Editing General authority

{{Short description|Role and rank in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2016}}
A '''general authority''' is a member of the highest levels of leadership within [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]<ref name=eom>{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia of Mormonism]] |editor-last=Ludlow |editor-first=Daniel H. |editor-link=Daniel H. Ludlow |year=1992 |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan]] |location=New York |isbn=0028796055 |pages=538–540 |url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/3724 |title=General Authorities |first=Marvin K. |last=Gardner |author-link=Marvin K. Gardner}}</ref> who has administrative and [[ecclesiastical]] authority over the church. A general authority's jurisdiction is church-wide, in contrast to the responsibilities of a local authority or an area authority, which relate to a particular area, unit, or department of the church. As a group, the general authorities are often referred to as "'''the Brethren'''".<ref name=eom/> As of April 2023, The LDS listed 95 general authorities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://assets.churchofjesuschrist.org/57/d1/57d1fe6bd97e11edbd10eeeeac1e94f1ca0c6854/liahona_magazine_2023_05_may.pdf|title=Church Leadership, section General Authorities and General Officers |department=Organization |website=LDS Church |date= 2023-04-01}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
The first scriptural use of the term ''general authority'' was in minutes of a meeting for the organization of the [[Presiding High Council]] in 1834. Though the original minutes did not refer to the term ''general authorities'', the revised minutes, which were included in the 1835 edition of the [[Doctrine and Covenants]], stated that decisions of the [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)|Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]] "can only be called into question by the general authorities of the church in case of transgression."<ref>Doctrine and Covenants, {{sourcetext|source=The Doctrine and Covenants|book=Section 102|verse=32}}</ref> The use of the term ''general authorities'' at this time and in this context is generally interpreted to include the [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]] and the [[Presiding High Council]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2008}}

== Composition and distinction from general officers ==
By definition, general authorities are members of the church's [[Priesthood (LDS Church)|priesthood]].<ref name=eom/> In order of precedence,<ref name=eom/> the general authorities include the members of the following leadership organizations:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Organization
! Membership
! Title given to members<br />(e.g., ''Title'' Smith or ''Title'' John J. Smith)
! Tenure
|-
| '''[[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]]'''
| [[President of the Church (LDS Church)|President of the Church]] and his chosen counselors
| [[President (LDS Church honorific)|President]]<ref name=eom/>
| [[President of the Church (LDS Church)|President of the Church]]: Life<br />Counselors: Until own death, death of the President of the Church, or release at the discretion of the president
|-
| '''[[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)|Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]]'''
| 12 [[Apostle (Latter Day Saints)|apostles]]
| Elder;<ref name=eom/><br />[[President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)|president]] or [[Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles|acting president]] of the Quorum: [[President (LDS Church honorific)|President]]<ref name=eom/>
| Typically life; may be removed from Quorum to join First Presidency
|-
| '''[[Presidency of the Seventy]]'''
| 7 [[Seventy (LDS Church)|seventies]], typically drawn from the [[Seventy (LDS Church)|First]] or Second Quorum of the Seventy
| Elder<ref name=eom/>
| Variable (usually 5–8 years); until release at the discretion of the church president; may remain a member of the First or Second Quorum of the Seventy when released
|-
| '''[[Seventy (LDS Church)|First Quorum of the Seventy]]'''
| Up to 70 [[Seventy (LDS Church)|seventies]]
| Elder<ref name=eom/>
| Life; will typically be relieved of active duties and granted [[emeritus]] status around age 70
|-
| '''[[Seventy (LDS Church)|Second Quorum of the Seventy]]'''
| Up to 70 [[Seventy (LDS Church)|seventies]]
| Elder<ref name=eom/>
| Variable (usually 5–7 years); until release at the discretion of the church president
|-
| '''[[Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)|Presiding Bishopric]]'''
| 3 [[Bishop (Latter Day Saints)|bishops]]: one [[Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)|presiding bishop]] and two counselors
| Bishop<ref name=eom/>
| Variable (usually 9–12 years); until release at the discretion of the church president; will typically become a member of the [[Seventy (LDS Church)|First Quorum of the Seventy]] upon their release<ref>From 1961 to 2012, every member of the Presiding Bishopric had been called to be a general authority in another capacity upon being released from the Presiding Bishopric. Most have become Assistants to the Twelve or members of the First Quorum of Seventy; [[Robert D. Hales]] was called as member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In 2012, [[H. David Burton]] and his counselors were released and designated as emeritus general authorities.</ref>
|-
| '''[[Presiding Patriarch (Mormonism)|Presiding Patriarch]]'''
| Defunct (was 1 [[Patriarch (Latter Day Saints)|patriarch]])
| Elder
| Defunct; Life; In 1979, [[Eldred G. Smith]] was released from active duties and given general authority [[Patriarch emeritus|emeritus]] status. A new presiding patriarch has not been called since his death in 2013.
|-
| '''[[Assistants to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]]'''
| Defunct (was variable)
| Elder
| Defunct; All [[Assistants to the Twelve]] were added to the [[Seventy (LDS Church)|First Quorum of the Seventy]] in 1976 and the position was eliminated.
|}

