2019 Mission Presidents Called to Guatemala, India, Uganda, and More

• 11 February 2019

The First Presidency has called 164 new mission presidents and companions who will begin service in July 2019.  Image by Aaron Thorup, Deseret News.

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The following new mission presidents and their wives have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service in July of 2019. Biographies of other mission presidency couples will be published throughout 2019 on news.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. (See other published biographies.)

Brazil Piracicaba Mission

Bruno V. Barros, 43, and Luciene M. A. Barros, three children, Jardim do Horto Ward, Maceió Brazil Stake: Brazil Piracicaba Mission, succeeding President Howard K. Bangerter and Sister Lissa H. Bangerter. 

Brother Barros is a bishopric counselor and a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, bishop, and missionary in the Brazil Brasilia Mission. He was born in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil, to Antonio de Albuquerque Barros and Maria de Fatima Vasconcelos Barros.

Sister Barros is a ward Relief Society president and a former ward Young Women and Primary president and ward Relief Society and Primary presidency counselor. She was born in Patos, Paraíba, Brazil, to Jaime Miguel de Araujo and Maria Auxiliadora Bolzan.

Uganda Kampala Mission

Walter Chatora, 53, and Diana Chatora, three children, Centurion 1st Ward, Centurion South Africa Stake: Uganda Kampala Mission, succeeding President Stephen H. Collings and Sister Tracy Ann Collings. 

Brother Chatora is an Area Seventy and a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, bishop, high councilor, and bishopric counselor. He was born in Zvishavane, Zimbabwe, to Tsikai Chatora and Machivei Chatora.

Sister Chatora is a self-reliance specialist and a former ward Relief Society president, ward Relief Society and Primary presidency counselor, and Relief Society compassionate service coordinator. She was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, to Mavhura Peter Musekiwa and Bessie Tsitsi Mavhura.

California Los Angeles Mission

Valeri V. Cordón, 49, and Glenda Cordón, three children, Concepción Ward, San José Costa Rica Los Yoses Stake: California Los Angeles Mission, succeeding President Robert M. Haynie and Sister Ruth E. Haynie. 

Elder Cordón is a General Authority Seventy and a former Area Seventy, stake president, bishop, high councilor, seminary teacher, and missionary in the El Salvador Mission. He was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, to Ovidio Cordón and Ema María Orellana.

Sister Cordón is a stake self-reliance specialist and a former stake Young Women presidency counselor, stake employment specialist, ward Relief Society and Young Women president, ward Young Women presidency counselor, and seminary teacher. She was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, to Ronald Mackinley Zea and Irma Julieta Diaz.

México Mérida Mission

Maurice D. Jones, 59, and Patrice Jones, five children, Manitowoc Ward, Green Bay Wisconsin Stake: México Mérida Mission, succeeding President Abel Ruiz Valadez and Sister Rocio Ángel de Ruiz. 

Brother Jones is a stake president and a former stake presidency counselor, stake mission president, bishop, high councilor, bishopric counselor, and missionary in the Uruguay Montevideo Mission. He was born in Murray, Utah, to Merlyn Paul Jones Sr. and Rosemary Wright.

Sister Jones is a stake seminary supervisor and a former ward Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary president and seminary teacher. She was born in Spanish Fork, Utah, to Roy Wylie Lundell and Carol H Boyack Lundell.

Brazil Londrina Mission

Bradley K. McKinnon, 57, and Sherry Rowe McKinnon, five children, Mountainville 5th Ward, Alpine Utah Stake: Brazil Londrina Mission, succeeding President Luiz Pereira and Sister Andreia Pereira. 

Brother McKinnon is a bishop and a former stake president, branch president, stake executive secretary, stake Young Men president, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Brazil Porto Alegre Mission. He was born in Salt Lake City to Gary Francis McKinnon and Linda Rose Kempton McKinnon.

Sister McKinnon is a stake young single adult adviser and a former stake Young Women president, ward Relief Society and Young Women president, ward Young Women camp director, and seminary teacher. She was born in Provo, Utah, to Fred Ares Rowe and Sherrel Gay Butler Rowe.

