Church Adds Area Presidencies for U.S. and Canada, Announces Other 2018 Assignments

Contributed By Sarah Jane Weaver, Church News editor

  • 5 April 2018

The First Presidency has announced that effective August 1, areas in North America—previously overseen by members of the Presidency of Seventy—will be administered by Area Presidencies.

The First Presidency has announced changes to the way Church areas in the United States and Canada are administered. Effective August 1, areas in North America—previously overseen by members of the Presidency of Seventy—will be administered by Area Presidencies.

Beginning in 1984, the Church established areas to direct the work in geographic locations. For the past decade, the Presidency of the Seventy has had direct responsibility for Church areas in United States and Canada.

“The creation of Area Presidencies for the United States and Canada is an important step forward,” said President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “It allows these brethren to focus on the specific needs of each region, providing counsel and direction to regional and local leaders. It also gives the Presidency of the Seventy greater capacity to assist the Quorum of the Twelve in their work and fulfill other assignments.”

The Church currently has 15 areas outside North America and 10 inside for a total of 25. Six Area Presidencies have been created for the Church’s 10 areas in North America.

Three Area Presidencies will oversee multiple areas. The Area Presidencies for North America will reside in Utah; Area Presidencies outside of North America will reside in the area. The Church’s Middle East/North Africa Area is administered from headquarters.

In addition to announcing the creation of new Area Presidencies, the First Presidency has also announced new area leadership assignments. All members of Area Presidencies are General Authority Seventies or Area Seventies.

Church members sustained new members of the Presidency of the Seventy during general conference on March 31. President Nelson announced additional members of the Presidency of the Seventy who will begin their service August 1.

Elder Carl B. Cook and Elder Robert C. Gay replace Elder Gerrit W. Gong and Elder Ulisses Soares—who were sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles—in the Presidency of the Seventy effectively immediately.

Elder Terence M. Vinson, Elder José A. Teixeira, and Elder Carlos A. Godoy will begin service in the Presidency of the Seventy on August 1.

“We are grateful to these Brethren for their willingness to serve in these new assignments,” said President Ballard.

(Click on the name of the area to see an enlarged map of the area.)

Presidency of the Seventy
L. Whitney Clayton
President
Patrick Kearon
President
Carl B. Cook
President
Robert C. Gay
President
 
Terence M. Vinson
President
José A. Teixeira
President
Carlos A. Godoy
President
 


 

Idaho
North America Central
S. Gifford Nielsen
First Counselor
Wilford W. Andersen
President
Brian K. Taylor
Second Counselor

 

North America Northeast
Kevin S. Hamilton
First Counselor
Randall K. Bennett
President
Allan D. Haynie
Second Counselor

 

North America Southeast
Shane M. Bowen
First Counselor
Claudio R. M. Costa
President
Vern P. Stanfill
Second Counselor

 

North America Southwest
Paul B. Pieper
First Counselor
Lynn G. Robbins
President
Adrián Ochoa
Second Counselor

 

North America Northwest
North America West
Scott D. Whiting
First Counselor
Kevin W. Pearson
President
Jörg Klebingat
Second Counselor

 

Utah North
Utah Salt Lake City
Utah South
LeGrand R. Curtis Jr.
First Counselor
Craig C. Christensen
President
Randy D. Funk
Second Counselor

 

Africa Southeast
Joseph W. Sitati
First Counselor
S. Mark Palmer
President
Joni L. Koch
Second Counselor
Africa West
Larry S. Kacher
First Counselor
Marcus B. Nash
President
Edward Dube
Second Counselor
Asia
Peter F. Meurs
First Counselor
David F. Evans
President
David P. Homer
Second Counselor
Asia North Area
Kazuhiko Yamashita
First Counselor
Yoon Hwan Choi
President
Takashi Wada
Second Counselor
Brazil
W. Mark Bassett
First Counselor
Marcos A. Aidukaitis
President
Adilson de Paula Parrella
Second Counselor
Caribbean
José L. Alonso
First Counselor
Walter F. Gonzalez
President
Eduardo Gavarret
Second Counselor
Central America
Jorge F. Zeballos
First Counselor
Juan A. Uceda
President
Valeri V. Cordón
Second Counselor
Europe
Gary B. Sabin
First Counselor
Paul V. Johnson
President
Massimo De Feo
Second Counselor
Europe East
Christoffel Golden
First Counselor
James B. Martino
President
Alexy V. Samaykin
Second Counselor
Mexico
Rafael E. Pino
First Counselor
Arnulfo Valenzuela
President
John C. Pingree Jr.
Second Counselor
Middle East/Africa North
Anthony D. Perkins
President
Administered from Church Headquarters
Wilford W. Andersen
First Counselor
Administered from Church Headquarters
Pacific
Ian S. Ardern
First Counselor
O. Vincent Haleck
President
Brett K. Nattress
Second Counselor
Philippines
Michael John U. Teh
First Counselor
Evan A. Schmutz
President
Taniela B. Wakolo
Second Counselor
South America Northwest
Hugo Montoya
First Counselor
Enrique R. Falabella
President
Mathias Held
Second Counselor
South America South
Mark A. Bragg
First Counselor
Benjamín De Hoyos
President
Juan Pablo Villar
Second Counselor

 

 

 

The Church has 15 areas outside North America and 10 areas inside North America for a total of 25.

 

  Listen