Callings

New mission presidents and companions who will serve in these 16 missions — from Arizona to Tanzania

Read about the new leaders of these 16 missions

By Church News Staff Jan 20, 2023 2:30 p.m. EST

Mission leaders participate in the 2022 Seminar for New Mission Leaders on Thursday, June 23, 2022.

Callings

New mission presidents and companions who will serve in these 16 missions — from Arizona to Tanzania

Read about the new leaders of these 16 missions

By Church News Staff Jan 20, 2023 2:30 p.m. EST

The following new mission presidents and companions have been called to serve by the First Presidency. They will begin their service in July.

Martin W. Bates, 55, and Donna Bates, eight children, Yale Ward, Salt Lake Bonneville Stake: Alpine German-Speaking Mission, succeeding President Scott M. Naatjes and Sister Jodi T. Naatjes. Brother Bates is an elders quorum instructor and ward mission leader and former bishop, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president, ward Sunday School president, Sunday School teacher, Primary teacher, scoutmaster and missionary in the Germany Frankfurt Mission. He was born in Salt Lake City to Douglas Fetzer Bates and Eva-Maria Winter Bates.

Sister Bates is a Relief Society teacher and ward missionary and former stake Young Women presidency counselor, ward Young Women president, ward Primary president, Sunday School teacher, 11-year old scout leader and Primary music leader. She was born in The Dalles, Oregon, to Dallas George Graham and Sharon Lynn Graham.

David W. Cluff, 57, and Jennifer J. Cluff, four children, Somerset Ward, Gilbert Arizona Williams Field Stake: Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission, succeeding President Timothy F. Pingree and Sister Lou Ann L. Pingree. Brother Cluff is a former stake welfare and self-reliance specialist, stake presidency counselor, bishop, bishopric counselor, ward Sunday School president, ward Young Men president and missionary in the Brazil São Paulo South Mission. He was born in Mesa, Arizona, to Milford Ray Cluff and Isabelle Lamoreaux Holladay Cluff.

Sister Cluff is a former stake welfare and self-reliance specialist, stake Young Women presidency counselor, ward Young Women president and ward Relief Society presidency counselor. She was born in Tucson, Arizona, to Robert Owen Jones and Lynne Marie Richardson Jones.

S. Mario Durrant, 51, and Karla K. Durrant, five children, Berry Hollow Ward, Hyde Park Utah Stake: New Jersey Morristown Mission, succeeding President Micah D. Rolfe and Sister Marie Childs Rolfe. Brother Durrant is a Primary teacher and former stake president, bishop, high councilor, high priests group leader, elders quorum president and missionary in the Chile Viña del Mar Mission. He was born in Ogden, Utah, to Don Thacker Durrant and Peggy Jensen Durrant.

Sister Durrant is a Sunday School teacher and former stake Young Women presidency counselor, ward Young Women presidency counselor, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, Primary music leader and missionary in the Indiana Indianapolis Mission. She was raised in Blanding, Utah, by Richard Dean Pincock and Renee Black Pincock.

Samuel Enos Kwamina Eghan, 49, and Paulina Kissiwaa Eghan, four children, Ashaley Botwe Ward, Accra Ghana Madina Stake: Tanzania Dar es Salaam Mission, succeeding President Kyoni Kasongo and Sister Heléne Kasongo. Brother Eghan is a stake president and former high councilor, stake Sunday School president, stake Young Men president, bishop, bishopric counselor, ward Young Men president and missionary in the Ghana Accra Mission. He was born in Takoradi, Ghana, to Edward Eghan and Esther Enos.

Sister Eghan is a ward young single adult adviser and former stake music leader, ward Young Women presidency counselor, ward Primary presidency counselor, Sunday School teacher and institute teacher. She was born in Tema, Ghana, to Yaw Afrifa and Janet Afrifa.

Cory D. Fisk, 50, and Carrilyn M. Fisk, five children, Strathmore Ward, Calgary Alberta Confederation Park Stake: Arizona Phoenix Mission, succeeding President Brik V. Eyre and Sister Susan R. Eyre. Brother Fisk is a former stake presidency counselor, high councilor, stake Young Men president, bishop, bishopric counselor, high priests group leader, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president and missionary in the Argentina Bahía Blanca Mission. He was born in Atikokan, Ontario, to Donald Helmer Fisk and Paulette Sylvia Fisk.

