Elders Neil L. Andersen and Ronald A. Rasband were sustained Saturday afternoon as new members of the Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their appointments had been announced by the First Presidency in June.

They succeed Elders John H. Groberg and David E. Sorensen, whose releases also were previously announced.

Released from the First Quorum of the Seventy on Saturday were Elders Groberg and Sorensen, along with Elders F. Melvin Hammond, Harold G. Hillam and F. Burton Howard. Each was named an emeritus general authority of the church.

Members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy who also were released: Elders Darwin B. Christenson, Adhemar Damiani, H. Aldridge Gillespie, Stephen B. Oveson, Ned B. Roueche and Dennis E. Simmons.

Elder Andersen, 54, became a general authority in April 1993 as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He supervises the Idaho Area. He previously served as executive director of the audiovisual department of the church and as a counselor in the Sunday School general presidency. He has served in area presidencies in several parts of the world and presided over the France Bordeaux Mission. He was president of the Tampa, Florida Stake before serving in general church positions. The Logan native earned degrees from Brigham Young University and Harvard University. He and his wife, Kathy, are parents of four children and have nine grandchildren.

Elder Rasband, 42, was called to the Seventy in April 2000. He supervises the North America West and North America Northwest areas. He was an executive director of the Temple Department, president of the Utah Salt Lake City Area and a counselor in the Europe Central Area. From 1996-99 he presided over the New York New York North Mission. He was born in Salt Lake City and attended the University of Utah. He received an honorary doctorate of business and commerce from Utah Valley State College. He and his wife, Melanie, have five children and nine grandchildren.