The Seventy

The role of the seventies in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has evolved much during the course of this dispensation as the membership of the Church has grown rapidly consequently making the administration of the Kingdom more and more complex.

The oldest references in our standard works of seventies being called to serve are to be found in the Old Testament. After Israel’s departure from Egypt and while the Melchizedek Priesthood was still in force among the people, seventy elders of Israel were assisting Moses in his leadership. They were among those who along with Moses were called up onto the mount and saw God (Exodus 24:1 and 9). At a subsequent time after Israel was operating under the authority of the Aaronic Priesthood, the Lord told Moses to “Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone” (Numbers 11:16-17). In the days of Ezekiel there is also passing mention of the seventy (Ezekiel 8:11).

During the meridian of time, Luke records that at least two groups of seventy were sent out by the Lord to preach His gospel and to bless the people if they were receptive to the message of warning that the Kingdom was at hand. They returned from their assignments filled with joy and surprise at their success (Luke 10:1-17).

In this dispensation, the Lord directed that seventies be called to assist in the work of building up the Kingdom of God. “The Seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world--thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling. And they form a quorum, equal in authority to that of the Twelve special witnesses or Apostles just named” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:25-26). “The Seventy are to act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Twelve or the traveling high council, in building up the church and regulating all the affairs of the same in all nations, first unto the Gentiles and then to the Jews” (D&C 107:34). From the first quorum of seventy, seven presidents are called with the responsibility to not only preside over the “first seventy to whom they belong,” but to recommend the calling of further seventies over whom they will preside also. The number of quorums of the seventy is not limited and quite obviously will increase as the work of the ministry increases over the generations of this dispensation (D&C 107:93-97). Late in the Prophet’s lifetime, the Lord reaffirmed the respective roles of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the Quorum(s) of the Seventy. “Which quorum is instituted for traveling elders to bear record of my name in all the world, wherever the traveling high council, mine apostles, shall send them to prepare a way before my face” (D&C 124:139).

Realizing that not everyone who reads this writing has access to the Church News, I will present here in abbreviated form important information concerning the organization of the Seventy at this moment in time as outlined in the April 16, 2011 issue of this publication.

There are at present eight Quorums of the Seventy. The members of the First and Second Quorums are sustained as General Authorities. The members of the other quorums are sustained as Area Seventies, and each is assigned to a quorum based upon the geographical location of their individual assignments:

Third Quorum:

Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and Africa

Fourth Quorum:

Mexico, Central America, and Northwestern South America

Fifth Quorum:

Western North America

Sixth Quorum:

Central and Eastern North America as well as Northeastern South America

Seventh Quorum:

Central, Eastern, and Southern South America

Eighth Quorum:

Asia, and the nations of Oceania southward including Australia

One measure of the Church’s growth in the coming years will be apparent in the expanding number of the quorums of the seventy as well as the numbers of their total membership.