General officers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints typically serve for about five years and include the general presidencies of the Relief Society, Primary, Sunday School, Young Women and Young Men organizations.
General officers of the Church often continue to work in their respective occupations during their service. After their release, many increase their dedication to building up God’s Kingdom by laboring in various capacities and jobs in the Church. While this is not a comprehensive list, it is inspiring to see the lives some have led after their service.
Church President Russell M. Nelson served as the Sunday School General President from 1971 to 1979 and worked as a surgeon during his tenure, even performing a life-saving heart surgery on President Spencer W. Kimball in 1972. President Kimball would live another 13 years and become the 12th president of the Church.
Following President Nelson’s role as Sunday School General President, he served as a regional representative until 1984 when he was ordained to the Quorum of the Twelve. On Jan. 14, 2018, President Nelson became the 17th president of the Church.
According to their written biographies, of the 17 men who have served as presidents of the Church, at least seven of them served as a general officers before their service as president.
Apostles have also served as general officers; President Jeffrey R. Holland served in the Sunday School General Presidency and Elder Neil L. Andersen served in the Young Men General Presidency.
Many other members of the Church have served as general officers, though they often go under the radar in their continued service in God’s Kingdom upon release. This is an introductory article to a series looking at the lives of recent and prominent general officers after their release.
Jean B. Bingham, who served as Relief Society General President from 2017 to 2022, was called to serve as a government relations representative of the Belgium/Netherlands mission after her release.
“In the year and more since we arrived, we have learned that the three topics we focus on are freedom of religion or belief, family values and humanitarian assistance,” she said.
Bingham’s former counselors, Sharon Eubank and Reyna I. Aburto, have continued serving in the Church as well. Eubank, who is president of Latter-day Saint Charities assists the Church in its welfare programs. Aburto is an institute teacher at Utah Valley Institute and teaches “Understanding Christ Through Temple Worship” in both English and Spanish. She also hosts the Anda Conmigo podcast.
Bonnie H. Cordon, who served as first counselor in the Primary General Presidency and then as the Young Women General President of the Church, was announced as Southern Virginia University’s president two and a half months after being released from her calling.
Though she didn't expect or necessarily want to work in that capacity, Cordon said, "Sometimes the miracle that He has for you, you don't even know you want."
Becky Craven, who served as Cordon’s counselor, began her service as mission leader of the Utah Salt Lake City Headquarters mission in July of this year. In this role, she helps missionaries from around the world.
Neill Marriott, former second counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, now serves as a senior missionary in Hawaii.
Many of those who served as general officers sacredly share the experiences they had during their service. Eubank, Aburto, Cordon, Craven and Marriott have shared stories relating to their tenure in presidency on a variety of podcasts this year. Many of them have also visited “Women of Covenant Leadership,” a special topics religion class taught at BYU by professor Barbara Morgan Gardner.
Joy D. Jones, former Primary General President of the Church, now serves as assistant to the Temple Matron of the Draper, Utah temple. In her service she assists the gathering of Israel on both sides of the veil.
Russell T. Osguthorpe, president of the Sunday School General Presidency from 2009 to 2014, is now serving as a senior missionary in Tahiti. Since his release as Sunday School General President, he has written and published four books. He hosts the “Filled with His Love” podcast.
After their service, his second counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency, Matthew O. Richardson, served as a mission president until 2023. Now, he is professor of Church History and Doctrine at BYU.
Richardson was a host for a Q&A panel of young adults at this year’s Religious Educator conference with the hope of helping educators understand the needs of younger generations.
“I am hoping every teacher will be filled with confidence to invite others to come and personally see the Savior,” Richardson said at the conference.
Elaine S. Dalton, former Young Women General President of the Church, served in general boards or presidencies for more than 15 years. Today, she is president of the Stella H. Oaks Foundation.
She also works with Gardner to help create “women of covenant leadership,” and to gain a “bedrock understanding of the doctrine of Jesus Christ.” They run an Instagram Live podcast each Monday morning entitled, “Walk with Him.”
Ahmad Corbitt, who served in the Young Men General Presidency, was released in April 2023 and was then called as a General Authority Seventy. Today he serves as first counselor in the North America Southeast Area Presidency.
In September, Corbitt and Eubank joined Elder Ulisses Soares at the G20 Interfaith Summit. At the summit, Corbitt spoke about eliminating “religious bigotry,” and increasing “religious freedom.”
Adrián Ochoa, former second counselor of the Young Men General Presidency was called as a General Authority Seventy after his service. He continued in that position until August of 2024 when he was granted emeritus status.
After his service, Stephen W. Owen, former Young Men General President, was called as second counselor of the Provo Utah Temple presidency. He served in that position until it began its renovation earlier this year.
While serving as a general officer is not a lifelong calling, these faithful disciples have shown what it means to consecrate everything to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.