The First Presidency has called new presidents for eight of the Church's 17 missionary training centers around the world. The new leaders and their wives will be trained at the Provo, Utah, Missionary Training Center on Jan. 12-16, and will begin their two-year terms of service following their training.
The new presidents and their wives and assignments are: Joseph K. and Ida Jean Lewis Taylor Brooks, Buenos Aires, Argentina; W. Roy and Evelyn Marie Johnson Brown, Hamilton, New Zealand; Joseph W. and Enid Caldwell Cook, Lima, Peru; Gil Whe and Young Ae Kim Do, Seoul, Korea; Fernando R. and Enriqueta Pina Gomez, Santiago, Chile; Ronald E. and Helen Winona Murdoch Hall, Guatemala City, Guatemala; David E. and Sylvia Lunt Heywood, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; and Masaru and Junko Wakamatsu Tsuchida, Tokyo, Japan.Joseph K. Brooks, 60, was born in St. George, Utah, to William and Juanita Leavitt Brooks. He married Ida Jean Lewis Taylor, and they are the parents of five children. They are members of the Mapleton 6th Ward, Mapleton Utah North Stake. Pres. Brooks is a former president of the Uruguay Montevideo Mission, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop and counselor, high councilor, and missionary in the Spanish American Mission. He has worked as a manager of security operations, an in-field service representative for the Missionary Department, a private investigator, and a special agent for the FBI.
Sister Brooks was born in Rock Springs, Wyo., to John W. and Grace Bernice Lewis Taylor. She has served as a technical director of a family history library, counselor in a Relief Society presidency, president and counselor in the Primary, Young Women president, and with her husband in Uruguay.
W. Roy Brown, 65, was born in Boise, Idaho, to Wesley R. and Ruby Glenn Brown. He married Evelyn Marie Johnson, and they are the parents of four children. They are members of the Belmont Ward, Meridian Idaho East Stake. Pres. Brown is a former president of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Mission, counselor in a temple presidency, counselor in a stake presidency, high councilor, temple sealer, and ordinance worker. He has worked as an accountant and property developer.
Sister Brown was born in Grangeville, Idaho, to Axell and Ellen Blankenship Johnson. She has served as a stake Primary president, president and counselor in various auxiliary organizations, Relief Society teacher, assistant temple matron, temple worker, and with her husband in Pittsburgh.
Joseph W. Cook, 70, was born in Logan, Utah, to Samuel B. and Marilla Crowther Cook. He married Enid Caldwell, and they are the parents of four children. They are members of the Hermosa Vista Ward, Mesa Arizona Red Mountain Stake. Pres. Cook is a former president of the Bolivia Cochabamba Mission, counselor in a temple presidency, sealer, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, gospel doctrine teacher, and missionary in the Dominican Republic Santiago Mission. He has worked as a teacher and administrator.
Sister Cook was born in Heiner, Utah, to Wilford W. and Gladys Marshall Caldwell. She has served as a temple missionary, Relief Society teacher, organist, drama director, and with her husband in Bolivia and the Dominican Republic. She worked as a school teacher.
Gil Whe Do, 62, was born in Sung-Joo Kyung-Buk, Korea, to Jae Ho and Jae Bong Bae Do. He married Young Ae Kim, and they are the parents of four children. They are members of the Soon Cheon Ward, Soon Cheon Korea Stake. Pres. Do is a former president of the Korea Seoul West Mission, patriarch, stake president, district president and branch president. He has worked as a teacher, director and coordinator for the Church Educational System.
Sister Do was born in Taegu, Korea, to Sun Bong and Bang Ja Choi Kim. She has served as a district and branch Relief Society teacher, Relief Society and Primary teacher, organist, and with her husband in Korea. She worked as a school teacher.
Fernando R. Gomez, 57, was born in Monterrey, Mexico, to Raymundo G. and Consuelo Paez Gomez. He married Enriqueta Pina, and they are the parents of four children. They are members of the Pleasant View 5th Ward, Provo Utah Sharon East Stake. Pres. Gomez is a former president of the Merida Mexico Mission, regional representative, and counselor in a stake presidency. He has worked as the president of an electronics company and as a museum president.
Sister Gomez was born in Los Mochis, Mexico, to David and Enriqueta De La Mora Pina. She served with her husband in Mexico. She has worked as a museum treasurer.
Ronald E. Hall, 62, was born in Lorenzo, Idaho, to Earl C. and Eva Mae Stewart Hall. He married Helen Winona Murdoch, and they are the parents of 12 children. They are members of the Hibbard 2nd Ward, Rexburg Idaho North Stake. Pres. Hall is a former president of the El Salvador San Salvador East Mission, bishop's counselor, high councilor, financial clerk, Scout leader, and missionary in the Central America Mission. He has worked as a seminary teacher, small business owner, property appraiser and English language teacher.
Sister Hall was born in Emmett, Idaho, to Brigham D. and Winona Lee Murdoch. She has served as a Relief Society president and teacher, Primary president and teacher, Young Women president, and with her husband in El Salvador. She has worked as a nurse, small business owner, and English language teacher.
David E. Heywood Jr., 64, was born in Snowflake, Ariz., to David E. and Marie Smith Heywood. He married Sylvia Lunt, and they are the parents of seven children. They are members of the Lakeside Ward, Gilbert Arizona Val Vista Stake. Pres. Heywood is a former president of the Chile Concepcion Mission, bishop, high councilor, elders quorum president, stake and ward financial clerk, and gospel doctrine teacher. He has worked as a property manager in his own realty business.
Sister Heywood was born in Colonia Pacheco, Mexico, to Clarence and LaVetta Cluff Lunt. She has served as ward and stake Relief Society president, Primary president, counselor in a Young Women presidency, Relief Society teacher, and with her husband in Chile.
Masaru Tsuchida, 60, was born in Nakamura, Japan, to Shotaro and Suzu Ukai Tsuchida. He married Junko Wakamatsu, and they are the parents of four children. They are members of the Meito North Ward, Nagoya Japan Stake. Pres. Tsuchida is a former president of the Japan Sapporo Mission, counselor to a mission president, stake president, district president, branch president, ward mission leader, and Sunday School teacher. He has worked as an office engineer and administrator for the Church Educational System.
Sister Tsuchida was born in Oike, Japan, to Yori and Masako Yamada Wakamatsu. She has served as a counselor in a ward and stake Relief Society, president of the stake Young Women, seminary teacher, Sunday School and Relief Society teacher and with her husband in Sapporo.
