2019 Mission Presidents Called to Cote d'Ivoire, Bolivia, Russia, and More
The First Presidency has called 164 new mission presidents and companions who will begin service in July 2019.
The following eight new mission presidents and companions have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service in July. Biographies of other mission presidency couples will be published throughout 2019 on news.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. (See other published biographies.)
Anna and Elzimar Albuquerque
Brazil João Pessoa Mission
Elzimar Gouvea Albuquerque, 45, and Anna Rebeca Ampié Albuquerque, four children, Alphaville Ward, Alphaville Brazil Stake, called to the Brazil João Pessoa Mission, succeeding President Xavier Dias and Sister Teresa Dias. Brother Albuquerque is a stake presidency counselor and a former bishop, ward Young Men president, ward mission leader, and missionary in the Brazil Ribeirão Preto Mission. He was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Elifas Dias da Silva and Ione Gouvea de Albuquerque.
Sister Albuquerque is a former stake Young Women presidency counselor, stake Primary presidency secretary, ward Primary and Young Women president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, and seminary teacher. She was born in Managua, Nicaragua, to Sigfrido A. Ampie Baltodano and Marilia Macedo Ampie.
Brian L. and Gina R. Cox
Arizona Scottsdale Mission
Brian L. Cox, 55, and Gina R. Cox, three children, Grandview Ward, Parker Colorado Stake, called to the Arizona Scottsdale Mission, succeeding President Marc B. Robinson and Sister Leean Malan Robinson. Brother Cox is a ward mission leader and a former mission presidency counselor, stake executive secretary, bishop, high councilor, seminary teacher, and missionary in the Italy Milan Mission. He was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan, to Roy Leonard Cox and Carol Ann Phillips Cox.
Sister Cox is a Sunday School teacher and ward missionary and a former stake public affairs specialist, ward Young Women president, assistant to a patriarch, and seminary teacher. She was born in Newport Beach, California, to Edward Domars Marcucci and Josephine Faith Marcucci.
Francisco A. and Marcela I. Escobar
Uruguay Montevideo Mission
Francisco A. Escobar Riquelme, 52, and Marcela I. Aguilar de Escobar, two daughters, Cordillera Ward, Santiago Chile Cordillera Stake, called to the Uruguay Montevideo Mission, succeeding President Mark D. Eddy and Sister Annie Eddy. Brother Escobar is a former stake president, bishop, stake Young Men presidency counselor, elders quorum president, seminary teacher, and missionary in the Chile Santiago South Mission. He was born in Buin, Chile, to José Alberto Escobar Banjo and Hilda Riquelme Albornoz.
Sister Escobar is a nursery leader and a former stake Young Women presidency counselor, ward Primary and Young Women president, ward Young Women presidency counselor, and seminary teacher. She was born in Santiago, Chile, to Guillermo Aguilar Vera and Maria Isabel Celis Orellana.
Jacqueline B. and Bryan R. Larsen
Chile Antofagasta Mission
Bryan R. Larsen, 63, and Jacqueline B. Larsen, five children, Canyon Ridge Ward, Logan Utah Mount Logan Stake, called to the Chile Antofagasta Mission, succeeding President David Ferreira and Sister Jacqueline Ferreira. Brother Larsen is an Area Seventy and a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, bishop, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Chile Osorno Mission. He was born in Salt Lake City to Royal Blaine Larsen and Shirley Bernice Werrett Larsen.
Sister Larsen is a former stake Relief Society presidency counselor, stake and ward Young Women camp director, ward Primary and Young Women presidency counselor, and Relief Society teacher. She was born in Hondo, Texas, to Rollo Henry Brunson and Viola Rae Saltern.
Charlotte and Rion B. Needs
Congo Kinshasa East Mission
Rion B. Needs, 57, and Charlotte Needs, five children, Draper 10th Ward, Sandy Utah Hidden Valley Stake, called to the Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa East Mission (newly created). Brother and Sister Needs previously served together as senior missionaries in the Africa Southeast Area Office and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Mbuji-Mayi Mission. Brother Needs is a former bishop, bishopric counselor, stake clerk, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Canada Montréal Mission. He was born in Salt Lake City to Charles Raymond Needs and Goldie Marie White Needs.
Sister Needs is a ward Relief Society presidency counselor and a former ward Relief Society and Primary president, Church-service missionary, seminary teacher, and missionary in the Canada Montréal Mission. She was born in Rexburg, Idaho, to Reed Earl Garner and Carmen Garner Garner.
J. Drew and Linda Anderson Page
Indiana Indianapolis Mission
J. Drew Page, 55, and Linda Anderson Page, four children, Carmel Valley Ward, Del Mar California Stake, called to the Indiana Indianapolis Mission, succeeding President Daryl H. Carlson and Sister Vallorie Carlson. Brother Page is a former stake presidency counselor, stake clerk, bishop, bishopric counselor, high councilor, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the South Carolina Columbia Mission. He was born in Salt Lake City to Homer Dean Page and June Howlett Page.
Sister Page is a former ward Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary president; Cub Scout leader; compassionate service leader; nursery leader; and Primary teacher. She was born in Ogden, Utah, to Karl Ricks Anderson and Joyce Hirschi Anderson.
Lisa and David A. Prier
Utah Salt Lake City Mission
David A. Prier, 60, and Lisa Prier, three children, Huntsville 1st Ward, Conroe Texas Stake, called to the Utah Salt Lake City Mission, succeeding President Brent J. Hillier and Sister Klaudette Hillier. Brother Prier is a stake mission preparation coordinator and a former stake president, high councilor, bishop, bishopric counselor, and ward Young Men president. He was born in Dallas, Texas, to Carl Edward Prier and Charla Elizabeth Emerson.
Sister Prier is a stake Relief Society president and institute teacher and a former stake Primary presidency counselor, ward Primary and Young Women president, gospel doctrine teacher, and seminary teacher. She was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Theodore Arthur Hicks and Myrtis Elaine Brian Hicks.
Pam and Rhys A. Weaver
Tennessee Nashville Mission
Rhys A. Weaver, 61, and Pam Weaver, three children, Washington Fields 8th Ward, St. George Utah Washington Fields Stake, called to the Tennessee Nashville Mission, succeeding President Jared W. Stone and Sister Jani P. Stone. Brother Weaver is an elders quorum president and a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, stake mission president, high priests group leader, and missionary in the Georgia Atlanta/Alabama Birmingham Mission. He was born in Glendale, California, to Robert Carlton Weaver and Wilma Ellison Weaver.
Sister Weaver is a stake Relief Society presidency counselor and a former ward Primary, Relief Society, and Young Women presidency counselor; Sunday School teacher; young single adult adviser; and Relief Society teacher. She was born in Glens Falls, New York, to Stanley Richard Green and Gail Fowler.
