New Mission Presidents Called in 2016 to Areas Including Brazil, Australia

• 11 March 2016

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

Missouri St. Louis Mission

Michael Joseph Bateman, 55, and Cheryl Mortensen Bateman, six children, Pleasant View 5th Ward, Provo Utah Sharon East Stake: Missouri St. Louis Mission, succeeding President Thomas W. Morgan and Sister Kathleen Morgan. Brother and Sister Bateman serve as stake missionary preparation instructors. He also serves as a ward Young Men presidency counselor and is a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, high councilor, stake Young Men president, and missionary in the Canada Montreal Mission. President, BJO Capital Management, Inc. Born in Salt Lake City to Merrill Joseph Bateman and Marilyn Scholes Bateman.

Sister Bateman is a former stake Young Women presidency counselor, ward Young Women and Primary president, and ward Relief Society presidency counselor. Born in Salt Lake City to Benjamin Franklin Mortensen and Rene Rhead Harbertson.

Brazil Natal Mission

Eliseu Colleoni, 54, and Tania Tereza de Oliveira Cintra Colleoni, three children, Nova Vinhedo Ward, Itatiba Brazil Stake: Brazil Natal Mission, succeeding President Saulo Soares and Sister Denise Soares. Brother Colleoni is a former stake president, bishopric counselor, high councilor, MTC branch presidency counselor, elders quorum presidency counselor, and missionary in the Brazil Recife Mission. Partner, Colleoni & Associados. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, to Oswaldo Colleoni and Anna Soares Colleoni.

Sister Colleoni serves as a Sunday School teacher and is a former stake Young Women president; stake Primary presidency counselor; ward Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary president; and seminary teacher. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, to Euripedes Urias Cintra and Lucrecia Oliveira Cintra.

México México City West Mission

Carl Duane Grossen, 51, and Dana Elise Bunker Grossen, four children, Hidden Valley 4th Ward, Sandy Utah Hidden Valley Stake: México México City West Mission, succeeding President George F. Whitehead and Sister Dixie Whitehead. Brother Grossen serves as a ward Young Men adviser and is a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, high councilor, and missionary in the Ecuador Guayaquil South Mission. Pre-field services manager, Missionary Department, Corporation of the President. Born in Salt Lake City to Earl Louis Grossen and Mary Ada Gardner Grossen.

Sister Grossen was recently released as a Young Women adviser and is a former stake Young Women secretary, ward Young Women presidency counselor, and Primary teacher. Born in Whittier, California, to Gary Lamont Bunker and Carol Marie Brown Bunker.

México Pachuca Mission

Jeff David Kimball, 61, and Tracy Ellen Slack Kimball, seven children, Edgemont 3rd Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont South Stake: México Pachuca Mission, succeeding President Andrew E. Egbert and Sister Salli Kae Egbert. Brother Kimball recently served as a YSA bishop and is a former bishop, stake and ward Young Men president, elders quorum president, and missionary in the Uruguay Paraguay Mission. General contractor. Born in Long Beach, California, to Sy Young Kimball and Betty Jean Rich Kimball.

Sister Kimball recently served with her husband in a YSA ward and is a former stake and ward Young Women presidency counselor, stake Relief Society presidency counselor, ward Primary president, and nursery leader. Born in Long Beach, California, to Stephen Roger Slack and Ellen Jean Marjorie Lomax Slack.

Perú Trujillo North Mission

William LaRain Marble, 63, and Sandra Woolf Marble, five children, Woodland 2nd Ward, Woodland California Stake: Perú Trujillo North Mission, succeeding President D. Kurt Marler and Sister Kathryn Marler. Brother Marble serves as an area JustServe specialist and is a former stake president, bishop, high councilor, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Perú Andes Mission. Mayor pro tem, City of Woodland, and dentist. Born in Logan, Utah, to Vern “L” Marble and Mary Frances Heckmann Marble.

Sister Marble is a former stake Primary president, stake Young Women presidency counselor, ward Young Women and Primary president, seminary teacher, and missionary in the Germany Frankfurt Mission. Born in Richmond, California, to Anthony DeVoe Woolf and Olea May Babbel Woolf.

Nigeria Benin City Mission

Alexander Afamefune Odume, 59, and Theresa Amambiwendi Nwaokolo Odume, eight children, Lagos Nigeria Stake: Nigeria Benin City Mission, succeeding President Akingbade A. Ojo and Sister Oludayo O. Ojo. Brother Odume serves as an institute teacher and high priests group leader assistant and is a former Area Seventy, temple president and sealer, stake president, district president, and branch president. Area welfare specialist, Corporation of the Presiding Bishop. Born in Adonte, Nigeria, to Michael Odume Okonji and Grace Abanugor Odume.

Sister Odume is a former temple matron, ward Young Women presidency counselor, branch Young Women president, and branch Relief Society presidency counselor. Born in Adonte, Nigeria, to Pius Ukwandi Nwokolo and Adafor Amuebie Nwokolo.

Virginia Richmond Mission

Corey Bonham Smith, 56, and Cynthia Sue Woffinden Smith, four children, Cedar Ridge Ward, Idaho Falls South Stake: Virginia Richmond Mission, succeeding President E. Bradley Wilson and Sister Mari-Lynn Wilson. Brother Smith serves as a ward mission leader and is a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, stake mission president, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the Canada Toronto Mission. Executive director, Research and Business Development Center. Born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Douglas Smith and Barbara Bonham Smith.

Sister Smith is a former stake Primary presidency counselor, ward Young Women and Primary president, ward Relief Society secretary, ward missionary, ward Young Women camp director, and Primary music leader. Born in Pasadena, California, to George Joseph Woffinden and Opal Roberts Woffinden.

Australia Melbourne Mission

Peter Glen Vidmar, 54, and Donna Marie Harris Vidmar, five children, Cristianitos Ward, San Clemente California Stake: Australia Melbourne Mission, succeeding President Cory H. Maxwell and Sister Karen Maxwell. Brother Vidmar serves as a public affairs specialist and seminary teacher and is a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, ward mission leader, stake public affairs director, and elders quorum president. Executive committee member, International Gymnastics Federation. Born in Los Angeles, California, to John Redd Vidmar and Doris Marilyn Neely Vidmar.

Sister Vidmar serves as a ward Relief Society teacher and is a former ward Primary president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, ward Young Women secretary, and Primary pianist. Born in Long Beach, California, to Russell Thomas Harris and Ethel Anne Harris.

• Missionary Work