Texas McAllen Mission

Jared R. Ocampo, 44, and Jessica Galindo de Ocampo, four children, Arrazola Ward, Guatemala City Don Justo Stake: Texas McAllen Mission, succeeding President José S. Torres Caballero and Sister Vicky A. Godoy de Torres. 

Brother Ocampo is a ward Young Men president and a former Area Seventy, stake president, stake Young Men president, high councilor, elders quorum president, and missionary in the Chile Santiago South Mission. He was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to Roberto Ocampo Reyes and Argentina Martínez.

Sister Ocampo is a stake Relief Society presidency counselor and seminary teacher and a former stake Primary president, stake Relief Society and Primary presidency counselor, ward Primary president, and missionary in the San Salvador El Salvador East Mission. She was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to Gonzalo Galindo Galo and Anna Bessy Flores Milla.

Perú Lima North Mission

Meredith H. Packard, 53, and Corinne S. Packard, six children, McKinney 7th Ward, McKinney Texas Stake: Perú Lima North Mission, succeeding President Matthew R Godfrey and Sister Monica A. Godfrey. 

Brother Packard is a ward Young Men president and a former stake president, bishop, stake mission president, bishopric counselor, Young Men adviser, and missionary in the Ecuador Guayaquil Mission. He was born in Nome, Alaska, to Robert Carter Packard and Talmadge Reyburn Meredith.

Sister Packard is a stake Primary president and a former stake music chairman, ward Primary presidency counselor, ward Young Women camp director, Primary music leader, and ward organist. She was born in Boise, Idaho, to Robert Edward Simmons and Elzada Corinne Young.

Guatemala Cobán Mission

Benjamin Poóu, 45, and Hilda Poóu, five children, Coban 2nd Ward, Coban Guatemala Stake: Guatemala Cobán Mission, succeeding President Carlos A. Faundez Maureira and Sister Teresa Riquelme Faundez. 

Brother Poóu is a mission presidency counselor and public affairs director and a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, high councilor, institute teacher, and missionary in the Honduras Tegucigalpa Mission. He was born in in Senahú, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, to José Herculano Poou Choc and Margarita Alva Yat.

Sister Poóu is a stake Relief Society presidency counselor and a former ward Young Women president, ward Primary presidency counselor, and Relief Society teacher. She was born in Finca El Volcan, Senahu, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, to Ramiro Chiquín Cabnal and Cecilia Bac de Chiquin.

Liberia Monrovia Mission

Gary S. Price, 59, and Julie C. Price, six children, Shepard View Ward, Farmington Utah North Stake: Liberia Monrovia Mission, succeeding President Doug Clark and Sister Michelle Clark. 

Brother Price is an elders quorum instructor and a former Area Seventy, stake president, district president, bishop, bishopric counselor, and missionary in the California Arcadia Mission. He was born in Vernal, Utah, to Duane Price and Eula Pearl Sessions Price.

Sister Price is a Young Women adviser and a former ward Young Women president, ward Relief Society and Primary presidency counselor, and Primary teacher. She was born in Heber, Utah, to Frederick Glen Carlile and Janice Ellen Johnson Carlile.

Washington Kennewick Mission

Edward R. Rasmussen, 62, and Carolyn Rasmussen, five children, Provo Peak 10th Ward, Provo Utah East Stake: Washington Kennewick Mission, succeeding President Doneal L White and Sister Claudia Esplin White. 

Brother Rasmussen is a stake president and a former stake Young Men president, bishop, high councilor, bishopric counselor, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Japan Nagoya Mission. He was born in Portland, Oregon, to Ralph Waldo Rasmussen and Mary Ellen Ward Rasmussen.

Sister Rasmussen is a temple ordinance worker and choir director and a former stake Young Women camp director, ward Young Women president, ward Relief Society and Primary presidency counselor, Relief Society teacher, and ward organist. She was born in Alamosa, Colorado, to John Lynn Shawcroft and Dorothea Carol Shawcroft.

Italy Rome Mission

Donald E. Smith, 62, and Rebecca Smith, three children, Twin Falls 15th Ward, Twin Falls Idaho Stake: Italy Rome Mission, succeeding President Michael D. Pickerd and Sister Marian Pickerd. 

