Conference Talk of the Week

Overview

President D. Todd Christofferson conducts the sustaining and releasing of General Authorities, Area Seventies, and General Officers, explaining how members show support (by uplifted hand) and how concerns are handled (by contacting a stake president). He notes the Church’s long-standing policy that General Authority Seventies receive emeritus status at age 70, expresses gratitude for those completing service, and presents new calls, including a new member of the Presidency of the Seventy, new General Authority Seventies, and a new Primary General Presidency effective August 1, 2026.

Three Key Takeaways

• 1Sustaining is a real act of support done in an orderly, public way, with a clear process for raising concerns through the stake president rather than in the moment.
• 2The Church regularly releases leaders as part of an established pattern of service, including emeritus status for General Authority Seventies in the year they turn 70, and it pauses to express gratitude to those who have served (and to their families).
• 3Members are invited to sustain specific new assignments: Elder Benjamin M. Z. Tai to the Presidency of the Seventy, eight new General Authority Seventies, 91 newly sustained Area Seventies, and a new Primary General Presidency effective August 1, 2026.

Reflection Questions

• When you sustain leaders, what do you understand yourself to be committing to, support, prayer, cooperation, and how could you make that more intentional?
• How do you personally respond when leaders are released or called, do you notice gratitude, comparison, indifference, or concern, and what would a better response look like for you?
• Is there any question or concern you’ve been carrying about Church leadership that you should handle the way President Christofferson describes (calmly and through proper priesthood channels)?