Yoshihiko Kikuchi
Encyclopedia
Yoshihiko Kikuchi 義彥菊池 is an emeritus
general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was the first native Asian to be called as a general authority of the LDS Church.
Kikuchi's father, a fisherman, was killed by an American submarine
attack only two weeks before Japan's surrender ended World War II
. With a reason to hold a grudge against Americans, when contacted by American missionaries of the LDS Church after the war he was initially resistant to having anything to do with them, but was nevertheless responsive to the missionaries' message and was baptized
at age 16. Three years after his baptism, Kikuchi entered service himself as a missionary in his own country, serving for three and one half years.
After his mission service, Kikuchi attended Asia University in Tokyo, studying business psychology, while marrying and beginning his family.
After completing his education, he worked for a cookware firm. Later, he worked as the national sales manager for an international company, and eventually operated his own export import company. During this time, Kikuchi was also continuing to serve in increasingly more responsible callings in his church, including president of one of the small branches of the church in Tokyo, and as the stake president in Tokyo. Due to this service, he came to the notice of the leaders of the church, and in 1977 Kikuchi was asked to retire from his secular pursuits to serve as a full-time general authority
of the church. He was ordained a Seventy and became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy at the October 1977 general conference
of the church. Kikuchi continues in this service to the present day. From 1987 to 1989, he served as president
of the church's Hawaii
Honolulu Mission
. From 1994 to 1997, he served as president
of the Tokyo Japan Temple
.
Kikuchi has been married to Toshiko Koshiya since 1964; the couple have four children.
On October 1, 2011, Kikuchi was released from the First Quorum of the Seventy and given general authority emeritus status at the LDS Church's semi-annual general conference
.
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
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 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was the first native Asian to be called as a general authority of the LDS Church.
Kikuchi's father, a fisherman, was killed by an American submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
attack only two weeks before Japan's surrender ended World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. With a reason to hold a grudge against Americans, when contacted by American missionaries of the LDS Church after the war he was initially resistant to having anything to do with them, but was nevertheless responsive to the missionaries' message and was baptized
Baptism (Mormonism)
In Mormonism, baptism is recognized as the first of several ordinances of the gospel.-Overview:Much of the theology of Mormon baptism was established during the early Latter Day Saint movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr...
at age 16. Three years after his baptism, Kikuchi entered service himself as a missionary in his own country, serving for three and one half years.
After his mission service, Kikuchi attended Asia University in Tokyo, studying business psychology, while marrying and beginning his family.
After completing his education, he worked for a cookware firm. Later, he worked as the national sales manager for an international company, and eventually operated his own export import company. During this time, Kikuchi was also continuing to serve in increasingly more responsible callings in his church, including president of one of the small branches of the church in Tokyo, and as the stake president in Tokyo. Due to this service, he came to the notice of the leaders of the church, and in 1977 Kikuchi was asked to retire from his secular pursuits to serve as a full-time 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 church. He was ordained a Seventy and became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy at the October 1977 general conference
General conference (Mormonism)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, a general conference is a meeting for all members of the church for conducting general church business and instruction....
of the church. Kikuchi continues in this service to the present day. From 1987 to 1989, he served as 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 church's Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
Honolulu 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...
. From 1994 to 1997, he served as president
Temple President
Temple president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A temple president's primary responsibility is to supervise the affairs of an LDS temple in both an administrative and spiritual capacity....
of the Tokyo Japan Temple
Tokyo Japan Temple
The is the 20th constructed and 18th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, it was the first temple built in Asia. It has a compact style that was a precursor for later urban area temples such as the Hong Kong China Temple and the...
.
Kikuchi has been married to Toshiko Koshiya since 1964; the couple have four children.
On October 1, 2011, Kikuchi was released from the First Quorum of the Seventy and given general authority emeritus status at the LDS Church's semi-annual 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...
.
