Changes in Area Leadership Announced for August 2016

For purposes of information, the Church has announced the following changes in Area Leadership that will be effective on August 1. The changes include:

General Authority Seventies:

Marcus A. Aidukaitis, the former Second Counselor in the Brazil Area, will be the new First Counselor.

Ian S. Ardern will be released as President of the Philippines Area.

W. Mark Bassett will be the new Second Counselor in the Brazil Area.

Mark A. Bragg will be the new Second Counselor in the South America South Area.

Shayne M. Bowen, the former First Counselor in the Philippines Area, will be the new President.

Craig A. Cardon will be the new Second Counselor in the Pacific Area.

Carl B. Cook will be released as President of the Africa Southeast Area.

Lawrence E. Corbridge will be the new First Counselor in the South America Northwest Area

J. Devn Cornish will be released as President of the Caribbean Area.

LeGrand R. Curtis Jr. will be released as President of the Africa West Area.

Benjamin De Hoyos will be released as President of the Mexico Area.

Timothy J. Dyches will be released as Second Counselor in the Europe Area.

David F. Evans will be the new Second Counselor in the Asia Area.

Carlos A. Godoy, the former First Counselor in the South America Northwest Area, will be the new President.

Walter F. Gonzalez, the former President of the South America South Area, will be the new President of the Caribbean Area.

Allen D. Haynie, the former Second Counselor in the Philippines Area, will be the new First Counselor.

O. Vincent Haleck, the former First Counselor in the Pacific Area, will be the new President.

Kevin S. Hamilton, the former Second Counselor in the Africa Southeast Area, will be the new President.

Jörg Klebingat will be released as First Counselor in the Europe East Area.

Jairo Mazzagardi will be released as First Counselor in the Brazil Area.

James B. Martino will be the new First Counselor in the Europe East Area.

Marcus B. Nash will be the new First Counselor in the Africa West Area.

S. Gifford Nielsen, the former Second Counselor in the Pacific Area, will be the new First Counselor

S. Mark Palmer will be the new Second Counselor in the Africa Southeast Area,

Paul B. Pieper, the former First Counselor in the Mexico Area, will be the new President.

Allan F. Packer will be the new First Counselor in the South America South Area.

Rafael E. Pino will be the new Second Counselor in the Mexico Area.

Gary B. Sabin will be the new Second Counselor in the Europe Area.

Evan A. Schmutz will be the new Second Counselor in the Philippines Area.

Jose A. Teixeira, the former Second Counselor in the South America South Area, will be the new President.

Juan A. Uceda will be released as President of the South America Northwest Area.

Arnulfo Valenzuela, the former Second Counselor in the Mexico Area, will be the new First Counselor.

Francisco J. Vinas will be released as First Counselor in the South America South Area.

Terrence M. Vinson, the former First Counselor in the Africa West Area, will be the new President.

Area Seventies:

Siu Hong Pon will be released as Second Counselor in the Asia Area.

To help visualize these changes, you can find a PDF version of all August 2016 Changes in Area Leadership, click here

Multipurpose Church News Post

Hello, all! During the last several days, several items of import on the Church news front have crossed my radar, and I just had to share some of these monumental strides in Church growth. First of all, the majestic figure of the Angel Moroni has been lifted to the top of the Star Valley Wyoming temple. This is a pivotal construction milestone for this temple, which is scheduled to be dedicated on Sunday October 30. So that was excellent to hear. Next news item: the Church Public Affairs department will have a change in its managing director. The current managing director, Michael Otterson, will retire on August 31 after serving as managing director for the past eight years. He will be replaced in that capacity by Richard E. Turley Jr,, who currently serves as the senior of our two Assistant Church Historian and Recorders. In the meantime, Brother Turley will train with Brother Otterson. It was also announced in that same article that Elder Von G. Keetch of the Seventy currently serves as the executive director of the Church Public Affairs Department, which I had suspected after he was present in the news conference in which the 3 newest apostles were presented to the media. That was also good to hear.

The third and final Church growth-related development was that Matthew Martinich has learned through listening to an interview with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles that 10+ new stakes will be created per week the rest of this year, not including the annual July recess of the apostles, general conference weekend, or the last two weeks of December. It is a mind-boggling and interesting post, well worthy of a read. You can find it at this link.

What monumental strides in Church growth! We live in a wonderful day and age when the gospel is, very literally and figuratively, spreading throughout the earth, and all of us are blessed to be a part of that. Thanks to you all for your readership and friendship.

Star Valley Wyoming Temple will have its Angel Moroni placed on the spire today.

Sorry about two posts in one day. Hope you guys don't mind. I wanted to let you know that at 11:00 AM this morning (11:00 AM our time and Wyoming time. Who knew we were in the same time zone!), the Star Valley Wyoming temple is scheduled to have its angel Moroni placed. What an exciting time we live in when so much is happening on the temple news front! I am keeping a careful eye on all temple-related developments and will put out an updated list whenever there is major temple news (such as a scheduled dedication, rededication, or groundbreaking) announced. Thanks so much to all of you for your readership. I hope my posts are helpful to you all. Have a great day!