Eight members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were released from their service during the Saturday afternoon session of the church's 176th Semiannual General Conference.

Members of the Seventy are responsible for administering the work of the church throughout the world under the direction of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve.

Those released: Elders Ronald T. Halverson, Dale E. Miller, H. Bryan Richards, Donald L. Staheli, David R. Stone, H. Bruce Stucki, Robert J. Whetten and Richard H. Winkel.

In addition, Erich W. Kopischke, 49, of Frankfurt, Germany, was called as an Area Seventy. Three Area Seventies were also released on Saturday: Cesar A.S. Milder, Hyae-Kee Min and Masayuki Nakano.