New General Authorities, Young Men Presidency and Primary Presidency Changes Announced

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced five new general authorities, a new Young Men general presidency, a new counselor in the Primary general presidency and 53 Area Seventies at the Saturday afternoon session of the Church’s 185^th Annual General Conference being held here this weekend.

Called as general authorities to serve in the First Quorum of the Seventy are Elder Kim B. Clark, Rexburg, ID; Elder Allen D. Haynie, San Diego, CA; Elder Von G. Keetch, Salt Lake City, UT; Elder Hugo Montoya, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; and Elder Vern P. Stanfill, Kalispell, MT. 

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. Members of the First Quorum of the Seventy usually serve to age 70.

Called as members of the Young Men general presidency are Stephen W. Owen, president; Douglas D. Holmes, first counselor; and M. Joseph Brough, second counselor. Members of the Young Men general presidency, under the direction of the First Presidency, oversee the activities of young Mormon men ages 12 through 18.

A new counselor was called to the Primary general presidency to replace Sister Jean A. Stevens, who will serve with her husband in the England London Mission. Sister Rosemary M. Wixom will continue to serve as president, Sister Cheryl A. Esplin will serve as the first counselor and Sister Mary R. Durham has been called as second counselor.  

First Quorum of the Seventy

Elder Kim B. Clark was sustained a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 4, 2015, at age 66. At the time of his call he had been serving as the president of Brigham Young University-Idaho since 2005. He served as a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy, Idaho Area, from 2007 to 2014.

Elder Clark received a bachelor of arts degree, a master of arts degree and a Ph.D., all in economics, from Harvard University. He became a member of the faculty at the Harvard Business School in 1978 and was named dean of that school in 1995. He served in that capacity until the summer of 2005, when he was named the president of Brigham Young University-Idaho.

Elder Clark has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the South German Mission, elders quorum president, ward executive secretary, bishop’s counselor, bishop, high councilor and stake mission president’s counselor.

Kim Bryce Clark was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on March 20, 1949. He married Sue Lorraine Hunt in 1971. They are the parents of seven children.

Elder Allen D. Haynie was sustained a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 4, 2015, at age 56.  At the time of his call he had been serving as a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the North America West Area.

Elder Haynie received a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1982 and a juris doctorate in law in 1985, both from Brigham Young University.  He practiced law for 25 years with an international law firm before beginning his own firm.

Elder Haynie has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Argentina Cordoba Mission, elders quorum president, Young Men president, seminary teacher, high councilor, bishop and stake president.

Allen Decker Haynie was born in Logan, Utah, on August 29, 1958. He married Deborah Ruth Hall in 1983. They are the parents of six children and grandparents of eight grandchildren.

Elder Von G. Keetch was sustained a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 4, 2015, at age 55.  At the time of his call he had been serving as a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the Salt Lake City Area.

Elder Keetch received a bachelor of science degree in political science from Brigham Young University in 1984. In 1987 he received a juris doctor degree from the J. Reuben Clark law school at Brigham Young University. In 1988 Elder Keetch served as judicial clerk to Judge George C. Pratt on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.  Thereafter, he served as judicial clerk to Chief Justice Warren E. Burger and Justice Antonin Scalia on the United States Supreme Court.  He has practiced law at a Salt Lake City law firm since 1990.

Elder Keetch has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Germany Düsseldorf Mission, bishop’s counselor, stake president’s counselor and stake president.

Von Gary Keetch was born in Provo, Utah, on March 17, 1960. He married Bernice Pymm in 1981. They are the parents of six children.

Elder Hugo Montoya was sustained a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 4, 2015, at age 55. At the time of his call he had been serving as a member of the Fourth Quorum of the Seventy in the Mexico Area.

Elder Montoya studied agricultural engineering at Sonora State University and received a bachelor’s degree in 1986.  He worked at a family grape vineyard from 1975 through 1992. He began employment with XEROX in 1996, working in several capacities as an administrative assistant, HR manager, tax manager, payroll manager and currently as a system consulting manager.  He also worked as an institute teacher for the Church Educational System from 1998 until 2002. 

