Moiss Villanueva, 53, was born in Oaxaca, Mexico. The First Presidency announced in May an increase in the number of quorums of the Seventy, adding four quorums for Area Seventies to the existing eight quorums and changing the geographic structure of quorum assignments. He and his wife, Deborah Gunnell, are parents of four children and eight grandchildren. He also announced a new Young Men General Presidency to replace Brother Stephen W. Owen, Brother Douglas D. Holmes and Brother M. Joseph Brough, who have served as a presidency for five years. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles acts under the direction of the First Presidency to build up the church, and regulate all the affairs of the same in all nations. All other area presidencies reside in their specific area. The Prophet Joseph Smith called the first Seventies in this dispensation in 1835. New quorums are created or realigned when a quorums number exceeds 70. The Area Presidencies for the North America, Utah and Middle East/Africa North areas reside in Salt Lake City and serve at Church headquarters. The linked site has its own terms of use, privacy policies, and security practices that differ from those on our website. Environmental Remediation and Response Interactive Map. Elder Craig C. Christensen, a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Taylorsville Utah Temple in Taylorsville on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News The Utah Area is the Churchs largest in terms of membership and activity, with more than 2 million Latter-day Saints participating in nearly 630 stakes. Jorge W. Prez, 48, Chiguayante, Chile; temple recorder for Concepcin Chile Temple, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; currently serving as counselor in the bishopric of the Chiguayante Ward; former bishop, stake presidency member, and stake president; wife: Graciela Agustina; five children. Thierry Kasuangi Mutombo, 44, was born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. He and his wife, Leticia valos Lozano, are the parents of three children. They have authority to serve anywhere in the world, while the authority of Area Seventies is generally limited to the area where they serve. We thought it would take several months; it took about two weeks.. The following biographies are provided byChurch Newsroom. The area includes Chile, where he served as a young full-time missionary. Youngjoon Kwon, 49, Seoul, South Korea; professor, Seoul National University; currently serving as president of the Seoul Korea South Stake; former bishop, bishopric member, and high councilor; wife: Yeonshin; four children. David H. Huntsman, 52, Salt Lake City, Utah; president/chief operating officer, Huntsman Foundation; currently serving as Sunday School teacher in the St Marys Ward; former bishop and mission president; wife: Michelle; eight children. In 1997, Area Authorities were renamed Area Authority Seventies and ordained to the priesthood office of Seventy. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. When towns reach a population of 800 they become a third-class city. Area Seventies are local area authorities who serve in each of the church's geographical areas around the world. President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, announced the names of the new General Authority Seventies. Yan C. Vega, 47, Bogot, Colombia; institute director, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; currently serving as president of the Bogot Colombia Stake; former bishop, bishopric member, high councilor, and stake presidency member; wife: Inocencia; five children. Elder Pearson received a bachelor of science degree in finance from the University of Utah in 1981. Similarly, the Utah Area extends into parts of Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada and Arizona, as North America areas are based more on population centers than state boundaries, unlike the international boundaries followed by the areas outside the U.S. and Canada. "[8], Subsequently, in July, M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, sent out a letter noting a list of 66 area seventies who would be released effective August 1. Adeyinka Ayodeji Ojediran, 52, was born in Ibadan, Nigeria. [6], The final three quorums will consist those serving North America, with the North America Central, North America Northeast, and North America Southeast areas comprising the Tenth Quorum, those in the Western United States as the Eleventh Quorum, and Utah area seventies as the Twelfth Quorum. The current COVID-19 pandemic has provided glimpses of how the Utah Area presidency has tried to share with local wards and stakes specific principles and directives, which come in conjunction with instruction and adjustments from senior Church leaders. When he first started presiding over the Utah Area, Elder Christensen remembers looking at local problems and issues needing to be addressed. He and his wife Olufunmilayo Omolola Akinbebije are the parents of one child. In 1997, Area Authorities were renamed Area Authority Seventies and ordained to the priesthood office of Seventy. Elder Michael A. Dunn was called as a General Authority Seventy on April 3, 2021. Sergio A. Poncio, 47, El Frutal, Guatemala; leader and member support coordinator, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; currently serving as counselor in a branch presidency at the Guatemala City MTC; former bishop, mission president, and stake president; wife: Jessica; two children. We were able to serve twice to help clean up the city and help ship to people in need that would need the wood for their own survival., Elder Christensen said hes always looking to learn from the international Church, asking area presidencies worldwide questions like What have you given up that you never want to bring back? He and his wife, Tshayi Nathalie Sinda, are the parents of six children. He is currently serving at Church headquarters as the President of the Utah Area. He and his wife, Debbie Ilene Schneberger, are the parents of five children. They are based in Salt Lake City at Church headquarters. Richard I. Heaton, 63, Provo, Utah; managing director of Priesthood and Family Department, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; currently serving as Sunday School president in the Pleasant View 7th Ward; former bishop, branch president, mission president, stake presidency member, and stake president; wife: Valerie; nine children. News of the new general authorities comes two days after church leaders read the names of 77 new Area Seventies at the start of the conferences leadership session on April 1. Gustavo G. Rezende, 38, Goinia, Brazil; chief executive officer, GR Group; currently serving as president of the Goinia Brazil Stake; former bishop and high councilor; wife: Natasha; three children. 