Charles A. Didier
Encyclopedia
Charles Amand Didier is an emeritus
member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). A native French
speaker, Didier was the first Europe
an resident to have been called as a general authority in the history of the church.
Didier was born in Brussels, Belgium
, the eldest son of André Didier and Gabrielle Colpaert. At age 22, Didier was baptized
a member of the LDS Church in Brussels. Three months later, he received the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained to the office of deacon. Nine months later he was ordained a teacher. After another four months, Didier became a priest. Two years after his baptism, Didier received the Melchizedek priesthood and was ordained to the office of elder.
Prior to his call as a general authority, Didier was the president
of the France
–Switzerland
Mission of the church and a regional representative
for the Twelve Apostles. In October 1975, Church President Spencer W. Kimball
asked Didier to become a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, a full-time ecclesiastical position.
In 1984, when the first area presidencies in the church were created, Didier was made president of the South America North Area
, which included Brazil
as well as the Spanish-speaking
nations of South America
from Peru
north.
On 15 August 1992, Didier became one of the seven presidents of the Seventy; he served in this position until 15 August 1995, simultaneously serving as the general president of the church Sunday School
program in 1994 and 1995. In 2001, Didier was again called to serve in the Presidency of the Seventy. Until his second release from the Presidency of the Seventy in 2007, Didier's responsibilities included overseeing the area seventies in the North America Southwest Area of the church. In 2007, Didier was assigned as president of the newly consolidated Brazil Area of the church. Didier was made emeritus general authority in the October 2009 general conference.
Didier is married to Lucie Lodomez; the couple have two children.
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:...
member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). A native French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
speaker, Didier was the first Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an resident to have been called as a general authority in the history of the church.
Didier was born in Brussels, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, the eldest son of André Didier and Gabrielle Colpaert. At age 22, Didier was baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
a member of the LDS Church in Brussels. Three months later, he received the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained to the office of deacon. Nine months later he was ordained a teacher. After another four months, Didier became a priest. Two years after his baptism, Didier received the Melchizedek priesthood and was ordained to the office of elder.
Prior to his call as a general authority, Didier was the 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 France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
–Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
Mission of the church and 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...
for the Twelve Apostles. In October 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 Didier to become a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, a full-time ecclesiastical position.
In 1984, when the first area presidencies in the church were created, Didier was made president of the South America North Area
Area (LDS Church)
An area is an administrative unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which typically is composed of multiple stakes and missions...
, which included Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
as well as the Spanish-speaking
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
nations of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
from Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
north.
On 15 August 1992, Didier became one of the seven presidents of the Seventy; he served in this position until 15 August 1995, simultaneously serving as the general president of the church Sunday School
Sunday School (LDS Church)
Sunday School is an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.-Purpose:...
program in 1994 and 1995. In 2001, Didier was again called to serve in the Presidency of the Seventy. Until his second release from the Presidency of the Seventy in 2007, Didier's responsibilities included overseeing the area seventies in the North America Southwest Area of the church. In 2007, Didier was assigned as president of the newly consolidated Brazil Area of the church. Didier was made emeritus general authority in the October 2009 general conference.
Didier is married to Lucie Lodomez; the couple have two children.