Elder Merrill J. Bateman, recently released as president of Brigham Young University, was sustained a member of the Presidency of the Seventy and general president of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday. Elders John H. Groberg and Val R. Christensen will continue to serve as first and second counselors, respectively.

For Elder Bateman and Elder Cecil O. Samuelson Jr., new assignments were a switch, as Elder Samuelson was tapped last month to succeed Elder Bateman at the helm of BYU. Elder Samuelson was released Saturday as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy and Sunday School general president.

Other changes announced Saturday included appointments and changes in the Quorums of the Seventy. The ranks of Area Authority Seventies were increased by 37.

Elder Bruce D. Porter, 50, a member of the Second Quorum since 1995, was named to the First Quorum. He was a professor of political science at BYU and is former executive director of the U.S. Board for International Broadcasting and former research fellow at Harvard University, where he earned a doctoral degree. A native of Albuquerque, N.M., he is married to Susan Elizabeth Porter and is father of four children. He has served many positions, including in the Europe East Area presidency.

Those called to the First Quorum generally serve until they reach age 70. Members of the Second Quorum generally serve about six years.

Newly called to the Second Quorum are:

Elder Mervyn B. Arnold, 54, Taylorsville, Utah. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from BYU and worked in real estate and banking prior to employment in the church's missionary department. He has been a mission president, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop and stake Young Men president. He and his wife, Devonna Kress Arnold, have six children.

Elder Shirley D. Christensen, 64, who returned last summer from three years as president of the Argentina Resistencia Mission, was self-employed for 35 years as a fruit grower. He has served in a stake presidency, as regional welfare agent, bishop, high councilor and branch president. He and his wife, the former Geniel Johnson, have six children.

Elder Clate W. Mask Jr., 60, Gilbert, Ariz., retired after 30 years as a teacher and administrator for the Church Educational System. He earned a bachelor's degree from BYU and a master's from Cal State/Northridge. He has been a mission president, high councilor, stake Sunday School president, stake missionary, bishop, bishop's counselor, branch president and full-time missionary. He and his wife, Carol Garns Mask, are parents of six children.

Elder William W. Parmley, 67, is a physician and emeritus professor of medicine. He earned degrees at Harvard and Johns Hopkins University, and taught for 30 years at the University of California/San Francisco School of Medicine. He has served as an Area Authority Seventy, regional representative, stake president, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop and full-time missionary. Elder Parmley and his wife, Shanna Lee Parmley, have four children.

Elder W. Douglas Shumway, 62, Show Low, Ariz., recently served as president of the Bolivia Santa Cruz Mission. He earned a bachelor's degree from BYU and for 38 years has owned Whiting Brothers Investment Co. His church service includes regional welfare agent, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, high councilor, stake mission president, stake Young Men president and full-time missionary. He and his wife, Dixie Ann Jarvis Shumway, have eight children.

Called as Area Authority Seventies were: D. Fraser Bullock, 47, Alpine, Utah; Luis G. Chaverri, 54, Guapiles, Costa Rica; Ronaldo da Costa, 48, Brasilia, Brazil; Stanley G. Ellis, 56, Spring, Texas; Randy D. Funk, 50, Aurora, Colo.; Jose A. Garcia, 57, Panama City, Panama; Robert H. Garff, 60, Bountiful, Utah; Julio G. Gaviola, 47, Manila, Philippines; Francisco I. Giminez, 51, Barcelona, Spain; Carlos A. Godoy, 42, Sao Paulo, Brazil; S. Horacio Guzman, 51, Guanajuato, Mexico; Yu Chen (Philip) Ho, 51, Taipei, Taiwan; Beaver T. Ho Ching, 56, Pago Pago, American Samoa; Robert Koch, 56, Zurich, Switzerland; G. Steven Laney, 50, Ontario, Oregon.

Barry Lee, 58, Flagstaff Hill, Australia; Miguel A. Lee, 47, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Kuen (Tony) Ling; 51, Hong Kong; Lamont W. Moon, 62, Duchesne, Utah; Alexander A. Odume, 46, Benin City, Nigeria; Adesina J. Olukanni, 46, Ikeja, Nigeria; Fernando D. Ortega, 51, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Antonio R. Oyola, 46, La Paz, Bolivia; Adilson de Paula Parrella, 40, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Luigi S. Peloni, 50, Verona, Italy; Rafael E. Pino, 47, Miranda, Venezuela; Gelson Pizzirani, 51, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Gerold Roth, 53, Mondsee, Austria; A. Kim Smith, 49, Short Hills, New Jersey; W. Blake Sonne, 60, Orlando, Florida; Ronald A. Stone, 59, Midway, Utah; Subandriyo, 44, Jakarta, Indonesia; Jeffrey C. Swinton, 55, Salt Lake City, Utah; Donald P. Tenney, 62, El Cajon, Calif.; Jose L. Torres, 43, Mexico City, Mexico; Pita R. Vamanrav, 58, Nuku'alofa, Tonga; Perry M. Webb, 53, Farmington, N.M.