2019 Mission Presidents Called to Australia, Poland, Mexico, and More

  • 20 February 2019

The First Presidency has called 164 new mission presidents and companions who will begin service in July 2019.  Image by Aaron Thorup, Deseret News.

The following new mission presidents and their wives have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service in July of 2019. Biographies of other mission presidency couples will be published throughout 2019 on news.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. (See other published biographies.)

Chad W and Melanie Allred

Alabama Birmingham Mission

Chad W Allred, 59, and Melanie Allred, four children, Nelson Peak Ward, Erda Utah Stake: Alabama Birmingham Mission, succeeding President Stanford C. Sainsbury and Sister Melanee Sainsbury. 

Brother Allred is a Sunday School teacher and a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, bishop, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the England London East Mission. He was born in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, to Jennis Blaine Allred and Dellene Anderson.

Sister Allred is a Primary teacher and a former ward Young Women presidency counselor, Young Women adviser, and Gospel Doctrine teacher. She was born in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, to Michael Robert Lund and Mildred Rebecca Lasson Lund.

David L. and Stacy A. Chandler

Poland Warsaw Mission

David L. Chandler, 47, and Stacy A. Chandler, six children, Pinehurst Ward, Fayetteville North Carolina West Stake: Poland Warsaw Mission, succeeding President Mateusz Turek and Sister Adrienne Turek. 

Brother Chandler is a stake president and a former bishop, bishopric counselor, elders quorum presidency counselor, and missionary in the Poland Warsaw Mission. He was born in Provo, Utah, to Timothy Kent Chandler and Ann Elizabeth Simmons Chandler.

Sister Chandler is a Relief Society teacher and stake seminary supervisor and a former stake Young Women president, stake Young Women and Primary presidency counselor, stake Young Women camp director, ward Relief Society president, and missionary in the Poland Warsaw Mission. She was born in Provo, Utah, to Steven Lynn Sorenson and Susan Lucille Taylor Sorenson.

Gustavo A. and Videlmina Cristales

Honduras San Pedro Sula West Mission

Gustavo A. Cristales, 53, and Videlmina Cristales, four children, Monte María Ward, Guatemala City Mariscal Stake: Honduras San Pedro Sula West Mission, succeeding President Douglas R. Bush and Sister Ann Bush. 

Brother Cristales is an elders quorum president and institute teacher and a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, bishop, and missionary in the Colombia Barranquilla Mission. He was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, to Miguel Ángel Cristales López and Nicolaza Archila Carranza.

Sister Cristales is a stake Primary president and a former ward Primary president, ward Relief Society and Young Women presidency counselor, family history center director, seminary teacher, and Sunday School teacher. She was born in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, to Arturo Pimentel and Maria Celeste Cobaquil García.

J. Kevin and Debbie Ence

Australia Brisbane Mission

J. Kevin Ence, 63, and Debbie Ence, seven children, St. George 16th Ward, St. George Utah East Stake: Australia Brisbane Mission, succeeding President Mark E McSwain and Sister Yvonne McSwain. 

Brother Ence is an Area Seventy and a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, stake Young Men president, stake Young Men presidency counselor, bishop, and missionary in the New Zealand Auckland Mission. He was born in St. George, Utah, to John Harmon Ence and Janice Esplin Ence.

Sister Ence is a Church-service missionary and temple ordinance worker and a former stake Young Women and Primary presidency counselor, ward Primary president, Young Women adviser, and Gospel Doctrine teacher. She was born in St. George, Utah, to Howard Clark Houston and Mary Grace Houston.

Scott and Lori L. Featherstone

Washington Vancouver Mission

Scott Featherstone, 61, and Lori L. Featherstone, six children, East Mill Creek 7th Ward, Salt Lake East Mill Creek North Stake: Washington Vancouver Mission, succeeding President Dennis A. McAteer and Sister Susan McAteer. 

Brother Featherstone is a ward Young Men presidency counselor and a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, high councilor, bishop, bishopric counselor, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Arizona Holbrook Mission. He was born in Boise, Idaho, to Vaughn J. Featherstone and Merlene M Miner Featherstone.

Sister Featherstone is a Sunday School teacher and a former Young Women general board member, stake Young Women presidency counselor, stake Young Women camp director, ward Young Women and Primary president, and Young Women adviser. She was born in Twin Falls, Idaho, to Larry Marvin Christensen and Bonnie Kay Welch Christensen.

