Yoshihiko Kikuchi
| Yoshihiko Kikuchi | |
|---|---|
| First Quorum of the Seventy | |
| 1 October 1977 – 1 October 2011 | |
| End reason | Granted general authority emeritus status |
| Emeritus General Authority | |
| 1 October 2011 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
25 July 1941 Horoizumi, Hokkaidō, Japan |
Yoshihiko Kikuchi (義彥菊池) (born 25 July 1941 in Horoizumi, Hokkaidō, Japan) has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1977, and was the first native Asian to be called as a general authority of the LDS Church.[1]
Kikuchi's father, a fisherman, was killed by an American submarine attack only two weeks before Japan's surrender ended World War II.[2] With a reason to hold a grudge against Americans, when contacted by American missionaries of the LDS Church after the war he was initially resistant to having anything to do with them, but was responsive to the message and was baptized at age 16. Three years after his baptism, Kikuchi began service as a missionary in his own country, serving for three and one half years.
After his mission service, Kikuchi attended Asia University in Tokyo, studying business psychology, while marrying and beginning his family.
After completing his education, he worked for a cookware firm. Later, he worked as the national sales manager for an international company, and eventually operated his own export import company. During this time, Kikuchi was also continuing to serve in the LDS Church, including president of one of the church's small branches in Tokyo and as the stake president in Tokyo. In 1977, Kikuchi was asked to retire from his secular pursuits to serve as a full-time general authority of the church. He was ordained a seventy and became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy at the October 1977 general conference. From 1987 to 1989, he served as president of the church's Hawaii Honolulu Mission. From 1994 to 1997, he served as president of the Tokyo Japan Temple.
On October 1, 2011, Kikuchi was released from the First Quorum of the Seventy and designated as an emeritus general authority at the church's semi-annual general conference.[3]
Kikuchi has been married to Toshiko Koshiya since 1964 and they are the parents of four children.
Notes
- ↑ Adney Y. Komatsu was the first general authority of East Asian descent, but was born and raised in the United States.
- ↑ "Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi", Conversations Podcast on Mormon Channel, episode 19.
- ↑ "Honorable releases given to 12 brethren". Church News. Deseret News Publishing Company. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
References
- Larry E. Morris, "Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi: Steadfast amid Change", Liahona, August 1985.
- "Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi of the First Quorum of the Seventy", Ensign, November 1977.