16 New 2020 Mission Presidents and Companions Called to Serve in Brazil, Ethiopa, Peru, U.S., and More

Contributed By Church News Staff

• 21 February 2020

A new mission president gives a comment during a breakout session of the 2019 Mission Leadership Seminar at the Provo Missionary Training Center, which was held June 23–25.

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The following 16 new mission presidents and companions have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service in July of 2020.

Missouri Independence Mission

Lynn J Ames, 61, and Rebecca Bennett Ames, five children, 20th Ward, Salt Lake Ensign Stake: Missouri Independence Mission, succeeding President Adams J. Love and Sister Louise M. Love. Brother Ames is a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, high councilor, bishop, bishopric counselor, elders quorum president, ward executive secretary, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Italy Rome Mission. He was born in Moroni, Utah, to Ronald Kenneth Ames and Velma Williams.

Sister Ames is a Young Women adviser and former stake Primary presidency counselor, ward Relief Society president, ward Primary presidency counselor, and Cub Scout leader. Sister Ames was born in Salt Lake City to Peter Hetherington Bennett and Rebecca Bennett.

Brazil Rio de Janeiro North Mission

Leandro de Oliveira, 47, and Arina de Oliveira, two children, Boa Viagem Ward, Recife Brazil Boa Viagem Stake: Brazil Rio de Janeiro North Mission, succeeding President Júlio César Kern and Sister Denise Dornelles Kern. Brother de Oliveira is an elders quorum president, ward mission leader, and ward temple and family history leader and former stake president, stake presidency counselor, high councilor, stake Young Men president, bishop, bishopric counselor, and missionary in the Brazil São Paulo Interlagos Mission. He was born in Gurinhém, Brazil, to Luiz Leandro de Oliveira and Maria Madalena Cordeiro de Oliveira.

Sister de Oliveira is a seminary teacher and former Sunday School teacher, stake and ward Young Women president, ward Relief Society and Young Women presidency counselor, and ward music chairman. She was born in João Pessoa, Brazil, to Antonio Pereira dos Santos and Tanea Maria de Lucena.

Arizona Tucson Mission

Jeremy B. Grisel, 45, and Robin H. Grisel, four children, Lufkin First Ward, Longview Texas Stake: Arizona Tucson Mission, succeeding President Eric L. Browning and Sister Jana E. Browning. Brother Grisel is a seminary teacher and former stake presidency counselor, public affairs specialist, bishop, bishopric counselor, elders quorum president, and missionary in the Argentina Mendoza Mission. He was born in Provo, Utah, to Christopher Dean Grisel and Christine Dale Van Wagoner.

Sister Grisel is a ward music chairman, Relief Society teacher, and Primary teacher and former ward Primary presidency counselor, Relief Society music leader, and Primary music leader. She was born in Provo, Utah, to Roger Mathew Hewett and Cerita Marie Hewett.

Alaska Anchorage Mission

Gregory G. King, 61, and Lynnell S. King, three children, Edgemont First Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont Stake: Alaska Anchorage Mission, succeeding President Lance D. Toone and Sister Terri Lynn Toone. Brother King is a bishop and former high councilor, stake Young Men president, and missionary in the Philippines Cebu City Mission. He was born in Provo, Utah, to Glen Chester King and Joanne Margie King.

Sister King is a Primary teacher and former stake Young Women presidency counselor, ward Young Women and Primary president, ward Young Women presidency counselor, and temple ordinance worker. Sister King was born in Provo, Utah, to Raymond Earle Sanders and Loralee Sanders.

Brazil São Paulo Interlagos Mission

Jeffery R. Morrin, 51, and Laura D. Morrin, six children, Harvest Hills Ward, Rexburg Idaho East Stake: Brazil São Paulo Interlagos Mission, succeeding President Kenneth D. Cordner and Sister Robin J. Cordner. Brother Morrin is a stake presidency counselor and former high priest group leader, stake mission presidency counselor, bishopric counselor, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Spain Las Palmas Mission. He was born in Ogden, Utah, to Richard Dean Morrin and Sharon Lynn Warner.

Sister Morrin is a Primary presidency secretary and temple ordinance worker and former ward temple and family history consultant, Primary teacher, and Young Women adviser. She was born in Whittier, California, to Steven Daniel Christoffersen and Joan Thomas Christoffersen.

