At the Saturday afternoon session of the April 2026 basic convention, President D. Todd Christofferson of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints introduced eight new General Authority Seventies and a new Primary General Presidency.
President Christofferson additionally introduced that Elder Benjamin M. Z. Tai has been known as to serve in the Presidency of the Seventy, efficient August 1, 2026. He will exchange Elder S. Mark Palmer, who has served in the presidency since 2021.
In addition, seven General Authority Seventies (Elders Craig C. Christensen, William K. Jackson, Brook P. Hales, Eduardo Gavarret, Erich W. Kopischke, Peter F. Meurs, and S. Mark Palmer) shall be launched and obtain emeritus standing on August 1, 2026.
Elder Benjamin M. Z. Tai
Benjamin Ming Zhe Tai, 53, is from Hong Kong. He has served as an Assistant Executive Director of the Missionary Department and as an Area Assistant in the North America Southeast Area. He was serving as President of the Asia Area at the time of this name. He has served as a General Authority Seventy since 2019. His earlier Church service contains Area Seventy, district president, department president, and full-time missionary service in the Australia Melbourne Mission.
Elder Tai earned a bachelor’s diploma from Brigham Young University and a Master of Business Administration diploma from the University of California, Los Angeles. He has skilled expertise in funding banking and actual property improvement. He and his spouse, Naomi Toma, are the mother and father of six youngsters.
The Presidency of the Seventy is a gaggle of seven General Authority Seventies known as as presidents by the First Presidency to preside over all members of the Seventy. One of the seven presidents is chosen to preside over the different six (see Doctrine and Covenants 107:93–94). The Presidency of the Seventy oversees the work of the Seventy and assists the Quorum of the Twelve of their work all through the world. This work contains touring to show the gospel of Jesus Christ; administering missionary, temple, household historical past, humanitarian, and different efforts; assembly with Church members and missionaries; organizing Church items; working and counseling with native Church leaders; and plenty of different duties.
The different six members of the Presidency of the Seventy are Elders Carl B. Cook (the Senior President), Marcus B. Nash, Michael T. Ringwood, Arnulfo Valenzuela, Edward Dube, and Kevin R. Duncan.
General Authority Seventies are Church leaders known as by the First Presidency to be “especial witnesses” and to help the Twelve in “building up the church and regulating all the affairs” and “preaching and administering the gospel” all through the world (Doctrine and Covenants 107:25, 34, 38). They act below the course of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
General Authority Seventies serve full-time in the Church. They are normally launched in the 12 months they flip 70 years outdated and are granted emeritus standing.
A quick biography of every new chief is beneath.
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Elder Christian C. Chigbundu
Christian Chiemezuolam Chigbundu, 51, was born in Ahiaba Okpuala, Nigeria. He was serving as president of the Nigeria Enugu Mission at the time of his name. His earlier Church service contains bishop, stake president, mission president, and Area Seventy. He has skilled expertise in finance and mobility providers and has served in government management and on skilled boards in Nigeria.
Elder Chigbundu holds superior credentials in accounting, finance, advertising, and legislation.
He and his spouse, Felicia Mgbeodi Ugbor, are the mother and father of 5 youngsters.
Elder Matthew J. Eyring
Matthew Johnson Eyring, 56, was born in Palo Alto, California. His earlier Church service contains full-time missionary service in the Chile Santiago South Mission, bishop, stake presidency counselor, mission presidency counselor, and Area Seventy.
Elder Eyring earned a bachelor’s diploma in economics from the University of Utah and a Master of Business Administration diploma from Harvard Business School. He has skilled expertise in administration consulting, medical know-how, and enterprise innovation.
He and his spouse, Amy Rebecca Froerer, are the mother and father of 5 youngsters.
Elder Hutch U. Fale
Hutch Unga Fale, 46, was born in Provo, Utah. He was serving as a member of the Twelfth Quorum of the Seventy in the Utah Area at the time of his name. His earlier Church service contains full-time missionary service in the Tonga Nukuʻalofa Mission, bishop, excessive councilor, stake president, and Area Seventy. He has labored as an lawyer.
Elder Fale earned levels from Brigham Young University–Hawaii, the J. Reuben Clark Law School, and the Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics.
He and his spouse, Gaylene Rosarine Lilino, have 5 youngsters.
Elder James O. Fantone
James Gilwell Osorio Fantone, 54, was born in Manila, Philippines. He was serving as a member of the Eighth Quorum of the Seventy in the Philippines Area at the time of his name. His earlier Church service contains full-time missionary service, bishop, excessive councilor, mission president, and Area Seventy. He has skilled expertise in schooling administration and management improvement.