Elder Montoya has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Mexico North Mission, Young Men president, elders quorum president, high councilor, bishop, stake president and assistant area auditor and area auditor for the Mexico Area.

Hugo Montoya Monroy was born in Fresno, California, on April 2, 1960. He married Maria del Carmen Balvastro in 1983. They are the parents of five children.

Elder Vern P. Stanfill was sustained a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 4, 2015, at age 57. At the time of his call he had been serving as a member of the Sixth Quorum of the Seventy in the North America Central Area.

Elder Stanfill received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Brigham Young University in 1981. He started his career in managing the family ranch in large cattle, hay and grain operations. He sold this business in 1998 and became involved in managing family assets and trusts. During this time he was involved in managing a portfolio of real estate and financial instruments, as well as structuring philanthropic and estate matters. Elder Stanfill holds both commercial fixed wing and rotorcraft ratings and has been involved in aviation for both business and pleasure. 

Elder Stanfill has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the France Toulouse Mission, executive secretary, elders quorum president, bishop’s counselor, bishop, high councilor, stake president’s counselor, high priests group leader and stake president.

Vern Perry Stanfill was born in Townsend, Montana, on August 8, 1957. He married Alicia Cecile Cox in 1980. They are the parents of four children.

Young Men General Presidency

Stephen W. Owen, 57, was sustained as the Young Men general president on April 4, 2015. His previous Church service includes serving as a full-time missionary in the Texas San Antonio Mission, president of the California Arcadia Mission, stake president, a counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, high councilor, Scoutmaster, ward Young Men president and elders quorum president.

He received a bachelor of science degree in finance at the University of Utah and is a business owner in Provo, UT. He is married to Jane Stringham, and they are the parents of five children.

Douglas D. Holmes, 53, was serving as a counselor in a stake presidency when he accepted the call as the first counselor in the Young Men general presidency on April 4, 2015. His Church service includes president of the Michigan Detroit Mission, bishop, ward Young Men president, stake Young Men president’s counselor, Gospel Doctrine teacher, ward mission leader, bishop’s counselor and elders quorum president.

He received a bachelor of arts degree in family science and an MBA in finance, both from Brigham Young University. He is self-employed as an investor and developer. He is married to Erin Sue Toone, and they are the parents of six children.

M. Joseph Brough, 51, was sustained as the second counselor in the Young Men general presidency on April 4, 2015.  Previously, he has served as president of the Guatemala Guatemala City Central Mission, ward Young Men president, bishop, bishop’s counselor and high councilor.

He received bachelor of arts in finance and a masters of business administration from the University of Utah. He is a business owner in Brigham City, Utah. He is married to Emily Jane Thompson Brough, and they are the parents of four children.

Primary General Presidency

Sister Mary R. Durham, 61, was sustained as the second counselor in the Primary general presidency on April 4, 2015. Prior to her call, Sister Durham had been serving as a member of the Primary general board since 2010.

Sister Durham served with her husband as he presided over the Japan Tokyo North Mission and has served as a Primary presidency counselor, Young Women president, stake Relief Society president and Gospel Doctrine teacher. She is married to Mark P. Durham, and they are the parents of seven children. 

