Elder Callister Called to Presidency of the Seventy
Tad R. Callister, Pacific Area President, has been called to the Presidency of the Seventy.
Article Highlights
- Elder Tad Richards Callister has been called to the Presidency of the Seventy.
- Elder Callister was sustained a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2008.
- He previously served as President of the Pacific Area.
“Every calling is bigger than the person, and the Lord offers His help. Though His guidance is quiet and gentle, He does not leave you alone.” —Elder Tad R. Callister, Presidency of the Seventy
On April 30, 2011, the Church announced the calling of Elder Tad Richards Callister of the Second Quorum of the Seventy to the Presidency of the Seventy to fill the vacancy left by Elder Claudio R. M. Costa’s assignment as president of the Brazil Area.
At the time of his call to the Presidency of the Seventy, Elder Callister was serving as President of the Pacific Area.
The Presidency of the Seventy consists of seven members of the First or Second Quorum of the Seventy who are called by the First Presidency and are given authority to preside over the Quorums of the Seventy.
Members of the Seventy are called to “preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto . . . all the world” (D&C 107:25). They are also “to act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Twelve or the traveling high council, in building up the church and regulating all the affairs of the same in all nations” (D&C 107:34).
Elder Callister was sustained a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 5, 2008, at age 62. He had been serving as the president of the Canada Toronto East Mission since 2005. Prior to that he served as a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the North America West Area.
Elder Callister received a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Brigham Young University in 1968. He later attended law school at the University of California Los Angeles, graduating in 1971. The following year he earned an LLM (master’s) degree in tax law from New York University. From 1972 until his call as a mission president he worked as a practicing attorney.
Applying principles learned in both professional and personal matters, Elder Callister says, “The practice of law has been a good discipline to learn to analyze the core of a problem, recognize not to jump to conclusions, and understand you need to get all the facts before making a decision. Likewise, I believe the Lord expects you to do your homework in the process of seeking personal revelation.”
Elder Callister has served in a number of Church callings including full-time missionary in the Eastern Atlantic States Mission, elders quorum president, stake mission president, stake president’s counselor, bishop, stake president, Regional Representative, mission president’s counselor, mission president, and Area Seventy.
Resolved to go wherever the Lord sends him, Elder Callister testifies that serving the Lord brings many blessings.
“The Lord helps you even when you feel inadequate,” Elder Callister says. “Every calling is bigger than the person, and the Lord offers His help. Though His guidance is quiet and gentle, He does not leave you alone.”
Elder Callister was born to Reed and Norinne Callister in December 1945, in Glendale, California, USA. He married Kathryn Louise Saporiti in December 1968. They are the parents of six children.
