Primary General President Susan H. Porter was born on July 31, 1955, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, and grew up in western New York. She was sustained as the Primary general president in April 2022 general conference and began her service on Aug. 1, 2022.
President Porter married Bruce D. Porter on Feb. 2, 1977, in the Washington D.C. Temple. They have four children. Elder Porter was a General Authority Seventy when he died in 2016.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Brigham Young University and worked as a lab assistant at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a part-time math teacher, a piano teacher and a volunteer with various community organizations.
She was sustained as first counselor in the Primary general presidency during April 2021 general conference. She also served on the Relief Society general advisory council and in ward and stake Relief Society and Young Women presidencies and as a Gospel Doctrine teacher and Primary music leader.
In honor of President Porter’s birthday today, here are nine of her quotes from the past year.
1. ‘Firm and immovable, sure and steadfast’
“I never want to leave the light that emanates from the Savior. I want to be firm and immovable, sure and steadfast, in my testimony of and devotion to Him and to my Heavenly Father. In times of trouble or distress or spiritual darkness, may we all find a place where the light and influence of the Savior can be felt, and stay there until help comes.”
— Provo Missionary Training Center devotional, July 25, 2023
2. A ‘cloud of witnesses’
“When the Spirit of God shines in our hearts, we receive a witness of Heavenly Father and His Son that is like a drop of water. Each experience we have with the Spirit of God may be small, but when all of our experiences are combined, they form our own cloud of witnesses.”
— BYU-Idaho devotional, June 6, 2023
3. Line upon line
“So is it that when we receive the first line, the first bit of inspiration and we follow through on that, it’s actually to change us? The Lord is interested in the process. He’s interested in the fact that we are exhibiting enough faith to act on that first impression, and then He will give us the next one.”
— BYU Women’s Conference, May 4, 2023
4. Be an example
“Heavenly Father loves you and looks forward to your light and example to bless everyone in your school. ... He will always help in the moment of need.”
— Ministry in South Korea and Japan, March 11-20, 2023
5. Connecting through stories
“Start with the stories when your children can feel the love. They can feel that connection. We start connecting them with these wonderful stories and pictures hanging in our homes of beloved ancestors, that will really help give them that spark.”
— RootsTech roundtable discussion, March 3, 2023
6. Children are capable
“I am consistently inspired by the Primary children I meet and how they keep their baptismal covenants. Children are capable of doing so much good! As parents and leaders, we can invite them to participate in the work of salvation and exaltation, and we can support them as they receive their own revelation for how to serve.”
— Facebook post, Feb. 7, 2023
7. A loving Heavenly Father
“He knows us, He loves, and He needs us. When we make whatever effort we can to keep the covenants we made when we were baptized or in the temple, He will help us be a light to those around us that will draw others to the gospel.”
— Ministry in Ghana, Nov. 6, 2022
8. Happiness on the covenant path
“I want you to know that Heavenly Father loves you. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to help us all return to Him again. … Remember to help others feel Heavenly Father and Jesus’ love. Share the happiness that is found on the covenant path.”
— Friend to Friend broadcast, Nov. 5, 2022
9. The Savior’s gifts
“As we focus on receiving the Savior’s gifts, we will feel joy and purpose as we seek to understand the changes we need to make and then act.”
— Brigham Young University devotional, Nov. 1, 2022
