New Assignments Announced for Members of First Quorum of the Seventy

The First Presidency has announced changes in assignments for members of the First Quorum of the Seventy. The assignments, which were effective August 15, affect the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy and quorum members serving in Area Presidencies and as Executive Directors and Managing Directors of departments at Church headquarters. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin will become a member of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy, Executive Director of the Curriculum Department, and Editor of Church Magazines, the First Presidency said. He will succeed Elder Carlos E. Asay in those assignments.

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Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Elder Asay will succeed Elder Wirthlin as President of the Europe Area of the Church, with headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany.

Elder Dean L. Larsen will become Senior President of the First Quorum of the Seventy. Other members of the Presidency are Elder Richard G. Scott, Elder Marion D. Hanks, Elder Wm. Grant Bangerter, Elder Jack H. Goaslind, Elder Robert L. Backman, and Elder Wirthlin.

The role of the First Quorum of the Seventy in building up the Church in all nations and regulating its affairs has continued to expand as the Church has grown. Church membership totals more than six million, and some 14,500 wards and branches are organized in ninety-six countries and eighteen territories, colonies, and possessions. The Area Presidencies, which supervise the administration of the Church in geographic areas worldwide, are all members of the First Quorum of the Seventy. Currently, there are fifty-six members of the quorum.

The wives of quorum members assigned to Area Presidencies in the international areas outside of North America are called to serve as Area general board representatives for the Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society organizations.

The current assignments are as follows, with new members of the respective presidencies and departments indicated with an asterisk.

International

Asia (Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Philippines): President William R. Bradford, Counselors Jacob de Jager and George I. Cannon*.

Europe (British Isles, Africa, Europe): President Carlos E. Asay*, Counselors Russell C. Taylor and Hans B. Ringger.

Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands): President John Sonnenberg, Counselors Philip T. Sonntag and F. Arthur Kay*.

Mexico/Central America: President Gene R. Cook, Counselors H. Verlan Anderson* and Gardner H. Russell*.

South America North (Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia): President F. Burton Howard, Counselors Helio R. Camargo and Francis M. Gibbons*.

South America South (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile): President J. Thomas Fyans, Counselors Waldo P. Call and Ted E. Brewerton*.

North America

North America Northeast (Northeast, Midwest, North Central, Canada East, Canada Central): President Loren C. Dunn*, Counselors Derek A. Cuthbert and Keith W. Wilcox*.

North America Northwest (Northern Plains, Northwest, Idaho, Canada British Columbia): President Rex C. Reeve*, Counselors George P. Lee and Robert B. Harbertson.

North America Southeast (South Central, Southeast, Caribbean): President Rex D. Pinegar*, Counselors Robert E. Wells and Hartman Rector, Jr.*

North America Southwest (Southern Plains, Arizona, Nevada): President Charles Didier, Counselors Hugh W. Pinnock* and Ronald E. Poelman*.

North America West (California and Hawaii): President John K. Carmack, Counselors F. Enzio Bushe and John H. Groberg.

Utah North (Northern Utah, Ogden, Salt Lake City): President James M. Paramore, Counselors Yoshihiko Kikuchi and Spencer H. Osborn*.

Utah South (Granger, Murray, Provo, Southern Utah): President Vaughn J. Featherstone*, Counselors Adney Y. Komatsu and Paul H. Dunn.

Headquarters Department Assignments

Missionary Department: Robert L. Backman, Executive Director and President of the International Mission; Charles Didier, Robert B. Harbertson, and Keith W. Wilcox*, Managing Directors.

Priesthood Department: Jack H. Goaslind, Executive Director; A. Theodore Tuttle and Paul H. Dunn*, Managing Directors.

Young Men: President Vaughn J. Featherstone, Counselors Rex D. Pinegar and Hartman Rector, Jr.*

Sunday School: President Robert L. Simpson*, Counselors Adney Y. Komatsu and A. Theodore Tuttle*.

Correlation Department: Marion D. Hanks, Executive Director; Robert E. Wells and George P. Lee*, Managing Directors.

Curriculum Department: Joseph B. Wirthlin*, Executive Director, and Editor of Church magazines; Hugh W. Pinnock*, John H. Groberg*, and James M. Paramore, Managing Directors.

Genealogy Department: Richard G. Scott, Executive Director; Loren C. Dunn* and Spencer H. Osborn*, Managing Directors.

Historical Department: Dean L. Larsen, Executive Director, Historian, and Recorder; John K. Carmack*, Managing Director.

Temple Department: Wm. Grant Bangerter, Executive Director; Yoshihiko Kikuchi, Robert L. Simpson, and Devere Harris*, Managing Directors.

Area General Board Assignments

Asia: Mary Ann Bird Bradford, Bea Lim de Jager, and Isabel Hales Cannon*.

Europe: Colleen Webb Asay*, Joyce Elaine Mortensen Taylor, and Helene Suzy Zimmer Ringger.

Pacific: Joyce Dalton Sonnenberg, Valoy Andreason Sonntag, and Eunice Nielsen Kay*.

Mexico/Central America: Janelle Schlink Cook, Shirley Hoyt Andersen*, and Dorothy Richardson Russell*.

South America North: Caroline Heise Howard, Nair Belmira de Gouvea Camargo, and Helen Bay Gibbons*.

South America South: Helen Cook Fyans, Beverly Johnson Call, and Dorothy Hall Brewerton*.

Four members of the First Quorum of the Seventy are now serving as temple presidents: Royden G. Derrick, Seattle; Angel Abrea, Buenos Aires; Victor L. Brown, Salt Lake; and H. Burke Peterson, Jordan River. J. Richard Clarke is president of the South Africa Cape Town Mission.