3 January 2013

As communicated previously, vacancies were created in the Council of Twelve and Presiding Bishopric by the release of people from these quorums since the last World Conference. In response to the guidance of God’s Spirit, I was able to present the call of Barbara Carter to serve as apostle-designate and James Poirier to serve as Presiding Bishopric member-designate. While these two ministers have carried certain responsibilities related to their future roles, their functioning was within the prerogatives of their current priesthood offices. This was done with the clear understanding that their calls would need to be approved by the next World Conference. This letter of counsel makes provision for those calls to be officially approved at the 2013 World Conference.

A vacancy in the First Presidency also was created by the release of David Schaal from the Presidency in May 2012 as previously communicated to the church. This letter of counsel makes provision for filling that vacancy at the 2013 World Conference.

Additional vacancies in the presiding quorums will occur as a result of granting requests for retirement. This counsel also presents calls to fill those pending vacancies for consideration at the 2013 World Conference.

Letter of Counsel 01-2013