Members Sustain 11 New General Authorities

• 2 April 2016

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, sustains new leaders he announced during the afternoon session of conference April 2, 2016.

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The First Presidency announced the calls of 11 new General Authority Seventies and 62 Area Seventies during the Saturday afternoon session of the April 2016 general conference on April 2.

Following are short biographies for each of the new General Authority Seventies, as well as the names of the new Area Seventies:

Elder W. Mark Bassett

Elder W. Mark Bassett has been serving as a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the North America West Area.

Elder Bassett received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Brigham Young University in 1991. Upon graduating, he began his career in the wholesale auto auction industry. Recently, he functioned as CFO and co-owner of West Coast Auto Auctions, Inc., operating automobile auctions throughout California, Oregon, Nevada and Idaho.

Elder Bassett has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Guatemala Guatemala City Mission, Young Men president, bishop, high councilor, stake president, president of the Arizona Mesa Mission from 2007 to 2010, and Area Seventy.

William Mark Bassett was born in Carmichael, California, on August 14, 1966. He married Angela Brasher in December 1989. They are the parents of five children.

Elder Mark A. Bragg

Elder Mark A. Bragg has been serving as a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the North America West Area.

Elder Bragg majored in marketing and Spanish at the University of Utah. He also completed executive education programs at UCLA, the University of Michigan, St. Mary’s University and Pepperdine University. He began his career as vice president of Great Western Bank from 1988 until 1996. He then worked as senior vice president for Aames from 1996 until 2007, and then at Residential Credit Solutions from 2007 until 2012. Most recently, he worked as a senior vice president of Bank of America.

Elder Bragg has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Mexico Monterrey Mission, counselor in a ward Young Men presidency, ward mission leader, high councilor, bishop, stake president and Area Seventy.

Mark Allyn Bragg was born in Los Angeles, California, on April 16, 1962. He married Yvonne King in 1984. They are the parents of four children.

Elder Weatherford T. Clayton

Elder Weatherford T. Clayton has been serving as president of the Canada Toronto Mission.

He received a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1977 and a medical degree in 1981, both from the University of Utah. He worked as a resident physician at UC Irvine until 1985 and had his own medical practice until 2013, after which he worked as a laborist until he retired in 2014.

Elder Clayton has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the French Canadian Mission, bishop, high councilor, gospel doctrine teacher, counselor in a stake presidency, stake president and mission president.

William Weatherford Touchstone Clayton was born in Los Angeles, California, on March 1, 1952. He married Lisa Madeline Thomas in 1976. They are the parents of five children.

Elder Valeri V. Cordón

Elder Valeri V. Cordón has been serving as a member of the Fourth Quorum of the Seventy in the Central America Area.

He received a bachelor of science degree in computer science from Mariano Galvez University in Guatemala and a master of business administration from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2012. In the information technology industry he has worked as a system analyst, customer service manager, manager, support manager, director, director of IT strategy planning and control, director of strategy and planning for emerging markets and a director of performance management. Recently, he worked as a director of business information solutions for Pepsico Foods.

Elder Cordón has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary in the El Salvador Mission, seminary teacher, institute teacher, elders quorum president, stake mission president, ward Sunday School president, high councilor, bishop, stake president, counselor in a mission presidency, high priests group leader and Area Seventy.

Valeri Vladimir Cordón Orellana was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala on February 19, 1969. He married Glenda Zelmira Zea Diaz in March 1995. They are the parents of three children.

Elder Joaquin E. Costa

Elder Joaquin E. Costa has been serving as a member of the Fourth Quorum of the Seventy in the South America Northwest Area.

Elder Costa received a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1987 from Universidad de Buenos Aires and a master’s degree in business administration in 1994 from Brigham Young University. In his professional career he worked in the banking industry in Argentina, the Czech Republic and the Sultanate of Oman in the Middle East. At the time of his call, he was working in Lima, Peru, with a Danish investment firm focused on microfinance.

Elder Costa has served in numerous Church callings, including bishop, counselor in a stake presidency, high councilor and Area Seventy.

Joaquin Esteban Costa was born in Concordia, Entre Rios, Argentina on March 8, 1965. He married Renee Beatriz Varela in September 1989. They are the parents of four children.

Elder Massimo De Feo

Elder Massimo De Feo has been serving as a member of the Third Quorum of the Seventy in the Europe Area.

Elder De Feo received a diploma in sciences from the Moscati State Scientific School of Taranto in 1979. After serving as a full-time missionary, he began his career in international relations in 1984 when he was hired by the U.S. Department of State and accredited at the Italian Ministry of Foreign affairs for the diplomatic mission in Italy. He has been a member of several committees of the U.S. government for bilateral agreements on social security and worked as the federal benefits operations supervisor at the American Embassies in Rome and Paris. After more than 30 years of service, he recently served as the deputy regional federal benefits officer of the Social Security Administration for the Europe South, North Africa and Middle East Areas.

