From Tahiti to Brazil and Nigeria to Massachusetts, the Church created 7 new stakes and called 23 new stake presidents in January.
A new stake has been created from the Snowflake Arizona and Taylor Arizona stakes. The Centennial Arizona Stake, which consists of the Casa Linda, Cottonwood, Heritage, Snowflake 2nd, Snowflake 3rd, Snowflake 4th, and Willow wards, was created by Elder Gregory A. Schwitzer, a General Authority Seventy, and Elder K. Mark Frost, an Area Seventy.
CENTENNIAL ARIZONA STAKE (November 13, 2016): President—Alan Neil DeWitt, 56, chief medical officer, Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center; wife, Linda Russell DeWitt. Counselors—Scott Allen McNeil, 46, self-employed; wife, Donna Ann Henderson McNeil. Dwight Scott Burt, 57, safety coordinator, PFFJ; wife, Sherri Lyn Palmer Burt.
A new stake has been created from the João Pessoa Brazil Torre and João Pessoa Brazil stakes. The João Pessoa Brazil Centro Stake, which consists of the Bela Vista, Colinas do Sul, Costa e Silva, Das Indústrias, Jardim Veneza, and João Pessoa wards, was created by Elder Cláudio R. M. Costa, a General Authority Seventy, and Elder Sérgio Luis Carboni, an Area Seventy.
JOÃO PESSOA BRAZIL CENTRO STAKE (November 6, 2016): President—Lehi de Oliveira Barbosa, 45, consultant, SER Educacional; wife, Rosemary Porto Alves Barbosa. Counselors—Maciel Teófilo Siqueira, 47, quality inspector, Volkswagen; wife, Ana Lúcia de Medeiros Siqueira. Belco Ivo Monteiro da Silva, 43, quality inspector, Amazonas; wife, Maria de Fátima Morais Alves.
A new stake has been created from the Cambridge Massachusetts Stake. The North Shore Massachusetts Stake, which consists of the Lynn Branch and the Billerica, Lawrence, Lynnfield, Methuen, Revere 1st, and Revere 2nd wards, was created by Elder Anthony D. Perkins, a General Authority Seventy, and Elder Grant C. Bennett, an Area Seventy.
NORTH SHORE MASSACHUSETTS STAKE (November 6, 2016): President—Michael James Kruckenberg, 45, director of engineering, Ambra Health; wife, Heidi Rebecca Adams Kruckenberg. Counselors—Nathan Guild Kennedy, 43, supply chain executive, Baytherm; wife, Katie Dawn Pierson Kennedy. Scott Edward Malstrom, 53, scientist, M.I.T.; wife, Greta Ruth Streeter Malstrom.
A new stake has been created from the St. George Utah Little Valley Stake. The St. George Utah Crimson Ridge Stake, which consists of the Cottonwood, Desert Edge, Mulberry, Silkwood, and Sycamore wards, was created by Elder Joaquin E. Costa, a General Authority Seventy, and Elder J. Kevin Ence, an Area Seventy.
ST. GEORGE UTAH CRIMSON RIDGE STAKE (November 6, 2016): President—Jeffrey R. Ricks, 59, optometric physician; wife, Linda K. Walker Ricks. Counselors—John Jacob Powell, 53, physician assistant; wife, Lisa Peterson Powell. Richard Henry Stehmeier, 59, airport director; wife, Georgia Faye Clester Stehmeier.
A new stake has been created from the Uto Nigeria Ibiono District. The Uyo Nigeria Ibiono Stake, which consists of the Enen-Atai, Ibiono 1st, Ibiono 2nd, Idoro, Ikot Ekpene Road, Itam 2nd, Nkwot, Okoita, and Use Ikot Amama branches and the Itam 1st ward, was created by Elder Marcus B. Nash, a General Authority Seventy, and Elder Adeyinka A. Ojediran, an Area Seventy.
UYO NIGERIA IBIONO STAKE (December 4, 2016): President—Eteobong Edet Inyon, 38, self-employed; wife, Peace Eteobong Umott Inyon. Counselors—Idorenyin Eyibio Bassey Okon, 41, senior accountant, LDS Church; wife, Aniekan Patrick Bassey Akpan. Idorenyin Okon Akpan, 35, self-employed; wife, Janet Moses Anwana.