Neil L. Andersen
Encyclopedia
Neil Linden Andersen is the junior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was accepted
by church membership as an apostle on 4 April 2009 during the April 2009 General Conference
of the church. Andersen has been a general authority
of the LDS Church since 1993 and was a member of the Presidency of the Seventy from 2005 to 2009.
Andersen was born in Logan, Utah
and raised in Pocatello, Idaho
. As a young man, he served in France
as a LDS Church missionary
. After his mission, he graduated from Brigham Young University
and earned an MBA degree from Harvard Business School
. He lived and worked in Tampa, Florida
, where he was the vice president of the Morton Plant Health System
. In the church, Andersen was a stake president in Tampa.
Between 1989 and 1992, Andersen was president
of the France Bordeaux
Mission
of the church. In 1993, he became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. As a general authority, he has been the executive director of the church's Audiovisual Department and assistant executive director of the Priesthood Department. He has also been in the presidencies of the Utah North, Utah South, North America Southwest, North America Northeast, and Europe West Areas
of the church. From 1997 to 2001, Andersen was a member of the general presidency of the church's Sunday School
. He also served as a president of the Brazil South Area.
In 2005, Andersen became a member of the seven-man Presidency of the Seventy. In this capacity, he acted as president of the Idaho Area of the church, where in 2006 he broke ground for the construction of the Twin Falls Idaho Temple
. In 2007, Andersen was reassigned to preside over the North America Southwest Area. In this capacity, he oversaw the activities of the area seventies in this area. From August 2008 to April 2009, Andersen was the senior member of the seven-man presidency.
In April 2009 Andersen was called by church president Thomas S. Monson
to fill a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles that was created in December 2008 by the death of Joseph B. Wirthlin
.
Andersen married Kathy Sue Williams in 1975. The Andersens are the parents of four children and have thirteen grandchildren.
Common consent
Common consent is a democratic principle established by the Latter Day Saint movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., who taught in 1830 that "all things must be done in order, and by common consent in the church, by the prayer of faith." As it is most frequently used by the Church of Jesus Christ of...
by church membership as an apostle on 4 April 2009 during the April 2009 General Conference
General Conference (LDS Church)
General Conference is a semiannual world conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held in April and October, where members gather in a series of two-hour sessions to listen to instruction from Church leaders...
of the church. Andersen has been a general authority
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
of the LDS Church since 1993 and was a member of the Presidency of the Seventy from 2005 to 2009.
Andersen was born in Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
and raised in Pocatello, Idaho
Pocatello, Idaho
Pocatello is the county seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Power County, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is the principal city of the Pocatello metropolitan area, which encompasses all of Bannock...
. As a young man, he served in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
as a LDS Church missionary
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
. After his mission, he graduated from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
and earned an MBA degree from Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
. He lived and worked in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, where he was the vice president of the Morton Plant Health System
Morton Plant Hospital
Morton Plant Hospital is a 687 bed hospital at 300 Pinellas Street in Clearwater, Florida. Morton Plant is community-based and provides services in more than fifty specialty areas. This hospital is part of the greater...
. In the church, Andersen was a stake president in Tampa.
Between 1989 and 1992, Andersen was president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the France Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
of the church. In 1993, he became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. As a general authority, he has been the executive director of the church's Audiovisual Department and assistant executive director of the Priesthood Department. He has also been in the presidencies of the Utah North, Utah South, North America Southwest, North America Northeast, and Europe West Areas
Area (LDS Church)
An area is an administrative unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which typically is composed of multiple stakes and missions...
of the church. From 1997 to 2001, Andersen was a member of the general presidency of the church's Sunday School
Sunday School (LDS Church)
Sunday School is an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.-Purpose:...
. He also served as a president of the Brazil South Area.
In 2005, Andersen became a member of the seven-man Presidency of the Seventy. In this capacity, he acted as president of the Idaho Area of the church, where in 2006 he broke ground for the construction of the Twin Falls Idaho Temple
Twin Falls Idaho Temple
The Twin Falls Idaho Temple is a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in Twin Falls, Idaho, just south of the Snake River Canyon. It became the fourth LDS temple in the state when it was dedicated in August 2008, and the second temple dedicated in Idaho that year...
. In 2007, Andersen was reassigned to preside over the North America Southwest Area. In this capacity, he oversaw the activities of the area seventies in this area. From August 2008 to April 2009, Andersen was the senior member of the seven-man presidency.
In April 2009 Andersen was called by church president Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson
Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth...
to fill a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles that was created in December 2008 by the death of Joseph B. Wirthlin
Joseph B. Wirthlin
Joseph Bitner Wirthlin was an American businessman, religious leader and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was sustained to the Quorum on October 4, 1986, and ordained an apostle on October 9, 1986 by Thomas S. Monson, following the...
.
Andersen married Kathy Sue Williams in 1975. The Andersens are the parents of four children and have thirteen grandchildren.