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25 years ago
The leadership of the Church underwent a major change in October 1976, with the elimination of office of Assistants to the Council of the Twelve. That level of General Authority was instituted during April general conference of 1941, according to the Oct. 2, 1976, Church News.
Five former Assistants — Elders Franklin D. Richards, James E. Faust, J. Thomas Fyans, Neal A. Maxwell and Marion D. Hanks — were sustained as presidents of the First Council of the Seventy during October 1976 general conference, the Church News reported. They joined Elders Franklin D. Richards and A. Theodore Tuttle who were already serving in the position. The other 16 Assistants were sustained as members of the First Quorum of the Seventy.
An article in the Oct. 16, 1976, Church News recorded: "The First Quorum of Seventy is prepared to meet the changes and challenges that may arise, whatever they might be, declared Elder Franklin D. Richards, presiding president of the First Council of the Seventy."