Benin Cotonou Mission

Myles Proudfoot, 49, and Julie Proudfoot, four children, Highland 43rd Ward, Highland Utah Stake: Benin Cotonou Mission, succeeding President D. Martin Goury and Sister Ruth Goury. Brother Proudfoot is a former high councilor, bishop, bishopric counselor, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president, temple ordinance worker, and missionary in the England Coventry Mission. He was born in London, England, to Charles Proudfoot and Tessa Proudfoot.

Sister Proudfoot is a former stake Primary presidency counselor, ward Relief Society and Young Women president, ward Primary presidency counselor, Sunday School teacher, temple ordinance worker, and missionary in the Haiti Port-au-Prince Mission. She was born in St. Albans, England, to David John Ellis and Jeanette Ellis.

Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission

Matthew W. Wright, 55, and Kimberly V. Wright, five children, Maplewood Ward, Gilbert Arizona Williams Field Stake: Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission, succeeding President Steven C. Bednar and Sister Cindy Bednar. Brother Wright is a service mission leader and former stake presidency counselor, bishop, bishopric counselor, and ward executive secretary. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona, to William Frank Wright and Martha Cheryl Wright.

Sister Wright is a service mission leader and former stake and ward Relief Society presidency secretary and ward Young Women presidency counselor. She was born in Kearny, Arizona, to Kenneth Vance and Carol Elmer.

México Torreón Mission

Alfredo Zanudo, 56, and Guadalupe Zanudo, three children, Reforma Ward, Hermosillo México Stake: México Torreón Mission, succeeding President Anthony E. Berrett and Sister Janell Berrett. Brother Zanudo is a stake president and former high councilor, stake Sunday School presidency counselor, stake Young Men president, bishop, bishopric counselor, and ward mission leader. He was born in Hermosillo, Mexico, to Giberto Sanudo and Maura Urrea Serrano.

Sister Zanudo is a ward Primary presidency counselor and Relief Society pianist and former stake Young Women presidency counselor, ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women presidency counselor, and temple and family history consultant. Sister Zanudo was born in Hermosillo, Mexico, to Miguel Angel Vazquez Gurrola and Maria Dolores Jaime de Vazquez.

Ethiopia Addis Ababa Mission

Robert J. Dudfield, 52, and Darice B. Dudfield, five children, Eltham Ward, Melbourne Australia Heidelberg Stake: Ethiopia Addis Ababa Mission. Brother Dudfield is an elders quorum teacher and YSA adviser and former Area Seventy, stake president, stake presidency counselor, bishop, bishopric counselor, seminary teacher, and missionary in the Australia Sydney Mission. He was born in Devonport, Australia, to Roy Dudfield and Yvonne Judith Dudfield.

Sister Dudfield is a YSA adviser and ward organist and former ward Relief Society and Primary president, ward Primary presidency counselor, Primary music leader, seminary supervisor, and institute teacher. She was born in Preston, Australia, to Harold Kwong and Valerie Myra Kwong.

 Perú Chiclayo Mission

E. Xavier Espinoza, 54, and Silvia María Velasquez Casco Espinoza, two children, San Rafael Ward, Los Chillos Ecuador San Rafael Stake: Perú Chiclayo Mission, succeeding President Winsor Balderrama and Sister Rocio Maribel Balderrama Quiñones. Brother Espinoza is an Area Seventy and former stake president, stake presidency counselor, mission presidency counselor, stake Sunday School president, bishop, elders quorum president, and ward Young Men president. He was born in Riobamba, Ecuador, to Max Espinoza and Theresa Adrian.

Sister Espinoza is a Sunday School teacher and former stake Relief Society presidency counselor; ward Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary president; Sunday School teacher; and missionary in the Ecuador Guayaquil Mission. She was born in Santo Domingo, Ecuador, to Juan Velasquez and Orfa Casco.

Argentina Mendoza Mission

Shayne L Judd, 55, and Amy Lynn Judd, five children, Clayton Ward, Goldsboro North Carolina Stake: Argentina Mendoza Mission, succeeding President Fernando E. Panzacchi and Sister Beatriz G. de Panzacchi. Brother Judd is a deacons quorum adviser and temple ordinance worker and former stake president, high councilor, bishop, bishopric counselor, elders quorum president, elders quorum presidency counselor, seminary teacher, and missionary in the Chile Santiago North Mission. He was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Sammy Ira Judd and Teura Jeannine Judd.

