The First Presidency announced this week new assignments in area presidencies, effective Aug. 15.
Sixty-three members of the Seventy and three newly called area authorities have been assigned to presidencies in 22 areas throughout the world.Among the members of the Seventy to serve in area presidencies are Elders Rex D. Pinegar and Charles Didier, who will be released from the presidency of the Seventy. (See related article on page 3.) Elders John H Goaslind and Harold G. Hillam will fill the vacancies in the presidency of the Seventy.
The newly called area authorities who will serve as counselors in area presidencies are Hugo Angel Catron of Buenos Aires, Argentina; C. Scott Grow of Meridian, Idaho; and Carl B. Pratt of Quito, Ecuador. (See biographical information on page 7.) Additional area authority calls will be announced by the First Presidency at a later date.
The calling area authorities was announced during general conference April 1, 1995. President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke briefly of the plan to call area authorities, who are high priests and who will continue their employment, reside in their own homes and serve for approximately six years. President Hinckley said the area authorities will be closely tied to the Church's area presidencies. President Hinckley also announced that all the Church's 284 regional representatives would be honorably released, effective Aug. 15.
Most of the members of the Seventy who are serving in the eight domestic areas will continue to reside in the Salt Lake City area, while those assigned to the 14 international areas will live near their offices in other countries.
Other members of the Seventy who have not been called to area presidencies have been assigned responsibilities at Church headquarters in the Young Men and Sunday School general presidencies, in the Church Educational System, and in the Missionary, Temple, Family History, Correlation, Curriculum, Historical and Priesthood departments, and as temple presidents.
The policy of administering the affairs of the Church in various lands through area presidencies was first announced in June 1984 when 13 areas were created.
Since that time, additional areas have been created. Today, there are two areas for Utah and portions in adjoining states, one area for California and Hawaii, and five areas for the rest of the United States and Canada.
Five other areas cover the Spanish-speaking areas of Mexico, Central and South America, and one is exclusively for the Portuguese-speaking membership of Brazil.
Three areas are responsible for Europe, two for Asia and one each for Africa, the Pacific and the Philippines/Micronesia islands.
Two areas have been renamed. The Europe Area will become the Europe East, and the Europe/Mediterranean Area will become the Europe West Area.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Utah North
Alexander B. Morrison President
Robert E. Wells First Counselor
Robert K. Dellenbach Second Counselor
Utah South
Earl C. Tingey President
James M. Paramore First Counselor
Gene R. Cook Second Counselor
North America Northwest
Spencer J. Condie President
Glenn L. Pace First Counselor
C. Scott Grow Second Counselor
North America West
Loren C. Dunn President
Lance B. Wickman First Counselor
C. Max Caldwell Second Counselor
North America Central
William R. Bradford President
Hugh W. Pinnock First Counselor
L. Lionel Kendrick Second Counselor
North America Northeast
Vaughn J. Featherstone President
W. Don Ladd First Counselor
Marlin K. Jensen Second Counselor
North America Southeast
Stephen D. Nadauld President
F. Burton Howard First Counselor
John K. Carmack Second Counselor
North America Southwest
W. Mack Lawrence President
F. Enzio Busche First Counselor
Lynn A. Mickelsen Second Counselor
Mexico North
Angel Abrea President
John M. Madsen First Counselor
Andrew W. Peterson Second Counselor
Mexico South
D. Todd Christofferson President
Gary J. Coleman First Counselor
Carlos H. Amado Second Counselor
Central America
Joseph C. Muren President
Lino Alvarez First Counselor
Jorge A. Rojas Second Counselor
South America North
Jay E. Jensen President
Julio E. Davila First Counselor
Carl B. Pratt Second Counselor
Brazil
Dallas N. Archibald President
W. Craig Zwick First Counselor
Claudio R.M. Costa Second Counselor
South America South
John B. Dickson President
F. Melvin Hammond First Counselor
Hugo A. Catron Second Counselor
Europe North
Graham W. Doxey President
John E. Fowler First Counselor
Cecil O. Samuelson Jr. Second Counselor
Europe East
Dennis B. Neuenschwander President
Charles Didier First Counselor
Bruce D. Porter Second Counselor
Europe West
Dean L. Larsen President
Neil L Andersen First Counselor
Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor
Africa
J. Richard Clarke President
F. David Stanley First Counselor
James O. Mason Second Counselor
Asia
Kwok Yuen Tai President
John H. Groberg First Counselor
Rulon G. Craven Second Counselor
Asia North
David E. Sorensen President
Sam K. Shimabukuro First Counselor
Rex D. Pinegar Second Counselor
Philippines/Micronesia
Ben B. Banks President
Augusto A. Lim First Counselor
Kenneth Johnson Second Counselor
Pacific
Lowell D. Wood President
V. Dallas Merrell First Counselor
Cree-L Kofford Second Counselor
