| D. Todd Christofferson | |
|---|---|
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| Second Counselor in theFirst Presidency | |
| October 14, 2025 (2025-10-14) | |
| Called by | Dallin H. Oaks |
| Predecessor | Henry B. Eyring |
| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| April 5, 2008 (2008-04-05) – October 14, 2025 (2025-10-14) | |
| Called by | Thomas S. Monson |
| End reason | Called as Second Counselor in the First Presidency |
| LDS ChurchApostle | |
| April 10, 2008 (2008-04-10) | |
| Called by | Thomas S. Monson |
| Reason | Death ofGordon B. Hinckley; reorganization ofFirst Presidency |
| Presidency of the Seventy | |
| August 15, 1998 (1998-08-15) – April 5, 2008 (2008-04-05) | |
| Called by | Gordon B. Hinckley |
| 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) | |
| Called by | Ezra Taft Benson |
| 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 second counselor in theFirst Presidency ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He served as a member of theQuorum of the Twelve Apostles from 2008 to 2025. He has been a churchgeneral authority since 1993. Christofferson is currently the seventh most senior apostle in the church.[1]
Christofferson grew up inUtah andNew Jersey, and after high school served an LDS Churchmission inArgentina. He then studiedEnglish literature atBrigham Young University (BYU) before attending law school atDuke University. After graduating from law school in 1972, Christofferson was alaw clerk to JudgeJohn Sirica of 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 corporate lawyer.
Christofferson was born on January 24, 1945, inAmerican Fork, Utah. He grew up inPleasant Grove, Utah,Lindon, Utah, andSomerset, New Jersey. As a young man, he served a two-year LDS Church mission in Argentina. Hismission president wasRichard G. Scott, with whom Christofferson would later serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. After his mission, he graduated from BYU in 1969 with aBachelor of Arts in English literature andinternational relations. He then attended theDuke University School of Law, where he was an editor of theDuke Law Journal. He graduated in 1972 with aJuris Doctor.[2]
After graduating from law school, Christofferson was a law clerk to Judge John Sirica of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia from 1972 to 1974. Soon after Christofferson began his clerkship, Sirica was assigned to preside over the Watergate legal proceedings.[3] Sirica and Christofferson 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."[4]
At the conclusion of his clerkship, Christofferson spent a year as an active duty member of the U.S. military.[5][6] He then spent several years in private practice at the Washington, D.C. law firm Dow Lohnes (now part ofCooley LLP) before becoming an in-house legal counsel for a healthcare corporation and for several banking companies.[6][7] At the time of his call as an LDS general authority in 1993, Christofferson worked inCharlotte, North Carolina, as an associategeneral counsel forNationsBank (nowBank of America).[6][8]
Christofferson married Katherine Jacob in theSalt Lake Temple on May 28, 1968.[2] They are the parents of five children.[7]
Prior to becoming a general authority, Christofferson served in the LDS Church as abishop,stake president, andregional representative.[7] At the church's April 1993general conference, Christofferson wascalled as a general authority and member of theFirst Quorum of the Seventy.[9] In August 1998, Christofferson became a member of thePresidency of the Seventy.[10]
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.[11]
On October 14, 2025, Christofferson was announced as the new second counselor to church presidentDallin H. Oaks in the First Presidency, withHenry B. Eyring serving as first counselor.[12] As a member of the First Presidency, Christofferson is regarded by church members as aprophet, seer, and revelator.
Articles
| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Second Counselor in theFirst Presidency October 14, 2025 - present | Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Quorum of the Twelve Apostles April 5, 2008 – October 14, 2025 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
