1932 - living

• Born 1932 New York City, New York
• Baptized as a child; Aaronic Priesthood as a youth; Melchizedek Priesthood as a young man
• Married to Mary Elene Crandall 1953; two sons
• Assistant to the Twelve 1975-1976
• President of London Mission late 1970s
• First Quorum of Seventy 1976-1985
• Presiding Bishop 1985-1994
• Sustained to Twelve and ordained Apostle 1994

   When Elder Robert D. Hales was sustained as the newest apostle in the Saturday afternoon session of general onference April 2, 1994, he filled a vacancy in the Council of the Twelve resulting from the death of Elder Marvin J. Ashton on Feb. 25.

    Elder Hales, 61, had served as Presiding Bishop of the Church since April 1985. He was called as a General Authority in April 1975, serving first as an Assistant to the Twelve and later in the First Quorum of Seventy, when that quorum was organized in October 1976.

    After the Saturday afternoon session, Elder Hales and his wife, Mary, were introduced to the media at a news conference in the North Visitors Center.

   "This is a unique time in one's life," Elder Hales said. "I just appreciate the opportunity of serving and having my wife at my side.

   "My feelings are very close," he affirmed.

    "Imagine what it means to be a young boy from New York who memorized the names of all the apostles when I was a deacon. I never thought I'd be among them."

    Elder Hales said he felt "very inadequate" in his new calling. "One of the beautiful things about the gospel is that you're always improving." He said that his apostolic call has taken him through a self-evaluation.

    At the news conference, he referred to two heart attacks that he has suffered. "I'm just grateful to be here. My doctor says I have defied the odds and seem to be doing well."

    Elder Hales mentioned his experiences in the business world before his call as a General Authority. "I'm glad for those opportunities. It was excellent preparation to be the Presiding Bishop of the Church."

    As a special witness of Jesus Christ, Elder Hales exclaimed: "I can tell you with surety that Jesus lives. Now it will be my responsibility to tell the world that I know."

    Elder Hales was born in New York City on Aug. 24, 1932, to John Rulon and Vera Marie Holbrook Hales. He grew up in Great Neck, N.Y., with an older brother and an older sister. The family attended Church 20 miles away in Queens.

    He loved baseball and was an outstanding pitcher. He went on to play for the University of Utah team until an injury ended his career. He earned money for his schooling working full-time for KDYL and KSL television.

    He met Mary Elene Crandall at Church in Queens while home from school. In the fall, he returned to the University of Utah and she went to BYU. They continued dating and were married during his senior year in 1953.

    After graduating from college, Elder Hales went into the Air Force, flying F84 Thunderjets and F100 Super Sabres in the Strategic Air Command and the Tactical Air Command. Following his military service, he attended Harvard Business School, where he earned a master's degree.

    During his distinguished professional business career he served in  executive positions with four major national companies. After joining the Gillette Co., he became president of the Papermate Co., a division of Gillette. Then he joined Max Factor Co., as a vice president, and later headed Hughes Television Network. Just prior to his call to be a General Authority,  he was president of the Chesebrough-Pond's Co.

   He moved around the United States and lived in several foreign countries.  That led to a diversity of Church leadership positions. He served as a branch president, bishop, high councilor and stake president's counselor.

    He was a regional representative for five years prior to his call as a General Authority. He was president of the England London Mission in the late '70s, and has served as first counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency.

    Elder Hales and his wife have two sons.

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    Elder Hales spoke of his health problems as the first speaker in the Saturday morning session of the 170th Semi-annual General Conference held October 7, 2000.

    After recovering from three major surgeries which have prevented me from speaking in the past two general conferences, what a joy it is to be able to stand in this beautiful Conference Center today to teach and bear testimony to those who desire to hear the word of the Lord.

    In the past two years, I have waited upon the Lord for mortal lessons to be taught me through periods of physical pain, mental anguish, and pondering. I learned that constant, intense pain is a great consecrating purifier that humbles us and draws us closer to God's Spirit. If we listen and obey, we will be guided by His Spirit and do His will in our daily endeavors.

    There were times when I have asked a few direct questions in my prayers, such as, "What lessons dost Thou want me to learn from these experiences?"

    As I studied the scriptures during this critical period of my life, the veil was thin and answers were given to me as they were recorded in lives of others who had gone through even more severe trials.

    "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

    "And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high" (D&C 121:7-8).

    Dark moments of depression were quickly dispelled by the light of the gospel as the Spirit brought peace and comfort with assurances that all would be well.

    On a few occasions, I told the Lord that I had surely learned the lessons to be taught and that it wouldn't be necessary for me to endure any more suffering. Such entreaties seemed to be of no avail, for it was made clear to me that this purifying process of testing was to be endured in the Lord's time and in the Lord's own way. It is one thing to teach, "Thy will be done" (Matt. 26:42). It is another to live it. I also learned that I would not be left alone to meet these trials and tribulations but that guardian angels would attend me. There were some that were near angels in the form of doctors, nurses, and most of all my sweet companion, Mary. And on occasion, when the Lord so desired, I was to be comforted with visitations of heavenly hosts that brought comfort and eternal reassurances in my time of need.

    Though my personal suffering is not to be compared to the Savior's agony in Gethsemane, I gained a better understanding of His Atonement and His suffering. In His time of agony, He asked His Father, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matt. 26:39). His Father in Heaven sent an angel to sustain and comfort Him in His time of need (see Luke 22:43).

    Jesus chose not to be released from this world until He had endured to the end and completed the mission He had been sent to accomplish for mankind. Upon the cross of Calvary, Jesus commended His spirit to His Father with a simple statement, "It is finished" (John 19:30). Having endured to the end, He was released from mortality.

    We, too, must endure to the end. The Book of Mormon teaches, "Unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved" (2 Ne. 31:16).

    The experiences of the last two years have made me stronger in spirit and have given me courage to testify more boldly to the world the deep feelings of my heart. I stand before you today with a resolve to teach the gospel principles like the prophets of old--without the fear of man, speaking clearly with plain talk, and teaching simple gospel truths.

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    Elder Hales continues to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at this writing.