New Mission Presidents Called to Serve

• 21 March 2014

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

New Zealand Auckland Mission

Frederick Karl Balli Jr., 57, and Robyn Kaye Russell Balli, five children, Centennial Ward, Littleton Colorado Stake, succeeding President Paul N. Lekias and Sister Rebecca J. Lekias. Brother Balli serves as a temple ordinance worker and seminary teacher and is a former counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, high councilor, ward Young Men president, and missionary in the New York Rochester Mission. Self-employed. Born in Salt Lake City to Frederick Karl Balli and Bodell Jensen Balli.

Sister Balli serves as a stake Relief Society president and temple ordinance worker and is a former ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, and stake missionary. Born in Salt Lake City to John Earl Russell Jr. and Nan Kathryn Brockbank Russell.

Brazil Fortaleza Mission

Gilberto Bonini Ribeiro, 57, and Maria Cristina Borges Ribeiro, five children, Progresso Ward, Sorocaba Brazil Santana Stake, succeeding President Francisco A. Souza and Sister Elaine M. Souza. Brother Bonini served with his wife as a missionary in the Mozambique Maputo Mission and currently serves as an institute teacher. He is a former counselor in a mission presidency, stake executive secretary, stake Young Men president, and branch president. Fireman/chief, São Paulo Fire Department. Born in Itapetininga, São Paulo, Brazil, to Accácio Marques and Clélia Bonini Ribeiro.

Sister Bonini is a former ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, branch Relief Society president, family history center director, and seminary teacher. Born in Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil, to Alexandre Moreno and Therezinha Rodrigues Borges.

Ecuador Quito Mission

Roger Glen Christensen, 60, and Christine Cecilia Christensen, 11 children, Highland 3rd Ward, South Jordan Utah Highland Stake, succeeding President Bruce E. Ghent and Sister Kathryn Ghent. Brother Christensen is a former stake president, branch president, counselor in a stake presidency, high councilor, counselor in a bishopric, and missionary in the Ecuador Quito Mission. Assistant to the commissioner, Church Educational System. Born in Salt Lake City to Sheron Glen Christensen and Colleen Cloward Christensen.

Sister Christensen is a former counselor in a stake Relief Society presidency, ward Young Women president, and counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency. Born in Twin Falls, Idaho, to Simon Lind Baker and Marjorie Cecilia Lewis Baker.

Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission

Ahmad Saleem Corbitt, 51, and Jayne Lillian Joslin Corbitt, six children, Sewell Ward, Cherry Hill New Jersey Stake, succeeding President Heriberto Hernández and Sister Leonor R. Rivera de Hernández. Brother Corbitt is a former stake president, counselor in a stake presidency, high councilor, and missionary in the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission. Director, New York Office of Public and International Affairs, Corporation of the President. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to James Earl Corbitt and Amelia Johnson Campbell Corbitt.

Sister Corbitt is a former ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, ward Primary president, seminary teacher, and missionary in the Washington D.C. Mission. Born in Pitman, New Jersey, to Gilbert S. Joslin and Grace Mae Joslin.

Philippines Olongapo Mission

Dennis VaNon Dahle, 56, and Sheralyn Kress Dahle, seven children, Cedar Hollow 6th Ward, Lehi Utah Cedar Hollow Stake, succeeding President Roberto B. Querido and Sister Elsie V. Querido. Brother Dahle serves as a stake president and is a former high councilor, bishop, Gospel Doctrine teacher, stake missionary, and missionary in the Japan Sendai Mission. Attorney at Snow, Christensen & Martineau. Born in Logan, Utah, to VaNon Dahle and Arlene Gibbs Moss Dahle.

Sister Dahle serves as a seminary teacher and is a former stake Relief Society president, ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, ward Primary president, and institute teacher. Born in Pocatello, Idaho, to Paul Eugene Kress and Gayle Taysom Kress.

