Ángel Abrea
Encyclopedia
Ángel Abrea was the first resident of Latin America
to become a general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Born in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
, Abrea was baptized
into the LDS Church in 1943, at the age of ten. Prior to his call as a general authority, Abrea was the first stake president for the church in Argentina
(1966–71; 1976–78); he also served as a Regional Representative for the Twelve Apostles (1971–1976) and the president
of the Argentina Rosario Mission of the church (1978–1981).
Abrea was called by Church President Spencer W. Kimball
as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy on March 20, 1981. He was the first resident of Latin America
in history to be made a General Authority
of the church. Abrea also became the first president of the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple
when it opened in 1986. On April 5, 2003, Abrea was given general authority emeritus
status and released from full-time ecclesiastical duties.
Abrea is married to María Victoria Chiapparino. They were married in Argentina
on July 4, 1957. The Abreas and their three daughters were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple
on September 26, 1966.
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
to become a general authority
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).
Born in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, 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...
, Abrea was 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 1943, at the age of ten. Prior to his call as a general authority, Abrea was the first stake president for the church 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...
(1966–71; 1976–78); he also served as a Regional Representative for the Twelve Apostles (1971–1976) and the 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...
of the Argentina Rosario Mission of the church (1978–1981).
Abrea was called by Church President Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:...
as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy on March 20, 1981. He was the first resident of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
in history to be made a General Authority
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. Abrea also became the first president of the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple
Buenos Aires Argentina Temple
The Buenos Aires Argentina Temple is the 39th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located in Ciudad Evita, near Buenos Aires, Argentina....
when it opened in 1986. On April 5, 2003, Abrea was given general authority emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
status and released from full-time ecclesiastical duties.
Abrea is married to María Victoria Chiapparino. They were married 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...
on July 4, 1957. The Abreas and their three daughters were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
on September 26, 1966.