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The Fifth Quorum then comprised area seventies serving in the church's North America Northwest, North America West, Idaho, Utah North, Utah Salt Lake City, and Utah South areas, while the Sixth Quorum comprised those living in the North America Central, North America East, North America Northeast, North America Southeast, and North America Southwest areas. 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. (1) This chapter is known as the "Utah Communications Authority Act." (2) This part is known as "General Provisions." Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 411, 2015 General Session 63H-7a-102 Utah Communications Authority . Utah Code Page 1 Effective 7/1/2015 Chapter 7a Utah Communications Authority Act Part 1 General Provisions 63H-7a-101 Title. Faapito Auapaau, 47, American Samoa; Samoa multipack operations manager, Starkist Samoa Co.; currently serving as president of the Pago Pago Samoa Mapusaga Stake; former bishopric member, high councilor, and stake presidency member; wife: Irva; four children. Another was last years windstorms in and around Salt Lake City, resulting in fallen wood scattered everywhere. Ciro Schmeil, 48, was born in Ponta Grossa, Brazil. The Church asked Utah Area Relief Society sisters and to produce millions of medical-grade masks early in the pandemic. Residents. They travel frequently to meet with and teach local Church leaders and members. The Fifth Quorum of the Seventy comprised those living in the United States and Canada[3], In July 2004, the Sixth Quorum of the Seventy was organized from the Fifth Quorum because the number of quorum members exceeded 70, the number of members prescribed by scripture. The assignments come in April every year, and we have our transfers, if you will, in August, and thats how area presidencies are formed.. Brother Ahmad S. Corbitt, 57, was born in Philadelphia. We learned to really trust local people, local leaders they dont have to be directed. No Area Seventies were released during the leadership session, which was held at church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. J. Matthew Scott, 48, Chesterfield, Virginia; president/chief executive officer, Unified Health Group; currently serving as assistant clerk in the James River YSA Branch; former bishop, high councilor, and stake president; wife: Allyson; four children. Church News podcast: Elder Kevin W. Pearson on the positive influence Utah has on the global Church; featuring Sheri Dew as guest host. M. Andrew Galt IV, 64, Suwanee, Georgia; retired; currently serving as president of the Sugar Hill Georgia Stake; former bishop, bishopric member, and high councilor; wife: Karen; five children. Utah County Map Atlas. Brother Steven J. Lund is the new president, with Brother Ahmad Corbitt and Brother Bradley (Brad) R. Wilcox as his counselors. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In response to Navajo residents and leaders expressed need for firewood, piles of wood from storm-ridden areas were collected and dropped-off at 42 Church-owned properties as well as local entities throughout northern Utah. (By downloading content from this Dropbox folder, you agree to only usethe content in accordance with Churchs Terms of Use.). Four new Area Authority Seventies whose callings had been previously announced were sustained at the . See our updated talk summaries and photo galleries, Elder Sikahema, who played football for BYU and in the NFL, Meet the 77 new Area Seventies from 25 countries named Thursday at the general conference leadership session, LDS leader installs Clark Gilbert as first president of BYU-Pathway Worldwide, Clark Gilbert named new president of BYU-Idaho, From gridiron to journalist to pulpit Vai Sikahema accepts another big challenge, A surprising fact about President Nelsons list of new temples, Conference ends with a call to remove a personal conflict in your life by Easter, April 2022 general conference talk summaries and photo galleries, 17 new temple locations announced by President Nelson to close conference, Leaders end general conference with encouragement, list of new temples, firm statement on marriage and gender, Forgive all, bury any inclination to hurt others, President Nelson says Sunday morning. The linked site has its own terms of use, privacy policies, and security practices that differ from those on our website. He married June Langeland in June 1980. If youre going to try and come back in a cautious way, it makes sense to start where volume is lower, and you can address the issues, Elder Christensen said. Home to the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 13% of the member population and 28 dedicated, under-construction or announced temples, Utah is looked to by members all over the world to represent what The Church of Jesus Christ is all about, Elder Kevin W. Pearson, a General Authority Seventy and president of the Utah Area, said. It becomes more of a social thing than a deeply personal spiritual thing in your life when youre in a large group of members of the Church, as opposed to when youre out on your own and youve got to stand on