53066

Page 168

MARCH APRIL A Solemn Assembly sustained the First Presidency during the 140th Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City. Four new General Authority assignments were made during the 140th Annual Conference. Elder Boyd K. Packer, formerly an Assistant to the Twelve, was sustained to the Council of the Twelve. Three new Assistants to the Twelve were called. They were Elder Joseph Anderson, secretary to the First Presidency; ElIder David B. Haight, assistant to the president of BYU, and Elder William H. Bennett, director of Extension Service, USU, Logan. The Mormon Pavilion at Expo '70 in Japan was dedicated. It was part of the largest World's Fair ever held. Visitors numbering 6,658,532 toured the Church exhibit. Tokyo Stake was created and a native Japanese mission president, Kan Watanabe, was called to lead Japan West Mission. JULY President Richard M. Nixon paid a visit to Salt Lake City and the First Presidency during the Days of '47 celebration. He spoke from the steps of the Church Administration Building. Mormon Cabinet members, David M. Kennedy and George Romney, -,ppeared with the President. NOVEMBER r- Mrs. Emma Ray Riggs McKay, widow of President David O. McKay, died shortly before midnight Nov. 14 at age 93. She had served beside her busband as a great wife and mother since their marriage Jan. 2, 1901. Elder Thorpe B. Isaacson, Assistant to the Twelve and a former member of the First Presidency, died on Nov. 9 after a long illness. He was 72. Pres. Joseph Fielding Sn1ith spoke at his funeral services held in the Assembly Hall. AUGUST August was a -month for youth activities. The first Laurel Conference was held at BYU. President Harold B. Lee spoke to 2,500 girls at the leadership conference. The All-Church Softball Tournament brought teams together in Salt Lake City for a playoff that named champions from Utah and California. Tens of thousands of youth from throughout the Church enjoyed youth conferences at universities and scenic settings. BYU a cappella choir and dancers toured Europe with heralded success. DECEMBER Steel work on the new LDS Church Office Building reached the 26th story level during the snowy month of December. A reduced center section will c on tin ue upward for three more stories. The building is scheduled for completion in July, 1972. Chapels and other Church buildings have been built throughout the world to keep pace with the growing C h u r c h. 250 buildings were completed d uri n g 1970. Three temples are in the planning and construction process. .