First Presidency Calls 8 New Mission Presidents

• 23 March 2015

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Eight mission presidents and their wives have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service in July of 2015.

North Carolina Charlotte Mission

Allen Bert Alexander, 61, and Denise Allridge Alexander, nine children, Alpine Cove Ward, Alpine Utah North Stake: North Carolina Charlotte Mission, succeeding President Ronald L. Craven and Sister Rebecca Craven. Brother Alexander serves in a YSA ward bishopric and is a former bishop, high councilor, stake employment specialist, Scoutmaster, and missionary in the California South Mission. Chairman and chief executive officer, Savage Companies. Born in American Fork, Utah, to Bert Clark Alexander and Janet Louise Robinson Alexander.

Sister Alexander serves as a ward YSA adviser and is a former ward Young Women president and adviser, counselor in ward Relief Society and Primary presidencies, and ward activity committee chairman. Born in American Fork, Utah, to Lee Raymond Allridge and Muriel Allred Allridge.

México Guadalajara Mission

Robert James Clayton, 61, and Diane Hastings Clayton, seven children, Mount Baldy Ward, Anchorage Alaska Chugach Stake: México Guadalajara Mission, succeeding President G. Wesley Wagner and Sister Lori Wagner. Brother Clayton serves as a stake presidency counselor and is a former high councilor, stake Young Men president, bishop, stake mission president, and missionary in the Venezuela Caracas Mission. Chief of structural engineering and architecture, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District. Born in Tucson, Arizona, to Cecil June Clayton and Marguerite Farnsworth Clayton.

Sister Clayton serves as a Gospel Doctrine teacher and temple ordinance worker and is a former ward Young Women president, ward Primary presidency counselor, and Relief Society, Primary, and seminary teacher. Born in Tampa, Florida, to Loyal Dee Hastings and Janice Mendenhall Hastings.

Philippines Urdaneta Mission

Ernesto Aquino Deyro Jr., 55, and Cristina Rayos Bautista Deyro, five children, Mansilingan 2nd Ward, Bacolod Philippines South Stake: Philippines Urdaneta Mission, succeeding President William J. Monahan and Sister LuAnn Monahan. Brother Deyro serves as a stake presidency counselor and is a former mission presidency counselor, branch president, district president, and missionary in the Philippines Baguio Mission. Coordinator, Seminaries and Institutes. Born in Manila, Philippines, to Ernesto Cagurangan Deyro and Josefina Ines Aquino Deyro.

Sister Deyro serves as a Gospel Principles teacher, visiting teaching coordinator, and ward employment specialist and is a former district Relief Society president, ward Young Women and Primary president, and seminary teacher. Born in Pasig, Manila, Philippines, to Benjamin Alfonso Bautista and Valentina Santa Ana Rayos.

North Dakota Bismarck Mission

Michael Joseph Hess, 56, and Danece Daniels Hess, five children, Malad 1st Ward, Malad Idaho Stake: North Dakota Bismarck Mission, succeeding President Curtis E. Anderson and Sister Marsha A. Anderson. Brother Hess is a former stake president, bishop, high councilor, stake and ward Young Men president, temple ordinance worker, and Scoutmaster. CEO, Hess Pumice Products. Born in Malad City, Idaho, to Joseph Marvin Hess and Sandra Jean Price Hess.

Sister Hess serves as a ward Primary teacher and is a former stake Primary presidency counselor, ward Young Women and Relief Society president, and temple ordinance worker. Born in Malad City, Idaho, to Don Rex Daniels and Gloria Rae Thorpe Daniels.

China Hong Kong Mission

Maurice Man-Ho Lam, 65, and Elizabeth Wai-Yin Wong Lam, six children, Crestridge Ward, Palos Verdes California Stake: China Hong Kong Mission, succeeding President Val D. Hawks and Sister Julie A. Hawks. Brother Lam serves as an assistant stake executive secretary, temple sealer, and mission medical specialist and is a former stake president, bishop, high councilor, and high priests group leader. Self-employed physician. Born in Kowloon, Hong Kong, China, to Yu-Shing Lam and Beatrice Yuen-Han Ip.

Sister Lam serves as a ward Sunday School teacher and is a former stake Relief Society board member, ward Young Women and Primary president, and branch Relief Society president. Born in Kowloon, Hong Kong, China, to Eric Hok-Hoi Wong and Betty Suet-Yu Lee.

Massachusetts Boston Mission

Andrew Todd Miller, 53, and Kimberly Kaye Clark Miller, three children, Alder Ward, Fontana California Stake: Massachusetts Boston Mission, succeeding President Daniel W. Packard and Sister Alison Packard. Brother Miller serves as an assistant Scoutmaster and is a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, seminary teacher, and missionary in the Denmark Copenhagen Mission. Senior director, Enterprise EDI and Application Integration, Amerisource Bergen Corp. Born in Fontana, California, to William Edward Miller and Cordilla Josie Jarrad.

Sister Miller serves as a ward Primary music leader and is a former stake Young Women president, Gospel Doctrine teacher, seminary teacher, and stake girls camp director. Born in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Ronald Lee Clark and Johnie Holland Clark.

Russia Vladivostok Mission

John William Perkinson, 55, and Verna Rae Richardson Perkinson, five children, Fairway Groves Ward, Mesa Arizona Alta Mesa Stake: Russia Vladivostok Mission, succeeding President Gregory S. Brinton and Sister Sally Brinton. Brother Perkinson is a former bishop, bishopric counselor, high councilor, ward Young Men adviser, Scoutmaster, and missionary in the Switzerland Zurich Mission. Self-employed real estate developer and investor. Born in Whittier, California, to William Bradford Perkinson and Pauline Udall Perkinson.

Sister Perkinson is a former ward Relief Society president, ward Primary presidency counselor, YSA adviser, and ward Primary teacher. Born in Morenci, Arizona, to Edwin J Richardson and Virginia Christine Jones Richardson.

Korea Seoul Mission

Richard Craig Sonksen, 63, and Melissa Walborn Sonksen, two children, Dublin Ward, Columbus Ohio North Stake: Korea Seoul Mission, succeeding President Brent J. Christensen and Sister Sharon K. Christensen. Brother Sonksen serves as a mission presidency counselor and is a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, branch president, seminary teacher, and missionary in the South Korea Mission. President and owner, The Krema Products Company. Born in Fresno, California, to Arnold Ross Sonksen and Sherma Shurtliff Wade Sonksen.

Sister Sonksen is a former stake Young Women presidency counselor, ward Young Women and Primary president, stake Young Women camp director, seminary teacher, and Primary music leader. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Bruce Carleton Walborn and Nancy Nims Walborn.

• Missionary Work