Elder David Todd Christofferson was born in Pleasant Grove, Utah Jan. 24, 1945. His family moved to New Jersey, where Elder Christopherson experienced a different cultural setting. He was the only LDS member in his class all through high school.

"I consider that perhaps spiritually...the most formative part of my life," he said in a news conference Saturday. "It forced me to think very deeply about what I believed and in the end to go to the Lord and seek real confirmation of the truth and merit of what I thought."

Elder Christofferson compared New Jersey to the waters of Mormon where converts were baptized by Alma in the Book of Mosiah. He said, to them, the water and forest of Mormon were a sweet word and a special place.

"That's how New Jersey is for me," he said. "I know most people don't look at it that way."

Elder Christofferson served a full-time mission to Argentina and when he returned started school at BYU. After completing a bachelor's degree from BYU, Elder Christofferson pursued a law degree at Duke University. He practiced law in Washington D.C., Tennessee, and North Carolina. In Washington D.C., he was a clerk for Judge Sirica, the judge given the Watergate court cases. This was an important time for him, he said.

"It was, as you can imagine, a pretty unique way to start a legal career," he said. "It gave me, interestingly enough, a great deal of faith, added faith if you will, in government and good people in government."

Elder Christofferson married Katherine Jacob in the Salt Lake Temple and they have five children and eight grandchildren. After being married for just over a year, he went to basic training for the military and a man asked him if he had been afraid to get married. It had never occurred to him to be afraid as it was something he'd hoped for.

"We have a wonderful relationship and next month we'll celebrate 40 years of marriage," he said. "I give her tribute for making something of me."

He was sustained as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy April 3, 1993 at age 48 and called to the Presidency of Seventy in 1998. He served as area president in Mexico and has also served as a regional representative, stake president and a bishop.

At his call to the Quorum of the Twelve Elder Christofferson said he felt a deep sense of humility. He also felt a sense of gratitude for the trust placed in him by the Lord and by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve.

Elder Christofferson said since his call, he has felt anxious to be out and involved and feeding the Savior's sheep.

"That has grown up within my heart as a great desire and anxiety and [I] hope that I can do that the rest of my life, I look forward to it, that's the feeling that occupies me now," he said.

He urged college students to take advantage of the time they have now for preparation and said these times pass quickly. During the news conference he also admonished members to get out among other people.

"If I have any message at the moment it's that we take full advantage of the privilege that is ours to be among our fellow man," he said," to contribute what we can and receive what they bring and enjoy the brotherhood of children of God."