Changes to Asia North Area Presidency

Following the October 2020 General Conference, changes were made to the Asia North Area Presidency. Elder Takashi Wada remains serving as the Asia North Area President, with Elder James R. Rasband serving as the First Counselor. Elder John A. McCune joins the Asia North Presidency as the Second Counselor.

Elder McCune was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 2019. Members of the Church in the Asia North Area welcome Elder McCune to his new assignment and look forward to his leadership and service. A warm welcome is offered to Sister Debbra Ellen McCune, as well.

It came as a surprise when members in the area heard the announcement during the October 2020 General Conference that Bishop L. Todd Budge had been called to serve as Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric. Members of the Church in the Asia North Area express their love and appreciation to Bishop Budge, former First Counselor in the Asia North Area Presidency, and to his wife, Lori, for their love and service to the area and wish them well as Bishop Budge begins his new assignment.

Elder Takashi Wada

General Authority Seventy

Elder Takashi Wada was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 31, 2018, at age 53. At the time of his call, he had been serving as a Gospel Doctrine teacher and director for temporal affairs in the Asia North Area. He has been serving as a member of the Asia North Area Presidency and currently serves as President of the Asia North Area.

Elder Wada received a bachelor of arts degree in linguistics in 1990 and a master’s degree in business administration in 1996, both from Brigham Young University. His professional career has included several executive positions for multinational corporations in the United States and Japan as well as the position of director for temporal affairs for the Church in the North America West, Northwest, and Asia North Areas.

Elder Wada has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Utah Salt Lake City North Mission, branch president, bishop, president of the Japan Tokyo South Mission, seminary teacher, ward young single adult adviser, and Gospel Doctrine teacher.

Takashi Wada was born in Nagano, Japan, on February 5, 1965. He married Naomi Ueno in 1994. They are the parents of two children.

Elder James R. Rasband

General Authority Seventy

Elder James R. Rasband was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 2019, at age 56. At the time of his call he had been serving as an Area Seventy and a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the Utah South Area.

Elder Rasband received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Near Eastern studies from Brigham Young University in 1986 and a juris doctor degree in law from Harvard in 1989. He began his career as an attorney with Perkins Coie in Seattle, Washington. In 1995 he joined the faculty of the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University. He later served as dean of the J. Reuben Clark Law School from 2009 to 2016. At the time of his calling as a general authority seventy, he was serving as the academic vice president of Brigham Young University.

Elder Rasband has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Korea Seoul Mission, ward mission leader, ward executive secretary, counselor in an elders quorum presidency, high councilor, bishop, counselor in a stake presidency, ward Young Men president, counselor in a bishopric, stake president, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and assistant Scoutmaster.

James Richard Rasband was born in Seattle, Washington, on March 20, 1963. He married Mary Diane Williams in 1984. They are the parents of four children.

Elder John A. McCune

General Authority Seventy

Elder John A. McCune was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 2019, at age 55. At the time of his call, he had been serving as an Area Seventy and a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the Utah South Area.

Elder McCune received a bachelor of science degree in finance from Brigham Young University. In 1992 he received a master of business administration in finance from the University of California Los Angeles. He worked as a senior vice president and managing director for Capitol Investment Advisors from 1997 to 2012, at which time he was called to serve as a mission president. In 2016 he became a donor liaison for principal gifts with Philanthropies for the Church.

Elder McCune has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Japan Fukuoka Mission, ward finance clerk, elders quorum president, counselor in a ward Young Men presidency, counselor in a branch presidency, counselor in a bishopric, bishop, stake president, and president of the Utah Provo Mission.