Two new mission presidents have been called by the First Presidency. The mission presidents and their wives will begin their service about July 1. The new mission presidents and their assignments are:
Mauro J. De Maria, 35, called to the Brazil Salvador South Mission; Arvore Grande Ward, Sorocaba Brazil Barcelona Stake; stake president; former stake president's counselor, mission president's counselor, high councilor, bishop's counselor, elders quorum president, and missionary in the Brazil Recife Mission; Church Educational System regional coordinator; attended the University of Santos and University of Sorocaba; born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Jose Roberto Franco and Regina Simoes Junot De Maria; married Eugenia Teixeira, three children. She is ward Young Women president's first counselor; former district Young Women president, stake Primary president's counselor, stake Relief Society president's counselor, ward Relief Society president and counselor and ward family history consultant; registered nurse through Don Domenico Nursing School; born in Santos, Brazil, to Waldomiro and Suzana Fernandes Da Gloria Teixeira.
John W. Ferguson, 61, called to the Chile Antofagasta Mission; Marysville 5th Ward, Marysville Washington Stake; former district Sunday School president's counselor, branch president and counselor, elders quorum president, Sunday School president, Young Men president, and missionary in the Central American Mission; retired professor of Spanish and humanities at Murray State University in Kentucky; received bachelor's degree in Spanish from the University of Utah, master's degree in Spanish from Vanderbilt University, and doctorate in Spanish from Florida State University; born in Los Angeles, Calif., to Harry Edward and Marion Concepcion Heyser Ferguson; married LuRae Halverson, four children. She is a former Primary president, Relief Society president and teacher, music chairman, branch chorister, Sunday School teacher, and Young Women president's counselor; received bachelor's degree in office administration and master's degree in business administration from Murray State University, and attended the University of Utah; born in Salt Lake City to Ray Lee and Dorothy Mowrey Mitchell Halverson.