Eight new mission presidents have been called by the First Presidency. The mission presidents and their wives will begin their service about July 1. The new mission presidents and their assignments are:
Jose M. Arias, 54, Brazil Fortaleza Mission; Jardim Bonfiglioli Ward, Sao Paulo Brazil Stake; high councilor and temple sealer; former regional welfare agent, stake mission president, district president, bishop and counselor; area welfare services manager for the Church; received mechanical engineering degree from the University of Rio Cuarto; born in Rio Cuarto, Argentina, to Jose Maria and Maria Elba Funes Arias; married Aida Bentancort, four children. She is ward Primary president; former stake Relief Society president, ward Relief Society president and counselor, Sunday School teacher, and missionary in the Argentina Cordoba Mission; born in Rocha, Uruguay, to Carlos and Eulogia Lespolda Nunez Bentancort.Carlos L. Astorga, 38, Guatemala Quetzaltenango Mission; Guatemala City Guatemala Palmita Stake; counselor in Guatemala City South Mission presidency; former counselor in stake presidency, stake secretary, high councilor, ward mission leader, and missionary in the Honduras Tegucigalpa Mission; Church distribution center manager; received civil engineering degree from San Carlos University, and bachelor's degree in quality assurance and master's degree in product management from Francisco Marroquin University; born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, to Carlos Humberto and Estela Astorga; married Marlem Mejia, four children. She is Relief Society president; former counselor in stake Relief Society presidency, ward Young Women president, Relief Society teacher, visiting teaching coordinator, and missionary in the Guatemala Quetzaltenango Mission; born in Izabal, Guatemala, to Marciano and Elida Casasola Mejia.
Nivaldo Bentim, 62, Brazil Florianopolis Mission; Altos da Cidad Ward, Bauru Brazil Stake; high priests group leader; former counselor in Sao Paulo Temple, stake patriarch, bishop and counselor, and elders quorum president; retired business manager; received degree in economics from Alvares Penteado University; born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Accacio and Leonor Bizarro Vallongo Bentim; married Clery Pereira, three children. She is ward music leader; former assistant to Sao Paulo Temple matron, stake Young Women president, stake music leader, stake choir director, and ward Relief Society president; attended PUC University; born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Ernestino and Dinorah Pacheco Pereira.
Richard R. George, 55, Argentina Neuguen Mission; Yuma 3rd Ward, Yuma Arizona Stake; high councilor; former counselor in stake presidency, counselor in mission presidency, bishop and counselor, high priests group leader, and elders quorum president; Church Educational System coordinator; received bachelor's degree in Spanish and English, master's degree in counseling and special education, and master's degree in educational leadership from BYU; born in Seattle, Wash., to Floyd Nott and Mabel Busha Patterson George; married Jeannine Evans, nine children. She is a temple preparation class teacher and institute teacher; former counselor in stake Relief Society presidency, ward Young Women and Primary president, counselor in Relief Society presidency, seminary teacher, and missionary in the Southeast Mexico Mission; billing secretary for First Health Medical; attended BYU; born in Ogden, Utah, to Preston Davis and Dorothy Grace Martin England Evans.
James V. Hendricks, 62, Alaska Anchorage Mission; Rexburg 16th Ward, Rexburg Idaho East Stake; counselor in stake presidency; former temple ordinance worker, counselor in stake presidency, high councilor, bishop, and missionary in the Western Canadian Mission; director of counseling at Ricks College; received bachelor's degree in psychology and master's degree in counseling from Utah State University, and doctorate in educational psychology and counseling from BYU; born in Richmond, Utah, to Lorin Asa and Annie B. Timmons Hendricks; married Diane Larsen, six children. She is a former temple ordinance worker, stake librarian, ward Relief Society president, Primary teacher, family history specialist, and missionary in the West Central States Mission; graduated from Ricks College and attended BYU; born in Logan, Utah, to Vernon Joseph and Lula Ann Rigby Larsen.
Jose M. Lopez, 50, Mexico Tuxtla Gutierrez Mission; Villa De Las Flores Ward, Mexico City Mexico Villa De Las Flores Stake; Sunday School teacher; former stake president and counselor, stake executive secretary, and bishop; former legal representative; born in Comalcalco, Mexico, to Lazaro Octavio and Calderon Juana Ricardez Lopez; married Eva Soto, five children. She is Primary president; former Young Women president, counselor in Relief Society presidency, and Primary teacher; born in Mexico City to Carlos and Barbara Contreras Soto.
Terrance G. Rempel, 48, Italy Catania Mission; Kelowna 2nd Ward, Vernon British Columbia Stake; counselor in stake presidency; former stake clerk, high councilor, bishop and counselor, Young Men president, elders quorum president, and missionary in Italy; self-employed; attended the University of Alberta; born in Lethbridge, Alberta, to Clarence Arnold and Renee Ilene Bridgewater Rempel; married Ladene Jensen, six children. She is Relief Society president; former stake Primary president and counselor, counselor in stake Young Women presidency, ward Primary president and counselor, counselor in Young Women presidency, Primary teacher and chorister, and nursery leader; born in Cardston, Alberta, to Reece Andrew and Veda Sommerfeldt Jensen.
L. Robert Webb Jr., 60, New Jersey Morristown Mission; Sharon 4th Ward, Orem Utah Sharon Stake; assistant to high priests group leader; former counselor in stake presidency, high councilor, stake missionary, bishop, and Sunday School teacher; executive director of strategic planning and assessment for BYU; received bachelor's degree in education and master's degree in public administration from BYU; born in Afton, Wyo., to Lynn Robert and Norma Cranney Webb; married Leslie Ann Gardner, seven children. She is a Relief Society teacher and choir accompanist; former stake missionary, counselor in stake Young Women presidency, ward Young Women president, counselor in Primary presidency, counselor in Relief Society presidency, Beehive teacher, Primary teacher, and inservice leader; piano teacher; received bachelor's degree in music from BYU; born in Colorado Springs, Colo., to Ralph Miller and Grace Robinson Gardner.