President Henry B. Eyring was named as the new first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today.

President Eyring served as second counselor to President Gordon B. Hinckley since the October 2007 general conference, filling the vacancy left by the death of President James E. Faust, who died Aug. 10, 2007, at the age of 87 after serving as a general authority for 35 years.

President Eyring, formerly a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, twice served as Church Commissioner of Education and in several councils of the church before becoming an apostle in 1995. He holds a B.S. degree in physics from the University of Utah and master of business administration and doctor of business administration degrees from Harvard University.

He also served as president of Ricks College, now Brigham Young University-Idaho, from 1971-77.