First Presidency Calls Eight New Mission Presidents

• 9 February 2014

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Eight new mission presidents and their wives have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service later this year.

Brazil Recife Mission

Rory Christopher Bigelow, 43, and Tamara Kershaw Bigelow, three children, Jordan 3rd Ward, Salt Lake Jordan Stake. Succeeding President Rubens C. Lanius and Sister Tânia P. Lanius. Brother Bigelow is a stake president and former bishop, counselor in a bishopric and missionary in the Illinois Chicago Mission (Spanish). Assistant administrator, Seminaries and Institutes of Religion. Born in Concord, Calif., to Larry Willis Bigelow and Sandra Fay Hatch.

Sister Bigelow serves as a ward Young Women president and is a former counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency, gospel doctrine teacher, family history consultant, and Sunday School teacher. Born in Salt Lake City to Gordon Douglas Kershaw and Linda Knorr.

Philippines Angeles Mission

Scott Boyd Clark, 54, and Sandra Gail Clark, four children, Naperville 3rd Ward, Joliet Illinois Stake. Succeeding President David C. Martino and Sister Deanie Martino. Brother Clark is a former stake president, high councilor, bishop, ward Young Men president and missionary in the Japan Sendai Mission. Vice president and general counsel, National Surgical Hospitals. Born in Salt Lake City to Wallace Ivan and Colleen Christensen Clark.

Sister Clark is a former stake seminary supervisor, counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency, stake camp director, ward missionary, counselor in a ward Young Women presidency, seminary teacher, and temple coordinator. Born in Murray, Utah, to Jay Kent and Bonnie Jean Curtis.

Uruguay Montevideo Mission

Stanley Edwin Cook, 66, and Mary Clements Cook, seven children, Blackfoot 6th Ward, Blackfoot Idaho East Stake. Succeeding President Gary D. Newsome and Sister Kathy Lynn Newsome. Brother Cook is a temple ordinance worker and former stake president, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, branch president, high councilor, and missionary in the Uruguay-Paraguay Mission. Owner and president, Blacker’s Home Furnishings. Born in Boise, Idaho, to Ross H Cook and Katherine Louise Cook.

Sister Cook is a temple ordinance worker and former ward Relief Society president, Sunday School teacher, ward Young Women adviser and ward choir director. Born in Tremonton, Utah, to Earl Dean Clements and Margaret Edgington Clements.

România/Moldova Mission

Clark David Ivory, 48, and Christine Cahoon Ivory, five children, Valley View 6th Ward, Salt Lake Valley View Stake. Succeeding President Ned C. Hill and Sister Claralyn Hill. Brother Ivory is a former counselor in a stake presidency, stake mission president, high councilor, counselor in a bishopric, Scoutmaster, and missionary in the Italy Rome Mission. CEO of Ivory Homes and chairman of University of Utah Board of Trustees. Born in Salt Lake City to Ellis Ivory and Kathryn Stohl Ivory.

Sister Ivory is a former ward Young Women president, counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency, gospel doctrine teacher, Cub Scout leader, and missionary in the Italy Milan Mission. Born in Logan, Utah, to Richard Cahoon and Mary Petersen.

Nigeria Port Harcourt Mission

Anthony Mua Kaku, 52, and Doe Akua Afriyie Kaku, five children, Abura Ward, Cape Coast Ghana Stake. Succeeding President Philip K. Xaxagbe and Sister Agnes Y. Xaxagbe. Brother Kaku is a stake president and former high councilor, stake mission president, bishop, district clerk, and missionary in the Ghana Accra Mission. Coordinator, Seminaries and Institutes of Religion. Born in Nawule, Western Region, Ghana, to Joseph Ennor–Blay Kaku and Mary Ablemah Arizi.

Sister Kaku is a seminary teacher and is a former counselor in a stake Young Women presidency, branch Young Women president, counselor in a branch Relief Society presidency, family history consultant, and missionary in the Ghana Accra Mission. Born in Aveyime-Battor, Volta Region, Ghana, to Samuel Awuku Awudetsey and Stella Yaa Norgbodzi.

Ukraine Kyiv Mission

Jeffrey David McGhie, 44, and Josie Preisler McGhie, five children, Wassenaar Branch, The Hague Netherlands Stake. Succeeding President Jörg Klebingat and Sister Julia Klebingat. Brother McGhie is a former branch president, counselor in mission, district and branch presidencies, and missionary in the New Hampshire Manchester Mission. Group general counsel, Vimpel Com Ltd. Born in Salt Lake City to Jerry Lyndon and Marilyn Fox McGhie.

Sister McGhie is a branch Primary teacher and is a former ward Primary president, branch Relief Society and Primary president, counselor in a district Primary presidency, and counselor in a branch Young Women presidency. Born in San Diego, Calif., to George Thomas and Marietta Marquardt Preisler.

Colorado Denver North Mission

Brent M Mendenhall, 60, and Suzan C. Mendenhall, five children, Mill Hollow 2nd Ward, Rexburg Idaho North Stake. Succeeding President Jerry M. Toombs and Sister Elizabeth S. Toombs. Brother Mendenhall is a former stake president, high councilor, bishop, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Cumorah New York Mission. Regional director, U.S. Department of Agriculture–Farm Service Agency. Born in Preston, Idaho, to William D. Mendenhall and Dorothy Loretta Maughan.

Sister Mendenhall is a former stake Young Women president, counselor in a stake Relief Society presidency, ward Primary president, counselor in a ward Relief Society and Young Women presidency. Born in Billings, Mont., to Cleo Kyle and Patsy Cheney.

Arkansas Little Rock Mission

Taniela Biu Wakolo, 46, and Anita Herberta Moimoi Wakolo, two children, Samabula 1st Ward, Suva Fiji North Stake. Succeeding President Steven M. Petersen and Sister Pauline Petersen. Brother Wakolo is an Area Seventy and is a former stake president, high councilor, counselor in a bishopric, branch president, and institute teacher. Service center manager, LDS Church Trust Board, Fiji. Born in Lomaloma, Fiji, to Taniela Vosa and Temalesi Buadromo Wakolo.

Sister Wakolo serves as a counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency and is a former ward Primary president, counselor in a ward Primary presidency, gospel doctrine teacher, ward Primary teacher, and temple ordinance worker. Born in Wainekeli, Fiji, to Netani Ganitoga and Olive Lily Moimoi.

• Missionary Work