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Show from the First Presidency the Morgan Stake would now be known as the Morgan Utah Stake. He explained: The Morgan Utah Stake is one of 630 ecclesiastical units ofthe Mormon Church throughout the world. Under the new naming adopted by the Church, existing stakes and all new stakes in the future will be designated more appropriately with the name ofthe city and state, province or county in which its headquarters are located.23 During President Little's time in office, stake presidents were first allowed to ordain men to the priesthood office of a seventy within their stakes. President Little tells a rather humorous story of this decision. The stake presidency had decided to greatly strengthen the stake seventies quorum. They sent nineteen names to Salt Lake for approval. After a time, President Little received a letter from Elder S, Dilworth Young which gave approval for him to call and interview the brethren recommended and then to go ahead and ordain them seventies. This was such a change that President Little was concerned that an error had been made, so he called and presented the matter to Elder Young. Elder Young responded, "What's the matter! Don't you want to do it." He then explained to President Little that he was letting him in on a responsibility that would soon be announced to stake presidents throughout the Church.24 The names of these nineteen brethren were presented in stake conference on 10 December 1972 for a sustaining vote and then they were ordained to the office ofaseventy on 17 December by President Little. They included Francis Tilby, Doran Webster, Robert Rich, Farrel Kirk, Dean Pace, Farrell Olson, Orson Harvey, Rodney Earl, Joseph A Badalijerred Jeppson, Alonzo Earl McCain, Paul Smith, Gordon Smith, Riley Lionel Olson, and Max Duncan.25 Official notice was given 29 March 1974 by the First Presidency that stake presidents could ordain seventies. The letter stated: Stake presidents are authorized to ordain seventies and to set apart presidents of seventies quorums following approval in each instance by the First Council ofthe Seventy. Please continue to make your recommendations to the First Council in the usual way and then act upon the ordinations and settings apart only upon receipt of approval from them. Certificates of ordination will continue to be issued by the First Council as at present. A little over ayear later the First Presidency authorized stake presidents by letter dated 23 July 1975 to ordain men to the office of bishop. The letter received by stake presidents explained: It was decided at a recent meeting ofthe Council ofthe First Presidency and the Quorum ofthe Twelve that stake presidents may, in the future, as specifically authorized by the First Presidency, ordain and set apart bishops. Similarly, the presidents of student stakes may, in the future, as specifically authorized by the First Presidency, set apart branch presidents. |