Elder De Feo has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary from 1981 to 1983 in the Italy Rome Mission, branch president, district president, counselor in a bishopric, high councilor, stake president and Area Seventy.

Massimo De Feo was born in Taranto, Italy on December 14, 1960. He married Loredana Galeandro in August 1984. They are the parents of three children.

Elder Peter F. Meurs

Elder Peter F. Meurs received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Monash University in 1980. He worked as an engineer for ESSO Australia and participated in the development of oil and gas production fields. He was a founding partner of Worley Parsons Limited, an international engineering services and project management company. He recently led an iron ore expansion project for Fortescue Metals and served as an executive director on the board.

Elder Meurs has served in numerous callings, including branch president, counselor in a bishopric, bishop, high councilor, counselor in a district presidency, counselor in a stake presidency, stake president, counselor in a mission presidency and Area Seventy.

Peter Fletcher Meurs was born in Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia, on December 21, 1956. He married Maxine Evelyn Thatcher in January 1979. They are the parents of four children.

Elder K. Brett Nattress

Elder K. Brett Nattress has been serving as president of the Arizona Gilbert Mission.

He attended Brigham Young University and received a bachelor of science degree in physical therapy from the University of Utah in 1990. He has been employed in health care administration as co-founder and president of Advanced Health Care Corporation beginning in December 2000. He was also the founder and president of Advanced Health Care Management Inc.

Elder Nattress has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary in the California Sacramento Mission, ward Young Men president, bishop, stake Young Men president, stake president, Area Seventy and mission president.

Kevin Brett Nattress was born in Pocatello, Idaho, on March 4, 1965. He married Shawna Lee Adamson in April 1987. Elder and Sister Nattress are the parents of seven children.

Elder S. Mark Palmer

Elder S. Mark Palmer has been serving as a member of the Sixth Quorum of the Seventy in the North America Southwest Area.

He received a bachelor of commerce degree in 1979 from the University of Auckland and a master of business administration in 1982 from Brigham Young University. He was the founder of SMP Ventures, a real estate development company, and has served as president since 1993.

Elder Palmer has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the New Zealand Wellington Mission, elders quorum president, high councilor, high priests group leader, counselor in a bishopric, bishop, counselor in a stake presidency, stake president, mission president and Area Seventy.

Stanley Mark Palmer was born in Te Puke, New Zealand, on February 11, 1956. He married Jacqueline Ann Wood in 1981. They are the parents of six children.

Elder Gary B. Sabin

Elder Gary B. Sabin has been serving as a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the North America West Area.

He received an associate degree from Brigham Young University in language in 1976. He later received a bachelor’s degree in university studies/finance in 1977. He attended Stanford University and received his master’s in management in 1985. He has worked as a chairman/CEO for several companies, including Excel Realty Trust and Price Legacy. He most recently worked for Excel Realty Holdings and Excel Trust.

Elder Sabin has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary service in the Netherlands/Belgium mission, elders quorum president, high councilor, bishop, Primary teacher, stake mission president, deacon and teacher adviser, Scout leader, stake president and Area Seventy.

Gary Byron Sabin was born in Provo, Utah on April 7, 1954. He married Valerie Purdy in August 1976. They are the parents of five children.

Elder Evan A. Schmutz

Elder Evan A. Schmutz has been serving in the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the Utah South Area.

Elder Schmutz received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1979 and a J.D. in 1982, both from Brigham Young University. He began working as an attorney in 1982 with McKay, Burton & Thurman. In 1985, he became a shareholder with Jones Waldo Holbrook & McDonough and then became special counsel for Holme Roberts & Owen in 1990. From 1992 until 1993, he worked as general counsel for TransEra Corp. From 1992 until 2011, he was a founding partner of Hill, Johnson, and Schmutz. After his return from service as a mission president and until his call as a General Authority Seventy, Elder Schmutz was the managing shareholder in the Lehi office of Durham Jones & Pinegar and served on the firm’s board of directors.

Elder Schmutz has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the North Carolina Greensboro Mission, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president and counselor in a Young Men presidency, high councilor, bishop, counselor in a stake presidency, president of the Philippines Cebu Mission from July 2011 until July 2014 and Area Seventy.

Evan Antone Schmutz was born in St. George, Utah, on June 6, 1954. He married Cindy Lee Sims in 1978. Elder and Sister Schmutz are the parents of five children.

