Elder Anderson recalls 'best job in the world'
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After 102 years, Elder Joseph W. Anderson, emeritus member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, still gets excited when he talks about the men he served with for the past 70 years.
"I feel like I had the best job in the whole world. I love the Brethren. I'm happy to be related to them. I can't say too much good about them," Elder Anderson said at a reception honoring 18 Utah centenarians, July 9. The reception was held at the Utah Governor's Mansion and was sponsored by Gov. Norman H. Bangerter and the Utah State Council on Aging."I'd like to just say a few words about Joseph Anderson," said Gov. Bangerter. "Back before I entered . . . politics, I used to receive visits from Elder Anderson and he always gave me a lot of good advice."
Elder Anderson, born Nov. 20, 1889, in Salt Lake City, received emeritus status from the First Quorum of the Seventy in 1978. In 1986 he became the "oldest living General Authority in this dispensation."
The previous record was held by Elder LeGrand Richards, who died in 1983 at the age of 96.
Even at 102, Elder Anderson is still involved in Church activities. He said he attends Church, and does "some speaking assignments. But I don't do very much. I'm a lazy kind now," Elder Anderson said.
For almost all his life, Elder Anderson was a secretary. At age 10, he was secretary of his ward Primary organization, and later was secretary of the German Mission, 1911-1914.
His work with the First Presidency began in 1922 when he became the personal secretary of President Heber J. Grant.
"I traveled all over the world with President Grant," he said. "A few years later I became the secretary for the whole First Presidency." The previous secretary told Elder Anderson that he needed help because he couldn't keep up with President Grant's rapid speech.
After President Grant's death in 1945, Elder Anderson continued to work with the Church as official Church reporter and general conference clerk. He also served as director, member of the executive committee and secretary-treasurer of Deseret Book Company.
In 1970, Elder Anderson became an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve. Six years later he was named a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy.
