Biographical profiles for three General Authority Seventies of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provide a detailed look at the diverse professional and religious backgrounds of Jorge T. Becerra, James R. Rasband, and Kevin W. Pearson, ranging from law and academia to finance and corporate leadership.
Ecclesiastical Service of Jorge T. Becermma
Jorge T. Becerra, who was sustained as a General Authority Seventy on April 4, 2020, currently serves as the South America Northwest Area President. According to Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints records, Becerra held the position of Area Seventy and was a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the Utah Area at the time of his call.
Becerra's religious service includes several prominent leadership roles, such as serving as the president of the California Arcadia Mission from 2011 to 2014. His previous ecclesiastical assignments include serving as a full-time missionary in the California Arcadia Mission, as well as roles as a bishop, stake president, counselor in a mission presidency, counselor in a branch presidency, seminary teacher, and ward Young Men president.
Professional Background of Jorge T. Becerra
The professional background of Jorge T. Becerra is rooted in finance and accounting. He earned an associate of arts degree in accounting from Salt Lake Community College in 1987, after pursuing general studies at the University of Utah. He also completed business studies at the University of Phoenix.
In his professional career, Becerra became a partner at the financial advisory company Allegis Advisor Group in 1998. At the time of his appointment as a General Authority, he was working as an investment adviser for Intermountain Financial Partners. Born in Salt Lake City on December 18, 1962, he married Debbie Ilene Schneberger in 1984 and they have five children.
Ecclesiastical Service of James R. Rasband
James R. Rasband was sustained as a General Authority Seventy on April 6, 2019. He is currently serving as an Assistant Executive Director in the Temple Department, having previously spent three years as a counselor in the Asia North Area Presidency.
Rasband's history of church service includes many local leadership positions, such as serving as a bishop, stake president, high councilor, ward mission leader, ward executive secretary, and ward Young Men president. He has also served as a Gospel Doctrine teacher and an assistant Scoutmaster. He previously served as a full-wide missionary in the Korea Seoul Mission.
Professional Background of James R. Rasband
Before entering full-time church service, Rasband established a significant career in law and higher education. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in English and Near Eastern studies from Brigham Young University in 1986, followed by a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1998.
His legal career began 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, where he eventually served as dean from 2009 to 2016. He also held the position of academic vice president of Brigham Young University. Born in Seattle on March 20, 1963, Rasband married Mary Diane Williams in 1984 and they are the parents of four children.
Ecclesiastical Service of Kevin W. Pearson
Kevin W. Pearson has served as a General Authority Seventy since April 5, 2008. At the time of his call, he was serving as the president of the Washington Tacoma Mission. He currently holds the position of President of the Europe North Area.
Pearson's extensive leadership within the church includes serving as President of the Pacific Area, President of the North America West Area, and President of the Utah Area. Additionally, he has served as an Area Assistant in the North America Southwest Area, a counselor in the Europe East Area, Assistant Executive Director of the Missionary Department, Assistant Executive Division of the Family History Department, and as a stake missionary, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president, high councilor, counselor in a bishopric, bishop, and mission president. He also served as a full-time missionary in the Finland Helsinki Mission.
Professional Background of Kevin W. Pearson
Pearson's professional experience is characterized by high-level corporate and financial management. He earned a bachelor of science degree in finance from the University of Utah in 1981 and subsequently received a master’s degree in business administration in corporate finance from Harvard Business School in 1983.
Prior to his assignment as a mission president, Pearson served as the chief executive officer at Ingenix, Inc. Born in Salt Lake City on April 10, 1957, he married June Langeland in June 1980 and they are the parents of six children.
Common Themes in Leadership
The lives of these three leaders reflect a common pattern of integrating rigorous academic training in law, finance, and business with decades of localized religious leadership roles ranging from mission presidency to stake presidencies.
