Francisco J. Viñas
Encyclopedia
Francisco José Viñas has been a general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1996. He is the first general authority of the LDS Church to have been born in Spain
.
Viñas was born in Seville, Spain, but immigrated with his parents to Paraguay
in 1948. His parents were baptized
into the LDS Church in Paraguay and in 1950 the family settled in Montevideo
, Uruguay
.
Viñas was employed by Bayer
and the LDS Church's Church Educational System
(CES), working as a director of an Institute of Religion
in Uruguay and eventually acting as the CES supervisor for the entire country. Viñas was also employed by the LDS Church's finance department in Uruguay.
Prior to his call as a general authority, Viñas was a bishop, stake president, regional representative of the Twelve
(three times), and an area seventy in the church. He was also a mission president
in Argentina
for a three-year term. In 1996, Viñas became a member of the Second Quorum of Seventy, and in 1998, he was transferred to the First Quorum of Seventy. In August 2008, he was serving as the first counselor in the Presidency of the Europe
West Area
when he was called to serve as first counselor in the Presidency of the Caribbean Area
(with Daniel L. Johnson
as president, and Miguel A. Lee as second counselor).
In May 2009, some of the area presidencies were reorganized and Viñas was called to serve as the Caribbean Area
president, with Gary J. Coleman as first counselor and Wilford W. Andersen
as second counselor. The changes took effect as of 1 August 2009. These changes caused that all area presidency assignments will be filled by members of the First or Second Quorum of the Seventy; previously, area authority seventies had served as counselors in some cases.
Viñas is married to Cristina Gaminara. Together they have three children.
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1996. He is the first general authority of the LDS Church to have been born in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Viñas was born in Seville, Spain, but immigrated with his parents to Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
in 1948. His parents were baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
into the LDS Church in Paraguay and in 1950 the family settled in Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
.
Viñas was employed by Bayer
Bayer
Bayer AG is a chemical and pharmaceutical company founded in Barmen , Germany in 1863. It is headquartered in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and well known for its original brand of aspirin.-History:...
and the LDS Church's Church Educational System
Church Educational System
The Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners...
(CES), working as a director of an Institute of Religion
Institute of Religion
Institutes of Religion provide religious educational classes for young single adult and university students who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
in Uruguay and eventually acting as the CES supervisor for the entire country. Viñas was also employed by the LDS Church's finance department in Uruguay.
Prior to his call as a general authority, Viñas was a bishop, stake president, regional representative of the Twelve
Regional representative of the Twelve
Regional representative of the Twelve, commonly shorted to regional representative or regional rep, was a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1968 and 1995...
(three times), and an area seventy in the church. He was also a mission president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
for a three-year term. In 1996, Viñas became a member of the Second Quorum of Seventy, and in 1998, he was transferred to the First Quorum of Seventy. In August 2008, he was serving as the first counselor in the Presidency of the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
West Area
Area (LDS Church)
An area is an administrative unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which typically is composed of multiple stakes and missions...
when he was called to serve as first counselor in the Presidency of the Caribbean Area
Area (LDS Church)
An area is an administrative unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which typically is composed of multiple stakes and missions...
(with Daniel L. Johnson
Daniel L. Johnson
Daniel Leroy Johnson has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since April 2006....
as president, and Miguel A. Lee as second counselor).
In May 2009, some of the area presidencies were reorganized and Viñas was called to serve as the Caribbean Area
Area (LDS Church)
An area is an administrative unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which typically is composed of multiple stakes and missions...
president, with Gary J. Coleman as first counselor and Wilford W. Andersen
Wilford W. Andersen
Wilford Wayne Andersen has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since April 2009, serving in the Second Quorum of the Seventy. He served as an area seventy between 2007 to 2009....
as second counselor. The changes took effect as of 1 August 2009. These changes caused that all area presidency assignments will be filled by members of the First or Second Quorum of the Seventy; previously, area authority seventies had served as counselors in some cases.
Viñas is married to Cristina Gaminara. Together they have three children.