April 2017 General Conference News and Announcements

  • 1 April 2017

President Thomas S. Monson speaks during the general Priesthood session of the April 2017 general conference.

Five New Temples

During the Sunday morning session of conference, President Thomas S. Monson announced plans to build temples in Brasília, Brazil; the greater Manila, Philippines, area; Nairobi, Kenya; Pocatello, Idaho; and Saratoga Springs, Utah.

Relief Society General Presidency

New Relief Society General Presidency

The First Presidency announced a new Relief Society General Presidency—Sisters Jean B. Bingham, President; Sister Sharon Eubank, First Counselor; and Reyna I. Aburto, Second Counselor—during the Saturday afternoon session of conference.

New Counselor in the Primary General Presidency

Sister Cristina B. Franco was called as the Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency.

New General Authority Seventies

Newly called General Authority Seventies

Six new General Authority Seventies were announced: Elder Taylor G. Godoy, Elder Joni L. Koch, Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella, Elder John C. Pingree Jr., Elder Brian K. Taylor, and Elder Taniela B. Wakolo.

Area Seventies

The following 36 newly called Area Seventies were announced:

Luis R. Arbizú, 52, Mejicanos, El Salvador; David A. Benalcázar, 44, Quito, Ecuador; Berne S. Broadbent, 62, South Jordan, Utah; David L. Buckner, 53, New York, New York; L. Todd Budge, 57, Sandy, Utah; Luciano Cascardi, 53, São Paulo, Brazil; Ting Tsung Chang, 59, East District, Taiwan; Pablo H. Chavez, 40, Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Raymond A. Cutler, 64, Bountiful, Utah; Fernando P. Del Carpio, 41, Tacna, Peru; José L. Del Guerso, 57, Itapema, Brazil; Aleksandr A. Drachyov, 40, Novosibirsk, Russia; I. Raymond Egbo, 42, Accra, Ghana; Carlos R. Fusco Jr., 50, São Paulo, Brazil; Jorge A. García, 62, Tijuana, Mexico; Gary F. Gessel, 64, Tacoma, Washington; Guillermo I. Guardia, 50, San Cristóbal, Venezuela; Marcel Guei, 42, Cocody, Cote d'Ivoire; José Hernández, 49, San Pedro Sula, Honduras; Karl D. Hirst, 45, Brixworth, England; Ren S. Johnson, 60, Reno, Nevada; Jay B. Jones, 63, Fairview, Texas; Anthony M. Kaku, 54, Cape Coast, Ghana; Paul N. Lekias, 49, Padbury, Australia; John A. McCune, 53, Springville, Utah; Tomas S. Merdegia Jr., 62, Calamba City, Philippines; Artur J. Miranda, 46, Sandton, South Africa; Elie K. Monga, 50, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo; Juan C. Pozo, 57, La Paz, Bolivia; Anthony Quaisie, 47, Accra, Ghana; James R. Rasband, 54, Provo, Utah; Carlos G. Revillo Jr., 51, Plaridel, Philippines; Martin C. Rios, 41, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Johnny F. Ruiz, 52, La Chorrera, Panama; K. Roy Tunnicliffe, 48, York, England; Moisés Villanueva, 50, Oaxaca, Mexico.

The following Area Seventies were released:

Taylor G. Godoy and John C. Pingree Jr.

Statistical report

The First Presidency has issued the following statistical report concerning the growth and status of the Church as of December 31, 2016.

CHURCH UNITS

Stakes

3,266

Missions

421

Districts        

556

Wards and branches

30,304

 

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Total membership

15,882,417

New children of record

109,246

Converts baptized

240,131

 

MISSIONARIES

Full-time missionaries

70,946

Church-service missionaries

33,695

 

TEMPLES

Temples rededicated
(Suva Fiji, Freiberg Germany)

2

Temples dedicated
(Provo City Center, Sapporo Japan, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Fort Collins Colorado, Star Valley Wyoming, Hartford Connecticut)

6

Temples in operation at the end of 2016

155

For more information, watch the April 2017 World Report video.

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