First Presidency Announces 2023 Area Leadership Assignments

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Area leadership assignments have been announced by the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The changes affect area presidencies and will become effective on August 1, 2023.

Members of area presidencies are General Authority Seventies or Area Seventies. Area presidencies consist of a president and two counselors who operate from area offices in each assigned area.

There are 23 areas in the Church of Jesus Christ – six that span the United States and Canada and 17 additional areas outside of those two countries.

Beginning in 1984, areas were established to direct the work in geographic locations of the global Church. The area presidencies for the U.S. and Canada work from Church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Church’s Middle East/Africa North Area is also administered from headquarters.

“The Seventy are to act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Twelve … in building up the Church and regulating all the affairs of the same in all nations” (see Doctrine and Covenants 107:34).

Presidency of the Seventy

There are no changes in the Presidency of the Seventy. The presidency has been serving together since August 2021. 

 
Area Presidencies — United States and Canada

North America Central

The North America Central Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Randall K. Bennett, First Counselor; Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong, President; and Elder Ricardo P. Giménez, Second Counselor.
 

North America Northeast

The North America Northeast Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Vaiangina Sikahema, First Counselor; Elder Allen D. Haynie, President; and Elder Mathias Held, Second Counselor.

North America Southeast

The North America Southeast Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Shayne M. Bowen, First Counselor; Elder Vern P. Stanfill, President; and Elder W. Mark Bassett, Second Counselor.
 

North America Southwest

The North America Southwest Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Jose L. Alonso, First Counselor; Elder Evan A. Schmutz, President; and Elder Michael A. Dunn, Second Counselor.

North America West

The North America West Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Gary B. Sabin, First Counselor; Elder Mark A. Bragg, President; and Elder Adeyinka A. Ojediran, Second Counselor.

Utah

The Utah Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Hugo E. Martinez, First Counselor; Elder Kevin W. Pearson, President; and Elder Brian K. Taylor, Second Counselor.

Area Presidencies — Outside United States and Canada

Africa Central

The Africa Central Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Thierry K. Mutombo, First Counselor; Elder Ian S. Arden, President; and Elder Paul B. Pieper, Second Counselor.

Africa South

The Africa South Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis, First Counselor; Elder Edward Dube, President; and Elder Denelson Silva, Second Counselor.

Africa West

The Africa West Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Jorg Klebingat, First Counselor; Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, President; and Elder Alfred Kyungu, Second Counselor.

Asia

The Asia Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Kelly R. Johnson, First Counselor; Elder Benjamin M. Z. Tai, President; and Elder Michael John U. Teh, Second Counselor.

Asia North

The Asia North Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder John A. McCune, First Counselor; Elder Takashi Wada, President; and Elder J. Kimo Esplin, Second Counselor.

Brazil

The Brazil Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela, First Counselor; Elder Joni L. Koch, President; and Elder Mark D. Eddy, Second Counselor.

Caribbean

The Caribbean Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Valeri V. Cordón, First Counselor; Elder Eduardo Gavarret, President; and Elder Moisés Villanueva, Second Counselor.

Central America

The Central America Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Patricio M. Guiffra, First Counselor; Elder Taylor G. Godoy, President; and Elder Ryan K. Olsen, Second Counselor.

Europe Central

The Europe Central Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Rubén V. Alliaud, First Counselor; Elder Massimo De Feo, President; and Elder Jack N. Gerard, Second Counselor.

Europe East

The Europe East Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Nikolai Ustyuzahaninov, First Counselor; Elder Alexey V. Samaykin, President; and Elder Aleksandr A. Drachyov, Second Counselor. All are Area Seventies.

Europe North

The Europe North Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Scott D. Whiting, First Counselor; Elder Hans T. Boom, President; and Elder Alan T. Phillips, Second Counselor.

At this time, Ukraine and Moldova are overseen by Elder Kyrylo Pokhylko, an Area Seventy, in his role as an assistant to the Europe North Area presidency.

Mexico

The Mexico Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Adrián Ochoa, First Counselor; Elder Hugo Montoya, President; and Elder Sean Douglas, Second Counselor.

Middle East / Africa North

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The Middle East / Africa North Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella, First Counselor; Elder Anthony D. Perkins, President; and Elder Roland J. Bäck, Second Counselor. Elder Bäck is an Area Seventy.

Pacific

The Pacific Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, First Counselor; Elder Peter F. Meurs, President; and Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi, Second Counselor.

Philippines

The Philippines Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Yoon H. Choi, First Counselor; Elder Steven R. Bangerter, President; and Elder Carlos G. Revillo Jr., Second Counselor.

South America Northwest

The South America Northwest Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Jorge T. Becerra, First Counselor; Elder Jorge F. Zeballos, President; and Elder Rafael E. Pino, Second Counselor.

South America South

The South America South Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Joaquin E. Costa, First Counselor; Elder Craig C. Christensen, President; and Elder Alan R. Walker, Second Counselor.