SALT LAKE CITY – The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced 10 new General Authorities at the Saturday afternoon session of the Church’s 176th Annual General Conference being held here this weekend. Seventeen new Area Seventies were also named to serve as lay leaders in various parts of the world.
Called as General Authorities to serve in the First Quorum of the Seventy are Elder David S. Baxter, Suffolk, England; Elder Shayne M. Bowen, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Elder Daniel L. Johnson, Colonia Juarez, Mexico; Elder Marcus B. Nash, Lynnwood, Washington; and Elder Anthony D. Perkins, Taipei, Taiwan.
New General Authorities called to serve in the Second Quorum of the Seventy are Elder Craig A. Cardon, Gilbert, Arizona; Elder Don R. Clarke, Buena Vista, Virginia; Elder Keith R. Edwards, Las Vegas, Nevada; Elder Stanley G. Ellis, Spring, Texas; and Elder Larry W. Gibbons, Dallas, Texas.
Additionally, Elder Keith K. Hilbig, a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy since 2001, was named to the First Quorum of the Seventy.
Members of the Seventy have responsibility for administering the work of the Church throughout the world under the direction of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Some of them also have executive responsibilities in a number of Church departments. Members of the First Quorum of the Seventy usually serve to age seventy. Those called to the Second Quorum of the Seventy serve for a period of about six years.
First Quorum of the Seventy
Elder Shayne M. Bowen, 51, has been serving as an Area Seventy in the Idaho Area. After completing a bachelor’s degree in English at Brigham Young University (BYU), he pursued a career in insurance, owning and operating his own agency. Elder Bowen has also served the
Church as a mission president, stake president, high councilor, bishop, high priests group instructor, elders quorum president, Varsity scout leader and full-time missionary. He and his wife, Lynette Mortensen Bowen, have seven children.
Elder Anthony D. Perkins, 45, is currently serving as president of the Taiwan Taipei Mission.
He earned advanced degrees from the Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania after completing undergraduate studies in finance at BYU. Prior to his call as a mission president, Elder Perkins was a senior partner in an international business consulting firm. He has served in a district presidency and branch presidency, as a ward clerk, elders quorum president, seminary teacher and full-time missionary. He and his wife, Christine Abbott Perkins, are the parents of six children.
Second Quorum of the Seventy
Elder Don R. Clarke, 60, served as a member of the high council of the Buena Vista Virginia Stake prior to his call to the Seventy. He earned an associate degree from Ricks College and a bachelor’s degree in business from BYU. Elder Clarke completed a master’s degree in business administration from Washington State University. His career included senior executive positions in several retailing companies. He has served the Church as a mission president, stake president, assistant director of Church Hosting, high councilor, bishop, stake Young Men president, elders quorum president and full-time missionary. He married the former Mary Anne Jackson, and they have six children.
He earned his undergraduate degree in history from Stanford University, his medical degree from the University of Utah and a master of public health degree from Harvard University. Elder Gibbons is a practicing physician and president of a medical clinic. His previous church service includes Area Seventy, Regional Representative, stake president, counselor in a stake presidency, seminary teacher and full-time missionary. He and his wife, LaDawn Anderson Gibbons, are the parents of two children.
Area Seventies
Also announced today were the callings of 17 new Area Seventies. Area Seventies give part-time voluntary Church service within their assigned geographic areas and support area presidencies in international areas. Called as Area Seventies: José L. Alonso, 47, San Nicolas, México; Vladimiro J. Campero, 60, Santa Cruz, Bolivia; Juan A. Etchegaray, 61, Montevideo, Uruguay; Hernan I. Herrera, 50, Santiago, Chile; David J. Hoare, 52, Sunbury, Australia; César H. Hooker, 47, Lima, Peru; Javier Ibañez, 51, San Cristobal, Venezuela; Daniel M. Jones, 53, Cedar City, Utah; Stephen C. Kerr, 45, Stirling, Scotland; Joni L. Koch, 44, Bal Camboriu, Brazil; Daniel A. Moreno, 53, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Kent H. Murdock, 58, Salt Lake City, Utah; J. Michel Paya, 61, Mougins, France; Stephen D. Posey, 58, North Augusta, South Carolina; Carlos F. Rivas, 46, San Salvador, El Salvador; Juan M. Rodriguez, 54, México City, México; Carlos Villanova, 43, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Releases to be effective on 1 May 2006 were announced for the following 16 Area Seventies: Salvador Aguirre, Jose C. Aleson, Daniel P. Alvarez, David A. Baxter, Shayne M. Bowen, Yatyr M. Cesar, Robert M. Cowan, Keith R. Edwards, Stanley G. Ellis, Franz R. Gaag, Daniel L. Johnson, Joel H. McKinnon, Marcus B. Nash, Armando A. Sierra, Jeffrey C. Swinton, Remus G. Villarete.