Eight new mission presidents, called by the First Presidency, have been announced. The new leaders and their wives will begin service about July 1. Their assignments will be announced later. The new leaders and their wives are:
Alan Conway Ashton, 61, Sharon 5th Ward, Orem Utah Sharon Stake; gospel doctrine teacher; former stake president, counselor in a bishopric, ward executive secretary, elders quorum president and missionary in the Central Germany Mission. Retired. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Conway A. and Emma Rae McKay Ashton. Married Karen Jackman, 11 children.
A ward Relief Society president, she is a former member of the Primary general board, ward Young Women president, counselor in a ward Young Women presidency, Primary teacher and Cub Scout leader. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Carl E. and Edna Christiansen Jackman.
Paul Ross Coward, 49, Kellyville Ward, Sydney Australia Greenwich Stake; stake president; former counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, counselor in a bishopric, ward Young Men president and missionary in the New Zealand Auckland Mission. Director for temporal affairs for the Church in Sydney, Australia. Born in New Zealand to Peter Henry and Shirley Olive Hingston Dorman Coward. Married Julie Yrainne Newman, seven children.
A Relief Society teacher, she is a former counselor in a stake Relief Society presidency, ward Relief Society president, Primary and Sunday School teacher and missionary in the Philippines Manila Mission. Born in New Zealand to Hoani Raymond and Edith Dardinels Mitchell Newman.
Silvio Geschwandtner, 54, Porto Alegre 4th Ward, Porto Alegre Brazil North Stake; Area Authority Seventy; former regional representative, stake president and bishop. Owner of Wizard Languages. Born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, to Henrique and Marjanna Gustawa Geschwandtner. Married Hildegard Marion Klein, six children.
A Sunday School teacher, she is a former stake Relief Society and Young Women president, ward Young Women and Primary president and regional Young Women camp director. Born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, to Edmundo and Olga Carlota Dittrich Klein.
Fernando Lagunes, 49, Gabriela Mistral Ward, Mexico City Mexico Arbolillo Stake; stake Young Men president; former stake president, stake mission president, high councilor, bishop and missionary in the Mexico Guadalajara Mission. Seminary teacher. Born in Veracruz, Mexico, to Meliton and Juana Victor de Lagunes. Married Magali Rivera, four children.
A stake Young Women president, she is a former ward Relief Society and Primary president, seminary teacher and missionary in the Mexico South Mission. Born in Mexico City, Mexico, to Angel Rivera and Guillermina Sanchez de Rivera.
Adrian Ochoa, 49, Sierra Madre Ward, Monterrey Mexico Mitras Stake; Area Authority Seventy; former area public affairs director, stake president, high councilor, ward executive secretary and seminary teacher. President of International Bureau of Communication. Born in San Francisco, Calif., to Eduardo and Consuelo Quintana de Ochoa. Married Nancy Villarreal, four children.
A ward Young Women president, she is a former stake Relief Society president and counselor in a ward Young Women presidency. Born in Sabinas, Mexico, to Candido and Angela Garza de Villarreal.
Edward Lyman Platt, 55, Lindon 1st Ward, Lindon Utah Central Stake; counselor in stake presidency; former high councilor, counselor in a bishopric, branch president, high priests group leader and missionary in the Brazil Mission. Owner and president of Linden Nursery. Born in Payson, Utah, to Gordon Leavitt and Allie Lyman Platt. Married Valerie Yorgason, seven children.
A Sunday School teacher, she is a former counselor, adviser and secretary in ward Young Women, Relief Society teacher and Primary pianist. Born in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, to John Gayle and Clara Beatrice Copley Yorgason.
Douglas Marvin Rees, 51, Cottonwood 13th Ward, Salt Lake Cottonwood Stake; Primary teacher; former high councilor, bishop, counselor in a bishopric, elders quorum president and missionary in the Germany Dusseldorf Mission. Financial consultant and branch manager at Citigroup Global Markets Inc./Smith Barney. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Stanley Davis and Helen Deon Gaddie Rees. Married Sheri Lynn Anderson, seven children.
A ward enrichment leader, she is a former counselor in the ward Young Women and Primary presidency, Young Women adviser and Sunday School teacher. Born in Provo, Utah, to Harold Anderson Jr. and Gloria Singleton Anderson.
Gary Evan Stevenson, 48, Fox Ridge Ward, Providence Utah Stake; counselor in the stake presidency; former high councilor, counselor in a bishopric, high priests group leader, counselor in a ward Young Men presidency and missionary in the Japan Fukuoka Mission. Co-founder, president and chief operating officer of ICON Health & Fitness. Born in Ogden, Utah, to Evan Noel and Vera Jean Hall Stevenson. Married Lesa Jean Higley, four children.
She is a former ward Young Women president and adviser, counselor in ward Relief Society presidency, Primary chorister and Cub Scout leader. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Gary Joseph and Bonita Jean Andrus Higley.
