Editing General authority (section)

== Tenure ==
A person is typically called to be a general authority or general officer by a member of the First Presidency or the Quorum of the Twelve. The president of the church and members of the Quorum of the Twelve are typically called for life, although there have been more than a dozen instances when an apostle has been released from his service in the Quorum of the Twelve due to disfellowshipment, excommunication, or resignation.<ref>{{citation |url= http://rsc.byu.edu/archived/prophets-and-apostles-last-dispensation/members-quorum-twelve-called-each-president-church |contribution= Members of the Quorum of the Twelve Called By Each President of the Church |first= Lawrence R. |last= Flake |title= Prophets and Apostles of the Last Dispensation |location= Provo, Utah |publisher= [[Religious Studies Center]], [[Brigham Young University]] |year= 2001 |pages= 321–322 }}.</ref>

As with any calling in the church, general authorities and general officers serve "until they are released". In current church practice, men called to the First Quorum of the Seventy typically remain general authorities for life, but are granted [[emeritus]] status in the October following their 70th birthday.<ref>This practice had become more flexible for a period of time when [[Gordon B. Hinckley]] was church president.  For example, as of the October 2004 General Conference, three of the seven members of the Presidency of the Seventy, two other members of the First Quorum, and four members of the Second Quorum were aged 70 or more and continued in office.  During the administration of [[Thomas S. Monson]], the typical pattern described has been used.</ref>  Members of the [[Second Quorum of the Seventy]] are typically called for a period of five to seven years. When members of the Second Quorum are released, they are no longer general authorities of the church. When members of the [[Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)|presiding bishopric]] are released, they typically become members of the First Quorum of the Seventy and are therefore retained as lifetime general authorities, including later being granted emeritus status.<ref>The April 2012 release of [[H. David Burton]] and his counselors was an exception to this, as they were simply designated as emeritus general authorities, rather than members of the First Quorum.</ref>