Sister Judd is a Young Women camp director, Relief Society teacher, and temple ordinance worker and former ward Young Women president, ward Young Women and Primary presidency counselor, Primary music leader, ward organist, and Primary teacher. She was born in Benson, Arizona, to Charles Dean Kartchner and Joanne Lee Kartchner.

Colorado Colorado Springs Mission

Dale C. Maurer, 56, and Leanne G. Maurer, four children, Capalaba Ward, Brisbane Australia Cleveland Stake: Colorado Colorado Springs Mission, succeeding President Daniel K. Stevenson and Sister Ann Marie E. Stevenson. Brother Maurer is a regional FSY session director and former stake president, mission presidency counselor, bishop, elders quorum president, stake Young Men presidency counselor, seminary teacher, and missionary in the Australia Melbourne Mission. He was born in Brisbane, Australia, to Arthur Edward Maurer and Janice Beth Maurer.

Sister Maurer is a regional FSY session director and former ward Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary presidency counselor and Gospel Doctrine teacher. She was born in Brisbane, Australia, to Robert Graham Dunlop and Kathryn Ethel Dunlop.

Russia St. Petersburg Mission

Kevin D. Staples, 44, and Sonja G. Staples, five children, Kalamazoo Second Ward, Kalamazoo Michigan Stake: Russia St. Petersburg Mission, succeeding President Brent D. Rawson and Sister Nena Rawson. Brother Staples is a high councilor and former stake clerk, bishop, bishopric counselor, Sunday School teacher, and missionary in the Ukraine Kyiv Mission. He was born in Provo, Utah, to David Emerson Staples and Lucy Ann Staples.

Sister Staples is a stake institute teacher and former ward Relief Society and Young Women president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and missionary in the Paraguay Asuncion Mission. She was born in Inglewood, California, to Woods Rayburn Woolwine Jr. and Vicki L Woolwine.

California Roseville Mission

Douglas L. Talley, 65, and April R. Talley, seven children, Wadsworth Ward, Akron Ohio Stake: California Roseville Mission, succeeding President Jack D. Ward and Sister Sharmon O. Ward. Brother Talley is a temple ordinance worker and former stake president, high councilor, bishop, bishopric counselor, branch president, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president, ward mission leader, and missionary in the Italy Rome Mission. He was born in Albany, New York, to Richard Lee Talley and Ruth Altha Purinton.

Sister Talley is a temple ordinance worker and former stake Relief Society and Primary presidency counselor, ward Young Women and Primary president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, and seminary teacher. She was born in Akron, Ohio, to Francis Bernard Ross and Eilean P Shannon.

California Riverside Mission

Edward S. Watson, 51, and Lara B. Watson, five children, Pioneer Sixth Ward, Herriman Utah Pioneer Stake: California Riverside Mission, succeeding President Darrel L. Hammon and Sister Joanne B. Hammon. Brother Watson is a former stake presidency counselor, high councilor, bishop, bishopric counselor, ward clerk, elders quorum presidency counselor, ward Young Men presidency secretary, Sunday School and Primary teacher, and missionary in the Colombia Cali Mission. He was born in Del Rio, Texas, to Roger Clarke Watson and Lois Marie Baldwin Watson.

Sister Watson is a former ward Relief Society and Primary president; ward Relief Society and Young Women presidency counselor; ward Primary presidency secretary; Sunday School, Primary, and seminary teacher; Relief Society pianist; and missionary in the Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Jimmy Jerry Bennett and Sally Joanne Walton Bennett.

México Veracruz Mission

Mark J. Wiest, 61, and Dana C. Wiest, four children, Monument Park Ward, Salt Lake Monument Park Stake: México Veracruz Mission, succeeding President Greg Palmer and Sister Tamra K Palmer. Brother Wiest is a bishop and former stake Young Men president, bishopric counselor, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Argentina Rosario Mission. He was born in Provo, Utah, to Clinton Bernard Wiest and Anna Aldous Smith.

Sister Wiest is a Primary general board member and former stake Young Women president, ward Young Women presidency counselor, temple worker, Primary music leader, and missionary in the Norway Oslo Mission. She was born in Salt Lake City to Robert Evans Cutler and Jewel Cutler.

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