Eight new mission presidents, called by the First Presidency, have been announced. They will begin their service about July 1.
Benjamin Edwin Banks, 49, England London Mission; Cottonwood 1st Ward, Salt Lake Cottonwood Stake; bishop, former Sunday School teacher, counselor in bishopric, high councilor, stake mission president, missionary. Owner and president of Intermountain Wood Products. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Benjamin Berry and Susan Kearns Banks. Married Tamara Callister, four children.
A Primary chorister, she is a former stake Young Women secretary, Primary president and teacher, counselor in stake Young Women presidency and ward chorister. Born in Blackfoot, Idaho, to Marion J. and Nina Lynn Hayes Callister.
Richard Bowman Cannon, 61, Maryland Baltimore Mission; Parleys 6th Ward, Salt Lake Parleys Stake; Young Single Adult adviser; former bishop, Young Men president, high priests group leader, Primary teacher, counselor in bishopric and high councilor. Physician. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Thomas Quentin and Katherine Bowman Cannon. Married Judith Mae Sloan, four children.
A Young Single Adult adviser, she is a former Relief Society teacher, achievement day leader, counselor in Young Women and Relief Society presidencies, counselor in stake Young Women presidency and Young Women president. Born in Billings, Mont., to Carl Stanley and Anna Grace Anderson Sloan.
Joseph Arlen Jenkins, 64, Zimbabwe Harare Mission; Edgemont 5th Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont South Stake; high councilor; former institute instructor, Sunday School teacher, CES missionary in Ukraine, counselor in stake presidency and bishop. Director of Division of Construction & Facilities Management for State of Utah. Born in Spanish Fork, Utah, to H. Boyd and Donna Jane Jenkins. Married Norma Ruth Koplin, five children.
A Young Women adviser, she is a former Relief Society enrichment night leader, CES missionary in Ukraine, counselor in stake Relief Society presidency, Relief Society president, counselor in Young Women presidency. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Henry August and Ruth Parkinson Koplin.
Richard Blair Kinnersley, 59, England London South Mission; Monument Park 14th Ward, Salt Lake Monument Park Stake; Sunday School teacher; former counselor in stake presidency, high councilor, bishop, stake mission president, elders quorum president and Young Men president. President of Utah Hospitals & Health Systems Association. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Russell Blair and Mildred Louisa Kinnersley. Married Pamela Jean Allen, five children.
A ward Relief Society president, she is a former Relief Society teacher, Sunday School teacher, Young Women adviser, nursery leader, stake Young Women president and counselor, stake Young Women adviser and counselor. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Joseph Hardy and Jean Allen Allen.
Frederick J Lee, 56, Texas Houston South Mission; Reseda Ward, Canoga Park California Stake; counselor in mission presidency; former stake mission president, bishop, stake Young Men president, high councilor, counselor in bishopric, elders quorum president and missionary. Manager of Materials & Logistics for Quest Diagnostics. Born in Las Vegas, Nev., to Willis Samuel and Louise Lybbert Lee. Married Stephanie Kowallis, five children.
A stake Young Women secretary, she is a former Young Women president, teacher development instructor, Primary president, counselor in stake Relief Society presidency, ward Relief Society teacher and Primary teacher. School teacher. Born in Provo, Utah, to Willard and Eileen Ellsworth Kowallis.
Steven Charles Meek, 45, Mexico Mexico City South Mission; Farmington 8th Ward, Farmington Utah North Stake; stake Young Men president; former bishop and counselor in bishopric, ward Young Men president, elders quorum president, Scoutmaster and missionary. Physician. Born in Boise, Idaho, to Charles Lee and Anna Lee Painter Meek. Married Shauna Lee Love, six children.
A ward Young Women president, she is a former counselor in Young Women presidency, counselor in Primary presidency, Relief Society president and counselor. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Marvin Earl and Pauline Jenke Love.
David John Towers, 60, Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission; Rosecrest 1st Ward, Salt Lake Canyon Rim Stake; Primary teacher; former counselor in stake presidency, counselor in stake mission presidency, bishop, high councilor and Young Men adviser. Self-employed real estate manager. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to John Max and Edna Pearl Hanks Towers. Married Myrna Norine Helme, six children.
Achievement day leader, she is a former ward activities committee chairman, Young Women adviser, ward and stake Young Women president. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Clyde Obray and Elbertine Neal Helme.
John Lee Watson, 51, Spain Barcelona Mission; Farr West 1st Ward, Farr West Utah Stake; counselor in stake presidency; former bishop, counselor in bishopric, Young Men adviser and missionary. Self-employed, John Watson Chevrolet. Born in Kanab, Utah, to Odell Johnson and Helena Brown Watson. Married Sherrie Ann McFarland, five children.
A stake Primary president, she is a former ward Relief Society president and counselor, counselor in stake Primary presidency and stake missionary. Born in Ogden, Utah, to Glen and Lila Perry McFarland.
