F. Michael Watson

First Quorum of the Seventy

April 5, 2008 – October 5, 2013

Called by

Thomas S. Monson

End reason

Designated an emeritus general authority

Personal details

Born

Frank Michael Watson
March 9, 1943
Spring City, Utah, United States

Frank Michael Watson (born March 9, 1943) served as the secretary to the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1986^[1] until his call as a general authority of the LDS Church in 2008.

Watson was born in Spring City, Utah. He received a bachelor's degree in business and office administration from Utah State University. He was in the United States Army for three years and was awarded the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medals.

Prior to employment as secretary to the First Presidency, Watson served as assistant secretary to the First Presidency (1972–86),^[2] and as both assistant secretary and secretary to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (1970–72).

Watson has served as president of the church's Bountiful Utah South Stake^[3] and a temple sealer in the Bountiful Utah Temple.

In April 2008, Watson was called as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of the LDS Church.^[1] He previously served as a counselor in the church's Africa Southeast Area and in 2011 was appointed as a counselor in the Pacific Area, based in Auckland, New Zealand, where he served until August 2013. In October 2013, Watson was released from the First Quorum of the Seventy and designated as an emeritus general authority.

Watson (far chair) with First Presidency while meeting with George W. Bush, August 31, 2006 in the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Watson is married to Jolene Mann and they are the parents of 12 children.

Notes

↑ 1.0 1.1 "Brief biographies of new leaders called to LDS Church hierarchy", Deseret Morning News, 2008-06-05.
↑ "F. Michael Watson". Church News. 2008-07-12. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
↑ "New stake presidencies", Church News, November 23, 1996.

References

"Elder F. Michael Watson," Liahona, May 2008, p. 139

External links

"General Authorities: Elder F. Michael Watson", lds.org

Secretaries to the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Robinson (1838–40) Reynolds (1865–1909) Gibbs (1909–22) Anderson (1922–70) Gibbons (1970–86) Watson (1986–2008) Hales (2008–)

Emeritus general authorities¹ of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Abrea Amado Backman Banks Bateman Bradford Brewerton Burton² Busche Carmack Child Christensen Clarke Coleman Cook Condie Dellenbach Dickson Didier Edgley² Featherstone Groberg Hafen Hammond Hansen Hilbig Hinckley Howard J. Jensen M. Jensen Johnson Kendrick Kerr Kikuchi Koelliker Kofford Larsen Madsen McMullin² Mickelsen Morrison Neuenschwander Pace Paramore Pinegar Porter Pratt Rector Samuelson Tenorio Tingey Walker Watson Wells Wickman

1. Emeritus general authorities are individuals who have been released from active duties as general authorities. However, they remain general authorities of the church until their death. Except for the three identified former members of the Presiding Bishopric, all living emeritus general authorities are former members of the First Quorum of the Seventy. 2. Former members of the Presiding Bishopric.