Brother Smith is a Sunday School teacher and a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, high councilor, ward Young Men president, ward Young Men adviser, and missionary in the Italy Milan Mission. He was born in Salt Lake City to Donald Eugene Smith and Alice Barratt Smith.

Sister Smith is a stake Relief Society president and a former seminary teacher and ward Young Women and Primary presidency counselor. She was born in Salt Lake City to Philip Hone Clark and Ruth Hawkins Clark.

Nicaragua Managua North Mission

Rodrigo B. Soto Bolaños, 55, and Maritza Muñoz de Soto, five children, La Victoria Ward, Liberia Costa Rica Stake: Nicaragua Managua North Mission, succeeding President Sergio A. Poncio Álvarez and Sister Jessiva L. Calderon de Poncio. 

Brother Soto is a stake presidency counselor and a former stake president, bishop, mission presidency counselor, area public affairs director, and missionary in the Honduras Mission. He was born in San José, Costa Rica, to Rodrigo Alvaro Soto Coto and Dinorah Bolaños Badilla.

Sister Soto is a stake Primary presidency counselor and a former ward Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary president and institute and seminary teacher. She was born in San José, Costa Rica, to Juan Evangelista Muñoz Chaves and Glady Virginia González Hernández.

Iowa Des Moines Mission

Dale A. Sturm, 55, and Valerie Sturm, five children, Plano Ward, Rexburg Idaho Henry’s Fork Stake: Iowa Des Moines Mission, succeeding President Briant T. Badger and Sister Cynthia Badger. 

Brother Sturm is a high councilor and a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, branch president, and missionary in the Japan Kobe Mission. He was born in Carmichael, California, to Arthur William Sturm and Barbara D. Lythgoe Sturm.

Sister Sturm is a Relief Society teacher and stake music chairman and a former ward Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary presidency counselor; ward missionary; and missionary in the California Fresno/San Diego Mission (American Sign Language). She was born in Mesa, Arizona, to Robert Dale Watson and Shirley Elizabeth Watson.

India Bengaluru Mission

Ted A. Thomas, 62, and Karen K. Thomas, eight children, Leavenworth 1st Ward, Platte City Stake: India Bengaluru Mission, succeeding President Fred M. Mortensen and Sister Shauna A. Mortensen. 

Brother Thomas is a stake president and a former stake presidency counselor, stake Young Men president, bishop, seminary teacher, and ward mission leader. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Theodore E Thomas and Georgia Louise Miller.

Sister Thomas is a ward temple and family history consultant and a former stake Relief Society and Young Women presidency counselor and ward Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary president. She was born in St. Charles, Illinois, to David Mitchell Krafft and Arlene Faith Kruse.

Oregon Salem Mission

R. Scott Wilde, 50, and Sherry Ann Wilde, six children, Oakhills Ward, Layton Utah Valley View Stake: Oregon Salem Mission, succeeding President Paul Tateoka and Sister Nadine Tateoka. 

Brother Wilde is a counselor in a young single adult stake presidency and a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, ward Young Men president, elders quorum president, Sunday School teacher, and missionary in the Taiwan Taipei Mission. He was born in Encino, California, to Loren Clyde Wilde and Caroline Busone.

Sister Wilde is an institute teacher and a former ward Primary president, ward Young Women presidency counselor, Young Women adviser, Sunday School teacher, activity days leader, and Church-service missionary. She was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Michael Simkins and Shanna Hunt.

Florida Jacksonville Mission

James F. Wood, 59, and Christine G. Wood, four children, Imperial 2nd Ward, Salt Lake Highland Stake: Florida Jacksonville Mission, succeeding President Brent I. Lee and Sister Jacque S. Lee. 

Brother Wood is a ward Young Men presidency counselor and a former stake president, stake clerk, bishop, high councilor, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and missionary in the Italy Padova Mission. He was born in Salt Lake City to Franklin Snow Wood and Nellee Jean Abraham.

Sister Wood is a stake Relief Society presidency counselor and a former ward Relief Society and Primary president; ward Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary presidency counselor; Primary music leader; Relief Society teacher; Gospel Doctrine teacher; ward missionary; and missionary in the Italy Catania Mission. She was born in Neubrucke, Germany, to Garth Lowe Geddes and Nordith Geddes.

• Missionary Work