Elder D. Todd Christofferson, announced yesterday as the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke to media in the Church Office Building Saturday afternoon.
At the news conference Elder Christofferson said that he felt a degree of incredulity, as well as a deep sense of humility and gratitude for the trust shown in him with respect to his new calling as an apostle in the Church.
He said that he felt great desire, anxiety and hope with respect to serving others in the spirit of Christ’s admonition to Peter to “feed my sheep” and “feed my lambs.”
Elder Christofferson had most recently been serving as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy with supervisory responsibility for the North America Northwest and North America West Areas. He previously had supervisory responsibility for the North America Southeast Area and has served as executive director of the Family and Church History Department and as president of the Mexico South Area of the Church.
Born in Pleasant Grove, Utah, he graduated from high school in New Jersey, earned his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, where he was an Edwin S. Hinckley Scholar, and his law degree from Duke University. He practiced law in Washington, D.C. and has been a senior vice president and associate general counsel for major banking institutions.