Two new Presidents of the Quorums of the Seventy have been called by the First Presidency: Elder Charles Didier, 65, and Elder Cecil O. Samuelson Jr., 59.
They succeed Elder L. Aldin Porter, who will become emeritus in October, and Elder Marlin K. Jensen, who has been called to the Europe Central Area presidency. Elder Jensen, general Sunday School president, has served in the presidency since Aug. 15, 1998.
Elder Earl C. Tingey will become the senior president of the Seventy, and continuing in the presidency of the Seventy will be Elders D. Todd Christofferson, David E. Sorensen, Ben B. Banks and Dennis B. Neuenschwander.
Elder Didier served previously in the presidency from 1992-1995. Currently serving as first counselor in the Utah South Area presidency and as assistant executive director of the Family and Church History Department, he is a former president of the Europe East Area, and has served in a number of area presidencies. He was general Sunday School president from 1994-1995.
A native of Belgium, he was sustained in the First Quorum of the Seventy in 1975 at age 39. He was a military officer, marketing director and later worked for the Church's Translation Department in Frankfurt, Germany. He is a former president of the France Switzerland Mission, and speaks five languages. He and his wife, Lucie, are parents of two children.
Elder Samuelson is president of the Utah North Area and assistant executive director of the Temple Department. He was president of the Europe North Area, and has served in other area presidencies as well.
He was sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy Oct. 1, 1994, at age 53. He was senior vice president of Intermountain Health Care and former vice president for health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine of the University of Utah. He and his wife, Sharon, are parents of five children.
Elder L. Aldin Porter, who will turn 70 on June 30, has served as a General Authority for 14 years and has been in the Presidency of the Seventy since 1992. He was sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy April 4, 1987, and to the Presidency of the Seventy Oct. 3, 1992. He was executive director of the Missionary Department before becoming the senior president.