=== General officers ===
Not all church leaders with church-wide responsibility are considered general authorities. The [[General auxiliary presidencies|general presidencies]] of the church's [[organization (LDS Church)|organizations]], which are sustained as general officers of the church, but are not general authorities,<ref name = eom/> include the general presidencies of the following organizations:

* [[Young Men Organization|Young Men]]
* [[Sunday School (LDS Church)|Sunday School]]
* [[Relief Society]]
* [[Young Women Organization|Young Women]]
* [[Primary (LDS Church)|Primary]]

The latter three groups are composed of women and represent the only three organizations in which women are given church-wide authority.

Also excluded from the definition of general authorities are members of the [[Seventy (LDS Church)|Third through the Twelfth Quorums of the Seventy]], who are called ''[[Seventy (LDS Church)|area seventies]]'' and have responsibilities relating to a limited [[Area (LDS Church)|geographical area]], not church-wide authority.<ref Name="Quorums of the Seventy">{{citation |title=Quorums of the Seventy |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/leaders/quorums-of-the-seventy?lang=eng |department=Organization |website=LDS Church |access-date=2013-03-14}}</ref>

Until 2004, general leadership for the Sunday School and Young Men organizations had historically been filled by general authorities. However, in the church's April 2004 [[General Conference (LDS Church)|general conference]], [[Thomas S. Monson]], of the First Presidency, announced that "a recent decision [has been made] that members of the Quorums of the Seventy [will] not serve in the general presidencies of the Sunday School and Young Men."<ref>{{citation |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2004/05/the-sustaining-of-church-officers |title= The Sustaining of Church Officers |journal= [[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]] |date=May 2004 |page= 24 |first= Thomas S. |last= Monson |author-link= Thomas S. Monson }}.</ref>

Due to this change, no general organization presidencies are composed of general authority seventies. Rather, the general authorities remain active in general church committees and have less jurisdiction over local [[Stake (Mormonism)|stakes]]. Generally, [[stake president]]s now report to area seventies, who in turn report to [[area presidencies]], which are usually composed of general authority seventies.

Typically, general authorities are given the [[sealing power]], while general officers and area seventies are not.

== 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>

== Common consent ==
In the church's biannual general conferences, held in April and October, all the general authorities and general officers of the church are presented to the [[Latter-day Saints]] for a sustaining vote, in accordance with the church's interpretation of the principle of [[common consent (Mormonism)|"common consent"]].<ref name=eom/> This is a voluntary indication made by each member (usually by raising the right hand) that the member assents to be led by the individuals presented as general authorities and general officers. Members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are always named by name, as are any persons being added or released from a position or any general authority or general officer moving from one organization to another (e.g., a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy being called to the Presidency of the Seventy). Otherwise, the general authorities and general officers of the church are simply sustained "as presently constituted".

This biannual procedure is dictated by church theology, which states that the church shall be governed by the common consent of its membership.<ref>Doctrine and Covenants, {{sourcetext|source=The Doctrine and Covenants|book=Section 20|verse=65}}</ref> Dissenting votes are rare and have even more rarely prevented a person from holding the proposed position. General authorities and general officers are also assigned to deliver sermons during the two-day conferences.

