Church Calls New MTC Presidents Beginning January 1, 2014

  • 1 November 2013

The First Presidency has called eight new missionary training center presidents and their wives. They will begin their service in January.

South Africa Missionary Training Center
Philip Lavon Collins, 63, and Patricia Del Larson Collins, six children, Mountain Ridge Ward, Mesa Arizona Salt River Stake. Brother Collins is a former president of the Russia Moscow West Mission, stake president, counselor in the Hungary Budapest Mission presidency, Perpetual Education Fund missionary in Ghana and Colombia, and missionary in the Philippines Mission. Retired from Alcoa Engineered Products. Born in Safford, Arizona, to Walter William and Eunice Sanders Collins. Sister Collins served with her husband in the Russia Moscow West Mission and as a Perpetual Education Fund missionary in Ghana and Colombia. She is a former ward and branch Relief Society president, ward and branch Young Women president, and seminary teacher. Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Rulon M. and Marilyn Payne Larson.

Guatemala Missionary Training Center
Robert Thomas Cox, 61, and Rebecca Eugenia Friend Cox, four children, Tulare 2nd Ward, Porterville California Stake. Brother Cox is a former president of the Mexico Leon Mission, counselor in a stake presidency, stake executive secretary, bishop, ward mission leader, temple ordinance worker, and missionary in the Andes Peru Mission. Owner of Cox Farming. Born in Tulare, California, to Howard Marion and Dorothy Marie Cox. Sister Cox served with her husband in the Mexico Leon Mission and is a former counselor in a stake Young Women presidency, ward Relief Society and Young Women president, and temple ordinance worker. Born in Santa Monica, California, to Rollis Lewis and Mary Viola Friend.

Chile Missionary Training Center
Sherman Leroy Doll, 59, and Linda Susan Duncan Doll, six children, Concord 1st Ward, Concord California Stake. Brother Doll serves as a member and leader services missionary in the Chile Santiago East Mission. He is a former president of the Illinois Chicago Mission, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, seminary teacher, and missionary in the Venezuela Caracas Mission. CPA and partner at Thomas, Wirig, Doll & Company. Born in Sacramento, California, to Elwood Leroy and Joe Ann Doll. Sister Doll serves with her husband in the Chile Santiago East Mission. She previously served with her husband in the Illinois Chicago Mission and is a former stake Young Women camp director, counselor in a stake Young Women presidency, temple ordinance worker, and seminary teacher. Born in Oakland, California, to Paul Wendall and Lorraine Marie Souza Duncan.

Peru Missionary Training Center
José Luis González Gutiérrez, 60, and Mónica Del Carmen Buitrago de González, three children, Los Alpes Ward, Pereira Colombia Stake. Brother González is a former Area Seventy, president of the Costa Rica San José Mission, stake president, and a counselor in the Colombia Cali Mission presidency. Retired production manager for Magom Electrónica South America. Born in Pereira, Colombia, to Manuel Felipe González and Martha Gutiérrez de González. Sister González served with her husband in the Costa Rica San José Mission and is a former branch Young Women president, branch Primary president, Sunday School teacher, and family history teacher. Born in Pereira, Colombia, to Jorge Mario Buitrago and Mariela Jaramillo de Buitrago.

Spain Missionary Training Center
Kenneth David Lovell, 59, and Susan Sydenham Lovell, three children, Lake Creek 1st Ward, Heber City Utah East Stake. Brother Lovell serves as a stake patriarch. He is a former president of the Chile Osorno Mission, stake president, high councilor, bishop, counselor in a bishopric, and missionary in the Spain Madrid Mission. Retired president of TXOK Energy Resources. Born in Murray, Utah, to Thomas David and Mary Louisa Lovell. Sister Lovell served with her husband in the Chile Osorno Mission and is a former ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency, and ward Young Women camp director. Born in Carson City, Nevada, to Ross Cameron and Sadie Beth Sydenham. 

Ghana Missionary Training Center
Reid Adams Robison, 62, and Diane Laverne Flint Robison, five children, Sherwood Hills Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont North Stake. Brother and Sister Robison serve as Gospel Principles teachers. He was recently released from a French-speaking branch presidency at the Provo Missionary Training Center and is a former president of the West Indies Mission, stake president, stake mission president, bishop, and missionary in the French Mission. Adjunct professor and director of OB/HR placement at the Brigham Young University Marriott School of Management. Born in Delta, Utah, to Reid Enoch and Gloria Dawn Robison. Sister Robison was released from the Young Women general board in April. She previously served with her husband in the West Indies Mission and is a former seminary and institute teacher, Gospel Doctrine teacher, ward Young Women president, and ward Primary president. Born in Columbus, Indiana, to Glenn Laverne and Barbara Ann Schultz Flint.

Brazil Missionary Training Center
Robert Paul Swensen, 65, and Julie Nydegger Swensen, four children, Canyon Rim 2nd Ward, Salt Lake Canyon Rim Stake. Brother Swensen is a former president of the Brazil Curitiba Mission, stake president, high councilor, bishop, counselor in a bishopric, and missionary in the Brazil South Mission. Retired chief of operations for the Missionary Department. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Paul Lorenzo and Alice Webley Folland Swensen. Sister Swensen served with her husband in the Brazil Curitiba Mission and is a former ward Young Women president, ward Relief Society president, counselor in a stake Young Women presidency, and counselor in a ward Primary presidency. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Irvin Bruderer and May Braby Nydegger.

Argentina Missionary Training Center
Lance Tillman Willis, 67, and Margie Ashton Willis, 10 children, Vineyard Ward, Mesa Arizona Maricopa Stake. Brother Willis is a former president of the Ecuador Guayaquil South Mission, bishop, ward Young Men president, temple missionary in the Santiago Chile Temple, and missionary in the North Argentine Mission. Owner of Orange Street Mechanical, LLC. Born in Snowflake, Arizona, to Max Lynn and Amy Luella Willis. Sister Willis served with her husband in the Ecuador Guayaquil South Mission and is a former counselor in a stake Relief Society presidency, ward Young Women adviser, ward Relief Society teacher, temple ordinance worker, and temple missionary in the Santiago Chile Temple. Born in Provo, Utah, to Jess Davis and Afton Lewis Ashton.

 

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