your own two feet spiritually.. Of the Churchs 168 dedicated temples worldwide, 16 are in the Utah Area, with another 10 temples either under construction or in planning and development stages. Age is approximate and is based on the age reported when called. Information about your local area, jobs, services, and upcoming meetings near you. Elder Craig C. Christensen, from left, Utah Area President for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sister Debbie Christensen, Sister Patricia Holland, and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, pose with shovels at the groundbreaking service for the Red Cliffs Utah Temple in St. George, Utah, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. Called as a General Authority Seventy in 2002, Elder Christensens extensive area leadership experience began when he served as president of the Mexico Area from 2003 to 2007, residing in Mexico City with his wife, Sister Debbie Christensen. Ground Water Maps. Area Seventies are local area authorities called in each of the Churchs geographic areas throughout the world. As part of that leadership training, church president Russell M. Nelson announced a change to how area seventies would be sustained each April going forward. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Brother Steven J. Lund, 66, was raised in Santa Rosa and Long Beach, California. You are about to access Constant Contacts (http://visitor.constantcontact.com). With the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and more than 2 million members within its boundaries, the Utah Area is a region providing both a quantity and multi-generational quality of benefits to the global Church. These General Authorities usually serve full-time until they are 70 years old and are granted emeritus status at the following October general conference. The North America areas are administrated from Church headquarters in Salt Lake City and are supported by the Churchs departments based there. Edmarc R. Dumas, 43, Talisay City, Philippines; assistant temple recorder for Cebu City Philippines Temple, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; currently serving as president of the Cebu City Philippines Stake; former bishop, bishopric member, and stake presidency member; wife: Donna Dell; five children. Boxes of the drug Humalog, made by Eli Lilly and Company, sit on a counter at a pharmacy in Provo, Utah, Jan. 9, 2020. Matthew Scott Holland, 53, was born in Provo, Utah. April 2020 Chart of General Authorities, Officers, and other Church leaders, Why Some General Authorities Are Called to Serve as Mission Presidents, When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. At the time of his call, he had been serving in the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the Utah South Area. Elder Kevin W. Pearson was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 5, 2008. Elder Pearson has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in . Elder Craig C. Christensen, president of the Utah Area, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. Michael M. Packer, 54, Rexburg, Idaho; physician, self-employed (Seasons Family Medical); currently serving as president of the Rexburg Idaho East Stake; former bishop, bishopric member, and stake presidency member; wife: Shannon; four children. Rather than having a large list of individual names for new area seventies read over the pulpit during a session of general conference, when other changes in general leadership would be presented, the list of 77 new area seventies for 2021 was read in the leadership session, after which Nelson called for a sustaining vote of those individuals. Ricardo A. Spencer, 40, Santiago, Chile; security sales executive, Micro Focus; currently serving as counselor in the Chile Santiago South Mission presidency; former bishop, high councilor, stake presidency member, and stake president; wife: Kriss; five children. They are the parents of five children. April 2020 General Conference News and Announcements, The Churchs New Symbol Emphasizes the Centrality of the Savior, Church Announces Plans to Construct a Temple in United Arab Emirates, When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. As a General Authority, Elder Craig C. Christensen served as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy from 2012 to 2018, with supervisory responsibilities in various areas of the Church. Elder Sean Douglas was called as a General Authority Seventy on April 3, 2021. President Oaks announced that two members of the Presidency of the Seventy Elder Robert C. Gay and Elder Terence M. Vinson would complete their service on Aug. 1, 2021. Style Guide Note:When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. Kevin W. Birch, 56, Westerville, Ohio; regional assistant vice president, CNA Surety Corporation; currently serving as a mission leader in the Westerville Ward; former bishop and stake president; wife: Kimberly; two children. I dont want to over characterize, because some of the most faithful, wonderful members of the Church in the world are here, but I worry that not only are we casual about the prophet, but that leads to being casual about our membership in the Saviors Church., Another of Elder Pearsons concerns for the Utah Area is how Church membership becomes part of the culture. Elder Craig C. Christensen, a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Taylorsville Utah Temple in Taylorsville on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. General Officers are not considered General Authorities. We have the ability to shape whats great about Utah in a bigger way going forward than we have in the past.. Brother Bradley R. (Brad) Wilcox, 60, was born in Provo, Utah. Utah State Parks Interactive Map. An area presidency today is comprised of a president and two counselors, all three typically General Authority Seventies, although a local Area Seventy is included in both the Europe East and Middle East / Africa North area presidencies.