Comments:
Update Jan 9/03 from William R. Walker, 2nd Quorum of Seventy
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Adney Y. Komatsu served with great distinction as President of the Northern Far East Mission from 1965 to 1968. In 1975, at age 51, he was called as a General Authority, serving as an Assistant to the Twelve. He was sustained to the First Quorum of Seventy in 1975, where he served until he was given emeritus status in 1993.
Elder Adney Y. Komatsu and Sister Judy Komatsu were dearly loved by the missionaries and the saints in Japan. For much of his time as a General Authority, Elder Komatsu served in Asia and had responsibilities in The Pacific, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Additionally, Elder Komatsu served as the second President of the Tokyo Temple.
Elder Komatsu was the first Bishop, Mission President and General Authority of Japanese ancestry. Elder Komatsu was raised in Honolulu and joined the church as a teenager. He served as an Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Army during WWII. Following the completion of his service as a General Authority in 993, he and Sister Komatsu returned to Honolulu.
Considering his service as a Mission President, Temple President and General Authority, and taking into account the long list of missionaries and members that he trained who went on to preside over the stakes and missions of Japan, it can easily be said that Elder Adney Y. Komatsu has had a greater influence on the church in Japan than any other leader of the church. Perhaps only the prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, has had a greater influence on the church in Japan.
Elder and Sister Komatsu are loved and admired by all of the members and missionaries who were blessed to know them and serve under them.
Elder William R. Walker,
Northern Far East Mission 1964-1966, Japan Tokyo South Mission 1990-1993
2nd Quorum of the Seventy
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LDS Church News
Bishop Adney Y. Komatsu of Anuenue Ward Honolulu Stake, will return to Japan, the land of his ancestors, to preside over the Northern Far East Mission. His appointment was announced this week by the First Presidency. The Honolulu-born bishop first saw Japan after the close of World War II when he went there as a member of the U.S. Army of Occupation. He was a member of the 441st Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment. His second mission to Japan will be devoted to spreading the message of the Gospel that he accepted in 1941, just before he graduated from Farrington High School. Later he entered the Army and graduated from the Military Intelligence Language School, Ft. Snelling, Minn., in 1945. After his discharge from the Army, he returned to Honolulu where he has since achieved success in business. He is vice president of the Honolulu Savings and Loan Co., Ltd.; secretary and director of Protective Investment Co. and vice president of American Tile and Service Co. Always active in Church work, he has been a branch president, Sunday School counselor, bishop's counselor, stake clerk and twice a member of the stake high council. He has been bishop for three years. In 1950, he married Judy Nobue Fujitani in the Hawaian Temple. They have four children. Mrs. Komatsu and the children will accompany Pres. Komatsu to the mission. She too is a convert to the Church, having been baptized in 1948. She also is a native of Honolulu. Mrs. Komatsu presently is serving as a teacher in Primary as well as Relief Society visiting teacher. She previously has been a teacher in Sunday School, secretary in Primary and Sunday School, Primary counselor and president and Relief Society counselor. Pres. Komatsu will succeed Pres. Dwayne N. Andersen. The Komatsus plan to leave for Tokyo in August. The mission includes Japan and Okinawa.
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