Area Seventies

The following were announced as Area Seventies:

P. David Agazzani, 47, Córdoba, Argentina;
Quilmer A. Agüero, 52, Lima, Peru; René R. Alba, 65, Marietta, Georgia; Victorino A. Babida, 63, Manila, Philippines; Steven R. Bangerter, 54, Washington, Utah; Richard Baquiran, 46, Quezon City, Philippines; Dong Chol Beh, 54, Obin-Ri, South Korea; Michael V. Beheshti, 58, Little Rock, Arkansas; Matthieu Bennasar, 42, Paris, France; Hubermann Bien-Aimé, 49, Port-Au-Prince, Haiti; Kevin E. Calderwood, 55, Reston, Virginia; Luis J. Camey, 49, Boca del Monte, Guatemala; Matthew L. Carpenter, 56, Aurora, Colorado; Douglas B. Carter, 62, Eustis Florida; Aroldo B. Cavalcante, 45, Pernambuco, Brazil; Luis C. Chaverri, 42, Pococi, Costa Rica; Ulises Chávez, 45, Ciudad Juarez, México; Brent J. Christensen, 61, Salt Lake City, Utah; Douglas L. Dance, 59, Midway, Utah; Marc C. Davis, 50, Poway, California; Alessandro Dini Ciacci, 38, Rome, Italy; J. Scott Dorius, 64, Turlock, California; M. Dirk Driscoll, 61, American Falls, Idaho; Antonio F. Faúndez, 48, San Bernardo, Chile; Jose A. Fernández, 43, Tijuana, México; Matias D. Fernandez, 42, Santa Cruz, Argentina; Candido Fortuna, 47, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Bruce E. Ghent, 58, Manhattan Beach, California; Michael A. Gillenwater, 57, Sellersburg, Indiana;  Daniel G. Hamilton, 58, Sydney, Australia; Mathias Held, 55, Chia, Colombia; Tom-Atle Herland, 52, Oslo, Norway; Raymond S. Heyman, 60, Chandler, Arizona; Christophe Kawaya, 55, Kananga, Democratic Republic of Congo; Todd S. Larkin, 57, Las Vegas, Nevada; Pedro X. Larreal, 39, México City, México; Juan J. Levrino, 46, Santa Fe, Argentina; Felix A. Martinez, 59, Madero, México; Kevin K. Miskin, 55, Yucaipa, California; Mark L. Pace, 59, Holladay, Utah; Ryan V. Pagaduan, 42, Quezon City, Philippines; A. Moroni Pérez, 46, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala; Carlos E. Perrotti, 53, São Paulo, Brazil; Mark P. Peteru, 57, Bidwill, Australia; Alan T. Phillips, 45, London, England; Thomas T. Priday, 61, Centennial, Colorado; Brian L. Rawson, 56, Wichita, Kansas; Rene Romay, 55, Jaltipan, México; Blake M. Roney, 58, Provo, Utah; Luis G. Ruiz, 47, Colonia Juarez, México; Maximo A. Saavedra Jr., 47, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines; Pedro A. Sanhueza, 53, Santiago, Chile; Eric J. Schmutz, 56, Cedar City, Utah; Benjamin Tai, 43, Hong Kong, China; Heber D. Texeira, 38, Asuncion, Paraguay; Maxsimo C. Torres, 56, Portales, New México; Jesús Velez, 59, San Miguel de Allende, México; Carlos Villarreal, 55, Fair Oaks, Texas; Paul H. Watkins, 59, Cameron Park, California; C. Dale Willis Jr., 57, Mesa, Arizona; William B. Woahn, 59, Pleasant Grove, Utah; Luis G. Zapata, 49, Antofagasta, Chile. 

Releases to be effective on May 1, 2016, were announced for the following 51 Area Seventies:

Manuel M. Agustin, Kent J. Allen, Stephen B. Allen, W. Mark Bassett, Patrick M. Boutoille, Mark A. Bragg, Marcelo F. Chappe, Eleazer S. Collado, Valeri V. Cordón, Joaquin E. Costa, Jeffrey D. Cummings, Massimo De Feo, Donald D. Deshler, Nicolas L. Di Giovanni, Jorge S. Dominguez, Gary B. Doxey, David G. Fernandes, Hernán D. Ferreira, Moroni Gaona, Jack N. Gerard, Ricardo P. Giménez, Douglas F. Higham, Brent J. Hillier, Robert W. Hymas, Lester F. Johnson, Matti T. Jouttenus, Chang Ho Kim, Alfred Kyungu, Dane O. Leavitt, Remegio E. Meim Jr., Ismael Mendoza, Cesar A. Morales, Rulon D. Munns, Ramon C. Nobleza, S. Mark Palmer, Fouchard Pierre-Nau, Gary B. Porter, José L. Reina, Esteban G. Resek, George F. Rhodes Jr., Gary B. Sabin, Evan A. Schmutz, D. Zackary Smith , Lynn L. Summerhays, Wenceslao H. Svec, Craig B. Terry, Ernesto R. Toris, Fabian I. Vallejo, Emer Villalobos, J. Romeo Villarreal, Terry L. Wade

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