1917 - living

•  Born 1917 Salt Lake City, Utah
• Baptized as a child; Aaronic Priesthood as a youth; Melchizedek Priesthood as a young man
• Mission to Germany and Switzerland late 1930s
• Married Eliza Young Rogers 1941, Salt Lakee Temple; eight children
• Bishop, High Councilor, Counselor to Stake President
• Assistant to the Twelve 1975-1976
• First Quorum of Seventy 1976-1986
• Presidency of the Seventy 1986
• Sustained to Twelve and ordained Apostle 1986

    The following biographical sketch is adapted from an official Church biography of Elder Wirthlin.

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    Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin was ordained an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 9, 1986. He was sustained and set apart as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on 4 April 1975 and served in that capacity until he was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy in April 1976. He was set apart in the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy on August 28,1986, where he was serving when called to be an Apostle in October of 1986.

    Elder Wirthlin was born in Salt Lake City to Joseph L. Wirthlin and Madeline Bitner Wirthlin. His father served as the Presiding Bishop of the Church.

    Elder Wirthlin graduated from the University of Utah in business administration. He is an Eagle Scout. He was active in athletics in high school and played football at the University of Utah.

    Before his call as a General Authority, he was a prominent business leader in Salt Lake City. He was also president of a trade association in Utah.

    Elder Wirthlin served a mission in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in the late 1930s. He served in stake and ward auxiliary positions, as a counselor in the Bonneville Ward bishopric for seven years, and as bishop of the same ward for nearly 10 years. He was a member of the Bonneville Stake high council and then served as a member of the stake presidency until he was called, on June 27, 1971, to be first counselor in the Sunday School general presidency. He served there until April 1975, when he was called as an Assistant to the Twelve.

    Elder Wirthlin served as General Authority area supervisor for the Europe Area from July 1975 to April 1978 and executive  administrator for the Southeast Area of the United States and the Caribbean Islands from 1978–1982. He then served as the executive administrator for Brazil from 1 July 1982–1984. He was the managing director of the Melchizedek Priesthood Committee, the Relief Society, and the Military Relations Committee from 1978–1984.

    From July 1984 to August 1986 Elder Wirthlin served as President of the Europe Area of the Church, directing Church affairs in Continental Europe, the British Isles, Ireland, and Africa. From August 1986 until his call to the Quorum of the Twelve, he served as a member of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy, executive director of the Curriculum Department, and editor of Church magazines. He is presently serving as a member of the Missionary Executive Council, the General Welfare Services Committee, the Church Board of Education and Boards of Trustees, the Leadership Training Committee, and First Contact of the Quorum of the Twelve for the Australia/New Zealand, Asia, Asia North, Pacific, and Philippines Areas.

    He married Elisa Young Rogers on May 26, 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple. They are the parents of eight children and forty-six grandchildren.

    Elisa Young Rogers Wirthlin, wife of Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, passed away on August 16, 2006, of causes incident to age. Elder Wirthlin commented on his eternal companion in the Saturday afternoon session of October 2006 General Conference “She was my strength and my joy. Because of her, I am a better man, husband, and father. … I owe more to my wife than I can possibly express. I don’t know if there ever was a perfect marriage, but, from my perspective, I think ours was. … As Elisa was my greatest joy, now her passing is my greatest sorrow.”

