“New Area Leaders Assigned,” Liahona, August 2017
News of the Church
New Area Leaders Assigned
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The First Presidency has announced changes in area leadership assignments, effective on August 1, 2017.
The Seventy are called by revelation, under the direction of the First Presidency, to assist the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in their ministry throughout the world. The Presidency of the Seventy and Area Presidencies preside over geographic areas, and area leaders travel within their assigned area to teach and encourage local leaders and members of the Church.
During Christ’s mortal ministry, He called the Seventy, instructed them in a manner similar to the Twelve Apostles, and sent them out “before his face,” explaining that those who heard their voices would hear His voice (see Matthew 10:1, 16–17; Luke 10).
United States and Canada
Craig C. Christensen
Utah North
Utah Salt Lake City
Utah South
Ulisses Soares
Idaho
North America Central
Lynn G. Robbins
North America Southeast
Gerrit W. Gong
North America Northeast
Juan A. Uceda
North America Southwest
Patrick Kearon
North America Northwest
North America West
Africa Southeast
S. Mark Palmer
First Counselor
Kevin S. Hamilton
President
Joni L. Koch
Second Counselor
Africa West
Marcus B. Nash
First Counselor
Terence M. Vinson
President
Larry S. Kacher
Second Counselor
Asia
David F. Evans
First Counselor
Randy D. Funk
President
Peter F. Meurs
Second Counselor
Asia North
Kazuhiko Yamashita
First Counselor
Robert C. Gay
President
Yoon Hwan Choi
Second Counselor
Brazil
W. Mark Bassett
First Counselor
Marcos A. Aidukaitis
President
Joaquin E. Costa
Second Counselor
Caribbean
Claudio D. Zivic
First Counselor
Walter F. González
President
Jose L. Alonso
Second Counselor
Central America
Jorge F. Zeballos
First Counselor
Adrián Ochoa
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
Alexey V. Samaykin*
Second Counselor
Mexico
Arnulfo Valenzuela
First Counselor
Paul B. Pieper
President
Rafael E. Pino
Second Counselor
Pacific
Craig A. Cardon
First Counselor
O. Vincent Haleck
President
Ian S. Ardern
Second Counselor
Philippines
Allen D. Haynie
First Counselor
Shayne M. Bowen
President
Evan A. Schmutz
Second Counselor
South America Northwest
Enrique R. Falabella
First Counselor
Carlos A. Godoy
President
Hugo Montoya
Second Counselor
South America South
Allan F. Packer
First Counselor
José A. Teixeira
President
Mark A. Bragg
Second Counselor
Middle East/Africa North
Wilford W. Andersen
Anthony D. Perkins
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