L. Tom Perry

Lowell Tom Perry (born August 5,1922) is a senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having been ordained to that body in 1974.

A World War II veteran and graduate of Utah State University, Perry was born in Utah but in his career in the retail business spent years working in Boston, Massachusetts, where he became a confirmed fan of the Boston Red Sox. Having served the Church as a stake president,he first became a General Authority in the discontinued position of Assistant to the Twelve in 1972. When a vacancy among the Twelve Apostles was created by the death of Church President Harold B. Lee and Spencer W. Kimball moving from the position of President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to that of Church President, Perry was chosen as the first new Apostle of Kimball's administration, sustained to the Quorum on April 6, 1974, and ordained on April 11, 1974.

Today he ranks after only Thomas S. Monson and Boyd K. Packer in succession to Church President Gordon B. Hinckley. In 2004 he was named to be president of the Europe Central Area, a position normally held by a member of the Quorums of the Seventy,making him one of the most senior officials of the church ever stationed overseas.