In order to help us better understand our new Church leaders called this past general conference, lds.org has published a series of articles introducing us to our new Young Women general presidency, the new General Authority Seventies, and our new Primary general presidency counselor. We wanted to share these articles so you can learn more about these amazing men and women.
Church members sustained a new Young Women General Presidency during the 188th Annual General Conference held on March 31–April 1.
Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, Sister Michelle D. Craig, and Sister Becky Craven will replace Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, Sister Carol F. McConkie, and Sister Neill F. Marriott. Following is a brief sketch of each of the newly called leaders.
Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women General President
A much-loved scripture of Sister Cordon is found in Doctrine and Covenants 123:17: “Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.”
For her, this verse encapsulates lessons she has learned throughout her life. “We can do hard things, but we can also do them joyfully,” said Sister Cordon, who was sustained on March 31, 2018, as the new Young Women General President.
That knowledge was instilled in her during a “fairytale childhood” laboring on a small farm in southeast Idaho and then again as she struggled to learn a new language as a missionary in Portugal. It was also a message she repeated often to missionaries while she served with her husband as he presided over the Brazil Curitiba Mission. And it is one she now plans to share with young women around the world.
Eight new General Authority Seventies were announced and sustained on March 31 during the Saturday afternoon session of the 188th Annual General Conference.
Following is a brief sketch of each of the newly called leaders.
Elder Steven R. Bangerter
During a childhood camping trip, Elder Steven R. Bangerter and his family rode dirt bikes to the top of a mountain. On the way down, he lost his way and became separated from the others.
As he knelt that afternoon and pleaded with his Father in Heaven for help, in his mind’s eye he saw the trail he had lost. Just as he started down it, “my brother reached the top of the trail on his motorcycle, embraced me, and guided me back through the dark to the camp, which was hours away.”
Sister Lisa L. Harkness, who was recently called to serve in the Primary General Presidency, has always had a love of learning and the world around her, something she picked up from her parents.
She has studied political science and even learned how to handle reptiles while working at the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum during her time at Brigham Young University—including the snakes.
“They have personalities, believe it or not,” she said. “There’s one that knew me every time I would hold him.” Howard, a red-tailed boa constrictor, would crawl up her shoulder, curl around her neck, and rest his head on hers while she taught groups that had come to the museum.
All images from lds.org