Daryl S. and Amy Glazier

Perú Limatambo Mission

Daryl S. Glazier, 47, and Amy Glazier, five children, Hobble Creek 6th Ward, Springville Utah Hobble Creek West Stake: Perú Limatambo Mission. 

Brother Glazier is a ward Young Men presidency counselor and a former bishop, bishopric counselor, ward Young Men president, stake clerk, and missionary in the Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission. He was born in Van Nuys, California, to Stewart Elwood Glazier and Sandra Lee Rushton Glazier.

Sister Glazier is a ward Primary president and a former stake and ward Primary presidency secretary and Sunday School teacher. She was born in Salt Lake City to Raymond Andersen and Nancy Sue Bolton Andersen.

Mark B. and Sherrie K. Goaslind

Arizona Tempe Mission

Mark B. Goaslind, 59, and Sherrie K. Goaslind, seven children, River Oaks 4th Ward, West Jordan Utah River Oaks Stake: Arizona Tempe Mission, succeeding President Spencer Christensen and Sister Carolyn T Christensen. 

Brother Goaslind is a temple sealer and a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, high councilor, bishop, elders quorum president, and missionary in the Italy Padova Mission. He was born in Salt Lake City to Jack H Goaslind and Gwen Caroline Bradford Goaslind.

Sister Goaslind is a stake temple and family history coordinator and a former stake Primary presidency counselor; ward Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary presidency counselor; and Primary activity days leader. She was born in Hamilton, New Zealand, to Richard Irving Knaphus and Barbara Joyce Jones.

Khumbulani and Futhi Mdletshe

Kenya Nairobi Mission

Khumbulani Mdletshe, 54, and Futhi Mdletshe, four children, Florida 1st Ward, Soweto South Africa Stake: Kenya Nairobi Mission, succeeding President S. Ephraim Msane and Sister Nomthi Msane. 

Brother Mdletshe is an Area Seventy and a former mission presidency counselor, stake presidency counselor, stake Young Men president, high councilor, branch president, bishopric counselor, and missionary in the England London South Mission. He was born in Kwa Mashu, South Africa, to Soka John Mdletshe and Qondeni Florence Mdletshe.

Sister Mdletshe is a Sunday School teacher and a former ward Relief Society and Primary president and ward Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary presidency counselor. She was born in Durban, South Africa, to Siphiwe Emmanual Hlongwane and Gcinaphi Getrude Hlongwane.

Kris and Craig S. Olson

Ecuador Guayaquil West Mission

Craig S. Olson, 63, and Kris Olson, five children, Brentwood Ward, Idaho Falls West Stake: Ecuador Guayaquil West Mission, succeeding President Rosendo Santos Camargo and Sister Maria del Rosario Mercado de Santos. 

Brother Olson is a former stake presidency counselor, stake mission president, bishopric counselor, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president, Sunday School teacher, and missionary in the Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission. He was born in Salt Lake City to Earl Eidswold Olson and Verene Ellen Stott Olson.

Sister Olson is a former stake Young Women presidency secretary, ward Primary president, ward Relief Society and Young Women presidency counselor, Young Women adviser, and Primary activity days leader. She was born in Salt Lake City to Horace Legrande Lewis and Shirley Laura Lewis.

Nenette and Giovanni P. Pangan

Philippines Iloilo Mission

Giovanni P. Pangan, 46, and Nenette Pangan, two children, Legazpi Ward, Legazpi Stake: Philippines Iloilo Mission, succeeding President Hermenegildo Cruz and Sister Emily Cruz. 

Brother Pangan is a stake president and a former stake presidency counselor, branch president, high councilor, bishopric counselor, institute teacher, and missionary in the Philippines Cebu Mission. He was born in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, to Benjamin Valledor Pangan and Catalina Penaso Pelin.

Sister Pangan is a stake Young Women presidency counselor and a former stake Relief Society president and presidency counselor, ward Relief Society and Primary president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, and Sunday School teacher. She was born in Legazpi City, Philippines, to Gonzalo Luna Mantes and Nemesia Marjalino Locsin.

Jeffrey N. and Janeen D. Redd

México Aguascalientes Mission

Jeffrey N. Redd, 61, and Janeen D. Redd, five children, La Habra Ward, Fullerton California Stake: México Aguascalientes Mission, succeeding President Francisco J. Hernández Rivero and Sister Kini Marcelo de Hernández. 

