New 2017 Mission Presidents Called to Serve in the U.S., Brazil, France, and More

• 22 March 2017

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Eight new mission presidents and their wives have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service in July of 2017.

Minnesota Minneapolis Mission

Carey Scott Barney, 62, and Annette Louise Peeples Barney, four children, Yorba Linda 5th Ward, Anaheim California East Stake: Minnesota Minneapolis Mission, succeeding President Stephen W. Forbes and Sister Mary Forbes. Brother Barney serves in a stake presidency and is a former bishop, high councilor, high priests group leader, elders quorum president, ward mission leader, and missionary in the Finland Helsinki Mission. Partner, Locke Lord LLP. Born in Twin Falls, Idaho, to Lendon Kay Barney and Percia Mae Terry Barney.

Sister Barney serves as a Relief Society teacher and is a former ward Relief Society and Young Women president, Cub Scout leader, and Primary teacher. Born in Henderson, Nevada, to Lewis Jackson Peeples and Chelnisha Shomaker Peeples.

Central Eurasian Mission

Stephen Roger Davis, 60, and Mary Margaret Coles Davis, seven children, Deer Creek Ward, Midway Utah Stake: Central Eurasian Mission, succeeding President James A. Toronto and Sister Diane G. Toronto. Brother Davis serves as an Area Seventy executive secretary and is a former district president, bishop, branch president, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Canada Toronto Mission. Retired, Shell Oil Company. Born in Corona, California, to Richard Edward Davis and Marjorie Mae Davis.

Sister Davis is a former stake and ward Young Women president, district and ward Primary president, stake Relief Society presidency counselor, and seminary teacher. Born in Anchorage, Alaska, to John Edmond Coles and Bettie Fann Brunt Coles.

Texas Houston East Mission

Spencer Clawson Hewlett, 56, and Ann Dewey Hewlett, five children, Centerville 2nd Ward, Centerville Utah Canyon View Stake: Texas Houston East Mission, succeeding President Dennis Drake and Sister Dawna Drake. Brother Hewlett is a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, ward Young Men president, Primary music leader, temple ordinance worker, and missionary in the Germany Frankfurt Mission. Retired chief financial officer, Maverik Inc. Born in Salt Lake City to Charles Stewart Hewlett and Barbara Clawson Hewlett.

Sister Hewlett is a former stake and ward Young Women presidency counselor, ward Relief Society and Primary presidency counselor, stake Young Women sports director, ward choir director, and missionary in the Scotland Edinburgh Mission. Born in Salt Lake City to Robert Tempest Dewey and Ida Lue Gardner Dewey.

California Sacramento Mission

Scott Lynn Hymas, 55, and Alison Child Hymas, five children, Brookhurst Ward, Centerville Utah North Stake: California Sacramento Mission, succeeding President Bruce D. Jardine and Sister Diane Jardine. Brother Hymas serves as a Sunday School teacher and is a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, high councilor, institute teacher, and missionary in the Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission. Chief executive officer, RC Willey Home Furnishings. Born in American Fork, Utah, to William Merrill Hymas and Anna Darlene Coop Hymas.

Sister Hymas serves as a Sunday School teacher and is a former stake and ward Young Women president, ward Relief Society president, institute teacher, and Gospel Doctrine teacher. Born in Ogden, Utah, to Sheldon Fay Child and Joan Haacke Child.

Philippines Olongapo Mission

Ruel Estoy Lacanienta, 64, and Pamela Ann Elwood Lacanienta, four children, DeSoto Ward, Dallas Texas Stake: Philippines Olongapo Mission, succeeding President Dennis V. Dahle and Sister Sheralyn Dahle. Brother Lacanienta serves as a ward clerk and is a former area executive secretary, stake presidency counselor, high councilor, bishopric counselor, seminary teacher, and missionary in the Philippines Mission. Retired financial analyst, American Airlines. Born in Cebu City, Philippines, to Ruben Moscaira Lacanienta and Estelita Salut Estoy Lacanienta.

Sister Lacanienta serves in a ward Young Women presidency and is a former assistant area executive secretary, stake Young Women presidency counselor, seminary teacher, and stake LDS social services representative. Born in Butler, Pennsylvania, to William Warner Elwood and Patricia Ann Dougherty Elwood.

Brazil Vitoria Mission

Jairo Mazzagardi Jr., 44, and Adriana Berlendis Bueno Mazzagardi, two children, Vinhedo Ward, Itatiba Brazil Stake: Brazil Vitoria Mission, succeeding President David E. Young and Sister Rae Lou Young. Brother Mazzagardi is a former stake presidency counselor, high councilor, bishop, stake clerk, and missionary in the California Riverside Mission. Chief executive officer, Cumorah Real Estate. Born in Jundiaí, Brazil, to Jairo Mazzagardi and Elizabeth Ienne Mazzagardi.

Sister Mazzagardi is a former stake Primary presidency counselor, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, seminary teacher, Sunday School teacher, and Relief Society teacher. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, to Marco Aurelio de Araujo Bueno and Giulia Maria Rosa Berlendis Bueno.

México Veracruz Mission

Gregory Gene Palmer, 61, and Tamra K Tenney Palmer, three children, Rolling Hills Ward, Rexburg Idaho East Stake: México Veracruz Mission, succeeding President Daniel Córdova and Sister Teresa Romero de Córdova. Brother Palmer is a former stake president, stake presidency counselor, bishop, branch president, high councilor, seminary teacher, and missionary in the México Hermosillo Mission. Teacher, Brigham Young University–Idaho. Born in Rexburg, Idaho, to Gene Worrell Palmer and Clarann Dalley Palmer.

Sister Palmer is a former stake and ward Relief Society president, stake and ward Relief Society presidency counselor, stake Young Women presidency counselor, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and missionary in the Florida Tallahassee Mission. Born in Lordsburg, New Mexico, to Samuel Rey Tenney and Myrtle Hatch Tenney.

France Paris Mission

Paul James Sorensen, 44, and Allyson Taylor Huff Sorensen, five children, Mesa Vista Ward, Santa Barbara California Stake: France Paris Mission, succeeding President Frédéric J. Babin and Sister Marie-Françoise Babin. Brother Sorensen served in a stake presidency and is a former bishop, elders quorum president, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and missionary in the Switzerland Geneva Mission. Founder and chief executive officer, Createch, and chairman of Fusion Healthcare Staffing. Born in Pasadena, California, to David Eugene Sorensen and Verla Anderson Sorensen.

Sister Sorensen serves as a Primary teacher and is a former ward Relief Society and Young Women presidency counselor, Relief Society teacher, ward missionary, and missionary in the Italy Rome Mission. Born in Arcadia, California, to Reece Randall Huff and Kay Taylor Huff.

• Missionary Work