TITLE	SOURCE	AUDIO
Anchored in Testimony Note: This is Elder Wirthlin's first General Conference address after he entered the ranks of the General Authorities as an Assistant to the Twelve.	General Conference, April 1975
The Language of the Spirit	General Conference, October 1975
“There Am I in the Midst of Them” Note: This is Elder Wirthlin's first General Conference address after he was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy.	General Conference, April 1976
Dikes versus Living Water	General Conference, October 1976
Let Your Light So Shine	General Conference, October 1978
In Football or in Life	New Era, November 1978
A Word to You: Generation of Destiny!	BYU Devotional, 12 June 1979	MP3
Let Every Man Learn His Duty	General Conference, October 1980
Pondering Strengthens the Spiritual Life	General Conference, April 1982
The Worth of One: A Home Teacher’s Guide for Working with Inactive Members	Ensign, January 1983
Restoring the Lost Sheep	General Conference, April 1984
The Work of Our Priesthood Quorums	Ensign, August 1984
Pulling in the Gospel Net Note: This is Elder Wirthlin's first General Conference address after he was ordained an Apostle and entered the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.	General Conference, October 1986
Little Things Count	BYU Fireside, 26 October 1986	MP3
Patience, a Key to Happiness	General Conference, April 1987
Never Give Up	General Conference, October 1987
Little Things Count	New Era, May 1988
Without Guile	General Conference, April 1988
Pulling in the Gospel Net	Friend, October 1988
The Priesthood of God	General Conference, October 1988
Teaching by the Spirit	Ensign, January 1989
Seeds of Renewal	General Conference, April 1989
Running Your Marathon	General Conference, October 1989
Build It Right	New Era, March 1990
Personal Integrity	General Conference, April 1990
The Straight and Narrow Way	General Conference, October 1990
The Strait and Narrow Way	Friend, May 1991
Peace Within	General Conference, April 1991
Fruits of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ	General Conference, October 1991
Seeking the Good	General Conference, April 1992
"The Lord's Side"	BYU Fireside, 2 August 1992	MP3
Spiritual Bonfires of Testimony	General Conference, October 1992
The Lord’s Side	Ensign, March 1993
One Journey through Life to the Temple	Friend, April 1993
Spiritually Strong Homes and Families	General Conference, April 1993
Our Lord and Savior	General Conference, October 1993
Live in Obedience	General Conference, April 1994
Priceless Integrity	New Era, July 1994
"Choose the Right"	BYU Fireside, 4 September 1994	MP3
Deep Roots	General Conference, October 1994
Living Water to Quench Spiritual Thirst	General Conference, April 1995
Guided by His Exemplary Life	Ensign, September 1995
Windows of Light and Truth	General Conference, October 1995
Faith of Our Fathers	General Conference, April 1996
Christians in Belief and Action	General Conference, October 1996
Being Righteous in Our Hearts	BYU Devotional, 21 January 1997
“True to the Truth”	General Conference, April 1997
Valued Companions	General Conference, October 1997
It’s Your Choice	New Era, February 1998
We Believe in Christ	Friend, March 1998
The Time to Prepare	General Conference, April 1998
Cultivating Divine Attributes	General Conference, October 1998
Inspired Church Welfare	General Conference, April 1999
Growing into the Priesthood	General Conference, October 1999
Lessons Learned in the Journey of Life	BYU Address, 10 November 1999	MP3
Finding a Safe Harbor	General Conference, April 2000
Growing into the Gospel	Friend, September 2000
"Live in Thanksgiving Daily"	BYU Devotional, 31 October 2000	MP3
You’ll Grow into It	New Era, November 2000
Pure Testimony	General Conference, October 2000
Lessons Learned in the Journey of Life	Ensign, December 2000
The Law of the Fast	General Conference, April 2001
Pure Testimony	New Era, September 2001
“Live in Thanksgiving Daily”	Ensign, September 2001
One Step after Another	General Conference, October 2001
“Follow Me”	General Conference, April 2002
Spiritual Bonfires of Testimony	New Era, June 2002
The Book of Mormon: The Heart of Missionary Proselyting	Ensign, September 2002
Shall He Find Faith on the Earth?	General Conference, October 2002
Improving Our Prayers	BYU Devotional, 21 January 2003	MP3
Special Witness: Our Lord and Savior	Friend, April 2003
The Unspeakable Gift	General Conference, April 2003
Following in Faith	New Era, July 2003
Three Choices	General Conference, October 2003
Special Witness: “Follow Me”	Friend, February 2004
The Two Guiding Lights	BYU Fireside, 1 February 2004	MP3
Improving Our Prayers	Ensign, March 2004
Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts	General Conference, April 2004
Press On	General Conference, October 2004
It Starts in the Heart	New Era, February 2005
Hope and Faith: A Discussion with Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin	Ensign, February 2005
The Virtue of Kindness	General Conference, April 2005
Journey to Higher Ground	General Conference, October 2005
The Restoration and Faith	Ensign, January 2006
The Abundant Life	General Conference, April 2006
The Two Great Lights	New Era, August 2006
Sunday Will Come	General Conference, October 2006
What Is the Difference between Immortality and Eternal Life?	New Era, November 2006
Special Witness	Friend, January 2007
Life’s Lessons Learned	General Conference, April 2007