==General authority firsts==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! First
! Individual
! Date
! Position
! Notes
|-
| First second-generation general authority
| [[Joseph Smith Sr.]]
| December 18, 1833
| [[Presiding Patriarch]]
| Son [[Joseph Smith|Joseph Smith Jr.]] was [[President of the Church]]
|-
| First non-[[United States|American]] general authority
| [[John Taylor (Mormon)|John Taylor]]
| December 19, 1838
| [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)|Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]]
| Born in England; joined church in [[Upper Canada]]
|-
| First third-generation general authority
| [[John Smith (uncle of Joseph Smith)|John Smith]]
| February 18, 1855
| [[Presiding Patriarch]]
| Father was [[Hyrum Smith]], [[Assistant President of the Church]] and [[presiding patriarch]]; grandfather was [[Joseph Smith Sr.]], [[presiding patriarch]]
|-
| First fourth-generation general authority
| [[Joseph Fielding Smith]]
| April 7, 1910
| [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)|Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]]
| Father was [[Joseph F. Smith]]; [[President of the Church]]; grandfather was [[Hyrum Smith]]; great-grandfather was [[Joseph Smith Sr.]]
|-
| First general authority of [[Asian people|Asian]] descent
| Adney Y. Komatsu
| 4 April 1975
| [[Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]]
| Joined the [[First Quorum of the Seventy]] in 1976; was given [[emeritus]] status in 1993
|-
| First [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] general authority
| [[George P. Lee]]
| 3 October 1975
| [[First Quorum of the Seventy]]
| Excommunicated in 1989
|-
| First resident of [[Europe]] general authority
| Charles A. Didier
| 3 October 1975
| [[First Quorum of the Seventy]]
| Native of [[Belgium]]; was a member of the [[Presidency of the Seventy]] from 1992 to 1995 and from 2001 to 2007; was granted emeritus status 3 October 2009.
|-
| First resident of [[Asia]] general authority
| [[Yoshihiko Kikuchi]]
| October 1977
| [[First Quorum of the Seventy]]
| Native of [[Japan]]; was granted emeritus status 1 October 2011.
|-
|First resident of the [[United Kingdom]] general authority (i.e. resident when called)
| [[Derek A. Cuthbert]]
| March 1978
| [[First Quorum of the Seventy]]
| Died in 1991 during general conference.
|-
| First resident of [[Latin America]] general authority
| Ángel Abrea
| 20 March 1981
| [[First Quorum of the Seventy]]
| Given [[emeritus]] status in 2003
|-
| First resident of [[Australia]] general authority
| [[Robert E. Sackley]]
| April 1988
| [[First Quorum of the Seventy]]
| Transferred to [[Second Quorum of the Seventy]] in 1989; died in 1993
|-
| First general authority of [[Black people|black]] [[Africa]]n descent
| [[Helvécio Martins]]
| April 1990
| [[Second Quorum of the Seventy]]
| Released in 1995
|-
| First [[Korean people|Korean]] general authority
| Han In Sang
| July 1991
| [[Second Quorum of the Seventy]]
| Released in 1996
|-
| First [[Filipino people|Filipino]] general authority
| Augusto A. Lim
| July 1992
| [[Second Quorum of the Seventy]]
| Released in 1997
|-
| First [[Chinese people|Chinese]] general authority
| Tai Kwok Yuen
| July 1992
| [[Second Quorum of the Seventy]]
| Released in 1997
|-
| First resident of [[Africa]] general authority
| Christoffel Golden Jr.
| April 2001
| [[First Quorum of the Seventy]]
| Resident of [[South Africa]]
|-
| First [[Black people|black]] [[Ethnic groups of Africa|African]] general authority<ref>{{cite news |last= Stack |first= Peggy Fletcher |author-link= Peggy Fletcher Stack |title= Africa's 'Mormon superstar' is first black African LDS general authority |newspaper= [[The Salt Lake Tribune]] |date= 2009-04-20 |url= http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=12148790&itype=NGPSID |access-date= 2012-01-24}}</ref>
| [[Joseph W. Sitati]]
| April 2009
| [[First Quorum of the Seventy]]
| Native of [[Nairobi, Kenya]]
|-
|First Puerto Rican and Caribbean general authority<ref>Jason Swenson, [https://web.archive.org/web/20140415131746/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865600982/Elder-Hugo-E-Martinez-The-Lord-is-in-charge.html "Elder Hugo E. Martinez: 'The Lord is in charge'"], ''[[Church News]]'', 2014-04-14.</ref>
|Hugo E. Martinez
|April 2014
|[[Second Quorum of the Seventy]]
|Native of [[Mayagüez, Puerto Rico]]
|-
|First [[Italy|Italian]] general authority<ref>Jason Swensen, [https://web.archive.org/web/20160601172649/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865655075/Elder-Massimo-De-Feo-We-know-we-are-not-alone.html?pg=all "Elder Massimo De Feo: 'We know we are not alone'"], ''[[Church News]]'', 26 May 2016.</ref>
|Massimo De Feo
|April 2016
|General Authority Seventy
|Native of [[Taranto]], Italy; resident of [[Rome]]
|-
|First [[Fiji|Fijian]] general authority.<ref>Kathrin Krishna, [https://fijisun.com.fj/2017/04/05/elder-wakolo-first-fijian-general-authority-seventy/ Elder Wakolo First Fijian General Authority Seventy], ''Fiji Sun'', 05 April 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2019.</ref>
|[[Taniela B. Wakolo]]
|April 2017
|General Authority Seventy
|Native of [[Lomaloma, Lau]], Fiji; resident of [[Suva]]
|-
|First African-American general authority<ref>Chris Kwiecinski, [https://www.thespectrum.com/story/sports/college/2019/04/06/lds-conference-first-african-american-general-authority-sevenity/3389476002/ LDS church calls First African-American general authority], ''St. George Spectrum and Daily News'', 6 April 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.</ref>
|[[Peter M. Johnson]]
|April 2019
|General Authority Seventy
|Native of [[New York City|New York]].  
|}

== See also ==
* [[Council on the Disposition of the Tithes]]
*[[List of general authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130123203257/http://gapages.com/ Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages]}} : brief biographies of every LDS Church general authority in history

{{LDSpriesthood}}
{{Latter-day Saints}}

[[Category:1834 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:1834 in Christianity]]
[[Category:General authorities (LDS Church)| ]]
[[Category:Leadership positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]
[[Category:Christian religious occupations]]