The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced 12 new General Authorities at the Saturday afternoon session of the Church’s 175th Annual General Conference being held here this weekend. A new Primary general presidency was also named to lead the Church’s children’s organization.
Called as General Authorities to serve in the First Quorum of the Seventy are Elder Benjamin De Hoyos, Mexico City, Mexico; Elder David F. Evans, Salt Lake City, Utah; Elder C. Scott Grow, Meridian, Idaho; Elder Richard G. Hinckley, Salt Lake City, Utah; Elder Paul V. Johnson, Sandy, Utah; Elder Paul E. Koelliker, Salt Lake City, Utah; Elder Paul B. Pieper, Sandy, Utah, and Elder Ulisses Soares, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
New General Authorities called to serve in the Second Quorum of the Seventy are Elder Won Yong Ko, Seoul, Korea; Elder Wolfgang H. Paul, Frankfurt, Germany; Elder Lowell M. Snow, North Salt Lake, Utah, and Elder Paul K. Sybrowsky, Provo, Utah.
Members of the Seventy have responsibility for administering the work of the Church throughout the world under the direction of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Some of them also have executive responsibilities in a number of Church departments. Those called to the Second Quorum of the Seventy serve for a period of about six years.
Sister Cheryl C. Lant was called as the new general president of the Primary, the Church’s organization for children. Sister Margaret S. Lifferth and Sister Vicki F. Matsumori will serve as first and second counselors. Coleen K. Menlove, Sydney S. Reynolds and Gayle M. Clegg were released from their responsibilities in the Primary general presidency and received an expression of gratitude for their five years of leadership and service to the youngest Latter-day Saints.
First Quorum of the
Seventy
Elder Benjamin De Hoyos, 51, is currently serving as an
Area Seventy and as the second counselor in the Mexico South Area
presidency. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the
Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, received a teaching
certificate and then earned a masters degree in business from
Chapultepec University. Elder De Hoyos has held a number of
teaching and administrative positions in the Church Educational
System (CES) in Mexico. He has also worked as the Church’s public
affairs director for Mexico. His other Church service callings have
included mission president, stake president, counselor in a stake
presidency and full-time missionary. He and his wife, Evelia De
Hoyos, are the parents of six children.
Elder David F. Evans, 53, was serving as president of the Salt Lake Emigration Stake prior to his call as a General Authority. He earned a bachelor’s degree in community health education from the University of Utah, then completed a law degree at Brigham Young University (BYU). He has been a partner and practicing attorney with a number of Utah law firms and is also an executive in an investment banking business. In addition to his service as a stake president, Elder Evans has been a mission president, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, stake Young Men president, bishop’s counselor, elders quorum president, scoutmaster and full-time missionary. He and his wife, Mary Evans, have eight children.
Elder C. Scott Grow, 56, served as an Area Seventy in the Idaho Area before his call to full-time Church service as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He graduated from BYU in accounting and worked with major accounting and business consulting firms before establishing his own accounting partnership. Elder Grow has served as president of the Idaho Area, counselor in an area presidency, stake president, counselor in a stake presidency, mission president, stake high councilor, stake Young Men president, bishop’s counselor and full-time missionary. He and his wife, Rhonda Grow, have eight children.
Elder Richard G. Hinckley, 63, completed his service last summer as president of the Utah Salt Lake City Mission and is currently serving as a temple sealer. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Utah and an MBA from Stanford University. In his professional work, Elder Hinckley has been an executive and equity partner in a number of business ventures. Other Church service he has rendered include callings as a stake president, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, stake high councilor, elders quorum president and full-time missionary. Elder Hinckley and his wife, Jane Hinckley, have four children.
Elder Paul V.
Johnson, 50, was serving as an Area Seventy for the Utah Salt
Lake City Area prior to being called as a General Authority. He
attended BYU, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in zoology and
botany, followed by a master’s degree in counseling and guidance.
He later earned a doctorate in instructional technology from Utah
State University. Elder Johnson has worked in a number of teaching
and senior administrative capacities for CES. In addition to his
service as an Area Authority, he has served the Church as a
counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, stake high councilor, ward
Young Men president and full-time missionary. He is married to Jill
Johnson, and they have nine children.
