula Parrella, Luigi S. Peloni, Rafael E. Pino, Gelson Pizzirani, Gerold Roth, A. Kim Smith, W. Blake Sonne, Ronald A. Stone, Subandriyo, Jeffrey C. Swinton, Donald P. Tenney, José L. Torres, Pita R. Vamanrav, Perry M. Webb.

All in favor, please manifest it. Thank you.

Any opposed, by the same sign.

It is proposed that we sustain the other General Authorities, Area Authority Seventies, and general auxiliary presidencies as presently constituted.

Those in favor, please manifest it.

Any opposed may manifest it.

It appears that the sustaining has been unanimous in the affirmative.

Thank you, brothers and sisters, for your continued faith and prayers.

We shall now ask the newly called members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy to take their places on the stand.