Church leaders have called new members of the Relief Society and Primary general boards. The new members joined other Church leaders on the stand Saturday evening, Sept. 23, for the general women’s session of The 187th Semiannual General Conference. All nine board members currently live in Utah.
The nine women will work with the general presidencies to help meet the global needs of the Church, according to Mormon Newsroom.
RELIEF SOCIETY GENERAL BOARD
Melinda (Mindy) Booth, 41, Holladay Single Adult Ward, Salt Lake Holladay Stake; born in Salt Lake City to Russell K. and Nina Camille Woodbury Booth. Received a bachelor’s degree in public communication from the University of Utah and a MPA from New York University. Worked in international development and financial compliance and is now a chef in Salt Lake City. Served as a Church-service missionary for the Relief Society general presidency.
Memnet Lopez, 59, Salt Lake 17th Ward, Salt Lake Stake; born in the Philippines and raised in Guam by Sal C. Panes and Purificacion P. Patriarca. Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Brigham Young University–Hawaii and attended Far Eastern University Medical School in the Philippines for two years. Married to Marlo Lopez; they have three sons and eight grandchildren. Served a mission in the Illinois Chicago Mission and with her husband as he presided over the Philippines Bacolod Mission.
Rebecca Mehr, 53, Highland 23rd Ward, Highland Utah West Stake; born in Ames, Iowa, to Jay Lloyd and Linda J. Lewton Olpin. Received a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Brigham Young University with a minor in music. Worked as an engineer and marketing executive in the computer industry and as director of audience needs for the Church History Department. Married to Daniel Mehr. Served with her husband as he presided over the West Indies Mission and as a public affairs missionary in the Caribbean Area. Former member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Susan Porter, 62, Lakeview Ward, Bountiful Utah Central Stake; born in Oklahoma to Hans J. and Charlene Coleman Holland. Received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Brigham Young University. Married to Bruce D. Porter; they have four children and 11 grandchildren. Accompanied and supported her husband, a General Authority Seventy who passed away in December 2016, as he served in areas across the globe.
PRIMARY GENERAL BOARD
Michelle Craig, 54, Heatheridge 7th Ward, Orem Utah Heatheridge Stake; born in Murray, Utah, to Robert H. and Janet Daines. Married to E. Boyd Craig; they have three children and six grandchildren. Received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Brigham Young University. Served a mission in the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo Mission.
Jennefer Free, 46, Mountain Point 3rd Ward, Draper Utah Mountain Point Stake; born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Kenneth B. and Renee Hill. Married to Brian D. Free; they have two children and one grandchild. Currently studying marriage and family science at BYU-Idaho. Given many hours of service in different capacities for BYU Women’s Conferences.
Lisa Harkness, 52, Alpine 2nd Ward, Alpine Utah North Stake; born in Los Angeles, California, to Ronald and LaRae Long. Married to David S. Harkness; they have five children and two grandchildren. Received a bachelor’s degree in political science and secondary teaching from Brigham Young University. Served a Spanish speaking mission in the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission.
Salote Tukuafu, 56, Parkview (Tongan) Ward, Salt Lake Utah (Tongan) Stake; born in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, to Sonasi and Susana Po’uha. Married to Suliasi Tukuafu; they have four children and four grandchildren. Studied business management at LDS Business College. Worked for Salt Lake City School District in the ESL program. Served a mission in Tonga and a second mission as a service missionary. Serves as a temple worker in the Salt Lake Temple.
Dana Wiest, 58, Monument Park Ward, Salt Lake Monument Park Stake; born in Salt Lake City to Robert and Jewel Cutler. Married to Mark J. Wiest; they have four children and one grandchild. Received a bachelor’s degree in health science from the University of Utah and a MPA from Brigham Young University. Served a mission in Oslo, Norway. Serves as a temple worker in the Salt Lake Temple.
