THE LORD APPOINTED SEVENTY

In Luke 10:1-10 the Lord appointed other seventy and sent them out two and two unto every city and told them to preach the gospel.

So what is a seventy?

Is there a church on this earth that have seventies?

If that is the way Christ set up his church when he was on the earth than why don't churches have seventies?

Well here is the good news.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints "Mormons" have seventies.  Why? because "We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists and so forth." (Articles of Faith #6)

What is a Seventy in the Mormon Church?

An office to which men are ordained in the Melchizedek Priesthood. Today, the quorums of Seventy are General Authorities of the Church who are given the apostolic authority but are not ordained Apostles. They devote their full time to the ministry.

• The Lord appointed other seventy:Luke 10:1;
• The Seventy are called to preach the gospel and be especial witnesses of Jesus Christ:D&C 107:25–26;
• The Seventy act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Twelve, building up the Church and regulating all the affairs of the same in all nations:D&C 107:34;
• Choose other seventy, even seven times seventy, if the labor requires it:D&C 107:93–97;
• The quorum of seventies is instituted for traveling elders to bear record of my name in all the world:D&C 124:138–139;

BRIEF BACKGROUND

In 1835 Prophet Joseph Smith called the first Seventies in this dispensation.  Over the years the calling of the Seventies has developed to meet the changing needs of the growing church. Each 'stake' in the church had a Seventies quorum.  My husband was called as one in the early 80's and set apart by Elder Busche who was a member of the 1st quorum of Seventies. 

 In 1975 President Spencer W. Kimball reconstituted the First Quorum of the Seventy.  At this point we had what was called 'Assistants to the Twelve."  These men were now called and ordained as a Seventy.  In 1986 the 'stake' quorums of Seventies were discontinued. In 1989 a Second Quorum of the Seventy was organized. In 1997 the 3rd, 4th, & 5th quorums of the Seventy were formed. In 2004 the 6th Quorum was orgainized.  In 2005 the 7th and 8th were organized.

 In the 1st quorum of Seventies you serve for life and become emeritus at the age of 70.  The 2nd and so forth quorums you serve for 5 years. Members of the 1st & 2nd quorums are considered General Authorities and are given assignments from the Prophet and the Quorum of the Twelve.  They serve full time with no pay.  Below I will have an extensive chart of the history of the Seventies in the Church.

Duties of the Seventy

• “The Seventy are called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world” (D&C 107:25).
• “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” (D&C 107:34). 
• The Twelve are “to call upon the Seventy, when they need assistance, to fill the several calls for preaching and administering the gospel, instead of any others” (D&C 107:38). 
• The Seventy are “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).

The 1st & 2nd quorums meet weekly in regular quorum meetings in Salt Lake City where they receive instruction, training, and counsel from the Prophet and the Twelve Apostles.

The 3rd - 8th quorum of the Seventies are called Area Seventies which distinguishes them from General Authority Seventies. These men live at home and serve on a Church-service basis for usually 5 years.  They receive assignments similar to those received by General Authority Seventies, with the exception that they serve in their local areas rather than worldwide.

3rd Quorum's area is Europe and Africa
4th Quorum's area is Mexico, Central America, and northern part of South America
5th Quorum's area is western parts of the United States and Canada
6th Quorum's area is Central, southern, and eastern parts of the United States and Canada
7th Quorum's area is Brazil and southern areas of America
8th Quorum's area is Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, and Philippines.

There is a "Presidency of the Seventy" who presides over all members of the Quorums of the Seventy.  The Presidency consists of Seven members of the 1st and 2nd Quorum of Seventies.

