L. Tom Perry
| L. Tom Perry | |
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| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| April 6, 1974 – incumbent | |
| Called by | Spencer W. Kimball |
| Apostle | |
| April 11, 1974 – incumbent | |
| Called by | Spencer W. Kimball |
| Reason | Death of Harold B. Lee and reorganization of First Presidency |
| Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| October 6, 1972 – April 6, 1974 | |
| Called by | Harold B. Lee |
| End reason | Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| Military career | |
| 1944–1946 | |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lowell Tom Perry August 5, 1922 Logan, Utah, United States |
| Alma mater | Utah State University (B.S.) |
| Spouse | Virginia Lee (1947–1974; deceased) Barbara Dayton (1976–present) |
| Children | 3 |
Lowell Tom Perry (born August 5, 1922 ) is a senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), having become a member of that body in 1974. Currently, he is the third most senior apostle among the ranks of the Church, and is also the oldest member of the Twelve.
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[edit] Early life
Perry was born in Logan, Utah, to Leslie Thomas Perry and his wife Elsie Nora Sonne. Perry, Utah is named for the Perry's ancestor, Gustavus Adolphus Perry and his family, who were among the first settlers at that place.[1]
From the time of Perry's birth until he was eighteen his father was bishop of their Logan ward. From 1942-1944 Perry served as a missionary in the Northern States Mission, headquartered in Chicago. Just after returning from his mission he joined the United States Marines. He was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division.[2] Perry was part of the American landing forces on Saipan and remained there for about a year. While there he participated in the construction of an LDS Chapel on that island.[3] He was among the United States troops sent to occupy Japan after the war. While in Nagasaki, Perry coordinated a group of Marines to help rebuild a local Protestant church.[4]
[edit] Education
Perry graduated from the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University in 1949 with a B.S. in finance.
[edit] Employment
Perry's first job out of college was with a retail business in Idaho. He was later involved in business jobs that took him to Washington State, California, New York, and Massachusetts.
He had a career in the retail business during his time spent in Boston, Massachusetts. He became a fan of the Boston Red Sox; Perry threw out the first pitch at a Red Sox game on May 8, 2004.
[edit] Early church service
In Idaho, Perry served as a counselor in a bishopric. Over the years he served in other positions including as an early-morning seminary teacher.
Perry served the LDS Church as a stake president in Boston.
[edit] General authority
Perry first became a general authority by serving in the position of Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1972. The death of Church President Harold B. Lee created a vacancy among the Twelve Apostles when Spencer W. Kimball of the Quorum moved from the position of President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to that of church president. Perry was called by Kimball on April 6, 1974 to become a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; subsequently he was ordained to the office of apostle on April 11, 1974.
Today, Perry ranks after only church president Thomas S. Monson and Quorum president Boyd K. Packer in apostolic seniority. As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Perry is accepted by the church as a prophet, seer, and revelator.
In 2004, Perry was asked by Hinckley to serve as the area president of the Europe Central Area of the church, headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, a position normally held by a member of the seventy, making Perry one of the most senior officials of the church ever to be stationed away from Salt Lake City. While serving in this capacity, Perry initiated a more proactive institute program that emphasized meeting the social and intellectual needs of young single adult church members.
[edit] Family
L. Tom Perry married Virginia Lee in the Logan Temple on 18 July 1947.[4] They had three children, including Lee Tom Perry. Virginia died in 1974. In 1976, L. Tom Perry married Barbara Dayton.[5]
[edit] Works
- Books
- Perry, L. Tom (2011), Family ties: a message for fathers, Deseret Book, ISBN 9781609087685, OCLC 710044911
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Perry, Lee (February 1975), "Elder L. Tom Perry of the Council of the Twelve", Ensign: 9, http://lds.org/ensign/1975/02/elder-l-tom-perry-of-the-council-of-the-twelve?lang=eng
- ^ "Elder Perry creates first Kiribati stake, dedicates islands", Church News, 21 September 1996, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/27921/Elder-Perry-creates-first-Kiribati-stake-dedicates-islands.html
- ^ "Constructing a chapel and testimonies", Church News, 15 January 2011, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/60363/Constructing-a-chapel-and-testimonies.html
- ^ a b Dunn, Loren C. (August 1987), "Elder L. Tom Perry: Serving with Enthusiasm", Tambuli: 9, http://lds.org/liahona/1987/08/elder-l-tom-perry-serving-with-enthusiasm?lang=eng
- ^ Deseret Morning News 2008 Church Almanc (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Morning News, 2007) p. 36.
[edit] References
- Elder L. Tom Perry, "Leader Biographies: Official Biographies for leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints", Newsroom (LDS Church), http://newsroom.lds.org/leader-biographies/elder-l-tom-perry
[edit] External links
| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Bruce R. McConkie |
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles April 11, 1974–Present |
Succeeded by David B. Haight |
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- 1922 births
- 20th-century Mormon missionaries
- American military personnel of World War II
- American Latter Day Saints
- American Mormon missionaries
- Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Assistants to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
- Living people
- Mormon missionaries in the United States
- People from Logan, Utah
- Stake presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- United States Marines
- Utah State University alumni