Area Seventies

Also announced today were the callings of 53 new Area Seventies. Area Seventies give part-time voluntary Church service within their assigned geographic areas and support area presidencies in international areas. Called as Area Seventies: Nelson Ardila, 48, Santander, Colombia; Jose M. Batalla, 54, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Lawrence P. Blunck, 58, Canby, Oregon; Bradford C. Bowen, 63, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Mark A. Bragg, 52, Los Angeles, California; Sergio Luis Carboni, 55, João Pessoa, Brazil; Armando Carreon, 46, San Luis Potosi, Mexico; S. Marc Clay Jr., 61, Syracuse, New York; Z. Dominique Dekaye, 58, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Osvaldo R. Dias, 41, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Michael M. Dudley, 63, Chesapeake, Virginia; Mark P. Durham, 63, Salt Lake City, Utah; James E. Evanson, 46, Lethbridge, Canada; Paschoal F. Fortunato, 48, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Patricio M. Giuffra, 52, Santiago, Chile; Daniel P. Hall, 45, Johannesburg, South Africa; Toru Hayashi, 63, Hiroshima, Japan; Paul F. Hintze, 65, St. Louis, Missouri; J. K. Chukwuemeka Igwe, 47, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Seung Hoon Koo, 52, Yongin-si, South Korea; Ming-Shun Kuan, 44, Taichung City, Taiwan; Johnny L. Leota, 48, Sydney, Australia; Carlo M. Lezano, 42, Santa Anita, Peru; Joel Martinez, 47, Guadalupe, Mexico; J. Vaun McArthur, 62, Aiken, South Carolina; Kyle S. McKay, 55, Kaysville, Utah; Helamán Montejo, 38, Saltillo, Mexico; A. Fabio Moscoso, 45, Lima, Peru; Michael R. Murray, 59, Redmond, Washington; Norman R. Nemrow, 60, Provo, Utah; S. Mark Palmer, 59, Austin, Texas; Ferdinand P. Pangan, 47, Davao City, Philippines; Jairus C. Perez, 47, Cebu, Philippines; Steven M. Petersen, 58, Farr West, Utah; Wolfgang Pilz, 61, Darmstadt, Germany; Jay D. Pimentel, 61, Oakland, California; John C. Pingree Jr., 48, Salt Lake City, Utah; Edvaldo B. Pinto Jr., 47, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Evan A. Schmutz, 60, Orem, Utah; K. David Scott, 52, Chicago, Illinois; Paul H. Sinclair, 49, Indianapolis, Indiana; Benjamin T. Sinjoux, 62, Papeete, French Polynesia; Rulon F. Stacey, 54, Minneapolis, Minnesota; David L. Stapleton, 56, Kennewick, Washington; Karl M. Tilleman, 54, Phoenix, Arizona; William R. Titera, 60, Cleveland, Ohio; Seiji Tokuzawa, 50, Tokyo, Japan; Carlos R. Toledo, 51, Vinhedo, Brazil; Cesar E. Villar, 50, Lima, Peru; Juan Pablo Villar, 45, Santiago, Chile; David T. Warner, 51, Provo, Utah; Gary K. Wilde, 59, Ventura, California; Robert K. William, 43, Bangalore, India.

Releases to be effective on May 1, 2015 were announced for the following 49 Area Seventies:

Juan C. Avila, Philip K. Bussey, René J. Cabrera, Renato Capelletti, Paul D. M. Christensen, Samuel W. Clark, Rogério G. R. Cruz, George R. Donaldson, Ini B. Ekong, Christian H. Fingerle, Craig G. Fisher, Jerryl L. Garns, M. Keith Giddens, Allen D. Haynie, Jui Chang Juan, George M. Keele, Von G. Keetch, Katsumi Kusume, German Laboriel, J. Christopher Lansing, Gustavo Lopez, Dmitry V. Marchenko, Peter F. Meurs, T. Jackson Mkhabela, Hugo Montoya, Valentín F. Nuñez, Hee Keun Oh, Jeffery E. Olson, R. Ingvar Olsson, Norbert K. Ounleu, Robert N. Packer, Nathaniel R. Payne, Cesar A. Perez Jr., Michael J. Reall, Edson D. G. Ribeiro, Brad K. Risenmay, Walter C. Selden, Mozart B. Soares, Carlos Solis, Norland Souza, Vern P. Stanfill, T. Marama Tarati, Kouzou Tashiro, Ruben D. Torres, Omar Villalobos, Jack D. Ward, Alan J. Webb, Gerardo J. Wilhelm, Jim L. Wright.