New LDS Primary General Presidency 2026: First African Leader

On April 4, 2026, history was made at the 196th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During the Saturday afternoon session, Elder D. Todd Christofferson announced a new Primary General Presidency — one that carries enormous significance far beyond the walls of the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. For the first time in the church's nearly 200-year history, a person of African origin will lead one of its general presidencies. That person is Rosemary K. Chibota, and her calling is being celebrated around the world as a landmark moment for global Latter-day Saints.

If you're searching for information about the new Primary General Presidency following this week's General Conference, here is everything you need to know about who was called, what their backgrounds are, and why this announcement has captured international attention.

Who Is Rosemary K. Chibota? A Historic First for the Church

Rosemary K. Chibota, 58, is the newly called President of the Primary General Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her calling marks a watershed moment: she is the first person of African origin ever to lead a general presidency in the church's history.

Chibota is of Malawian origin and was raised in Zimbabwe before eventually making her home in South Jordan, Utah. Her path to this historic calling is as remarkable as the calling itself. Academically accomplished, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Colorado Technical University and a Master's Degree in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University — credentials that reflect a career built on both practical discipline and leadership development.

Perhaps most formative to her church service was the three-year period from 2022 to 2025, during which she and her husband, Joel Chibota, served together as mission leaders over the Alabama Birmingham Mission. That immersive leadership experience, shepherding hundreds of full-time missionaries, laid significant groundwork for the responsibility she now carries at the global level.

As Deseret News reported, Chibota's calling resonates deeply with the church's increasingly global membership, sending a powerful message to Latter-day Saints across Africa and the diaspora that their voices, experiences, and leadership are integral to the faith's future.

Meet the Full New Primary General Presidency

President Chibota will not serve alone. The new presidency is rounded out by two counselors who bring their own compelling international backgrounds to the role:

• First Counselor: Sister Nina M. Garfield, 67 — Born in Japan, Sister Garfield brings a perspective shaped by a lifetime of cross-cultural faith. Her international roots complement President Chibota's African heritage, making this one of the most globally representative presidencies in church history.
• Second Counselor: Sister Theresa A. Collins — Sister Collins rounds out a presidency notable for its geographic and cultural diversity, further reflecting the worldwide reach of the Latter-day Saint community.

The new presidency will officially begin service on August 1, 2026, replacing the outgoing presidency of President Susan H. Porter and her counselors, Sisters Amy A. Wright and Tracy Y. Browning, who faithfully served the Primary organization during their tenure.

According to BYU Universe's coverage of the conference, the announcement was received with warmth and excitement by those in attendance and by members watching worldwide.

What Is the Primary? Understanding the Organization They Will Lead

For those less familiar with the structure of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Primary is the church's children's organization, responsible for the religious education and spiritual nurturing of children from 18 months through 11 years of age. It is one of the most visible and beloved auxiliary organizations in the church, operating in thousands of congregations (known as wards and branches) across more than 180 countries.

Primary meetings typically take place each Sunday as part of regular worship services. Children attend age-appropriate classes where they learn foundational gospel principles, participate in music programs, and build the spiritual habits intended to carry them through adolescence and beyond. The Primary General Presidency oversees curriculum, programs, and policy at the global level, providing guidance that trickles down to every local congregation worldwide.

The scope of this responsibility is immense. With tens of millions of members globally and a large proportion of them in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, the diversity represented in this new presidency is not merely symbolic — it is practically significant for shaping how the Primary serves children from radically different cultural contexts.

The 196th Annual General Conference: Context and Other Key Announcements

The new Primary General Presidency was announced during the Saturday afternoon session of the 196th Annual General Conference, one of the most consequential gatherings in recent church memory. Yahoo News and ABC4 reported that Elder D. Todd Christofferson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, made the announcement on behalf of church leadership.

The Primary presidency was not the only significant announcement from the conference weekend. Also called were eight new General Authority Seventies, and Elder Benjamin M. Z. Tai was called to serve in the Presidency of the Seventy, beginning August 2026 — another noteworthy leadership transition in the broader general officer structure of the church.

Separately, the conference also addressed the matter of church succession, with President Dallin H. Oaks awaiting a sustaining vote as the 18th president of the church — making this General Conference among the most historically significant in decades on multiple fronts simultaneously.

Why This Moment Matters: Representation, Faith, and a Global Church

The calling of Rosemary K. Chibota is being widely recognized as more than an administrative appointment. It is a statement about the direction and identity of a faith community that now counts members in virtually every nation on earth.

Africa represents one of the fastest-growing regions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with strong and vibrant communities in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and beyond. For members across that continent and in the African diaspora worldwide, seeing a woman of African origin elevated to lead a general presidency carries profound meaning. It affirms belonging, validates service, and opens a new chapter in the church's narrative of itself as a global institution.

Chibota's combination of academic credentials, grassroots mission leadership experience, and deeply personal faith positions her well to lead the Primary through what promises to be a transformative period. Her journey from Zimbabwe to South Jordan, Utah — and now to one of the most visible leadership roles in a 17-million-member global church — is the kind of story that resonates with members navigating their own paths of faith and ambition.

As coverage from MSN noted, this General Conference period represents a broader moment of transition and renewal for the church as a whole.

Key Timeline: From Announcement to Service

• 2022–2025: Rosemary and Joel Chibota serve as mission leaders in the Alabama Birmingham Mission.
• April 4, 2026: New Primary General Presidency announced during the Saturday afternoon session of the 196th Annual General Conference by Elder D. Todd Christofferson.
• April 5, 2026: National and faith-focused media report on all new leaders called at General Conference.
• August 1, 2026: President Chibota and her counselors, Sisters Nina M. Garfield and Theresa A. Collins, officially begin service as the Primary General Presidency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the new Primary General President in 2026?

Rosemary K. Chibota was called as the new Primary General President during the April 4, 2026 session of the 196th Annual General Conference. She is 58 years old, of Malawian origin, raised in Zimbabwe, and currently resides in South Jordan, Utah. She is the first person of African origin to lead a general presidency in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Who are the counselors in the new Primary General Presidency?

Sister Nina M. Garfield, 67, born in Japan, serves as First Counselor. Sister Theresa A. Collins serves as Second Counselor. The full presidency begins service on August 1, 2026.

When does the new Primary General Presidency begin serving?

The new Primary General Presidency officially begins service on August 1, 2026, replacing the outgoing presidency led by Susan H. Porter.

What is the Primary in the LDS Church?

The Primary is the children's organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, providing religious education and community for children ages 18 months through 11 years. It operates in congregations worldwide, and the Primary General Presidency provides leadership, curriculum, and direction globally.

Why is Rosemary K. Chibota's calling historically significant?

President Chibota is the first person of African origin to lead any general presidency in the nearly 200-year history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Given the church's rapid growth across Africa, her calling is seen as a meaningful recognition of the continent's increasing prominence within the global faith community.

Conclusion

The announcement of Rosemary K. Chibota as President of the Primary General Presidency stands as one of the most historically significant leadership callings in the modern era of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With her counselors, Sisters Nina M. Garfield and Theresa A. Collins, she will begin leading an organization that touches the lives of millions of children worldwide when their terms officially commence on August 1, 2026.

For Latter-day Saints around the globe — and especially for members of African origin who have long been part of this faith's story — this moment is more than a headline. It is a reflection of where the church has been, and an indication of where it is headed: toward a leadership that looks like the world it serves.