Brother Redd is an elders quorum president and a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, YSA branch president, ward mission leader, institute teacher, Sunday School teacher, and missionary in the Peru Lima North Mission. He was born in Los Angeles, California, to Earl William Redd and Rose Marie Robinson Redd.

Sister Redd is a stake Young Women president and a former ward Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary president and a ward Relief Society and Young Women presidency counselor. She was born in Gooding, Idaho, to Ken Dixon and Dixie Gardner Dixon.

Jane A. and Ernest K. Richter

Chile Concepción Mission

Ernest K. Richter, 62, and Jane A. Richter, eight children, Boerne Ward, San Antonio Texas La Cantera Stake: Chile Concepción Mission, succeeding President Nelson Catala and Sister Liang-Fan Catala. 

Brother Richter is an elders quorum presidency counselor and stake self-reliance specialist and a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, high councilor, bishop, and missionary in the Bolivia La Paz Mission. He was born in Brawley, California, to Roy Fred Richter and Louise Adelaide Clark.

Sister Richter is a ward Relief Society president and a former ward Primary president, stake Young Women presidency counselor, public affairs director, and Sunday School teacher. She was born in Flagstaff, Arizona, to Arthur Richard VanderStek and Grace Hattie Bruss.

Sheryn L. and Christopher L. Thomas

México México City Northwest Mission

Christopher L. Thomas, 49, and Sheryn L. Thomas, four children, Saddle Ranch Ward, Highlands Ranch Colorado Stake: México México City Northwest Mission, succeeding President Daniel D. De Leon and Sister Evelia De Leon. 

Brother Thomas is a mission presidency counselor and a former stake presidency counselor, high councilor, bishop, Gospel Doctrine teacher, ward mission leader, and missionary in the Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission. He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Gordon Kent Thomas and Mary Catherine Center Thomas.

Sister Thomas is a former ward Relief Society president, Young Women adviser, ward family history consultant, Primary teacher, and seminary teacher. She was born in Fullerton, California, to Charles Vermeule Lippincott and Bonnie Jean Lippincott.

Jana Lee and G. Blake Wahlen

Canada Vancouver Mission

G. Blake Wahlen, 60, and Jana Lee Wahlen, six children, Adams Park Ward, Layton Utah East Stake: Canada Vancouver Mission, succeeding President President Chi Hong (Sam) Wong and Sister Carol Lu Wong. 

Brother Wahlen is a regional public affairs director and a former stake president, high councilor, stake Young Men presidency counselor, bishop, bishopric counselor, institute teacher, and missionary in the Canada Calgary Mission. He was born in Fort Ord, California, to George Edward Wahlen and Melba Holley Wahlen.

Sister Wahlen is a regional public affairs director and a former stake Young Women presidency counselor, ward Primary president, ward Young Women presidency counselor, Sunday School teacher, and institute teacher. She was born in Ogden, Utah, to John Beus and Fay Hadley Beus.

N. Edwin and Cheryl A. Weathersby

New Mexico Albuquerque Mission

N. Edwin Weathersby, 62, and Cheryl A. Weathersby, four children, Pinnacle Vista Ward, Phoenix Arizona Desert Hills Stake: New Mexico Albuquerque Mission, succeeding President Timothy B. Guffey and Sister Kandis M. Guffey. 

Brother Weathersby is a Sunday School teacher and a former stake president, bishop, branch president, and stake Young Men president. He was born in Safford, Arizona, to Neuel Junior Weathersby and Clarissa Jane Knudsen Weathersby.

Sister Weathersby is a Sunday School teacher and a former seminary teacher, temple ordinance worker, ward Relief Society compassionate service leader, and nursery leader. She was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Kay Brunt Steele and Maxine Ruth Thomas Steele.

Carlos and Silvia Vergara de Zepeda

México Hermosillo Mission

Carlos Zepeda, 60, and Silvia Vergara de Zepeda, two children, Saucillo Ward, Pachuca México Centro Stake: México Hermosillo Mission, succeeding President Shaun S. Myers and Sister Christina L. Myers. 

Brother Zepeda is a Sunday School teacher and a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, bishop, branch president, bishopric counselor, and missionary in the México Veracruz Mission. He was born in México City, México, to Nazario Zepeda Peña and Carmen Reynaga Irayola.

Sister Zepeda is a ward Young Women presidency counselor and a former stake Primary presidency counselor, ward Relief Society and Primary president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and Relief Society teacher. She was born in Pachuca, México, to Bartolome Vergara Morales and Aurora Vite Rojas.

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