Robert L. Simpson (Mormon)

Robert Leatham Simpson (August 8, 1915 – April 15, 2003) was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1961 until his death.

Simpson served as an LDS missionary in the New Zealand Mission of the church as a young adult. In the 1950s, Simpson returned to the New Zealand Mission as the mission president.

Simpson studied at Santa Monica City College. He also was trained in the Technical Training Communication program held at Yale University during World War II. Simpson and his wife Jelaine Chandler were the parents of three children.

Simpson became a general authority of the church in 1961 when he was asked to be the first counselor to Presiding Bishop John H. Vandenburg. Simpson served in this capacity until he and Vandenburg were released and made Assistants to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1972. In this position, Simpson was the managing director of LDS Social Services (now renamed LDS Family Services). When the calling of Assistant to the Twelve was discontinued in 1976, Simpson was added to the First Quorum of the Seventy, where he served until 1989, when he was made an emeritus member of that quorum and relieved of church duties.

As a member of the Seventy, at various times Simpson was managing director of the church's Temple Department, president of the Pacific Area, president of the Los Angeles California Temple, a member of the general presidency of the Young Men Organization, and president of the England London East Mission. From 1985 to 1989, Simpson was general president of the Sunday School.

Simpson died in St. George, Utah.