The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has called two new mission presidents to serve in Canada together with their spouses. Effective 1 July 2013, Victor P. Patrick will lead the Canada Montreal Mission and Larry G. Manion will assume responsibilities for the Canada Edmonton Mission.
- President of Canada Edmonton Mission Larry Glenn Manion
- President of Montreal Mission - Victor Phillip Patrick
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Victor Phillip Patrick, 55, was born in Lake Forest, Illinois. He was CEO of Walter Energy Inc. before he retired. He and his wife, Elizabeth Fletcher Patrick, are from Tampa, Florida, and have eight children.
Larry Glenn Manion, 61, was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and is a retired communications executive and business owner. He and his wife, Gail Miskin Manion, are from Colleyville, Texas, and have five children.
Before reporting to their new assignments, both couples completed training at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. They will be responsible for 130 to 200 young men and women from 18 to 26 years of age.
In general, mission presidents are called to serve for a term of three years. This allows the Church to rotate through one-third of their total missions each year. Many missionaries enjoy the blessing of serving under two different mission presidents, while others serve under the same president for their full mission.
Mission presidents share a variety of responsibilities in their service. They instruct missionaries to effectively teach gospel principles as well as to maintain their individual health. In addition, the president assumes responsibility for the baptism of new converts and their initial development as new members of the Church.
On a day-to-day basis the supervising couples oversee not only the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of their own families, but also assume responsibility for each of the missionaries assigned to their area. For example, individual missionaries arrive and depart at approximately six-week intervals, as they begin or conclude their period of service. Each missionary is personally attended to, orientated to the mission environment and then assigned to a companion.
With the creation of 58 new missions worldwide, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has recently called new additional mission presidents to accommodate influx of missionaries. Beginning 1 July 2013, new mission boundaries will also be in effect. There are now 405 missions around the world. In Canada there are seven missions, including offices in Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg.