“New Area Leaders Assigned,” Ensign, August 2017
News of the Church
New Area Leaders Assigned
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
Craig C. Christensen
Utah North
Utah Salt Lake City
Utah South
Ulisses Soares
Idaho
North America Central
Lynn G. Robbins
North America Southeast
Gerrit W. Gong
North America Northeast
Juan A. Uceda
North America Southwest
Patrick Kearon
North America Northwest
North America West
Africa Southeast
Kevin S. Hamilton
President
S. Mark Palmer
First Counselor
Joni L. Koch
Second Counselor
Africa West
Terence M. Vinson
President
Marcus B. Nash
First Counselor
Larry S. Kacher
Second Counselor
Asia
Randy D. Funk
President
David F. Evans
First Counselor
Peter F. Meurs
Second Counselor
Asia North
Robert C. Gay
President
Kazuhiko Yamashita
First Counselor
Yoon Hwan Choi
Second Counselor
Brazil
Marcos A. Aidukaitis
President
W. Mark Bassett
First Counselor
Joaquin E. Costa
Second Counselor
Caribbean
Walter F. González
President
Claudio D. Zivic
First Counselor
Jose L. Alonso
Second Counselor
Central America
Adrián Ochoa
President
Jorge F. Zeballos
First Counselor
Valeri V. Cordón
Second Counselor
Europe
Paul V. Johnson
President
Gary B. Sabin
First Counselor
Massimo De Feo
Second Counselor
Europe East
James B. Martino
President
Christoffel Golden
First Counselor
Alexey V. Samaykin*
Second Counselor
Mexico
Paul B. Pieper
President
Arnulfo Valenzuela
First Counselor
Rafael E. Pino
Second Counselor
Middle East/Africa North
Wilford W. Andersen
Anthony D. Perkins
Administered from Church headquarters
Pacific
O. Vincent Haleck
President
Craig A. Cardon
First Counselor
Ian S. Ardern
Second Counselor
Philippines
Shayne M. Bowen
President
Allen D. Haynie
First Counselor
Evan A. Schmutz
Second Counselor
South America Northwest
Carlos A. Godoy
President
Enrique R. Falabella
First Counselor
Hugo Montoya
Second Counselor
South America South
José A. Teixeira
President
Allan F. Packer
First Counselor
Mark A. Bragg
Second Counselor