Claudio D. Zivic
Encyclopedia
Claudio Daniel Zivic has been a general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 2007. He is only the second Argentine
general authority in LDS Church history.
the son of Sergio Jorge and Eleonora Zalewski Zivic to a Latter-day Saint family, Zivic is a life-long Mormon
, which is not common for LDS Church members in South America
born before 1950. Zivic's maternal grandmother was a Polish
Jew and his paternal grandfather a German soldier who both immigrated to Argentina after World War I
. His Polish grandmother and his mother were both baptized when Zivic's mother was 12 years old.
Zivic is married to Dina Noemí Álvarez, who attended the same church branch as Zivic in Argentina as a child. Both were baptized in the chapel in Liniers
, the oldest in South America and the only one equipped with a baptismal font at the time. Dina's family moved to the United States
when she was nine. When she was twelve, her father was called as a construction missionary and sent to Chile
. After three years on this mission the family returned to Argentina and again attended the same church congregation as Zivic. In his youth, Zivic was a promising track athlete but gave up competition because track meets were held on Sunday.
in his native Argentina who gave up competition and the possibilities of athletic glory because most of the track meets were held on Sundays.
Zivic and Dina were married in 1972 and were later sealed in the São Paulo Brazil Temple
in 1978 shortly after its dedication. The Zivics have five children: Leonel Alexis, Evelina Heidi, Nelson Daniel, Adrián Ezequiel and Damián Claudio.
Zivic holds an accounting degree from the University of Buenos Aires
. He worked as a CPA
in marketing and manufacturing endeavors.
, and Church Educational System
instructor. Zivic was an area seventy in the church from 1996 to 2002, serving as second counselor in the South America South Area
Presidency from 2000 to 2002. Zivic was also president
of the Spain
Bilbao
Mission
from 2003 to 2006.
In the April 2007 general conference
, Zivic was sustained a member of the church's First Quorum of the Seventy and was assigned to the South America South Area Presidency, serving again as second counselor. Zivic's sermon in the church's October 2007 general conference has been praised for its deep spirituality.
On the occasion of Gordon B. Hinckley
's death, Zivic was among the church leaders quoted in the media on Hinckley's influence on the church members in various parts of the world.
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 2007. He is only the second Argentine
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...
general authority in LDS Church history.
Early life, family, and occupation
Born in Buenos AiresBuenos 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...
the son of Sergio Jorge and Eleonora Zalewski Zivic to a Latter-day Saint family, Zivic is a life-long Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
, which is not common for LDS Church members in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
born before 1950. Zivic's maternal grandmother was a Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
Jew and his paternal grandfather a German soldier who both immigrated to Argentina after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. His Polish grandmother and his mother were both baptized when Zivic's mother was 12 years old.
Zivic is married to Dina Noemí Álvarez, who attended the same church branch as Zivic in Argentina as a child. Both were baptized in the chapel in Liniers
Liniers
Liniers is a barrio of Buenos Aires on the edge of the city, centered on Rivadavia Avenue. It is also an important train station and bus hub, connecting western Gran Buenos Aires with the Buenos Aires Metro...
, the oldest in South America and the only one equipped with a baptismal font at the time. Dina's family moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when she was nine. When she was twelve, her father was called as a construction missionary and sent to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. After three years on this mission the family returned to Argentina and again attended the same church congregation as Zivic. In his youth, Zivic was a promising track athlete but gave up competition because track meets were held on Sunday.
in his native Argentina who gave up competition and the possibilities of athletic glory because most of the track meets were held on Sundays.
Zivic and Dina were married in 1972 and were later sealed in the São Paulo Brazil Temple
São Paulo Brazil Temple
The São Paulo Brazil Temple is the 19th constructed and 17th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the Brazilian city of São Paulo, it was the first LDS temple built in South America, and also the first temple to use the single story, single spire design...
in 1978 shortly after its dedication. The Zivics have five children: Leonel Alexis, Evelina Heidi, Nelson Daniel, Adrián Ezequiel and Damián Claudio.
Zivic holds an accounting degree from the University of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
. He worked as a CPA
Certified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA...
in marketing and manufacturing endeavors.
LDS Church service
In the LDS Church, Zivic has been a bishop, a regional representativeRegional 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...
, and 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...
instructor. Zivic was an area seventy in the church from 1996 to 2002, serving as second counselor in the South America South 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...
Presidency from 2000 to 2002. Zivic was also 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 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...
Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
from 2003 to 2006.
In the April 2007 general conference
General conference
General Conference can refer to:*General Conference , the recurring meetings of Member States for the specialized agencies of the United Nations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and UNESCO....
, Zivic was sustained a member of the church's First Quorum of the Seventy and was assigned to the South America South Area Presidency, serving again as second counselor. Zivic's sermon in the church's October 2007 general conference has been praised for its deep spirituality.
On the occasion of Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
's death, Zivic was among the church leaders quoted in the media on Hinckley's influence on the church members in various parts of the world.