L. Tom Perry

LDSApostleshipinfo
English name =L. Tom Perry
birth_name=Lowell Tom Perry
birth_date=birth date and age|1922|08|05
birthplace=Logan, Utah
death_date=
deathplace=
president_who_called=Spencer W. Kimball
apostledate=death date and age|1974|04|11|1922|08|05
ordination_reason=Death of Harold B. Lee and reorganization of First Presidency
end_date=
end_reason=
reorganization=

Lowell Tom Perry (born August 5 1922) is a senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), having become a member of that body in 1974.

Early life

Perry was born in Logan, Utah to Leslie Thomas Perry and his wife Elsie Nora Sonne. Perry, Utah is named for the Perry's ancestor, Gustavus Adolphus Perry and his family, who were among the first settlers at that place. [Lee Perry, [http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=e99c61cb2b86b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 “Elder L. Tom Perry of the Council of the Twelve,”] "Ensign", Feb. 1975, p. 9.]

From the time of Perry's birth until he was eighteen his father was bishop of their Logan ward. From 1942-1944 Perry served as a missionary in the Northern States Mission, headquartered in Chicago. Just after returning from his mission he joined the United States military, specifically the marines. He was among the United States troops sent to occupy Japan after the war. While in Nagasaki, Perry coordinated a group of marines to help rebuild a local Protestant church.Loren C. Dunn, [http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=ba1c8b5c1dbdb010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 “Elder L. Tom Perry: Serving with Enthusiasm,”] "Tambuli", Aug. 1987, p. 9.]

Education

Perry graduated from Utah State University in 1949 with a B.S. in business.

Employment

Perry's first job out of college was with a retail business in Idaho. He latter was involved in business jobs that took him to Washington State, California and New York.

He had a career in the retail business in Boston, Massachusetts. He became a fan of the Boston Red Sox, even throwing out the first pitch at a game on May 8 2004.

Early church service

In Idaho, Perry served as a counselor in a bishopric. Over the years he served in other positions including as an early-morning seminary teacher.

Perry served the LDS Church as a stake president in Boston.

General authority

Perry first became a general authority by serving in the position of Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1972. When a vacancy among the Twelve Apostles was created by the death of Church President Harold B. Lee and Spencer W. Kimball's moving from the position of President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to that of church president, Perry was chosen as the first new apostle of Kimball's administration, sustained to the Quorum on April 6 1974 and ordained to the office of apostle on April 11 1974.

Today, Perry ranks after only church president Thomas S. Monson and Quorum president Boyd K. Packer in apostolic seniority. As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Perry is accepted by the church as a prophet, seer, and revelator.

In 2004, Perry was asked by Hinckley to serve as the area president of the Europe Central Area of the church, headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, a position normally held by a member of the seventy, making Perry one of the most senior officials of the church ever to be stationed away from Salt Lake City. While serving in this capacity, Perry initiated a more proactive institute program that emphasized meeting the social and intellectual needs of young single adult church members.

Family

L. Tom Perry married Virginia Lee in the Logan Temple on 18 July 1947. They had three children, including Lee Tom Perry. Virginia died in 1974. In 1976, L. Tom Perry married Barbara Dayton. ["Deseret Morning News 2008 Church Almanc" (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Morning News, 2007) p. 36.]

ee also

* Council on the Disposition of the Tithes

Notes

References

* [http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=26af790fbf69f010VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD&vgnextchannel=67509c643826e010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD LDS Church biography]

External links

* [http://www.gapages.com/perrylt1.htm Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: L. Tom Perry]