Claudio R. M. Costa
Encyclopedia
Claudio Roberto Mendes Costa (born 25 March 1949) has been a general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 1994 and was a member of the seven-man Presidency of the Seventy in the church from August 2007 until August 2011, when he became the president of the church's Brazil Area
.
Costa was born in Santos, Brazil
in a Roman Catholic family. He became friends with Mormon missionaries as a 12 year old, and some members of his family subsequently joined the LDS Church while he was living in another city. Costa was not baptized
until 1977, when he was 27.
Costa became a bishop and later a regional representative of the Twelve
in the church. In 1990, he became the first president
of the new Brazil Manaus
Mission
of the church. In this position, Costa emphasized the need to baptize families. Less than a year after his service as a mission president ended, Costa became a general authority
of the church and a member of the Second Quorum of Seventy. In 2001, Costa was transferred to the First Quorum of Seventy and in 2007 he became a member of the Presidency of the Seventy. While serving in this capacity, his primary responsibility was supervising the activities of the area seventies in Idaho
Area
of the church.
Costa is married to Margareth Fernandes Morgado and is the father of four 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 1994 and was a member of the seven-man Presidency of the Seventy in the church from August 2007 until August 2011, when he became the president of the church's Brazil 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...
.
Costa was born in Santos, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
in a Roman Catholic family. He became friends with Mormon missionaries as a 12 year old, and some members of his family subsequently joined the LDS Church while he was living in another city. Costa was not 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...
until 1977, when he was 27.
Costa became a bishop and later a 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...
in the church. In 1990, he became the first 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 new Brazil Manaus
Manaus
Manaus is a city in Brazil, the capital of the state of Amazonas. It is situated at the confluence of the Negro and Solimões rivers. It is the most populous city of Amazonas, according to the statistics of Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, and is a popular ecotourist destination....
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...
of the church. In this position, Costa emphasized the need to baptize families. Less than a year after his service as a mission president ended, Costa became 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 and a member of the Second Quorum of Seventy. In 2001, Costa was transferred to the First Quorum of Seventy and in 2007 he became a member of the Presidency of the Seventy. While serving in this capacity, his primary responsibility was supervising the activities of the area seventies in Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
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...
of the church.
Costa is married to Margareth Fernandes Morgado and is the father of four children.