I have the 2009 Church Almanac.
In the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy, there are these six names for the Idaho Area:
Robert E. Chambers, Kim B. Clark, Ronald J. Hammond, K. Brett Nattress, Brent H. Nielson, Gary W. Walker
So these six are under the First Quorum of the Seventy, who are under the Presidency of the Seventy, who are under the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who are under the First Presidency? So these are the six men who provide the head oversight over the 400,000 LDS members in Southern Idaho?
Jesus in Idaho Falls 
In Idaho . . .
115 stakes
936 wards
Wait a minute, isn’t this around 400 people per ward? Do that many people attend each Sunday in all these wards in southern Idaho?
Oh yeah, Brent H. Nielson of Twin Falls has been moved to First Quorum of the Seventy.
Is it J. Craig Rowe of Nampa, Idaho who then stepped into Fifth Quorum of the Seventy to join the others for the Idaho Area?
And then it is Claudio Costa (ex-Catholic) of the Second Quorum of the Seventy who is the overseer of these Idaho Area Authorities?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudio_R._M._Costa
HT: Seth (back in April)
I think a healthy ward usually runs around 300 people. Which would leave about a 75% activity rate in the Mormon heartland.
Out Japan, we usually averaged a 20% activity rate.
That is what I was estimating Seth.
But I think there might be some centerstage wards in the heartland that might run 500.
Now what I would like to do is bring Claudio and all the Idaho Area Authorities of the Fifth Quorum together in Idaho Falls for a discussion.
Now what I would like to do is bring Claudio and all the Idaho Area Authorities of the Fifth Quorum together in Idaho Falls for a discussion.
That would be awesome.
Let me know when you get this set up and I will drive over and join in!
P.S. When is the Blake debate? I will drive over for that too.
As I recollect from my mormon days, we had very minimal contact with any “General Authorities”. Of course we lived in places that were distant from Salt Lake.
Jessica, I would like to get Blake up here in Idaho Falls for a town hall forum.
I need some time to promote an interest in this kind of thing in the community.
The topic that I am chewing on: God and gods in Biblical scripture and ANE religions
When? Sometime in 2010 if speakers and details can be worked out.
It’s a little bit of a stretch to say these six men “provide the head oversight” over the southeastern Idaho Mormons. I’ve lived here (Rexburg) for almost a decade and am an active churchgoer, and I only recognize the names of two of them.
I’m sure they have specific assignments relative to our area, to come and speak from time to time or something, but essentially all of the “oversight” for this area (or any other) comes directly from the top – President Monson, his counselors, and the apostles. There’s a hierarchy of leadership to be sure, but to the typical LDS person like me, the biggest impact, by far, on my personal life is either from my most local leaders (bishop, etc.) or the very highest leaders in the Church. Middle management undoubtedly provides valuable assistance in some way – I’m just not exactly sure what that way is.
Not that it would be a bad idea for you to contact any of these six and invite them to join you in a discussion – such things are almost always worthwhile, in my mind – but the event may not be as significant to local LDS members as you might hope it would be.
Anyway.
Perry, thanks for the comments.
You mentioned, “Middle management undoubtedly provides valuable assistance in some way – I’m just not exactly sure what that way is.”
I am intrigued to know more what are their responsibilities concerning Idaho.
My guess is that they probably spend a lot of time in goal-setting meetings with people like local stake presidents, mission presidents, and temple presidents. They probably play an active role in helping select future stake, mission and temple presidents in the area. And I know they travel around the area regularly and deliver inspirational messages to various congregations – of which there are many, as you pointed out above.
I think the one assigned to the Rexburg area (Brother Chambers, if memory serves) visits our stake, on average, once or twice a year, to speak to us. It’s always a special and spiritual meeting when someone like that is on hand to share some wisdom.
Hope this helps.