As part of the leadership meeting of the April 2026 general conference, 91 new Area Seventies were sustained, and 73 Area Seventies will be released on or before Aug. 1 of this year. The new leaders were sustained during the Thursday, April 2, meeting as published on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Doctrine and Covenants 107:25, 34 and 38 outline that Area Seventies of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are called by the First Presidency to be “especial witnesses” and to help members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in “building up the church and regulating all the affairs” and “preaching and administering the gospel” in assigned areas. They act under the keys and direction of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. All Seventies have equal authority, but some are designated as General Authority Seventies and others as Area Seventies. Area Seventies are called and set apart to serve in specific geographical areas but may also be assigned to serve in other areas as needed. While General Authority Seventies serve full-time typically until the year they turn 70, Area Seventies are not called to full-time service and typically serve for five years.
New Area Seventies Third Quorum of the Seventy (Africa Central, Africa South and Africa West areas) – Nuno A. Campos, 39, Luanda, Angola; currently serving as president of the Luanda Angola Stake; former branch president and stake presidency counselor; wife: Jessica; six children. – Samuel E. Eghan, 52, Accra, Ghana; currently serving as president of the Tanzania Dar es Salaam Mission; former bishop, bishopric counselor, high councilor and stake president; wife: Paulina; four children. – Fredrick N. Igweh, 52, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; currently serving as a high councilor of the Port Harcourt Nigeria North Stake; former bishop, stake presidency counselor and stake president; wife: Evelyn; five children. – M. Franck Ilunga, 42, Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of the Congo; currently serving as president of the Kolwezi Democratic Republic of the Congo Joli Site Stake; former branch presidency counselor, branch president, district presidency counselor and stake president; wife: Kabongo; four children. – Anani Kouegan, 52, Lome, Togo; recently released as president of the Lomé Togo Be Stake; former branch presidency counselor, branch president, stake presidency counselor and stake president; wife: Kokovi; three children. – Sawman Machakaire, 43, Harare, Zimbabwe; currently serving as a seminary teacher in the Harare Zimbabwe Stake; former bishop, bishopric counselor, branch presidency counselor, high councilor and stake president; wife: Mary; seven children. – Philip J. Mathemera, 62, Hatfield, Zimbabwe; currently serving as a temple preparation teacher of the Harare Zimbabwe South Stake; former bishopric counselor, branch presidency counselor, mission president, stake presidency counselor and stake president; wife: Barbara; three children. – Patrick O. Mawongo, 53, Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo; currently serving as high councilor of the Malandji Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake; former branch presidency counselor, branch president, district presidency counselor, high councilor, mission president, stake presidency counselor and stake president; wife: Sampembi; five children. – Ngqabutho F. Moyo, 44, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; currently serving as branch mission leader of the Queens Park Branch; former branch president, bishopric counselor, mission president and stake president; wife: Faithful; three children. – Dennis K. Ocansey, 45, Accra, Ghana; currently serving as president of the Nigeria Abuja Mission; former branch president, bishopric counselor, stake presidency counselor and stake president; wife: Rita; three children. – Jimmy C. Okot, 51, Gayaza, Uganda; recently released as president of the Gayaza Branch; former branch presidency counselor, branch president, bishop, bishopric counselor, district presidency counselor, district president, mission president and stake president; wife: Amanda; five children. – Sylvain G. Onagnelin, 53, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; currently serving as a high councilor of the Abobo Côte d’Ivoire East Stake; former bishop, bishopric counselor, stake presidency counselor and stake president; wife: Yolande Aya; two children. – Sunday F. Oyedeji, 49, Egbeda, Nigeria; currently serving as president of the Lagos Nigeria Egbeda Stake; former bishopric counselor, high councilor and stake presidency counselor; wife: Cecilia; four children.
Fourth Quorum of the Seventy (Asia and Asia North areas): – Peter Bushi, 46, Bangkok, Thailand; currently serving as a temple preparation teacher;…
