Local Leaders Join First Meeting Held for New Area Organization Advisers

Three Filipino women leaders - Sisters Maria Christina Villanueva Itchon Concepcion, Rosemarie Balquedra Francisco Fernando, and Donna Dell Bernadas Dumas attended the first meeting for the new international area organization advisers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Using technology to strengthen the global Church, all 50 of the women leaders met virtually with general women officers before General Conference on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. 

“It was so thrilling to have each of these sisters wave after hearing their name called and say, ‘Hello from Argentina,’ ‘Good morning to you from Ghana,’ ‘Hello and I love you from Spain,’ ‘Hi from Mongolia,’ ‘Konnichiwa from Japan,’ ‘Hello from your sister in the Philippines’ and ‘Bonjour, mes amis from Barbados.’ And so on from around the world,” said Sister Bingham.

“It was truly a historic day,” said Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon, who shared her excitement this week on social media:

The First Presidency recently approved the new position of international area organization adviser to help provide training and mentorship for local leaders outside the United States and Canada.

Here are the locations by area:

Africa Central — Cameroon, DR Congo (Kinshasa), DR Congo (Lubumbashi), Ethiopia, Kenya/Tanzania, Republic of Congo and Uganda

Africa South — Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa

Asia North — Japan (2), Korea and Mongolia

Brazil — São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Joinville and Olinda

Caribbean — Puerto Rico, West Indies/Jamaica, Haiti and Dominican Republic

Europe — Nordic Countries (Denmark), Germany, Portugal/Spain, France/Italy, Eastern/Southeastern countries (Austria) and UK/Ireland

Mexico — Oaxaca, Celaya and Ciudad Juárez

Philippines — Cagayan de Oro, Cebu and Bulacan

South America Northwest — Peru (3), Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia and Bolivia

South America South — Argentina (3), Chile (3), Paraguay and Uruguay

The sisters will serve under the direction of the Area Presidencies, who will determine the local needs, for three to five years. 

“Some of them are already participating in the area council,” explained President Bingham.

The Relief Society of the Church is one of the oldest and largest women's organizations in the world. 

Reflecting on this, President Cordon said, “Sitting in my chair, watching each cherished face appear on-screen as we gathered for a worldwide meeting — from Japan to Johannesburg, from Spain to São Paulo, and me right here in the United States — I couldn’t help but think back to the very first Relief Society meeting held by Emma Smith, Eliza R. Snow and their small group of faithful sisters. Look how far we’ve come.”