Robert Leatham Simpson (August 8, 1915 – April 15, 2003) was a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1961 until his death. Simpson served as a missionary in the church's New Zealand Mission as a young adult. In the 1950s, Simpson returned to New Zealand as the mission president. Simpson studied at

Santa Monica City College Santa Monica College (SMC) is a public, community college in Santa Monica, California. Founded as a junior college in 1929, SMC enrolls over 30,000 students in more than 90 fields of study. Although initially serving primarily pre-college high s ...

. He also was trained in the Technical Training Communication program held at Yale University during World War II. Simpson and his wife, Jelaire Chandler, were the parents of three children. Simpson became a general authority of the church in 1961 when he was asked to be the first counselor to Presiding Bishop John H. Vandenburg. Simpson served in this capacity until he and Vandenburg were released and made

Assistants to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, commonly shortened to Assistant to the Twelve or Assistant to the Twelve Apostles, was a priesthood calling in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1941 and 1976. As the title of t ...

in 1972. In this calling, Simpson was the managing director of ''LDS Social Services'' (now renamed

Family Services Child and family services is a government or non-profit organisation designed to better the well being of individuals who come from unfortunate situations, ''environmental'' or ''biological''. People who seek or are sought after to participate in ...

) from 1972 to 1974. In 1974, he became the head of the Melchizedek Priesthood MIA. In 1975, Simpson became the temporary president of the church's London Mission, replacing a president who became ill. When the calling of Assistant to the Twelve was discontinued in 1976, Simpson was added to the

First Quorum of the Seventy First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...

, where he served until 1989, when he was made an

emeritus ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...

general authority and relieved of full-time church duties. As a member of the Seventy, Simpson served at various times as managing director of the church's Temple Department, president of the Pacific Area, president of the Los Angeles California Temple, a member of the general presidency of the

Young Men Organization The Young Men (often referred to as Young Men's) is a youth organization and official program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Its purpose is to assist the church's Aaronic priesthood-aged young men in their growt ...

, as president of the England London East Mission, and as general president of the

Sunday School A Sunday school is an educational institution, usually (but not always) Christian in character. Other religions including Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism have also organised Sunday schools in their temples and mosques, particularly in the West. Su ...

. Simpson died in

St. George, Utah St. George is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Utah, United States. Located in southwestern Utah on the Arizona border, it is the principal city of the St. George Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The city lies in the northe ...

."Elder Robert L. Simpson Dies at Age 87"
'' Ensign'', July 2003.

Notes

References

"Elder Robert L. Simpson,"
'' Ensign'', July 1972, p. 11

External links

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Emeritus ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...

General Authority
September 30, 1989 – April 15, 2003

October 1, 1976 – September 30, 1989

Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, commonly shortened to Assistant to the Twelve or Assistant to the Twelve Apostles, was a priesthood calling in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1941 and 1976. As the title of t ...

April 6, 1972 – October 1, 1976 {{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Robert L. 1915 births 2003 deaths 20th-century Mormon missionaries American Mormon missionaries in England American Mormon missionaries in New Zealand American general authorities (LDS Church) Assistants to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Counselors in the General Presidency of the Young Men (organization) Counselors in the Presiding Bishopric (LDS Church) General Presidents of the Sunday School (LDS Church) Latter Day Saints from California Latter Day Saints from Utah Members of the First Quorum of the Seventy (LDS Church) Mission presidents (LDS Church) Santa Monica College alumni Temple presidents and matrons (LDS Church) Yale University alumni