Sister Fisk is a seminary teacher and former stake Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, Sunday School teacher and Primary teacher. She was born in Bienfait, Saskatchewan, to Robert George Steil and Sharon Mae Steil.

Daren Heyland, 60, and Becky Heyland, four children, Henderson Ward, Lethbridge Alberta East Stake: Guatemala Guatemala City Central Mission, succeeding President David Hruska and Sister Annette Hruska. Brother Heyland is a communication director and elders quorum teacher and former district president, JustServe specialist, bishop, elders quorum president, ward Young Men presidency counselor, Gospel Doctrine teacher, seminary teacher and missionary in the Honduras Tegucigalpa Mission. He was born in Edmonton, Alberta, to Warren Dale Heyland and Renee Louise Heyland.

Sister Heyland is a JustServe specialist and Sunday School teacher and former stake Relief Society president, ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, Sunday School teacher, and seminary teacher. She was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, to Owen Holmes and Jean Holmes.

W. Troy Jepson, 52, and Carrie R. Jepson, four children, Willis Ward, Conroe Texas Stake: Brazil Salvador Mission, succeeding President James A. Morris and Sister Syndi R. Morris. Brother Jepson is a former bishop, bishopric counselor, ward Sunday School president, elders quorum presidency counselor, Young Men adviser and missionary in the Portugal Lisbon Mission. He was born in San Pedro, California, to William Wright Jepson and Betty Jane Jepson.

Sister Jepson is a ward choir director and former stake Primary presidency counselor, ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, ward Primary president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, ward Young Women presidency counselor, ward Primary presidency counselor, Young Women adviser, ward organist and missionary in the Perú Arequipa Mission. She was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Larry Hartzell and RaeDean Hunt Hartzell.

Brent D. Jones, 61, and Elizabeth Jones, four children, Hooper 3rd Ward, Hooper Utah Stake: California Arcadia Mission, succeeding President Robert S. Hall and Sister Suzanne B. Hall. Brother Jones is a stake president and former stake presidency counselor, bishop, elders quorum president, ward clerk, ward Young Men president and missionary in the Australia Melbourne Mission. He was born in Blackfoot, Idaho, to Owen Dean Jones and Vickie Seamons Jones.

Sister Jones is a stake Relief Society secretary, emergency preparedness specialist, temple ordinance worker and ministering sister, and former ward Relief Society presidency counselor, Sunday School teacher, Relief Society teacher, Gospel Doctrine teacher and seminary teacher. She was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, to Charles Howard Recht and Elizabeth Maud Recht.

Mac La’ulu, 63, and Helen La’ulu, five children, Winston Hills Ward, Sydney Australia Baulkham Hills Stake: Fiji Suva Mission, succeeding President Brad L. Markus and Sister Susan Markus. Brother La’ulu is a Sunday School teacher and former district president, bishop, branch president, bishopric counselor, institute teacher, Pathway Connect facilitator and temple ordinance worker. He was born in Auckland, New Zealand, to Koloti La’ulu and Seutatia La’ulu.

Sister La’ulu is a stake Primary presidency counselor and former district Relief Society president, stake Relief Society presidency counselor, ward Primary presidency counselor, institute teacher, Pathway Connect facilitator and temple ordinance worker. She was born in Auckland, New Zealand, to Ruben Paraha and Maraea Paraha.

Aretemio C. Maligon, 59, and Arlene Esguerra Maligon, four children, San Pablo 3rd Ward, San Pablo Philippines Stake: Philippines Davao Mission, succeeding President Alfredo R. Ardon and Sister Grace P. Ardon. Brother Maligon is an Area Seventy and former stake president, stake presidency counselor, high councilor, stake Young Men president, bishop and missionary in the Philippines Davao Mission. He was born in Manila, Philippines, to Fe Crisostomo Maligon.

Sister Maligon is a ward temple and family history consultant and former self-reliance specialist, ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, ward Primary president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, ward Young Women presidency counselor, ward Relief Society secretary, Gospel Doctrine teacher, Gospel Essentials teacher, Sunday School teacher and institute teacher. She was born in Manila, Philippines, to Raymond Azarcon Esguerra and Zenaida Macalinao Lapan.

