Adney Y. Komatsu
Encyclopedia
Adney Yoshio Komatsu was a general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1975 until his death. Komatsu was the first person of Asian
descent to become a general authority of the LDS Church.
Born of Japanese
parents in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii
, Komatsu became a convert to the LDS Church in 1941 at age 17. He was the first Latter-day Saint of Japanese descent to become a bishop of the church. Later, Komatsu became the first person of Asian descent to serve as a Regional Representative
of the Twelve Apostles. In 1965, Komatsu became the first person of Asian descent to preside
over a mission of the Church; he was president
of the church's Northern Far East Mission from 1965 to 1968.
On April 4, 1975, Church President Spencer W. Kimball
asked Komatsu to become an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
and a General Authority
of the Church. In 1976, when the calling of Assistant to the Twelve
was discontinued, Komatsu was ordained to the office of Seventy and became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He served in this capacity until October 1993, when he was given general authority emeritus
status and excused from full-time ecclesiastical duties. During his tenure as a general authority, Komatsu served for several years as the president of the Tokyo Japan Temple
.
Komatsu married Japan
native Judy Nobue Fujitani in the Laie Hawaii Temple
in 1950; the couple have four children. Komatsu died in Honolulu, Hawaii
.
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1975 until his death. Komatsu was the first person of Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
descent to become a general authority of the LDS Church.
Born of Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
parents in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
, Komatsu became a convert to the LDS Church in 1941 at age 17. He was the first Latter-day Saint of Japanese descent to become a bishop of the church. Later, Komatsu became the first person of Asian descent to serve as a Regional Representative
Regional representative of the Twelve
Regional representative of the Twelve, commonly shorted to regional representative or regional rep, was a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1968 and 1995...
of the Twelve Apostles. In 1965, Komatsu became the first person of Asian descent to preside
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
over a mission of the Church; he was president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the church's Northern Far East Mission from 1965 to 1968.
On April 4, 1975, Church President Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:...
asked Komatsu to become an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, commonly shortened to Assistant to the Twelve or Assistant to the Twelve Apostles, was a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1941 and 1976...
and a General Authority
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
of the Church. In 1976, when the calling of Assistant to the Twelve
Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, commonly shortened to Assistant to the Twelve or Assistant to the Twelve Apostles, was a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1941 and 1976...
was discontinued, Komatsu was ordained to the office of Seventy and became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He served in this capacity until October 1993, when he was given general authority emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
status and excused from full-time ecclesiastical duties. During his tenure as a general authority, Komatsu served for several years as the president of the Tokyo Japan Temple
Tokyo Japan Temple
The is the 20th constructed and 18th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, it was the first temple built in Asia. It has a compact style that was a precursor for later urban area temples such as the Hong Kong China Temple and the...
.
Komatsu married Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
native Judy Nobue Fujitani in the Laie Hawaii Temple
Laie Hawaii Temple
Laie Hawaii Temple is a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located on the northeast shore of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The temple sits on a small hill a half-mile from the Pacific Ocean in the town of Lāie, from Honolulu...
in 1950; the couple have four children. Komatsu died in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
.
External links
- Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: Adney Y. Komatsu
- Northern Far East Mission Alumni: President Adney Y. Komatsu