Lds General Conference: New Leaders, New Assignments, and Emeritus Changes Announced
The lds general conference on April 4 and April 5 is unfolding live from Temple Square in Salt Lake City, with major leadership changes taking center stage in the April 2026 sessions. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sustained a new Primary general presidency, eight new General Authority Seventies, and a new member of the Presidency of the Seventy during Saturday’s proceedings. The shifts take effect Aug. 1, marking one of the most closely watched moments of the lds general conference.
Primary General Presidency Sustained Saturday Afternoon
President Rosemary K. Chibota was sustained as Primary general president, with Sister Nina M. Garfield as first counselor and Sister Theresa A. Collins as second counselor. The announcement came Saturday afternoon, April 4, during the lds general conference and was presented by President D. Todd Christofferson, second counselor in the First Presidency.
The outgoing Primary general presidency — President Susan H. Porter, Sister Amy A. Wright and Sister Tracy Y. Browning — will complete their service on Aug. 1. The new Primary presidency begins service on the same date. President Chibota lives in South Jordan, Utah; Sister Garfield lives in Orem, Utah; and Sister Collins lives in Draper, Utah.
Eight New General Authority Seventies Sustained
In the same session, members sustained eight new General Authority Seventies. The lds general conference also included the sustaining of Elder Benjamin M. Z. Tai as a new member of the Presidency of the Seventy, effective Aug. 1. He will replace Elder S. Mark Palmer, who has served in that presidency since 2021.
The Presidency of the Seventy is described as a group of seven General Authority Seventies called by the First Presidency to preside over the Seventy and assist in worldwide church work. Six other members of the presidency are Elders Carl B. Cook, Marcus B. Nash, Michael T. Ringwood, Arnulfo Valenzuela, Edward Dube and Kevin R. Duncan.
Several of the newly sustained leaders were identified in the session summary with brief biographical details. Elder Tai, 53, is from Hong Kong and was serving as President of the Asia Area at the time of his call. Christian Chiemezuolam Chigbundu, 51, was serving as president of the Nigeria Enugu Mission at the time of his call.
Emeritus Status for Senior Leaders
The lds general conference also marked a transition for senior leaders who will be released and receive emeritus status on Aug. 1. Those named include Elders Craig C. Christensen, William K. Jackson, Brook P. Hales, Eduardo Gavarret, Erich W. Kopischke, Peter F. Meurs and S. Mark Palmer.
General Authority Seventies serve full-time and are generally released in the year they turn 70. Their role is to act under the direction of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and help oversee church work worldwide. That framework gives this lds general conference a clear institutional weight: it is not just a ceremony, but a reset of leadership assignments that will shape the months ahead.
What Comes Next
More session summaries, news and announcements are expected as the April 2026 conference continues from Temple Square. The main personnel changes already announced will become effective on Aug. 1, leaving the next stage of the lds general conference focused on how these new leaders will begin their service and how the outgoing leaders complete theirs. For church members following the lds general conference, the coming days should bring additional detail on the broader direction set in Salt Lake City.
