| D. Todd Christofferson | |
|---|---|
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| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| April 5, 2008 (2008-04-05) | |
| LDS ChurchApostle | |
| April 10, 2008 (2008-04-10) | |
| Reason | Death ofGordon B. Hinckley; reorganization ofFirst Presidency |
| Presidency of the Seventy | |
| August 15, 1998 (1998-08-15) – April 5, 2008 (2008-04-05) | |
| End reason | Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| First Quorum of the Seventy | |
| April 3, 1993 (1993-04-03) – April 5, 2008 (2008-04-05) | |
| End reason | Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Todd Christofferson (1945-01-24)January 24, 1945 (age 80) American Fork, Utah, U.S. |
| Education | Brigham Young University (BA) Duke University (JD) |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 5 |
David Todd Christofferson (born January 24, 1945) is an American religious leader and former lawyer who serves as a member of theQuorum of the Twelve Apostles ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He has been ageneral authority of the church since 1993. Currently, he is the eighth most senior apostle in the church.[1]
Christofferson grew up in Utah and New Jersey, and after high school served as anLDS missionary inArgentina. He then studiedEnglish literature atBrigham Young University (BYU) before attending law school atDuke University. After graduating from law school in 1972, Christofferson clerked for JudgeJohn Sirica on theU.S. District Court for the District of Columbia while Sirica presided over much of the legal proceedings stemming from theWatergate scandal. Christofferson then entered private practice, and eventually became an in-house lawyer forNationsBank (now part ofBank of America).
Christofferson was born inAmerican Fork, Utah, and raised inPleasant Grove, Utah;Lindon, Utah; andSomerset, New Jersey. As a young man, he served a two-year LDS mission in Argentina. Hismission president wasRichard G. Scott, who would already be a member of the Quorum of the Twelve when Christofferson was called to the same quorum. After his mission, he earned abachelor's degree from BYU in English and international relations in 1969, followed by aJ.D. fromDuke University School of Law in 1972.[2]
Christofferson began his legal career as alaw clerk to Judge John J. Sirica of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia from 1972 to 1974. Shortly after Christofferson began clerking, Sirica was assigned to preside over the Watergate legal proceedings.[3]
After his work as a judicial clerk, Christofferson was an active member of the US military and then served in the reserves for eight years.[4]
As a lawyer, Christofferson worked inWashington, D.C.;Nashville, Tennessee;Herndon, Virginia; andCharlotte, North Carolina.[5] Christofferson was the associategeneral counsel for NationsBank in Charlotte and was the volunteer chairman of Affordable Housing of Nashville, Tennessee.[6]
Christofferson clerked for Judge John J. Sirica during theWatergate trials. Together they were the first outside the White House to hear theNixon White House tapes. "Judge Sirica and I were shocked as we heard Nixon calmly ask" how much money it would take to keep the Watergate burglars quiet, Christofferson said in a June 2017 address to faculty and students atChrist Church College in Oxford, England. "The judge and I couldn't believe, didn't want to believe what we were hearing … He passed me a note suggesting we rewind the tape and listen again. Up to this point we both still hoped that the president [of the United States] was not really involved, but this was indisputable."[7]
Christofferson married Katherine Jacob in theSalt Lake Temple on May 28, 1968.[2] They are the parents of five children.[5]
Prior to becoming a general authority, Christofferson served in the LDS Church as abishop,stake president, andregional representative.[5] At the church's April 1993general conference, Christofferson wascalled as a general authority and member of theFirst Quorum of the Seventy.[8] In August 1998, Christofferson became a member of thePresidency of the Seventy.[9]
As a seventy, Christofferson served as the executive director of the church's Family and Church History Department. While in this position he was involved in negotiations with Jewish leaders on policies ontemple work forHolocaust victims, which concluded with the church stating that its members should only do such temple work for family members. He also was in charge of the department when the church completed theFreedman's Savings Bank Records project.[3]
On April 5, 2008, during thesolemn assembly session of the church's general conference whenThomas S. Monson wassustained aschurch president, Christofferson was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.[10] As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Christofferson is regarded by church members as aprophet, seer, and revelator.
Articles
| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Quorum of the Twelve Apostles April 5, 2008 – | Succeeded by |
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| National | |