Dennis Ocansey, 42, and Rita Darkwaah Ocansey, three children, Christiansborg Ward, Accra Ghana Christiansborg Stake: Nigeria Abuja Mission. Brother Ocansey is a stake president and former stake presidency counselor, stake assistant clerk, stake Sunday School president, branch president, bishopric counselor, elders quorum president, ward clerk, and missionary in the Nigeria Enugu Mission. He was born in Accra, Ghana, to Samuel Kabu Ocansey and Edith Morkor Ocansey.

Sister Ocansey is a ward Primary president and Primary music leader and former ward Young Women president, ward Young Women presidency counselor, ward Primary presidency counselor and Relief Society teacher. She was born in Kpong, Ghana, to Isaac Asante Okrah and Charity Agyapong Okrah.

Jonathan Ord, 51, and Stacey Ord, six children, Liberty Park Ward, San Clemente California Stake: Texas Dallas West Mission, succeeding President Duane E. Farley and Sister Kristi Farley. Brother Ord is a YSA bishop and former high councilor, bishopric counselor, ward Young Men president, Sunday School teacher, seminary teacher and missionary in the Spain Bilbao Mission. He was born in San Diego, California, to John Elden Ord and Margaret Ann Ord.

Sister Ord is a Sunday School teacher and former stake Young Women presidency counselor, ward Primary president, Young Women adviser, Primary music leader and Primary teacher. She was born in Fontana, California, to John Haakon Anderson and Glenna Mae Anderson.

Tsuyoshi Sano, 52, and Tomomi Sano, three children, Kagoshima Branch, Kagoshima Japan District: Japan Kobe Mission, succeeding President Darwin W. Halvorson and Sister Tomomi Halvorson. Brother Sano is a mission presidency counselor and temple ordinance worker and former district president, branch president, branch mission leader, elders quorum president and missionary in the Japan Kobe Mission. He was born in Kagoshima City, Japan, to Akira Sano and Miyoko Sano.

Sister Sano is a branch Relief Society presidency counselor and temple ordinance worker and former district Young Women president, district Young Women presidency counselor, branch Primary president, Sunday School teacher, institute teacher, seminary teacher and missionary in the Japan Okayama Mission. She was born in Omuta City, Japan, to Seiji Saruwatari and Tamiyo Saruwatari.

Chet J. Wall, 46, and Kristy Wall, four children, Stone Cliff Ward, St George Utah Boulder Ridge Stake: Hungary Budapest Mission, succeeding President Justin C. Rucker and Sister Lori Rucker. Brother Wall is a former stake presidency counselor, stake clerk, bishop, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president, ward Young Men presidency counselor, Young Men adviser, Sunday School teacher and missionary in the Hungary Budapest Mission. He was born in Murray, Utah, to James Clair Wall and Joan Clegg Wall.

Sister Wall is a former stake Primary president, ward Young Women president, ward Primary president, Relief Society teacher and Cub Scout leader. She was born in Portland, Oregon, to Ben Wayne Gardner and Kathy Beeson Gardner.

Chris W. Woodfield, 55, and Lesley P. Woodfield, five children, Walsh Ranch Ward, Round Rock Texas Stake: Arizona Tucson Mission, succeeding President Jeremy B. Grisel and Sister Robin H. Grisel. Brother Woodfield is a stake president and former high councilor, stake Young Men president, bishop, bishopric counselor, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president and missionary in the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo Mission. He was born in Provo, Utah, to Leon Warren Woodfield and Janet Cragun Woodfield.

Sister Woodfield is a Primary teacher and Activity Days leader and former stake Young Women camp director, ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women presidency counselor, ward Primary presidency counselor and Young Women adviser. She was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Merlin Malone Ponder and Evelyn Brian Ponder.

Rob Young, 58, and Debbie Young, five children, Heatheridge 4th Ward, Orem Utah Heatheridge Stake: El Salvador San Salvador East Mission, succeeding President George L. Payne and Sister Joanne S. Payne. Brother and Sister Young recently served as senior missionaries in the Brazil Recife South Mission. Brother Young is a former YSA bishopric counselor, ward Young Men president, Sunday School teacher, temple ordinance worker and missionary in the Perú Lima North Mission. He was born in Provo, Utah, to James Robert Young and JoAnne Stoker Young.

Sister Young is a former stake Young Women presidency counselor, district Young Women presidency counselor, ward Primary president, YSA adviser and temple ordinance worker. She was born in Murray, Utah, to Douglas Allen Doxey and Carol Jean Gibson.