Elder Paul E. Koelliker, 62, has been serving as a high priest
group leader and temple sealer. He completed a bachelor’s degree in
business administration at the University of Utah. Elder Koelliker
has been employed by the Church in senior managerial positions
responsible for directing a number of Church departments and
programs. He has served the Church as a stake president, stake high
councilor, bishop, elders quorum president, counselor in a ward
Young Men presidency and full-time missionary. Married to Ann
Koelliker, Elder Koelliker and his wife have seven children.
Elder Paul B. Pieper, 47, is currently serving as president of the Russia St. Petersburg Mission. He studied international relations at BYU, then completed his bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Utah. He went on to finish a law degree, also at the University of Utah. Elder Pieper has worked as an attorney and as an international development consultant. His service to the Church includes being a counselor in a stake presidency, stake high councilor, counselor in a stake Young Men presidency, branch president, elders quorum president, Primary teacher and full-time missionary. He and his wife, Melissa Pieper, have six children.
Elder Ulisses Soares, 46, has been teaching Sunday School since completing his service as a mission president. He studied accounting and economics at PUC, a university in Brazil where he also earned an MBA. Elder Soares has been employed by the Church in a number of accounting and managerial positions in Brazil and the United States. He has served the Church as a stake president, regional welfare agent, stake high councilor, stake executive secretary, bishop’s counselor, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president and full-time missionary. He and his wife, Rosana Soares, have three children.
Second Quorum of the Seventy
Elder Won Yong Ko, 59, is currently serving as an Area Seventy and as second counselor in the Asia North Area presidency. He received his bachelor’s degree from Seoul National University. During his business career, Elder Ko worked as an executive for a major information systems and telecommunications company and an international computer company. In addition to serving as an Area Seventy, Elder Ko has been a regional representative, stake president and stake high councilor. Elder Ko and his wife, Eun Hee Ko, are parents of two children.
Elder Wolfgang H. Paul, 64, has served as an Area Seventy in the Europe Central Area. He graduated from the German Federal Government Administration Academy and worked as a government officer in his native Germany. Recently retired, Elder Paul was also employed by the Church in a number of managerial and administrative positions in Europe. His Church experience includes serving as second counselor in the Europe East Area presidency, regional representative, mission president, counselor in a stake presidency, stake Young Men president, bishop, high priest group leader, branch president, elders quorum president and full-time missionary. He and his wife, Helga Paul, have three children.
Elder Lowell M. Snow, 61, was serving as an Area Seventy in the Utah North Area prior to his call to the Second Quorum of the Seventy. Elder Snow graduated from BYU with a bachelor’s degree in zoology and chemistry. He earned a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Wayne State University and a law degree from the University of Utah. He has worked as an attorney and business consultant. Elder Snow’s other Church service includes area executive secretary, church hosting director, mission president, stake and ward Young Men president, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, bishop’s counselor, branch president and full-time missionary. He and his wife, Tamara, are the parents of five children.
Elder Paul K. Sybrowsky, 60, completed his service last summer as president of the Canada Toronto West Mission. He studied at BYU, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in social science. He has worked as an executive for several multinational information services and software development and is currently self-employed. Elder Sybrowsky has served the Church as a stake president, counselor in a stake presidency, stake high councilor, bishop and full-time missionary. He and his wife, Lynne Sybrowsky, have nine children.
Primary General Presidency
Sister Cheryl C. Lant will serve as the 11th general president of the Primary. Sister Lant studied early childhood development at BYU and has spent most of her adult life teaching children, both as the mother of nine and as an educator. She is co-founder and co-owner with her husband of a private school for children and the co-founder and developer of a phonics-based beginning reading program. Her service to the Church has been extensive, including service on the Primary General Board, stake and ward primary president, counselor in stake Relief Society presidency, ward Young Women president and Primary teacher. Sister Lant and her husband, John, are the parents of nine children
Sister Margaret S. Lifferth will join Sister Lant in the Primary general presidency as first counselor. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from BYU. Sister Lifferth has served her community on elementary and high school PTA boards and on the BYU Women’s Conference Committee. She has served the Church as a member of the Primary General Board, counselor in a stake Relief Society presidency, ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, counselor in a ward Primary presidency and volunteer docent at the Museum of Church History and Art. Sister Lifferth and her husband, Dennis, are the parents of seven children.
