Elder Claudio R. M. Costa served as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from April 2, 1994, to October 5, 2019, at which time he was given emeritus status.
As a General Authority Seventy, he served in the Presidency of the Seventy and as president of the South America North, Brazil North, and Brazil Areas. Elder Costa also served in the presidencies of the Brazil and South America South Areas and as an area assistant in the North America Southeast Area. At the time of his release he was serving at Church headquarters as an assistant executive director in the Missionary Department, a member of the Boundary and Leadership Change Committee, and as President of the North America Southeast Area.
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He studied marketing in São Paulo as a young man and later served for 13 years in various positions in the Church Educational System. At the time of his calling as a General Authority, he was the director of the Church’s Institute of Religion in São Paulo.
He has served the Church as an institute and seminary teacher, counselor in a bishopric, bishop, stake high councilor, counselor in a stake presidency, mission president, and regional representative.
Claudio Roberto Mendes Costa was born in Santos, Brazil, on March 25, 1949. He married Margareth Fernandes Morgado in September 1978. They are the parents of four children.