A new Primary general presidency for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will begin its service on Aug. 1, 2026, following its sustainment during the April 2026 general conference. President Rosemary K. Chibota will lead the new leadership team, which includes Nina M. Garfield as first counselor and Theresa A. Collins as second counselor.
New Leadership Transition
The new presidency was announced by President D. Todd Christofferson of the First Presidency during the Saturday afternoon session of the 196th Annual General Conference. This transition marks a significant milestone for the organization, as President Chibota becomes the first African to lead a general presidency within the Church.
Chibota's Background and Service
President Chibota, 58, resides in South Jordan, Utah, and has spent much of her career serving the Church in various capacities. She currently works as a human resources generalist for the Church and has previously served as a senior executive assistant in the office of the Seventy. Her extensive background includes serving as a Sunday School teacher and a stake mission preparation instructor.
Prior to her current role, Chibota and her husband, Joel B. Chibota, served as mission leaders for the Alabama Birmingham Mission from 2022 to 2025. During her time there, she observed how the Lord increases a person's capacity to serve. "When you take on that gift, the Lord increases your capacity to serve," Chibota said. "He blesses you with the gifts and talents that you need to fulfill that calling that you wouldn't otherwise have if you had not accepted that call."
A Search for Truth
Born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, to Malawian parents, Chibota's journey to her leadership role was shaped by her childhood experiences. Growing up during Zimbabwe's War of Independence, her family faced restrictions due to their skin color, eventually relocating to a home within walking distance of a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse.
Chibota recalled a pivotal moment in 1984 when, at age 17, she discovered a pamphlet featuring a boy praying in a grove. She stated that she immediately gained a testimony that the boy, Joseph Smith, had seen God and Jesus Christ. "I knew that this was my church, this is what I've been looking for," she said. She also noted a specific method for finding spiritual answers: "Think about it, pray about it, ponder about it, search for answers, and the Lord is willing to give us those answers."
First Counselor Nina Garfield
Joining Chibota in the new presidency is Nina M. Garfield, 67, who will serve as first counselor. Garfield, a resident of Orem, Utah, was born in Tokyo, Japan, and raised in Boulder, Colorado. She joined the Church during her high school years, noting that friends and their families "loved her into the Church."
Garfield, a homemaker who studied at Brigham Young University, has a deep history of service, including roles as a stake Relief Society president and a ward Primary president. She and her late husband, David R. Garfield, raised five children together. Garfield expressed her gratitude for the ability to teach the gospel to families, stating she is thankful for those who sacrifice to move the gospel forward.
Second Counselor Theresa Collins
Theresa A. Collins will serve as the second counselor. Based in Draper, Utah, Collins is 64 and has a background in special education from Utah State University. She and her husband, Richard E. Collins, previously served as mission leaders for the Arkansas Bentonville Mission from 2021 to 2024.
Collins, who currently serves as a nursery leader and temple ordinance worker, emphasized her desire for children to understand they are children of a loving Heavenly Father. "Their Savior sees them," Collins said. "He knows everything that they're feeling and thinking, and is always a safe place to turn."
The Role of the Primary
The Primary is an organization designed for children between the ages of 18 months and 11 years. The organization focuses on teaching children the gospel of Jesus Christ and helping them build faith.
The Primary General Presidency is tasked with strengthening children and families globally. This involves meeting with and teaching Primary leaders and children throughout the world, as well as counseling with other general and local Church leaders to support these efforts.
Outgoing Presidency and Future Outlook
The outgoing presidency, consisting of President Susan H. Porter and counselors Sister Amy A. Wright and Sister Tracy Y. Browning, will complete their service on Aug. 1, 2026.
President Chibota expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming role, noting her excitement to serve "God's finest, the little children." She expressed a desire to learn from them and to grow through her service to them.
