Church Adds Area Presidencies for U.S. and Canada, Announces Other 2018 Assignments
Contributed By Sarah Jane Weaver, Church News editor
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.
