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[edit] Future Directions

I know I'm largely responsible for some of the content on this page, but here are some things I would like to try out.

• Cite sources. Go as close to the D&C and scripture as possible, and build out from there.
• Cite magazine articles properly.
• Cite the general conference where specific events occured.
• Keep a separate list: List of Current First Quorum of Seventy members; List of Current Second Quorum of Seventy Members; List of Seventy Emeritus; List of Presidents of the Quorums of Seventy (historically and current);

Jgardner 22:30, 26 May 2005 (UTC)

And all that could feasibly be done by consulting the most recent edition of the LDS Church Almanac, which, in this case, is 2006. That has all the information anyone would need to know to do all that. Signed, A Friend and Fellow Church Member

I think a full list of all quorum members is perhaps a bit too much, a list of the Presidents and notable members would perhaps be of more interest and use to readers. --Tobey 16:03, 8 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Seventy lower than High Priests?

Although it could be argued that after 1936, when the Seventy were placed under Stake control, that the Seventy became lower than High Priests, but before that time Seventies were generally thought of as holding a higher priesthood office and responsibility.

Note the following -

"There is nothing in the Doctrine and Covenants upon which an idea can be based that the High Priests have precedence over the Seventies." (Brigham Young, Deseret News, 6 June 1877)

"The High Priests possessed the High Priesthood; but the Seventies possesed the High Priesthood and the Apostleship which was the highest power on the earth or in the Church." (Parley P. Pratt, Seventies Record, Nauvoo, Book B, 25 January, 1846, p. 226)

See also Joseph Smith's letter to Orson Hyde, 14th May 1840, History of the Church 4:129.

There is much more substantiation on this point, but this I hope will suffice.

--Tobey 16:03, 8 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Office of Seventy still exists in the Church?

It is my impression that the Priesthood office of Seventy no longer exists in the Church.

This is based on a October 5th 1986 article article in the Salt Lake Tribune, relating an announcement by LDS Church President Ezra Taft Benson the previous day, and titled "LDS Church Discontinues Office of Seventy".

This seems to be concurred by an article in the LDS Church's official magazine, the Ensign, which states -

(Ezra Taft Benson speaking:) "The seventies quorums in the stakes of the Church are to be discontinued, and the brethren now serving as seventies in these quorums will be asked to return to membership in the elders quorums of their wards. Stake presidents, in an orderly fashion, may then determine who among such brethren should be ordained to the office of high priest."

& "Now we announce the call of a new local officer to be known as an area authority. These will be high priests chosen from among past and present experienced Church leaders."

But this seems contradicted by the following line - "“Although the ordination to the office of Seventy is without term, a Seventy is called to serve in a quorum for a designated period of years."

Although this is anecdotal - I asked a friend of mine who worked in the Church Offices to ask one of the 'Seventies' is they had been ordained to that specific Priesthood office, and they told him they were a High Priest, and had only been set apart to perform the duties of a Seventy - a distinct difference. So I presume that in the previous quote it should say "set apart" rather than "ordained" but I am open to correction if anyone has any further information.

--Tobey 13:55, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

Do you think the church public affairs would answer if we asked on behalf of wikipedia? Rdpuk 14:13, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

I'm all for it. We'd have to make sure that the right question is asked. I propose "Are Area Authorities ordained to the priesthood office of Seventy or are they instead set apart to hold that responsibility?"

Contact details are available on - http://lds.org/newsroom/contact/0,15327,3883-1,00.html --Tobey 15:10, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

I recall looking at material that was being translated while on a mission in the year 2000 and noting that in the information on membership records it included "Seventy" as a priesthood office that could be indicated on a brother's membership record. --A.M.