During a ministry visit to the U.S. state of Tennessee Nov. 3-5, three women general officers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met with government and community leaders, held interfaith meetings, conducted training and visited with children and youth — including taking part in a JustServe project in Nashville.
Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson, Sister Tracy Y. Browning, second counselor in the Primary general presidency, and Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, discussed religious liberty and the importance of strengthening and preserving the family with U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-TN, and Nashville community leaders on Nov. 3.
In a news release published ChurchofJesusChrist.org, Blackburn said she was honored to welcome the women leaders from the Church to Tennessee and receive an update on their impactful work.
“Their efforts are strengthening families across the globe and helping to make certain that women and children reach their full potential. Their initiative to lower the infant mortality rate in Tennessee is the perfect example of this. I look forward to following their work as they expand this program across the state.”
The initiative — called the MyBaby4Me program — launched in November 2022 and includes classes to help new and expectant mothers. A new $500,000 donation this past June from the Church to the NAACP gave more help to combat infant mortality.
In addition to meeting with Blackburn, the Church officers also held a roundtable discussion with leaders representing Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. The interfaith meeting allowed the women to discuss needs and build new relationships.
Sister Browning shared how children in Nashville “have an abundance of the light of Christ and the Holy Ghost within them, and they share truths that they know with great power, faith and simplicity that remind us that disciples of Jesus Christ are not just adults, but also our beloved children.”
The women also spoke with local nonprofit leaders in Nashville. President Johnson spoke about the importance of working together.
“If all of us bring and share our best ‘something’ to the community table — whether it is food distribution, or teaching English, or providing refugee services — we effectively address the needs of the community in a collaborative way and accomplish more and faster than if we try to chip away at these challenges on our own,” President Johnson said.
The day included a meeting with the leaders of five JustServe high school clubs in the area. JustServe.org is a website and app where volunteers can find service opportunities near them. More high schools around the nation are forming JustServe clubs where teenagers can learn to serve and reap the blessings.
The next afternoon, Nov. 4, Sister Spannaus served alongside the youth at Angel Heart Farm, an equine therapy farm for children with cancer.
She expressed her love of service.
“I love the fact that every time we help others or serve, something is transformed inside of us,” Sister Spannaus said. “Something is changing in our hearts or minds, and I love that we can become a better person just by serving.”
On Sunday, Nov. 5, the general officers finished their visit to Nashville with training for local Church leaders and attended Sunday meetings with the members.
See more pictures from their meetings below.
