served as an Assistant to the Twelve. During his first decade as a general authority, Hales was given assignments related to the physical and financial operations of the LDS Church. He oversaw a reduction in the number of the church's welfare farms and also divestment from the Utah and Idaho Sugar Company. In the late 1970s, while serving as a general authority, Hales also served as president of the church's England London Mission. After his service in London, Hales was appointed the church's Area Supervisor in Europe. In this capacity, he worked with Thomas S. Monson on supervising the church in East Germany and worked towards the building of a temple there. He also served for a time as a counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency. Hales served in the First Quorum of the Seventy until 1985 when he became the church's eleventh presiding bishop. He served as the presiding bishop until 1994, during which time he emphasized the importance of the principles of the church's welfare program. Hales was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve on April 2, 1994. He was ordained an apostle on April 7, 1994, filling a vacancy created by the death of Marvin J. Ashton. In 2002, Hales served as chair of the church's Olympic Coordinating Council. As a native of New York City, Hales was often the church's "point man" on dealing with issues in the city. He was involved in some of the early planning that led to the building of the Manhattan New York Temple. Health issues and death Over the years, Hales had several health issues impacting his church service. This included missing the church's April 2011 General Conference. In September 2017, he was again hospitalized and a church spokesman noted that, in view of the recommendations of attending physicians, Hales would not participate in the upcoming General Conference. Hales died on October 1, 2017, shortly after the conclusion of the conference's Sunday morning session. His death was announced by Henry B. Eyring at the beginning of the afternoon session. Funeral services for Hales were held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, on October 6, 2017. A private burial service followed at the Bountiful City Cemetery in Bountiful, Utah. Bibliography Return: Four Phases of Our Mortal Journey Home (Deseret Book, June 1, 2010, ) The British Contribution to the Restored Gospel (BYU Studies,