Sister Vicki F. Matsumori will serve as second counselor to Sister Lant in the Primary general presidency. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and English with a teaching certificate from the University of Utah. She has taught junior high English and is currently an adjunct instructor at Salt Lake Community College. The Church has benefited from her service as a member of the Primary general board, stake Relief Society board, ward Primary president, ward Relief Society president, counselor in a ward Young Women presidency and Young Women advisor. Sister Matsumori and her husband, James, are parents of three children.
Area Seventies
Also announced today were
the callings of 38 new Area Seventies. Area Seventies give
voluntary Church service within their assigned geographic areas and
support Area Presidencies in international areas. Called as Area
Seventies: Nelson L. Altamirano, 56, Managua, Nicaragua; Manuel
Araiz, 56, Mexico City, Mexico; Sergio E. Avila, 41, Buenos Aires,
Argentina; Marcelo Bolfarini, 45, São Paulo, Brazil; Shayne M.
Bowen, 50, Idaho Falls, Idaho; David R. Brown, 48, Colonia Juarez,
Mexico; Fernando E. Calderon, 46, Quito, Ecuador; Milton da Rocha
Camargo, 47, Santana de Parnaiba, Brazil; Daniel M. Cañoles, 49,
Santiago, Chile; I. Poloski Cordón, 37, Guatemala City, Guatemala;
Federico F. Costales Jr., 43, Baguio City, Philippines; John C.
Dalton, 61, Yorba Linda, California; Heber O. Diaz, 62, Buenos
Aires, Argentina; Luis G. Duarte, 43, Comayaguela, Honduras;
Frerich J. Görts, 61, Düsseldorf, Germany; Ronald J. Hammond, 49,
Rexburg, Idaho; Miguel Hidalgo, 56, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico; Patrick
Kearon, 43, Clevedon, England; Donald J. Keyes, 54, Uintah, Utah;
Christiaan H. Kleijweg, 55, oorschoten, The Netherlands; Larry R.
Lawrence, 57, Clovis, California; Robert W. Lees, 62, Paradise
Valley, Arizona; F. Rene Loli, 55, Lima, Peru; Glendon Lyons, 51,
Queretaro, Mexico; Juan A. Machuca, 58, Mexico City, Mexico;
Raymundo Morales, 50, Cárdenas, Mexico; Brent H. Nielson, 50, Twin
Falls, Idaho; Carlos S. Obata, 49, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
Alejandro M. Robles, 64, Lima, Peru; Gerardo L. Rubio, 46,
Santiago, Chile; Gvido Senkans, 38, Riga, Latvia;
Fabian L. Sinamban, 42, General Santos City, Philippines; Dirk
Smibert, 49, Queensland, Australia; Hans T. Sorensen, 46, Auckland,
New Zealand; Eivind Sterri, 43, Asker, Norway; Miguel R. Valdez,
41, Santa Rosa, Philippines; Gary W. Walker, 61, Eagle, Idaho;
Richard C. Zambrano, 38, Arequipa, Peru.
Releases to be effective on
1 May 2005 were announced for the following 37 Area Seventies:
Jorge O. Abad, Carlos E. Agüero, Marcos A. Aidukaitis, Gustavo A.
Barrios, René J. Cabrera, Edison M. Cabrito, Tad R. Callister, Carl
B. Cook, Reynaldo L. Cuyong, Jorge L. del Castillo, Benjamin De
Hoyos, Lindsay T. Dil, Fred C. Dimaya, Enrique R. Falabella,
Roberto Garcia, Larry W. Gibbons, C. Scott Grow, John A. Harris,
Merrill F. Higham, R. Randall Huff, Michael L. Jensen, Paul V.
Johnson, Won Yong Ko, Wilfredo R. López, Ronald L. Loveland,
Jeffrey J. Marchant, Hans H. Mattsson, E. Israel Pérez, Holger D.
Rakow, Alfonso Ramos, Carlos C. Revillo Sr., Manfred H. Schütze, J.
Mitchel Scott, José A. Teixeira da Silva, Lowell M. Snow, Guillermo
Torres, Roland N. Walker.