The Young Women general presidency lauded two former Young Women leaders — Sister Janette Hales Beckham and Sister Margaret D. Nadauld — during their annual "Forever Young" luncheon on Nov. 18. Former Young Women general presidency and board members also attended the event, held in the Reception Room of the Relief Society Building.
Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve, who presided at the meeting, not only praised the women for their service as general auxiliary presidents, but also for their years of service since being released.
"They live their life looking forward," he said. "They did not retire after they served here. ... What an amazing thing they have taught us."
Sister Beckham said she had an early affinity for the Young Women theme and for Personal Progress. "I recognized the universal application of Personal Progress and a commitment pattern that does help carry people to the temple."
She said that during her years of service the Church was exploding internationally. "Everything we heard was, 'How do we reduce and simplify so the Church can grow internationally.' She said they often asked the question, "Why do we need it in Utah, if they do not have it in Russia?"
Now, years later, she sees the wisdom in that direction and why that had to happen during her time of service.
Sister Nadauld thanked those in the room. "Thank you to those who have gone before for building such a strong foundation for us to build upon during the five years we served together on our board."
She said that not one day passed, while her presidency was serving, that they did not feel the spirit of the Lord. "I think [the spirit] dwells in this building and it is as close to the temple as you can get, physically and spiritually speaking."
She recalled the first general Young Women's meeting after she was called as general Young Women president; the meeting was the first of its kind to be broadcast live to Europe. They talked with then-Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, now second counselor in the First Presidency, about ways they could help the European Young Women feel part of the meeting. They invited the Young Women in Holland to send tulips to decorate the Tabernacle. "We had 2,000 tulips sent. ... The whole front of the Tabernacle was banked with these gorgeous pink tulips that the young women from Holland had made possible for us. ... There were just wonderful things like that, that happened on a regular basis."
