At the April 1995 general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), church president Gordon B. Hinckley announced the creation of a new leadership position known as the area authority.Gordon B. Hinckley, “This Work Is Concerned with People”, Ensign, May 1995, p. 51. In 1997, area authorities were renamed area authority seventies and ordained to the office of seventy. The church announced that these seventies would become members of a Quorum of the Seventy based upon the geographic region to which they were assigned.Gordon B. Hinckley, “May We Be Faithful and True”, Ensign, May 1997, p. 4. Later, the title "area authority seventy" was shortened to area seventy, which is the title currently in use.
Formation of the various Quorums of the Seventy
Third, Fourth, and Fifth quorums When area authority seventies were first called in 1997, the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Quorums were created. At that time, the Third Quorum consisted of those seventies living in the church's Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Pacific areas. The Fourth Quorum comprised those living in the Mexico, Central America, and South America areas. The Fifth Quorum of the Seventy comprised those living in the United States and CanadaNews of the Church: New Leaders Called, 3 New Quorums of the Seventy Formed, Ensign, April 1997.
Sixth Quorum In July 2004, the Sixth Quorum of the Seventy was organized from the Fifth Quorum because the number of quorum members exceeded 70, the number of members prescribed by scripture. The Fifth Quorum then comprised area seventies serving in the church's North America Northwest, North America West, Idaho, Utah North, Utah Salt Lake City, and Utah South areas, while the Sixth Quorum comprised those living in the North America Central, North America East, North America Northeast, North America Southeast, and North America Southwest areas.News of the Church: First Presidency Announces creation of the Sixth Quorum of the Seventy, Ensign, July 2004.
Seventh and Eighth quorums In July 2005, the church announced that, due to the great distance members of the Third and Fourth Quorums of the Seventy had to travel to meet as quorums, the Seventh and Eighth Quorums of the Seventy would be created. The Third Quorum included those area seventies living in the church's Africa Southeast, Africa West, Europe Central, Europe East, and Europe West areas. The Fourth Quorum included those members living in the Brazil North, Brazil South, Chile, and South America South areas. The Fourth Quorum included those living in the Central America, Mexico North, Mexico South, South America North, and South America West areas.News of the Church: Seventh and Eighth Quorums of the Seventy Announced, Ensign, July 2005.
Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth quorums On May 19, 2020, the church announced the creation of the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Quorums of the Seventy, to enhance Quorum functionality, improve geographic alignment, and enhance cultural and language similarities among quorum members. The announcement also noted the adjustments would assist members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Presidency of the Seventy in providing more time and greater convenience in interactions with area seventies around the world. Additionally, the church announced changes in the geographical makeup of each quorum, with the composition of each of the now-ten quorums of area seventies being grouped by church area. These changes went into effect on June 1, 2020.First Presidency announces the creation of 4 additional quorums of Area Seventies, Church News, 19 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
The quorums will be geographically aligned with those serving in the church's international areas as follows: Third–Africa, Fourth–Asia, Fifth–Brazil, Sixth–Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico areas, Seventh–Europe and Middle East/Africa North areas, Eighth–Philippines and Pacific Islands, and Ninth–South America areas. The final three quorums will consist of those serving in North America, including the United States and Canada.The First Presidency Creates the Canada Area, Newsroom, churchofjesuschrist.org. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
The Canada, United States Central, United States Northeast, and United States Southeast Arreas comprise the Tenth Quorum; the United States Southwest and United States West Areas comprise the Eleventh Quorum; and the Utah Area Seventies now comprise the Twelfth Quorum.First Presidency Announces 2025–2026 Area Leadership Assignments, Newsroom, churchofjesuschrist.org. 14 April 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
Sustaining/releasing changes
Initially, names of area seventies were announced during general conference, usually during the Saturday afternoon session. The names of all released and called area seventies were announced along with all other changes to the general authorities.
2021 and 2022
In 2021, following restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, leadership training was held in conjunction with the April general conference. As part of that training, the church sustained 77 new area seventies, rather than having a large list of names read over the pulpit during a session of general conference. The leadership training included a sustaining vote of the individuals.
With the names previously presented, during the Saturday afternoon sustaining, Dallin H. Oaks proposed the church sustain the new area seventies announced earlier in the week. In July 2021, M. Russell Ballard, the Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, sent out a letter noting a list of 66 area seventies who would be released effective August 1. The letter noted that the release of area seventies, effective August 1, would continue to be announced by letter going forward. During the Saturday afternoon session, members were invited to express appreciation for those released during the past year.
A similar practice occurred in 2022, with Oaks noting as a group those sustained and released in the April general conference. Releases effective August 1 were shared at the end of August, with Eyring inviting an expression of appreciation for those who were released as a group in October, along with presenting new area seventies who would begin serving, effective immediately.See the April sustaining, the August changes and the October sustaining
From 2023 onward During the April 2023 leadership meetings, 61 new area seventies were announced, and the release of 50 others that would be effective on or before August 1 were also presented. During the Saturday afternoon sustaining, those changes were presented in groups, with the note that the names of those released and sustained could be found on the church's newsroom website. Two others whose release was effective on August 1, and two new area seventies, were presented during the October 2023 leadership meetings and later ratified during the sustaining of church leadership.As confirmed here and here.
This process has continued, new sustainings and releases that would be effective on or before August 1 are presented in advance at the April general conference leadership sessions and then presented for sustaining as groups during the sustaining of church leadership during the weekend conference,See, for examples, this update from the April 2024 General Conference Leadership Session, which is referenced in the presentation of other changes during the first session of the April 2024 General Conference. In October 2024, the same procedure was followed when six new area seventies were presented during the general conference leadership meetings, and they were also sustained as a group during general conference weekend. This pattern became the new standard method for area seventy changes. with occasional exceptions for necessary changes (such as illness, death, etc.) made between April and August which are then ratified at the October conference.
Areas consolidated over the years In the intervening years, along with the changes announced in quorum composition, the church's geographic areas were consolidated and realigned. Now each quorum is composed of area seventies in the following areas: Third Quorum: Africa Central, Africa South, and Africa West Areas. Fourth Quorum: Asia and Asia North Areas. Fifth Quorum: Brazil Area. Sixth Quorum: Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico Areas. Seventh Quorum: Eurasian, Europe Central, Europe North, and Middle East/Africa North Areas. Eighth Quorum: Pacific and Philippines Areas. Ninth Quorum: South America Northwest and South America South Areas. Tenth Quorum: Canada, United States Central, United States Northeast, and United States Southeast Areas Eleventh Quorum: United States Southwest and United States West Areas Twelfth Quorum: Utah Area
Current area seventies Contents Third Quorum Fourth Quorum Fifth Quorum Sixth Quorum Seventh Quorum Eighth Quorum Ninth Quorum Tenth Quorum Eleventh Quorum Twelfth Quorum
Below is a list of the 347 currently serving area seventies, as of August 2026.
See also
List of general authorities (LDS Church) List of general officers (LDS Church)
References