The leadership landscape of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shifted during the April 2026 general conference, as the Church announced the calling of eight new General Authority Seventies and a new member of the Presidency of the Seventy. These appointments, designed to bolster the Church’s global administrative and spiritual reach, were presented during the Saturday afternoon session on April 4 at the Conference Center.
President D. Todd Christofferson, second counselor in the First Presidency, announced the changes to a global audience. The transition includes not only new callings but as well the release of seven seasoned leaders to emeritus status and the appointment of a new Primary general presidency. Most of these leadership changes are scheduled to take effect on Aug. 1.
The appointment of these new General Authority Seventies reflects the Church’s continuing international expansion, with new leaders hailing from Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa, and the United States. These men are called to serve as especial witnesses of Jesus Christ, assisting the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in regulating the affairs of the Church and preaching the gospel across diverse cultures and borders.
Global Leadership: The New General Authority Seventies
The eight newly sustained leaders bring a diverse array of professional expertise—ranging from international law and healthcare to business innovation and education administration—to their ecclesiastical roles. Among them is Elder Christian Chiemezuolam Chigbundu, 51, who previously served as the president of the Nigeria Engugu Mission. A professional with advanced credentials in accounting, finance, and law, Elder Chigbundu has a history of executive leadership on professional boards in Nigeria.
From the United States, Elder Matthew Johnson Eyring, 56, joins the Seventy. With an MBA from Harvard Business School and experience in management consulting and medical technology, Elder Eyring most recently served as the vice president of career development for BYU-Pathway Worldwide.
Elder Hutch Unga Fale, 45, represents a younger cohort of leadership. Born in Provo, Utah, and educated at BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School and the Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics, Elder Fale previously served as an Area Seventy in the Utah Area.
The callings also extend to the Asia-Pacific region. Elder James Gilwll Osorio Fantone, 54, of Manila, Philippines, brings a background in education administration and leadership development. He previously led the Philippines Antipolo Mission. Similarly, Elder Kevin James Hathaway, 51, who has served as the president of the Arkansas Bentonville Mission, holds degrees in Russian language and international law and diplomacy from BYU.
Rounding out the new appointments are Elder Thabo Kula James Lebethoa, 50, of Soweto, South Africa, who has experience in welfare and self-reliance initiatives; Elder Jeremiah Joseph Morgan, 55, of Ohio, who brings a background in public service and law; and Elder Paul Harrison Sinclair, 60, who previously served as the president of the England London Mission and possesses extensive experience in organizational leadership.
Transitions in the Presidency of the Seventy
A significant shift occurs within the Presidency of the Seventy, the body that oversees the General Authority Seventies. Elder Benjamin M.Z. Tai has been called to this presidency, effective Aug. 1. Elder Tai, 53, is currently the president of the Church’s Asia Area and has an extensive administrative history, including roles in the Missionary Department and the North America Southeast Area.
Elder Tai, who holds an MBA from UCLA, replaces Elder S. Mark Palmer, who has served in the presidency since 2021. As is customary for General Authority Seventies—who typically serve full-time until they reach the age of 70—Elder Palmer and six other leaders will transition to emeritus status on Aug. 1.
| Leader | Previous Role/Status |
|---|---|
| Elder S. Mark Palmer | Presidency of the Seventy |
| Elder Craig C. Christensen | General Authority Seventy |
| Elder Eduardo Gavarret | General Authority Seventy |
| Elder Brook P. Hales | General Authority Seventy |
| Elder William K. Jackson | General Authority Seventy |
| Elder Erich W. Kopischke | General Authority Seventy |
| Elder Peter F. Meurs | General Authority Seventy |
New Leadership for the Primary Organization
Beyond the Seventy, the Church also announced a new general presidency for the Primary, the organization responsible for the spiritual growth of children ages 18 months to 11 years. The new presidency, also effective Aug. 1, will be led by Rosemary K. Chibota as president. She will be supported by Nian M. Garfield as first counselor and Theresa A. Collins as second counselor.
This leadership change comes at a time when the Church is increasingly focused on tailoring its children’s programs to a global membership, ensuring that the Primary curriculum remains relevant across different languages and cultural contexts.
The Role and Impact of the Seventy
To the outside observer, the calling of a General Authority Seventy may seem like a purely administrative move, but within the theology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is a spiritual mandate. According to the Doctrine and Covenants, these leaders are called to be especial witnesses, tasked with “building up the church” and “regulating all the affairs” of the faith worldwide.
Because they serve full-time, these men leave their professional careers—in this case, abandoning roles in law, business, and academia—to relocate wherever the First Presidency deems their service most needed. This mobility allows the Church to deploy experienced administrators to emerging areas of growth, such as West Africa and Southeast Asia, to establish stakes and missions.
The integration of these new leaders into the global hierarchy will be finalized on Aug. 1, marking the official start of their new assignments. The Church typically provides further details regarding specific area assignments for new Seventies in the weeks following their sustainment.
For those seeking more information on the current leadership structure or the schedule of upcoming general conferences, official updates are typically posted to the Church’s newsroom and the official conference website.
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