For the first time, the releases of Area Seventies (regional leaders) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been publicly announced prior to general conference, which is scheduled for October.
During the April 2021 general conference, 77 new Area Seventies were sustained in the leadership meetings, rather than during a general session of conference. In a similar manner, the practice of announcing releases of Area Seventies during conference is also being modified.
Area Seventies serve as “special witnesses” of Jesus Christ to the geographic areas in which they live around the world.
The following Area Seventies are released, effective August 1, 2021:
Third Quorum of the Seventy (Africa Central, Africa South and Africa West Areas)
Frederick O. Akinbo
M. T. Ben Davis
Jerat K. C. Igwe
Christophe Kawaya
John A. Koranteng
Fourth Quorum of the Seventy (Asia and Asia North Areas)
Dong Chol Beh
Ming-Shun Kuan
Seiji Tokuzawa
Robert K. William
Fifth Quorum of the Seventy (Brazil Area)
Aroldo B. Cavalcante
Carlos E. Perrotti
Sixth Quorum of the Seventy (Caribbean, Central America and Mexico Areas)
Luis J. Camey
Luis C. Chaverri
Ulises Chávez
José A. Fernández
Candido Fortuna
Felix A. Martinez
Helamán Montejo
A. Moroni Pérez
Rene Romay
Luis G. Ruiz
Jesús Vélez
Seventh Quorum of the Seventy (Europe, Europe East and Middle East / Africa North Areas)
Matthieu Bennasar
Tom-Atle Herland
Eighth Quorum of the Seventy (Pacific and Philippines Areas)
Richard C. Baquiran
Daniel G. Hamilton
Ryan V. Pagaduan
Mark P. Peteru
Maximo A. Saavedra Jr.
Benjamin T. Sinjoux
Ninth Quorum of the Seventy (South America Northwest and South America South Areas)
P. David Agazzani
Quilmer A. Agüero
Nelson Ardila
Antonio F. Faúndez
Matías D. Fernández
Juan J. Levrino
Carlo M. Lezano
Pedro A. Sanhueza
Daniel Texeira
Luis G. Zapata
Tenth Quorum of the Seventy (North America Central, North America Northeast and North America Southeast Areas)
Douglas B. Carter
M. Dirk Driscoll
Michael A. Gillenwater
Michael D. Groll
J Vaun McArthur
Thomas T. Priday
Brian L. Rawson
Paul H. Sinclair
Eleventh Quorum of the Seventy (North America Southwest and North America West Areas)
Lawrence P. Blunck
Marc C. Davis
J. Scott Dorius
Bruce E. Ghent
Raymond S. Heyman
Todd S. Larkin
Kevin K. Miskin
Michael R. Murray
David L. Stapleton
Maxsimo C. Torres
Carlos Villarreal
Paul H. Watkins
C. Dale Willis
Twelfth Quorum of the Seventy (Utah Area)
Brent J. Christensen
Douglas L. Dance
Blake M. Roney
Eric J. Schmutz
Kevin J Worthen