New Area Presidency

Elder Carlos A. Godoy

Elder Carlos A. Godoy

Africa South Area President

 

Elder Carlos A. Godoy was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 5, 2008. At the time of his call, he had been serving as a member of the Seventh Quorum of the Seventy in the Brazil Area. He has served as a counselor in the South America West, Brazil, and South America Northwest Area Presidencies and as President of the South America Northwest Area. Elder Godoy was named a member of the Presidency of the Seventy on March 31, 2018. He currently has supervisory responsibilities working with three different members of the Twelve for the Brazil, South America South, and Utah Areas.

Since joining the Church in 1977, Elder Godoy has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Brazil São Paulo South Mission, elders quorum president, missionary training center branch president, bishop, high councilor, president of the Brazil Belém Mission (1997–2000), and Area Seventy.

Professional Life

Elder Godoy received a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Pontifícia Universidade Católica in 1987. In 1994 he received a master’s degree in organizational behavior from Brigham Young University. He worked in senior management positions at Johnson & Johnson, United Technologies–Otis Brazil Elevator, and Dow Corning South America. He then became a member of the board of directors for ZF Sachs in South America. In 2004 he started his own consulting company, CHANGE Consult–Organizational Development, specializing in organizational changes and restructuring. Simultaneously, he became an adjunct professor for many graduate schools on the topics of organizational change and change management.

Personal Life

Carlos Augusto Godoy was born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on February 4, 1961. He married Mônica Soares Brandao on March 31, 1984. They are the parents of four children.

Elder Denelson Silva

First Counselor:  Africa South Area Presidency

Elder Denelson Silva

Elder Denelson Silva was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 2, 2022. At the time of his call, he had been serving as a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the Brazil Area. He is currently serving in the Africa South Area Presidency.

Elder Silva has served in several Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Brazil Curitiba Mission, counselor in a stake presidency, ward Young Men adviser, counselor in a bishopric, high priests group leader, high councilor, bishop, stake president, president of the Angola Luanda Mission from 2016 to 2019, and Area Seventy.

Professional Life

Elder Silva received a bachelor’s degree in data processing. He worked for more than 30 years in the travel industry. He worked for Sabre International LLC until his call as mission president in 2016. At the time of his call as a General Authority, he had been working as an area travel and fleet manager for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Personal Life

Denelson Urbano da Silva was born in Recife, Brazil, on July 4, 1965. He married Regina Maria de Carvalho in 1987. They are the parents of two children.

 

Elder Vaiangina Sikahema          

Second Counselor:  Africa South Area Presidency

Elder Vaiangina Sikahema

Elder Vaiangina Sikahema was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 3, 2021. At the time of his call, he had been serving as a member of the Tenth Quorum of the Seventy in the North America Northeast Area.

Elder Sikahema has served in various Church callings, including full-time missionary in the South Dakota Rapid City Mission, ward Young Men president, bishop’s counselor, bishop, counselor in a mission presidency, counselor in a stake presidency, stake president, and Area Seventy.

Professional Life

Elder Sikahema received a bachelor of arts degree in broadcasting and communications from Brigham Young University. In 1986 he began his career as a professional American football player, becoming the first Tongan to play in the NFL. He played for the Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, and Philadelphia Eagles. Upon retiring from football in 1994, he started his broadcasting career for NBC 10 Philadelphia as the station’s sports director and later their morning news anchor until his retirement in 2020.

Personal Life

Vaiangina Sikahema was born in Nuku‘alofa, Tonga, on August 29, 1962. He married Keala Heder in 1984. They are the parents of four children.