Illinois Nauvoo Mission

Larry Wayne Gibbons, 71, and LaDawn Anderson Gibbons, two children, Allen 1st Ward, Allen Texas Stake, succeeding President Richard A. Hunter and Sister Nan G. Hunter. Elder Gibbons serves as a Sunday School teacher and is a former member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy, Area Seventy, regional representative, stake president, counselor in a stake presidency, and missionary in the Netherlands Mission. Vice president of research and development, Cooper Institute. Born in Logan, Utah, to Andrew H. Gibbons and Lola Heaton Gibbons.

Sister Gibbons serves as a Sunday School teacher and is a former stake Young Women president, counselor in stake Primary and Young Women presidencies, counselor in a ward Young Women presidency, and temple ordinance worker. Born in Preston, Idaho, to Glen Dixon Anderson and Lillus Hortense Anderson.

Baltic Mission

David Paul Harding, 57, and Kaylene Porter Harding, four children, Lindon 4th Ward, Lindon Utah Central Stake, succeeding President Jeffrey G. Boswell and Sister Shirley Boswell. Brother Harding serves in a branch presidency at the Provo MTC and is a former stake president, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, ward Young Men president, Scoutmaster, and missionary in the Canada Toronto Mission. Program manager, Family History Department, Corporation of the President. Born in Provo, Utah, to Paul Claude Harding and Sally Colleen Madsen Harding.

Sister Harding serves as a temple ordinance worker and is a former stake and ward Young Women president and ward Relief Society and Primary president. Born in Salt Lake City to Lawrence Cardon Porter and LaDawn Thain Porter.

Philippines San Pablo Mission

Bart Arnold Mangum, 60, and Renae Jarvis Mangum, six children, Lakeview 5th Ward, Orem Utah Lakeview Stake, succeeding President George E. Peterson and Sister Kathryn M. Peterson. Brother Mangum is a former counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, MTC branch president, stake Young Men president, and missionary in the Canada Montreal Mission. Vice president, supply chain planning/systems, Nu Skin. Born in Price, Utah, to James Edwin Mangum and Shirley Rae Arnold Mangum.

Sister Mangum serves as a Primary teacher and is a former ward Relief Society president, ward Primary president, and counselor in ward Relief Society and Primary presidencies. Born in Salt Lake City to Wesley Dwight Jarvis and Irie Daphene Bailey Jarvis.

Arizona Tucson Mission

David Gordon Passey, 47, and Natalie Elizabeth Passey, five children, Denton 1st Ward, Denton Texas Stake, succeeding President Roger E. Killpack and Sister Barbara P. Killpack. Brother Passey serves as a counselor in a mission presidency and is a former counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, high councilor, and missionary in the Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission. Deputy regional administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency. Born in Canoga Park, California, to Gordon Lemar Passey and Betty Sue Passey.

Sister Passey serves as a ward Young Women president and institute teacher and is a former counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency and Gospel Doctrine teacher. Born in Washington, D.C., to Richard Lewis Penrod and Lydia Ellen Penrod.

Colombia Cali Mission

Sergio Omar Prícoli Caniella, 59, and Raquel Edelma Porley de Prícoli, three children, Montevideo 10th Ward, Montevideo Uruguay West Stake, succeeding President Jonathan M. Prince and Sister Joni C. Prince. Brother Prícoli serves as a counselor in a mission presidency and is a former stake president, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, and missionary in the Uruguay-Paraguay Mission. Regional director, Seminaries and Institutes of Religion. Born in Fray Bentos, Río Negro, Uruguay, to Mario Jesús Prícoli Molinari and Mirtha Adelina Caniella.

Sister Prícoli serves as a director of public affairs and temple ordinance worker and is a former stake Relief Society president; ward Primary, Relief Society, and Young Women president; and missionary in the Uruguay-Paraguay Mission. Born in Colonia Suiza, Colonia, Uruguay, to Albérico Porley and Dorotea Delia Lemes.

Mexico Torreon Mission

Jorge Alejandro Ramos Rivera, 57, and Maria del Rosario Fernández de Ramos, five children, Universidad Ward, Puebla Mexico Valsequillo Stake, succeeding President David Flores Villaseñor and Sister Claudia Vázquez de Flores. Brother Ramos is a former stake president, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, branch president, high councilor, and missionary in the Mexico Hermosillo Mission. Director of institutes in Puebla, Seminaries and Institutes of Religion. Born in Mexico City, Mexico, to Eduardo Ramos Ramirez and Elva Rivera Guazo.

