Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sustained five new General Authority Seventies during the Saturday afternoon session of the Church’s 193rd Annual General Conference. The new leaders are:
President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, presented the new General Authority Seventies, along with the Church’s new general officers. A new Young Women general presidency and counselors in the Young Men general presidency were also sustained.
President Oaks also announced that three General Authority Seventies will receive emeritus status effective Aug. 1.
Following is a brief look at each new General Authority Seventy. A more in-depth profile on each will appear in coming weeks.
Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt
Prior to being sustained as a General Authority Seventy, Elder Corbitt served as the first counselor in the Young Men general presidency. Previously, he served as a full-time missionary in the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission, high councilor, counselor in two stake presidencies, stake president and president of the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission.
Elder Corbitt received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Richard Stockton University of New Jersey in 1989 and a Juris Doctor from Rutgers University School of Law in 1993. He has worked as a trial attorney, as vice president and general counsel for a New York public relations firm, and as executive director of corporate communications and government relations and associate general counsel for a Delaware company. In recent years he worked as director of the Church’s New York Office of Public and International Affairs and was an area mission specialist.
Ahmad Saleem Corbitt was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 16, 1962. He married Jayne Lillian Joslin in 1985. They are the parents of six children.
Elder Robert M. Daines
As the time of his call as a General Authority Seventy, Elder Daines had been serving as a stake president. Previously, he served as a full-time missionary in the Switzerland Zurich Mission, early morning seminary teacher, nursery leader, high councilor and bishop.
Elder Daines received a Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies and a Bachelor of Science in economics, both from Brigham Young University in 1989. He earned a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 1992. He has worked as an associate for Goldman Sachs and as associate dean and Pritzker professor of law and business at Stanford University. He also taught at New York University and Yale University.
Robert Merrill Daines was born in Bloomington, Indiana, on July 28, 1964. He married Ruth Ann Glazier in 1988. They are the parents of five children.
Elder J. Kimo Esplin
At the time of his call as a General Authority Seventy, Elder Esplin was serving as an Area Seventy with the 12th Quorum of the Seventy in the Utah Area. Previously, he served as a full-time missionary in the Japan Kobe Mission, high councilor, bishop, stake president and president of the Japan Tokyo North and Japan Tokyo South missions.
Elder Esplin received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Brigham Young University in 1987 and a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management in 1990. He has worked as vice president of the investment banking division for Bankers Trust Co., executive vice president and chief financial officer for Huntsman Corp. and a board member for Savage Cos.
Jon Ross Kimo Esplin was born in Kahuku, Hawaii, on Aug. 18, 1962. He married Kaye Davis in 1985. They are the parents of eight children.
Elder Christophe G. Giraud-Carrier
At the time of Elder Giraud-Carrier’s call as a general authority, he was serving as a stake president. Previously, he served as a full-time missionary in the Canada Montreal Mission, bishop, high councilor and president of the France Lyon Mission.
Elder Giraud-Carrier received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1991, a Master of Science in 1993 and a doctorate in 1994, all from Brigham Young University in the field of computer science. He has worked as a senior lecturer for the University of Bristol, senior manager for ELCA Informatique SA and as a BYU professor of computer science.
Christophe Gérard Giraud-Carrier was born in Lyon, France, on Jan. 21, 1966. He married Isabelle Sophie Mauclair in 1988. They are the parents of eight children.
Elder Alan T. Phillips
At the time of his call as a General Authority Seventy, Elder Phillips was serving as an Area Seventy with the Seventh Quorum of the Seventy in the Europe North Area presidency. Previously, he served as a full-time missionary in the England Manchester Mission, counselor in a bishopric, high councilor and stake president.
Elder Phillips received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has worked in business, finance and education. He worked as the academic director for the Brigham Young University London Centre.
Alan Thomas Phillips was born in Kent, England, on June 19, 1970. He married Lindsey Lee Iorg in 2005. They are the parents of four children.
Receiving emeritus status
Following is a brief look at each of the three General Authority Seventies who will receive emeritus status effective Aug. 1.
Elder Benjamín De Hoyos
Elder De Hoyos has served as a member of the South America North Area presidency and the Mexico Area presidency, president of the Mexico Area and president of the South America South Area. He currently serves in the Temple Department and the Family History Department.
He was an employee for the Church Educational System for many years in Mexico and worked as regional coordinator of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion, associate director of the Mexico Southeast Area, institute director, associate assistant director of the Mexico North Area and director of the Mexico South Area. He also worked as the public affairs director of the Mexico Area.
Before serving as a General Authority Seventy, Elder De Hoyos served as a full-time missionary in the México Hermosillo Mission, counselor in a stake presidency, stake president, president of the México Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mission (1996–1999) and Area Seventy (1999–2005).
He received his bachelor’s degree credentials from the Normal Superior Benavente in Puebla, Mexico, in 1982. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Chapultepec University in Mexico City in 1995.
Benjamín De Hoyos Estrada was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, on Feb. 20, 1953, to Alfredo De Hoyos and Sara Estrada. He married Evelia Genesta Mendívil in June 1975. They are the parents of six children.
Elder Juan A. Uceda
Elder Juan A. Uceda has served in the Presidency of the Seventy, as a counselor in the South America Northwest Area presidency, president of the South America Northwest Area, assistant executive director in the Missionary Department, area assistant to the North America Southeast Area and president of the Central America Area. He also served with the North America Southwest Area and assisted Elder Neil L. Andersen in supervising the Philippines and Pacific areas. He is currently serving second counselor in the Brazil Area presidency.
He was educated in Peru. He enrolled at José Carlos Mariátegui Institute in Lima, where he studied accounting and public relations. He also studied business administration at the Centro Andino de G.E. Institute. He is a graduate of San Luis Gonzaga University, where he was awarded a bachelor’s degree in public relations.
Since joining the Church in 1972, he has served in numerous callings, including full-time missionary in the Lima Peru Mission, stake Sunday School presidency, bishop, high councilor, counselor in a stake presidency, stake president, president of the Peru Lima North Mission and Area Seventy.
He worked in the Church Educational System as area director for Peru and Bolivia. He left Peru in 2003 to move to New Jersey to assist his father with their family business.
Juan A. Uceda was born in Lima, Peru, on July 10, 1953. He married Maria Isabel Bendezú in March 1979. They are the parents of five children.
Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita
Before his call as a General Authority Seventy, Elder Yamashita was serving as a member of the Eighth Quorum of the Seventy in the Asia North Area. He is currently serving as a member of the Pacific Area presidency.
Elder Yamashita received a Bachelor of Arts degree in education at Saitama University and a master’s degree in sports science from Tsukuba University. He studied philosophy of physical education and sports at Brigham Young University.
Since joining the Church in 1971, he has served in numerous Church callings, including bishop, high councilor, stake mission president, stake president, Area Seventy and president of the Japan Nagoya Mission.
During his career, he worked as an instructor and professor at various universities, including professor of health and sports sciences at Fukuoka University. He has served in many positions in universities, scientific societies and community and sports organizations.
Kazuhiko Yamashita was born in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan, on Sept. 15, 1953. He married Tazuko Tashiro in March 1980. They are the parents of six children.
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