Eight more mission presidents and their wives have been called by the First Presidency to begin service about July 1, 2006. Assignments will be announced later. The new leaders are:
Frederick H. Ashby, 50, Aspen Ward, Mesa Arizona Kimball East Stake; bishop; former counselor in a bishopric, high councilor, ward Young Men president, gospel doctrine teacher and missionary in the Uruguay-Paraguay Mission. President, Sunburst Builders. Born in Las Vegas, Nev., to Ralph Hubert and Cecile Bradshaw Ashby. Married Julie Farnsworth, eight children.
A ward Primary chorister, Sister Ashby is a former counselor in a stake Primary presidency, ward Primary president, counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency and nursery leader. Born in Mesa, Ariz., to Ross Nash and Anita Cox Farnsworth.
Blair Shields Bennett, 56, Nottingham Ward, Edmonton Alberta Bonnie Doon Stake; temple ordinance worker in the Edmonton Alberta Temple; former Area Seventy, stake president, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop and missionary in the French East Mission. Dentist. Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to Harold Ennis and Dora B. Shields Bennett. Married Mary Jane Edwardine Christie, six children.
A temple ordinance worker in the Edmonton Alberta Temple and ward missionary, Sister Bennett is a former ward Young Women president, counselor in a ward Primary presidency and nursery leader. Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to Edward Joseph and Mary Kathleen Stepnuk Christie.
Francisco Washington Fierro Altamirano, 48, Tarqui Ward, Quito Ecuador Chillogallo Stake; former stake president, counselor in stake presidencies, high councilor, counselor in a bishopric and stake Young Men president. Membership and statistical records specialist for the Church. Born in Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador, to Emanuel Maria and Margarita Alicia Altamirano de Fierro. Married Dolores Beatriz Merchan, three children.
Sister Fierro is a former stake Young Women and Primary president, counselor in a stake Primary presidency and Relief Society teacher. Born in Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador, to Lauro Enrique and Rosa del Pilar Cedeno de Merchan.
Ren Smoot Johnson, 48, Valley 2nd Ward, Reno Nevada North Stake; gospel doctrine teacher; former counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, stake and ward Young Men president and missionary in the Brazil Sao Paulo North Mission. Veterinarian. Born in Fort Collins, Colo., to C. Leon and E. LaRue Smoot Johnson. Married Kelly Jean Grasmick, eight children.
A secretary in the stake Young Women, Sister Johnson is a former ward Young Women and Primary president, counselor in ward Young Women and Relief Society presidencies and Cub Scout leader. Born in Boise, Idaho, to Robert Willard and Dellene LaVern Snarr Grasmick.
Brent Watkins McMaster, 63, Emigration 6th Ward, Salt Lake Emigration Stake; former bishop, counselor in a bishopric, high councilor, high priests group leader, ward mission leader, Young Men adviser and missionary in the Western States Mission. Vice President, O.C. Tanner. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to J. Stuart and Clara Watkins McMaster. Married Diane Lloyd, five children.
A ward Sunday School teacher, Sister McMaster is a former ward Relief Society, Young Women and Primary president, ward music director, Young Women adviser and ward Primary chorister. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Sherman Parkinson and Edith Ann Gunn Lloyd.
Jan Eric Newman, 45, Elk Ridge 6th Ward, Payson Utah East Stake; counselor in the stake presidency; former bishop, elders quorum president, Scoutmaster and missionary in the Belgium Brussels Mission. Founder and vice president of Corporate Development. Born in Jerome, Idaho, to George Raymond and Dora Lillian Walker Newman. Married Lucia Price, six children.
A ward enrichment leader, Sister Newman is a former ward Primary president, counselor in ward Relief Society and Young Women presidencies, Young Women adviser, Primary chorister and Primary teacher. Born in Ogden, Utah, to Larry Gene and Joan Foster Price.
Norman Sanford Nielson, 53, Monticello 1st Ward, Monticello Utah Stake; Aaronic Priesthood adviser; former counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, counselor in a bishopric, high councilor, counselor in a stake Young Men presidency and missionary in the Taiwan mission. Staff physician at Utah Navajo Health Systems. Born in Durango, Colo., to Norman Floyd and Ruth Mary Jones Nielson. Married Mary Louise Wolsey, six children.
A ward organist, Sister Nielson is a former ward Young Women and Relief Society president, counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency, ward music chairman, Young Women adviser and stake cultural arts specialist. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Heber Grant and Fay Parrish Wolsey.
William Hunt Stoddard, 58, Las Vegas 7th Ward, Las Vegas Nevada Stake; counselor in the Nevada Las Vegas West Mission presidency; former stake president, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, stake mission president, ward mission leader and missionary in the Andes South Mission. Attorney. Born in Hamilton, Mont., to James Franklin and Jean Louise Erdman Stoddard. Married Carol Eve Willis, four children.
A ward activity committee chairman, Sister Stoddard is a former counselor in ward Young Women and Relief Society presidencies, Young Women adviser and seminary teacher. Born in Tahlequah, Okla., to Marvin Wilce and Opal Beatrice Enkey Willis.