Sister Ramos serves as a counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency and is a former counselor in a stake Primary presidency and ward Sunday School teacher. Born in Mexico City, Mexico, to Juan Fernández and Ines Perea Estrada.

Guatemala Quetzaltenango Mission

Rick L. Smith, 60, and Lynda Lee Smith, three children, Brighton 8th Ward, Salt Lake Brighton Stake, succeeding President Lewis Bautista and Sister Leslie Bautista. Brother Smith recently served as executive secretary to the Central America Area Presidency and is a former high councilor, counselor in a bishopric, institute teacher, and missionary in the Mexico North Central Mission. Retired managing director, Merrill Lynch. Born in Fullerton, California, to Lloyd Dean Smith and Delores Mae Craig Smith.

Sister Smith served with her husband in the Central America Area and is a former stake and ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, Church-service missionary, and seminary teacher. Born in Blue Island, Illinois, to Berton Eugene Lee and Jeanette Bell Brewer Lee.

New Jersey Morristown Mission

Paul Scott Taggart, 62, and Jane Driggs Taggart, six children, Cottonwood 16th Ward, Salt Lake Big Cottonwood Stake, succeeding President Jon M. Jeppson and Sister Bonnie B. Jeppson. Brother Taggart serves as a counselor in a bishopric and is a former high councilor, stake Young Men president, ward mission leader, Scoutmaster, and missionary in the England East Mission. CEO, Age Sciences. Born in Salt Lake City to Scott Allen Taggart and Marilyn Hunter Wood Taggart.

Sister Taggart is a former ward Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary president; ward Sunday School teacher; and stake missionary. Born in Salt Lake City to Leonard Ellsworth Driggs and Helen West Driggs.

Chile Santiago North Mission

René Orlando Videla Riveros, 58, and Patricia Verónica Álvarez de Videla, two children, Imperial Ward, Puerto Montt Chile Stake, succeeding President Fred D. Essig and Sister Mary Ann Essig. Brother Videla serves as a stake president and is a former counselor in a stake presidency, high councilor, bishop, and branch president. Facilities manager, Corporation of the Presiding Bishop. Born in Santiago, Chile, to Sergio René Videla and Ester Riveros.

Sister Videla serves as a ward Young Women president and is a former Sunday School, seminary, and institute teacher. Born in Santiago, Chile, to Manuel Segundo Álvarez and Yolanda Valenzuela.

California Arcadia Mission

Moisés Villanueva López, 47, and Leticia Avalos de Villanueva, three children, El Bosque Ward, Oaxaca México Amapolas Stake, succeeding President Jorge T. Becerra and Sister Debbie I. Becerra. Brother Villanueva serves as a Church-service missionary and is a former counselor in a mission presidency, counselor in a stake presidency, high councilor, bishop, and missionary in the Mexico Hermosillo Mission. Owner, transportation company. Born in Oaxaca, Mexico, to Rubén Villanueva Platas and Delfina López Dominguez.

Sister Villanueva serves as a Church-service missionary and is a former stake Primary president, ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, seminary teacher, and missionary in the New Mexico Albuquerque Mission. Born in Mexico City, Mexico, to Adolfo Avalos Rico and Josefina Lozano Herrera.

Adriatic South Mission

Louis Weidmann, 60, and Esther Margaret Lauener-Weidmann, five children, Solothurn Ward, Bern Switzerland Stake, succeeding President Andrew M. Ford and Sister Juliet F. Ford. Brother Weidmann is a former Area Seventy, stake president, high councilor, stake mission president, bishop, ward executive secretary, and missionary in the Germany Frankfurt Mission. President, MCM MedSys Ltd. Born in Winterthur, Switzerland, to Arthur Weidmann and Maria Antonia Untersander.

Sister Weidmann is a former ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, ward Primary president, and branch Young Women president. Born in Riverside, California, to Wilhelm Friedrich Lauener and Helene Kaufmann.

• Missionary Work