New Presidency for Central America Area

Beginning August 1, 2020, Elder Brian K. Taylor began his service as the new president of the Central American Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Taylor G. Godoy as First Counselor and Elder Alan R. Walker as Second Counselor.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is administered by geographic areas. Under the direction of the First Presidency  and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the new area presidency provides spiritual and administrative direction to Church leaders and members living in Central America.

The Central America Area Presidency  chairs more than 800,000 members in more than 1,111 congregations in seven countries and 17 missions. There are also six  temples  and three temples announced.

Elder Brian K. Taylor was sustained as a General Authority Seventy  on April 1, 2017. When he was called as president of the Central America Area, he was serving as the first counselor in the same Area Presidency. He previously served as a member of the Idaho-North America Central Area presidency and as president of the  Texas-Dallas, United States Mission.

Elder Taylor has expressed his feelings of serving as President of the Church in Central America and sends a message to Latter-day Saints and friends of the Church of Central America.

“My wife, Jill, and I feel it a great privilege and honor to have been called by the living prophet of God to come to Central America to serve you in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ. We already feel blessed by your faithful devotion to the Savior and we are learning so much from your humble examples and beautiful culture. We are here as witnesses of the Lord and have great desires for each of you throughout Central America to feel great joy in Him! Our fervent prayers to our Heavenly Father are that He will bless, watch over and protect each and every one of you, especially during these most difficult times. ‘May there be ‘pan siempre sobre sus mesas y un techo sobre sus cabezas.’ We witness God’s love for you.”

Elder Brian King Taylor was born in Utah, United States, on April 15, 1964. In 1987 he married Jill Featherstone, with whom he had seven children.

Elder Taylor received a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in 1988. He was co-founder and CEO of a software company serving 911 and national security and public safety agencies. Elder Taylor has served in several callings, including institute teacher, high council member, ward young men president, and stake president.

Elder Taylor G. Godoy, First Counselor

Elder Taylor G. Godoy was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 1, 2017. At the time of his calling, he served as a member of the Fourth Quorum of the Seventy in the South America Northwest Area. He recently served at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City and president of the Nevada Reno, United States Mission.

Elder Godoy received a bachelor's degree in Dentistry from the Catholic University of Santa Maria, Peru in 1993 and a master's degree in Administration from the Technical University of Madrid in 2006. He worked as a dentist in his private practice and then with Seminaries and Church Institutes as Seminary and Institute Coordinator, teacher, director, and national director. More recently, he was director of Seminaries and Institutes of the South America Northwest Area.

Elder Godoy has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Peru Lima Mission, bishop, member of the High Council, stake president, Director of Area Public Affairs, and Area Seventy.

Taylor Guillermo Godoy Atanacio was born in Lima, Peru, on July 10, 1968. He married Carol Tatiana Pacheco Agostinelli in May 1994 and they have two children.

Elder Alan R. Walker, Second Counselor

Elder Alan R. Walker was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 2019, at age 48. At the time of his calling, he was serving as a gospel doctrine teacher.

Elder Walker earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Brigham Young University in 1996. He has worked in Citibank's corporate banking and as comptroller for the Church in the Mexico Area. Most recently, he served as Director of Temporary Affairs in the South America South Area.

Elder Walker has served in many Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Tennessee Nashville Mission, bishopric counselor, bishop, counselor in the Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission presidency, high councilor, counselor in a stake presidency, president of the Mexico Monterrey East Mission, Area Seventy in Mexico, and ward mission leader.

Alan Roy Walker was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on January 2, 1971. He married Inés Marcela Sulé in 1993 and they have a daughter.