Quick Read
- Rosemary K. Chibota was sustained as the new Primary General President during the Church’s 196th Annual General Conference.
- The new presidency, which includes Nina M. Garfield and Theresa A. Collins, will officially begin their service on August 1, 2026.
- The Primary organization is responsible for the religious instruction of children ages 18 months to 11 years across the global Church.
SALT LAKE CITY (Azat TV) – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a new Primary General Presidency on April 4, 2026, during the 196th Annual General Conference. The leadership transition, which takes effect on August 1, 2026, places Rosemary K. Chibota at the head of the organization responsible for the religious instruction and faith-building of children globally.
Global Leadership for the Church Primary
Rosemary K. Chibota, 58, will serve as the Primary General President, tasked with overseeing an organization that supports children ages 18 months to 11 years. Her appointment marks a notable moment for the Church, as she becomes the first Malawian-born leader to hold this position. Raised in Zimbabwe and currently residing in South Jordan, Utah, Chibota brings a diverse background to the role, having previously served as a senior executive assistant in the Quorum of the Seventy office and as a human resources generalist for the Church.
Joining Chibota in the new presidency are Nina M. Garfield, who will serve as the first counselor, and Theresa A. Collins, who will serve as the second counselor. The three leaders were sustained by the Church membership during the Saturday afternoon session of the General Conference, following the presentation by President D. Todd Christofferson of the First Presidency.
Mission and Scope of the Primary Organization
The Primary General Presidency works to guide the spiritual development of children throughout the Church’s worldwide congregations. The incoming leaders are responsible for counseling with other general and local authorities to ensure that religious curriculum and faith-building initiatives are effectively implemented. Their work involves significant engagement with local Primary leaders across various international regions, reinforcing the Church’s commitment to supporting families and children.
The incoming presidency will succeed the outgoing team led by President Susan H. Porter, along with counselors Amy A. Wright and Tracy Y. Browning. The outgoing leaders have served in their capacities since August 2022. The transition period concludes on August 1, when the new leadership team officially begins their service.
Backgrounds of the New Presidency
The newly sustained leaders bring extensive experience in local and stake-level assignments. Chibota, who holds a master’s degree in management and leadership from Western Governors University, has served as a mission leader in the Alabama Birmingham Mission alongside her husband, Joel B. Chibota. Nina M. Garfield, a resident of Orem, Utah, and a former stake Relief Society president, joined the Church as a teenager and has dedicated years to service in both Primary and Relief Society organizations. Theresa A. Collins, based in Draper, Utah, has served as a mission leader in the Arkansas Bentonville Mission and brings a background in special education to the role.
The appointment of this new presidency highlights the increasingly international profile of Church leadership, reflecting a concerted effort to integrate diverse global perspectives into the administrative and spiritual guidance of the organization’s youngest members.