New Area Leaders Assigned

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“New Area Leaders Assigned,” Liahona, August 2015, 12–13

News of the Church

New Area Leaders Assigned

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The First Presidency has announced changes in area leadership assignments, effective on August 1, 2015. All members of Area Presidencies are members of the First or Second Quorum of the Seventy.

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 history of the Seventies really goes back to the Old Testament,” said President Boyd K. Packer (1924–2015), President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.¹ The first reference to the Seventy is found in Exodus 24:1, and they are later referred to in Numbers 11:16–17, 25, when they are gathered to assist Moses.

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).

“We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive Church,” President Packer said. “And it included Seventies.” (See Articles of Faith 1:6.) In today’s rapidly growing Church, the Seventy play an important role in assisting the Twelve. “Seventies by delegation can do anything the Twelve tell them to do,” President Packer said.²

Presidency of the Seventy

Rasband, Ronald A. — **Assists in all areas**

Hallstrom, Donald L. — **North America Northeast**

Maynes, Richard J. — **North America West**

Christensen, Craig C. — **North America Central**

Soares, Ulisses — **North America Southeast**

Robbins, Lynn G. — **North America Southwest**

Africa Southeast

Hamilton, Kevin S. — **Second Counselor**

Africa West

Vinson, Terence M. — **First Counselor**

Asia

Wong, Chi Hong (Sam) — **Second Counselor**

Asia North

Yamashita, Kazuhiko — **First Counselor**

Brazil

Aidukaitis, Marcos A. — **Second Counselor**

Caribbean

Martinez, Hugo E. — **Second Counselor**

Central America

Europe

Dyches, Timothy J. — **Second Counselor**

Europe East

Mexico

Valenzuela, Arnulfo — **Second Counselor**

Middle East/Africa North

Andersen, WIlford W. — Wilford W. Andersen

Administered from Church headquarters

Pacific

Haleck, O. Vincent — **First Counselor**

Nielsen, S. Gifford — **Second Counselor**

Philippines

South America Northwest

Waddell, W. Christopher — **First Counselor**

South America South

Vinas, Francisco J. — **First Counselor**

Teixeira, Jose A. — **Second Counselor**