2016
News of the Church
August 2016


“News of the Church,” Liahona, August 2016, 14–15

News of the Church

New Area Leaders Assigned

Visit news.lds.org for more Church news and events.

The First Presidency has announced changes in area leadership assignments, effective on August 1, 2016. All members of Area Presidencies are General Authority Seventies.

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.

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).

In a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1835, the Lord revealed, among other things, “the order of the Seventy, that they should have seven presidents to preside over them, chosen out of the number of the seventy” (D&C 107:93).

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new area leaders

Presidency of the Seventy

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Elder L. Whitney Clayton

L. Whitney Clayton

Assists in all areas

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Elder Donald L. Hallstrom

Donald L. Hallstrom

North America Northwest

North America West

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Elder Richard J. Maynes

Richard J. Maynes

North America Southeast

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Elder Craig C. Christensen

Craig C. Christensen

Utah North

Utah Salt Lake City

Utah South

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Elder Ulisses Soares

Ulisses Soares

Idaho

North America Central

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Elder Lynn G. Robbins

Lynn G. Robbins

North America Southwest

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Elder Gerrit W. Gong

Gerrit W. Gong

North America Northeast

Africa Southeast

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Elder Stanley G. Ellis

Stanley G. Ellis

First Counselor

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Elder Kevin S. Hamilton

Kevin S. Hamilton

President

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Elder S. Mark Palmer

S. Mark Palmer

Second Counselor

Africa West

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Elder Marcus B. Nash

Marcus B. Nash

First Counselor

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Elder Terence M. Vinson

Terence M. Vinson

President

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Elder Vern P. Stanfill

Vern P. Stanfill

Second Counselor

Asia

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Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong

Chi Hong (Sam) Wong

First Counselor

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Elder Randy D. Funk

Randy D. Funk

President

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Elder David F. Evans

David F. Evans

Second Counselor

Asia North

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Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita

Kazuhiko Yamashita

First Counselor

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Elder Scott D. Whiting

Scott D. Whiting

President

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Elder Yoon Hwan Choi

Yoon Hwan Choi

Second Counselor

Brazil

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Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis

Marcos A. Aidukaitis

First Counselor

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Elder Claudio R. M. Costa

Claudio R. M. Costa

President

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Elder W. Mark Bassett

W. Mark Bassett

Second Counselor

Caribbean

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Elder Claudio D. Zivic

Claudio D. Zivic

First Counselor

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Elder Walter F. González

Walter F. González

President

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Elder Hugo E. Martinez

Hugo E. Martinez

Second Counselor

Central America

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Elder Adrián Ochoa

Adrián Ochoa

First Counselor

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Elder Kevin R. Duncan

Kevin R. Duncan

President

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Elder Jose L. Alonso

Jose L. Alonso

Second Counselor

Europe

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Elder Paul V. Johnson

Paul V. Johnson

First Counselor

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Elder Patrick Kearon

Patrick Kearon

President

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Elder Gary B. Sabin

Gary B. Sabin

Second Counselor

Europe East

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Elder James B. Martino

James B. Martino

First Counselor

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Elder Bruce D. Porter

Bruce D. Porter

President

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Elder Larry S. Kacher

Larry S. Kacher

Second Counselor

Mexico

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Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela

Arnulfo Valenzuela

First Counselor

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Elder Paul B. Pieper

Paul B. Pieper

President

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Elder Rafael E. Pino

Rafael E. Pino

Second Counselor

Middle East/Africa North

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Elder Larry R. Lawrence

Larry R. Lawrence

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Elder Wilford W. Andersen

Wilford W. Andersen

Administered from Church headquarters

Pacific

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Elder S. Gifford Nielsen

S. Gifford Nielsen

First Counselor

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Elder O. Vincent Haleck

O. Vincent Haleck

President

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Elder Craig A. Cardon

Craig A. Cardon

Second Counselor

Philippines

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Elder Allen D. Haynie

Allen D. Haynie

First Counselor

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Elder Shayne M. Bowen

Shayne M. Bowen

President

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Elder Evan A. Schmutz

Evan A. Schmutz

Second Counselor

South America Northwest

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Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge

Lawrence E. Corbridge

First Counselor

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Elder Carlos A. Godoy

Carlos A. Godoy

President

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Elder Hugo Montoya

Hugo Montoya

Second Counselor

South America South

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Elder Allan F. Packer

Allan F. Packer

First Counselor

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Elder José A. Teixeira

José A. Teixeira

President

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Elder Mark A. Bragg

Mark A. Bragg

Second Counselor