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The Asia Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was reorganized on August 1, 2026. Elder Kelly R. Johnson, who has served as a counselor since 2022, has been called as the new Area President. Elder David L. Buckner, who joined the presidency in 2025, continues to serve as a counselor, and Elder Wan-Liang Wu serves as the newly-called counselor.
Elder Benjamin M. Z. Tai, who has been serving as Area President, has now been assigned to serve at Church headquarters with his wife, Naomi. Elder Tai will now serve in the Presidency of the Seventy. Elder Wan-Liang Wu and his wife, Marcela, recently relocated from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Hong Kong to begin their new assignment.
Elder Wu brings a wealth of experience to his new assignment. He was sustained as a General Authority Seventy during the April 2025 general conference. At the time of his call, he was serving as president of the Chile Antofagasta Mission. He was born in Taipei, Taiwan. Earlier in life, he served as a full-time missionary in the Hong Kong China Mission. He and his wife are the parents of three children.
As General Authority Seventies of the Church, Elders Johnson, Buckner, and Wu will travel extensively to minister to members, leaders, and missionaries across the Asia Area, which encompasses 22 countries and territories.
For the Area Presidency, serving in such a vast and diverse region that is home to half of the world’s population is both a huge responsibility and a profound privilege. They expressed their deep love for the people of Asia and their strong commitment to the Lord’s work in this part of the world.
"It is a profound joy to minister in this extraordinary part of the Lord’s vineyard,” Elder Johnson said.“We love the people of Asia and are constantly uplifted by their strength and devotion. As we move forward together participating in the Lord’s work, we are committed to sharing the glad tidings of His gospel, knowing that faith in Jesus Christ can unite us and bring unparalleled hope into our lives.”