Salt Lake City | Wednesday, 01 February 2023 |

Three Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcomed Mexico’s new consul general in Utah at a reception on Temple Square on Wednesday, February 1, 2023.

“We’re grateful that you’re here,” Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said to Consul General Eduardo Baca Cuenca. “We’re pleased to have someone who has such broad and deep experience in government and diplomatic work. We feel honored by you and by your appointment.”

Elders Gerrit W. Gong and Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, along with several General Authority Seventies and staff, were also present.

Baca, who has more than 30 years of experience in Mexico’s Foreign Ministry, will oversee the work done in Utah and western Wyoming.

“I look forward to having an excellent relationship with the Church and, of course, to continue the work that we do together,” Baca said.

According to the 2020 United States Census, 15.1% of Utah is Hispanic or Latino. The new consul general said his office’s first focus is Utah’s Mexican community. The Church of Jesus Christ’s work on the humanitarian and human rights fronts, he added, “feeds right into a large part of what we do at the consulate.”

“The support of the Church is fundamental to many of the activities that we do,” Baca said. “And frankly, in some areas, the backing of institutions linked to the Church [is] really the livelihood to a lot of our activities. So, I also take the opportunity to thank you for all the work that you have done and the support that you have provided to the consulate for many decades.”

“We are grateful for your assignment, and we look forward to as much of the time that your government will permit you to be with us to enjoy together,” Elder Christofferson said. “Please look at us as a resource to help you succeed.”

The Church of Jesus Christ’s rich and storied history in Mexico stretches back to 1875. Today, the country is home to nearly 1.5 million Latter-day Saints.