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Consecration honored at Church women organizations’ emeritus luncheon

Women gather who have served with 10 past general presidents of Relief Society, Young Women and Primary organizations

Sister Lori Featherstone and Sister Anne Clegg embrace during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society Emeritus Luncheon at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Sister Diane Nichols and Sister Susan Warner chat with other attendees during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society Emeritus Luncheon at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Sister Joy Jones, former Primary general president, embraces Sister Jean A. Stevens, former first counselor in the Primary General Presidency, during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society Emeritus Luncheon at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Women attend the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society Emeritus Luncheon at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
President Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women General President, speaks during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society Emeritus Luncheon at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
President Susan H. Porter, Primary General President, speaks during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society Emeritus Luncheon at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
President Camille N. Johnson, Relief Society General President, speaks during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society Emeritus Luncheon at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Sister Kristin M. Yee, second counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, attends the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society Emeritus Luncheon at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Sister Sheila Wilson and Sister Shannon Christiansen greet each other during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society Emeritus Luncheon at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
President Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women General President, hugs another attendee during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society Emeritus Luncheon at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
President Camille N. Johnson, Relief Society General President, speaks about child malnutrition during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society Emeritus Luncheon at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
President Camille N. Johnson, Relief Society General President, speaks during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society Emeritus Luncheon at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Elder Michael T. Ringwood, General Authority Seventy, speaks during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society Emeritus Luncheon at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Sister Diana Lee and Sister Coleen Menlove, who share grandchildren, chat during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society Emeritus Luncheon at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
President Susan H. Porter, Primary General President, speaks during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society Emeritus Luncheon at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Women attend the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society Emeritus Luncheon at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

While looking around the room before a combined Primary, Young Women and Relief Society emeritus luncheon, one word came to mind for some of the attendees: “consecration.”

“You can feel the power of consecration and the power of consecrated women who have given so much of their lives to serve the Lord,” said Sister Liz Darger, a member of the Young Women general advisory council.

Reyna I. Aburto, who served as second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency from 2017 to 2022, also remarked on the consecration of time, energy, love and service — not only for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but also for families, neighbors and communities.

The combined emeritus luncheon has become an annual event, after some years of separate occurrences for each group. Around 200 women attended on Monday, May 15, who had served with the past 10 general presidents each of the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society organizations.

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Joy D. Jones, former Primary general president, embraces Jean A. Stevens, former first counselor in the Primary general presidency, during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society emeritus luncheon in the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

The women spent time before the luncheon visiting together — embracing, sharing memories and enjoying their time together again.

Sister Aburto chatted with Helen Thiriot, who served on the Relief Society general board from 2002 to 2007 under Bonnie D. Parkin. Thiriot said one of the highlights of her service was all the people she met.

“Sister Parkin wished we would all feel the care of the Lord in our lives,” Thiriot said. “Those years were really blessed.”

Sister Aburto told her, “Thank you for paving the way for others.”

Erin Sanderson, who served with Rosemary M. Wixom, the Primary general president from 2010 to 2016, reminisced on how the organizations have grown in scope, purview, influence and input over the years. 

Raelene Critchlow, who was on the Primary general board beginning in 1990 under Michaelene P. Grassli, loved learning more about what each woman has been doing lately — remarking that in the room were many current and former senior missionaries, mission leaders, historic site leaders, temple workers and so on.

Coleen Kent Menlove, who was the Primary general president from 1999 to 2005, shared an embrace with Diana Lee as they caught up on family news. The two women served four years together on the Young Women general board beginning in 1989. Lee’s oldest daughter married Sister Menlove’s oldest son, and the two women not only share grandchildren, they now share eight great-grandchildren.

“They are all so darling,” Lee said, and Sister Menlove added, “And so good.”

Diana Lee and Coleen Kent Menlove, the Primary general president from 1999 to 2005, who share grandchildren, chat during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society emeritus luncheon in the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Some of the women served on different boards or councils over the years, traveling and training together around the world. Said Sister Darger, “We all have different responsibilities at different times, but it is all the same work.”

Sister Darger’s grandmother, Arlene Barlow Darger, served as first counselor to Elaine A. Cannon from 1978 to 1984 in the Young Women general presidency and passed away 10 years ago. Sister Darger was able to meet some of the women who served with her grandmother and hear their memories. 

Bonnie L. Oscarson, the Young Women general president from 2013 to 2018, had some women missing from her lunch table. The general board under her leadership included several international members, who still live in their countries.

She and her former first counselor, Carol F. McConkie, spoke about the days when videoconferencing technology was not as good as it is now, and how they learned as they went how to conduct meetings thousands of miles apart. 

Women attend the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society emeritus luncheon in the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Along those lines, Anne Berryhill from the Church History Department said she would be reaching out to the women to speak to them about their years of service. And she asked the women in the room to reach out to her to fill in any gaps in the historical record. 

“You are making history today,” Berryhill said. “And each of you has made a valuable contribution to the Restoration.”

Current general presidents give an update

While much of the conversation among the women centered on the past, the current general presidents spoke to the group about what is happening now and in the future for the women’s organizations in the worldwide Church.

Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson speaks during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society emeritus luncheon in the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson presented an overview of how the Church is working to fight childhood malnutrition around the world. 

She recently traveled to Uganda to see some of the Church-supported efforts of UNICEF among children there, and spoke at BYU Women’s Conference about how the Relief Society stands ready to provide relief, and in so doing, bring people to the Savior.

Primary General President Susan H. Porter speaks during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society emeritus luncheon in the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

In her remarks, Primary General President Susan H. Porter expounded upon what baptized children can be invited to do in their branches, wards and stakes. 

She also explained how Primary leaders and parents can find more resources to help teach about the covenant path in the appendix of the “Come, Follow Me” manuals.

Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon outlined the growth of For the Strength of Youth conferences and showed new resources that will be used in teaching youth how to have “purpose, plan and pause” in taking charge of their technology use.

Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon speaks during the Primary, Young Women and Relief Society emeritus luncheon in the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, May 15, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

President Cordon concluded by telling the women to mark their calendars for next year’s emeritus luncheon. 

“We have loved the association and the opportunity to rub shoulders,” she said. “This is a remarkable time. We are feeling and seeing the hastening in the Lord’s hand. ...

“Thank you for your goodness and your love.”

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