| Neil L. Andersen | |
|---|---|
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| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| April 4, 2009 (2009-04-04) - Present | |
| LDS ChurchApostle | |
| April 9, 2009 (2009-04-09) | |
| Reason | Death ofJoseph B. Wirthlin |
| Presidency of the Seventy | |
| August 15, 2005 (2005-08-15) – April 4, 2009 (2009-04-04) | |
| End reason | Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| First Quorum of the Seventy | |
| April 3, 1993 (1993-04-03) – April 4, 2009 (2009-04-04) | |
| End reason | Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Neil Linden Andersen (1951-08-09)August 9, 1951 (age 73) Logan,Utah, United States |
| Education | Brigham Young University (BA) Harvard University (MBA) |
| Spouse(s) | Kathy Sue Williams (1975-present) |
| Children | 4 |
Neil Linden Andersen (born August 9, 1951) is an American religious leader and former business executive who serves as a member of theQuorum of the Twelve Apostles ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He wassustained by church membership as anapostle on April 4, 2009, during the church'sGeneral Conference. At the time of his call to the Twelve, Andersen had been serving as an LDSgeneral authority since 1993, including service in thePresidency of the Seventy from 2005 to 2009.[1] Currently, he is the ninth apostle in order of seniority in the church.[2]
Andersen was born inLogan, Utah and raised nearPocatello, Idaho.[3] As a young man, he served inFrance as amissionary for the LDS Church. After his mission, he graduated fromBrigham Young University (BYU) in 1975 with abachelor's degree in economics and was elected student body vice president.[4] He later earned anMBA fromHarvard Business School in 1977.[4] He later lived and worked inTampa, Florida, where he was the vice president of theMorton Plant Health System.[3] While in Tampa, Andersen served in the LDS Church as astake president.
Andersen waspresident of the church's FranceBordeauxMission from 1989 to 1992. In 1993, he was called as ageneral authority and member of theFirst Quorum of the Seventy.[5] As ageneral authority, he has been the assistant executive director of the Priesthood Department. He has also been in the presidencies of the church's Utah North, Utah South, North America Southwest, North America Northeast, and Europe Westareas. He also served as president of the Brazil South Area. Andersen was the executive director of the Church Audiovisual Department and managed the development of the filmThe Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd and supervised the launch of the website Mormon.org.[3] From 1997 to 2001, Andersen was a member of the general presidency of the church'sSunday School.
In 2005, Andersen became a member of thePresidency of the Seventy. In this capacity, he directed the affairs of the church in the IdahoArea and in 2006, he broke ground for the construction of theTwin Falls Idaho Temple. In 2007, Andersen was reassigned to preside over the North America Southwest Area. From August 2008 to April 2009, Andersen was the senior member of the seven-man presidency. On February 14, 2009, he broke ground for the construction ofThe Gila Valley Arizona Temple, located inCentral, Arizona.[6]
In April 2009, Andersen was called bychurch presidentThomas S. Monson to fill the vacancy created in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by the death ofJoseph B. Wirthlin the previous year. In July 2013, Andersen attended the2013 National Scout Jamboree and spoke to the 3,000 LDS Boy Scouts in attendance, one of the larger Sunday services he has attended.[7] On July 1, 2016 Andersen threw out the ceremonial first pitch at aLos Angeles Dodgers baseball game as part of their long-running 'Mormon Night' tradition.[8] Andersen reaffirmed the LDS Church's stance on marriage in the April 2019 general conference.[9][10] Andersen remarked, "While many governments and well-meaning individuals have redefined marriage, the Lord has not."[11] In the April 2025 general conference, Andersen reaffirmed the LDS Church's opposition to elective abortion, stating "protecting the unborn... is a moral law confirmed by the Lord through his prophets."[12][13]
Andersen married Kathy Sue Williams in theSalt Lake Temple on March 20, 1975 while still students at BYU.[3] They are the parents of four children.[14]
| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Quorum of the Twelve Apostles April 4, 2009 – | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