Presidency of the Seventy

•  
• L. Whitney
  Clayton
•  
• Donald L.
  Hallstrom
•  
• Richard J.
  Maynes
•  
• Craig C.
  Christensen
•  
• Ulisses Soares
•  
• Lynn G.
  Robbins
•  
• Gerrit W.
  Gong

Unfolding Events

• February 1835: The Prophet Joseph Smith announced the establishment of the office of Seventy and organized the First Quorum of the Seventy.
• March 1835: The Prophet Joseph Smith received instructions regarding the calling and role of the Seventy (see D&C 107).
• January 1836: The Presidency of the Seventy received their anointings and blessings in the Kirtland Temple. Later the same month, members of the Seventy were anointed and blessed in the Kirtland Temple.
• February 1836: Joseph Smith met with some of the Brethren to choose the Second Quorum of the Seventy.
• April 1837: The Presidents of the Seventy were reorganized.
• January 1841: Duties of the Seventy were outlined (see D&C 124:138–39).
• December 1844: The Seventies’ Hall was dedicated in Nauvoo.
• 1846: When the Saints left Nauvoo, the number of Seventies quorums had increased to approximately 30.
• April 1883: The Lord told the First Presidency that He would reveal His will from “time to time” regarding the rolling forth of His kingdom.
• 1899: Seventies began to participate in a missionary training program at Church schools.
• 1904: The number of Seventies quorums had increased to 146.
• March 1936: Each stake began to have a stake mission, supervised by the First Council of the Seventy.
• 1953: Seventies quorums or units were organized in each stake.
• June 1961: Four members of the First Council of the Seventy were ordained high priests, and members of the First Council of the Seventy were authorized to organize and reorganize stake presidencies.
• January 1964: Members of the First Council of the Seventy were given the sealing power.
• 1967: Sixty-nine brethren were called as regional representatives of the Twelve.
• March 1974: The First Presidency authorized stake presidents to ordain Seventies provided they had been approved by the First Council of the Seventy.
• October 1974: Units of Seventies were discontinued, and each stake was authorized to have a quorum.
• 1975: Assistants to the Quorum of the Twelve were assigned outside North America as General Authority area supervisors.
• October 1975: The First Quorum of the Seventy was reconstituted as a General Authority quorum.
• April 1976: The First Presidency authorized that the Presidents of the First Quorum of the Seventy would be rotated from time to time.
• October 1976: Assistants to the Twelve and members of the First Council of the Seventy were released, then called to the First Quorum of the Seventy.
• October 1976: Authorization for ordination of stake Seventies no longer required approval from the First Quorum of the Seventy.
• September 1978: Certain General Authorities would be given emeritus status.
• February 1980: Seventies serving as Executive Directors of Church headquarters departments were called to the Presidency of the Seventy.
• April 1984: Six new members of the First Quorum of the Seventy were called to serve for a period of three to five years, establishing a new precedent for General Authority tenure.
• July 1984: Members of the First Quorum of the Seventy were called as Area Presidencies to administer areas under the direction of the Twelve.
• October 1986: Seventies quorums in stakes were discontinued.
• April 1989: The Second Quorum of the Seventy was organized, made up of men who would serve for five years.
• November 1991: Policy was established for members of the First Quorum to serve until age 70 and members of the Second Quorum to be released after five years.
• April 1995: President Gordon B. Hinckley announced the release of regional representatives and the calling of Area Authorities effective in August 1995.
• April 1997: The Third, Fourth, and Fifth Quorums of the Seventy were organized, made up of Area Authority Seventies.
• June 1997: Under the direction of Area Presidencies, Area Authority Seventies began to preside at member-missionary coordinating councils, consisting of stake and mission presidents.
• May 2001 and September 2002: Member-missionary coordinating councils were expanded to include most Church programs and various multistake concerns.
• April 2004: The Fifth Quorum of the Seventy was divided to create the Sixth Quorum of the Seventy.
• August 2004: Under the direction of the Twelve, the Presidency of the Seventy began to be responsible for all Church areas. Members of the Presidency of the Seventy no longer served as Executive Directors of major headquarters departments. The Seven Presidents were assigned to supervise all 11 areas in North America.
• April 2005: The Seventh Quorum of the Seventy was created from the Fourth Quorum. The Third Quorum was divided to create the Eighth Quorum.
• June 2008: The First Presidency announced an increase in the responsibilities of Area Presidencies.