Elder Fantone earned a bachelor’s diploma in administration from Rizal Technological University and accomplished extra research at the University of the Philippines.
He and his spouse, Cynthia Caseres Uy, have 4 youngsters.
Elder Kevin J. Hathaway
Kevin James Hathaway, 51, was born in Billings, Montana. He was serving as president of the Arkansas Bentonville Mission at the time of his name. His earlier Church service contains full-time missionary service in the Russia St. Petersburg Mission, bishop, stake president, mission president, and Area Seventy. He has skilled expertise in healthcare and enterprise management.
Elder Hathaway earned bachelor’s levels in Russian language and worldwide legislation and diplomacy from Brigham Young University.
He and his spouse, Kali Lewis, are the mother and father of six youngsters.
Elder Thabo Lebethoa
Thabo Kula James Lebethoa, 50, was born in Soweto, South Africa. He was serving as a Sunday School instructor at the time of his name. His earlier Church service contains bishop, stake president, mission president, and Area Seventy. He has skilled expertise supporting welfare, self-reliance, and non secular schooling initiatives.
Elder Lebethoa earned a bachelor’s diploma in accounting from the University of South Africa.
He and his spouse, Andronica Gadifele Matlapeng, have 4 youngsters.
Elder Jeremiah J. Morgan
Jeremiah Joseph Morgan, 55, was born in Kettering, Ohio. He was serving as an elders quorum teacher at the time of his name. His earlier Church service contains full-time missionary service in the Micronesia Guam Mission, department president, bishop, excessive councilor, stake president, public affairs specialist, and Area Seventy. He has skilled expertise in public service and legislation.
Elder Morgan earned levels from the University of Central Missouri and Brigham Young University.
He and his spouse, Rebecca McDavitt, are the mother and father of 5 youngsters.
Elder Paul H. Sinclair
Paul Harrison Sinclair, 60, was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He was serving as president of the England London Mission at the time of his name. His earlier Church service contains bishop, excessive councilor, public affairs specialist, stake president, mission president, and Area Seventy. He has skilled expertise in legislation and organizational management.
Elder Sinclair earned levels from Brigham Young University, Southern Illinois University, and Gonzaga University.
He and his spouse, Mona Marie Hill, have 5 youngsters.
The new Primary General Presidency includes Rosemary Okay. Chibota (President), Nina M. Garfield (First Counselor), and Theresa A. Collins (Second Counselor). The new presidency members will start service on August 1, 2026.
The Primary is a company for kids ages 18 months to 11 years. It teaches them the gospel of Jesus Christ and helps them construct religion. The Primary General Presidency works to strengthen youngsters and households all through the Church. Members of the Primary General Presidency meet with and train Primary leaders and youngsters all through the world. They counsel with different basic and native Church leaders as they serve youngsters and households.
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Rosemary Okay. Chibota
Rosemary Okay. Chibota, 58, is of Malawian origin and was raised in Zimbabwe. She now resides in South Jordan, Utah. She works as a human assets generalist for the Church and beforehand labored as a senior government assistant in the Quorum of the Seventy workplace. She holds a grasp’s diploma in administration and management from Western Governors University and a bachelor of science diploma in data know-how from Colorado Technical University. She presently serves as a Sunday School instructor and along with her husband as a stake mission preparation teacher. Her earlier Church assignments embrace ward actions chair, ward Relief Society presidency, Primary instructor, ward Primary presidency, seminary instructor, district Young Women president, Relief Society instructor, and department Young Women president. She and her husband, Joel, served collectively as mission leaders in the Alabama Birmingham Mission from 2022 to 2025. They have one little one.
Nina M. Garfield
Nina M. Garfield, 67, lives in Orem, Utah. She was born in Japan to a Japanese mom and an American father and joined the Church in highschool by means of the affect of fine pals and their households. She is a homemaker and studied at Brigham Young University. Sister Garfield presently serves as stake Relief Society president. Her earlier Church assignments embrace ward Relief Society president, stake Primary presidency, ward Primary presidency, stake Relief Society presidency, and stake Relief Society president. She and her husband, David (deceased), are the mother and father of 5 youngsters.
Theresa A. Collins
Theresa A. Collins, 64, lives in Draper, Utah. She is a homemaker and studied particular schooling at Utah State University. She presently serves as a nursery chief, a temple ordinance employee, and, along with her husband as a stake mission preparation teacher. Her earlier Church assignments embrace stake Young Women presidency, ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, and ward Primary instructor. She and her husband, Richard, served collectively as mission leaders in the Arkansas Bentonville Mission from 2021 to 2024. They have 4 youngsters.
