2017
New Area Leaders Assigned
August 2017


“New Area Leaders Assigned,” Ensign, August 2017

News of the Church

New Area Leaders Assigned

area leader assignments

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

Elder L. Whitney Clayton

L. Whitney Clayton

Assists in all areas

Elder Craig C. Christensen

Craig C. Christensen

Utah North

Utah Salt Lake City

Utah South

Elder Ulisses Soares

Ulisses Soares

Idaho

North America Central

Elder Lynn G. Robbins

Lynn G. Robbins

North America Southeast

Elder Gerrit W. Gong

Gerrit W. Gong

North America Northeast

Elder Juan A. Uceda

Juan A. Uceda

North America Southwest

Elder Patrick Kearon

Patrick Kearon

North America Northwest

North America West

Africa Southeast

Elder Kevin S. Hamilton

Kevin S. Hamilton

President

Elder S. Mark Palmer

S. Mark Palmer

First Counselor

Elder Joni L. Koch

Joni L. Koch

Second Counselor

Africa West

Elder Terence M. Vinson

Terence M. Vinson

President

Elder Marcus B. Nash

Marcus B. Nash

First Counselor

Elder Larry S. Kacher

Larry S. Kacher

Second Counselor

Asia

Elder Randy D. Funk

Randy D. Funk

President

Elder David F. Evans

David F. Evans

First Counselor

Elder Peter F. Meurs

Peter F. Meurs

Second Counselor

Asia North

Elder Robert C. Gay

Robert C. Gay

President

Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita

Kazuhiko Yamashita

First Counselor

Elder Yoon Hwan Choi

Yoon Hwan Choi

Second Counselor

Brazil

Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis

Marcos A. Aidukaitis

President

Elder W. Mark Bassett

W. Mark Bassett

First Counselor

Elder Joaquin E. Costa

Joaquin E. Costa

Second Counselor

Caribbean

Elder Walter F. González

Walter F. González

President

Elder Claudio D. Zivic

Claudio D. Zivic

First Counselor

Elder Jose L. Alonso

Jose L. Alonso

Second Counselor

Central America

Elder Adrián Ochoa

Adrián Ochoa

President

Elder Jorge F. Zeballos

Jorge F. Zeballos

First Counselor

Elder Valeri V. Cordón

Valeri V. Cordón

Second Counselor

Europe

Elder Paul V. Johnson

Paul V. Johnson

President

Elder Gary B. Sabin

Gary B. Sabin

First Counselor

Elder Massimo De Feo

Massimo De Feo

Second Counselor

Europe East

Elder James B. Martino

James B. Martino

President

Elder Christoffel Golden

Christoffel Golden

First Counselor

Elder Alexey V. Samaykin

Alexey V. Samaykin*

Second Counselor

Mexico

Elder Paul B. Pieper

Paul B. Pieper

President

Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela

Arnulfo Valenzuela

First Counselor

Elder Rafael E. Pino

Rafael E. Pino

Second Counselor

Middle East/Africa North

Elder Wilford W. Andersen

Wilford W. Andersen

Elder Anthony D. Perkins

Anthony D. Perkins

Administered from Church headquarters

Pacific

Elder O. Vincent Haleck

O. Vincent Haleck

President

Elder Craig A. Cardon

Craig A. Cardon

First Counselor

Elder Ian S. Ardern

Ian S. Ardern

Second Counselor

Philippines

Elder Shayne M. Bowen

Shayne M. Bowen

President

Elder Allen D. Haynie

Allen D. Haynie

First Counselor

Elder Evan A. Schmutz

Evan A. Schmutz

Second Counselor

South America Northwest

Elder Carlos A. Godoy

Carlos A. Godoy

President

Elder Enrique R. Falabella

Enrique R. Falabella

First Counselor

Elder Hugo Montoya

Hugo Montoya

Second Counselor

South America South

Elder José A. Teixeira

José A. Teixeira

President

Elder Allan F. Packer

Allan F. Packer

First Counselor

Elder Mark A. Bragg

Mark A. Bragg

Second Counselor

  • Area Seventy