Mormon Life - General Authority tag

LDS Living Interview with General Relief Society President Julie B. Beck

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by Jamie Lawson
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Sister Julie B. Beck serves in a calling that few others can fully comprehend. In a recent interview, she shared what it’s like to work with Church leadership, what she wishes women in the Church better understood, and her inspiring testimony of faith.

Sister Julie B. Beck was serving as first counselor in the Young Women general presidency when she was called as general president of the Relief Society in the spring of 2007, succeeding Sister Bonnie D. Parkin. Leading approximately six million women in 170 countries can seem like an insurmountable task, but Sister Beck finds strength to continue the Relief Society’s legacy of love and service by studying its history, following in the footsteps of predecessors, and relying on the Atonement.

“There have only been fifteen general Relief Society presidents in the Church,” she says. “They’ve all worked in different times, had different problems come to them, and worked with different prophets. Learning about them is learning their patterns, not the specifics of their callings.”

Sister Beck has discovered that throughout history, Relief Society presidents have been concerned about a lot of the same issues, such as helping women through life transitions or strengthening families. “They’ve all worried about families and supporting mothers because they’ve all known how influential a woman is in the home,” she says.

Figuring out how to address the varying needs of all those women can be a struggle, though. She is often asked how she addresses a specific group of women, to which she responds, “Which ones? The 18–22s? The single women over 30 who’ve never been married? The widowed? The divorced? Single mothers? You never quite hit your mark if you’re worried about a constituency. All of us are having a variety of experiences that eventually should have the same end—eternal life. Our paths are always different and we’re all unique. I don’t know of any two women who’ve had identical experiences, but I can see patterns in lives that teach me how to cope with mine.”

Despite her calling to provide guidance to all the women of the Church, she doesn’t take credit for herself. “The Lord is our advocate, and I serve Him,” she says. “He knows them; He knows their issues, their struggles, their challenges, their hurts, their heartaches, and their needs a lot better than I could. I don’t have to demand for someone to notice Heavenly Father’s daughters because I already know how He feels about them. So anything I can do to help Him to help them, I’m willing to do.”

Carrying the Burden
But “anything I can do” is a tremendous amount.

“It’s never not been overwhelming,” she says. “I don’t think I’ve slept through a single night since I’ve had this calling. I can never take my head off and put it to rest somewhere and put on my resting head. I can never take these shoulders off and put them on a shelf somewhere and put on my resting shoulders. It’s always with me, but I’ve become more comfortable with how uncomfortable it is. The Atonement covers our ineffectiveness and insufficiencies, and it’s my whole dependence on the Lord that makes it possible for me to become more comfortable with the burden.”

She continues, “The calling is lonely—it just is. Having to worry about Heavenly Father’s daughters on His behalf is given to me. There’s nowhere for me to turn except to heaven most of the time.”

In that respect, Sister Beck acknowledges she is like many women in the Church who are experiencing trials. “I feel a lot of empathy for sisters who are having difficult challenges,” she says. “In the end, it’s between them and the Lord, and no one else can solve it. And I’ve learned that’s okay.” She clarifies, “It isn’t that I don’t care or don’t notice. I’ve been out in the world and I’ve seen hard things—heartbreaking circumstances, just about every challenge, and I can wear out my life on every challenge. It’s overwhelming and I’m not equipped. I have limited abilities. We can’t expect to be ‘fit companions of the Gods,’ like Eliza R. Snow said, if we haven’t had to do the work to become that. A lot of that is lonely work between us and the Lord and calling upon His Atonement to help us through our experience. The journey is what makes us.”

Facing Criticism
In addition to the burden she bears with her calling, Sister Beck has also endured her share of criticism, but for the most part, she doesn’t let it bother her.

“When you’re in a position like this, then you’re noticed in a way that you wouldn’t be noticed if you were at home in your kitchen, which is where I’m most comfortable,” she says with a smile. “Sometimes people like to pick things apart that general leaders say. I don’t get angry. Sometimes I feel sad—mostly for them—and I pray for them and I worry about them and their personal struggles that are causing them to feel some kind of discomfort or misalignment with how things are done. But I know if I’m right with the Lord and I’m right with his prophets and I’m loved at home and in my family, nothing else really matters.”

She adds, “I’m assigned to be here, and I speak for the Lord. I assist prophets, seers, and revelators who have specific assignments. They are the ones who set me apart for this calling, so when I speak, I speak in that way—as a general leader of the Church.”

Myths and Stereotypes
As an assigned leader on behalf of the Lord, Sister Beck has insights to help dispel the concerns that any LDS women have about their roles.

“Having It All”
Sister Beck believes one of the greatest myths that has been told to women is that they can have it all. “Nobody can have everything, and you especially can’t have it all at once,” she says. “There’s an opportunity cost to everything.”

So how can we know if our choices are correct? Sister Beck suggests asking questions like, “First, ‘Am I aligned behind the Lord’s plan for me? Is what I’m doing moving me toward eternal life or am I just enjoying my time in Babylon?’ I have to ask myself that all the time,” she says. “And then, ‘How do I feel? Is the Spirit confirming my choices?’ Balancing is best done by revelation. I’m surprised what I can get done in a day when I’m aligned.”

But she admits that, just like everyone else, she doesn’t always prioritize correctly. “Sometimes I miss opportunities to do important things, but I’ve learned to minimize guilt,” she says. “I used to be a very guilt-ridden person, but I’ve learned that the Lord uses many opportunities to teach me. I learn from experience when something didn’t feel good, so next time, I do it another way. Don’t carry it around your whole life.”

She continues, “I’ve learned that the world teaches us that we can have the dream now. They express the dream as what Adam and Eve had in the garden—you don’t have to work for anything and everything is peaceful and happy. That’s really where the adversary still is. But we chose to have a mortal experience to prepare for the real dream, and that dream is eternal life. Eve was willing to go through a long, hard mortal experience in order to work toward the promise of the dream—I don’t think most women realize that. They’re trying to make it be the dream now. We don’t get that here. What we get here is the experience.”

Fitting In
Sister Beck often hears women in the Church express concern that they don’t fit in with the other sisters. But she believes those feelings of isolation are often self-inflicted. “We tend to put the labels on ourselves,” she says. “The Church doesn’t, and loving leaders definitely don’t—we’re just focused on our own experience.”

In fact, “worldwide, the majority of women in Relief Society are under the age of 30,” she explains. “About half of all women are single, and many of the rest will probably be single at some point for one reason or another. Relief Society is for everybody. Relief Society is a society that is distinct and separate for women who’ve made covenants and are helping each other keep them. That’s what makes it possible for our daughter to move 14 times in 13 years and belong everywhere she goes. It makes it possible for my niece to live in 7 countries in 10 years and fit in.”

From her travels around the world, Sister Beck has learned that even though women put labels on themselves, such as single or divorced, employed or homemaker, LDS women everywhere have a true desire to be happy. “Sisters usually want to please the Lord,” she says. “They’d like to have things more perfect than they are. I’ve also learned that life is pretty hard for most women around the world—from the lady on the farm in Africa living with the dirt floor and in a stick house to the woman in Hong Kong living in a high rise penthouse apartment, there’s not a lot that separates them heart to heart. Life is still hard in many ways for the sister in the penthouse.”

Not only do LDS women struggle to fit in with each other, they also struggle to fit in with the rest of the world. To address this concern, Sister Beck quickly flips to page 95 in her well-worn copy of Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society [see page 58 of this issue] and shares the following quote from President Spencer W. Kimball:

Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality) will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from women of the world.

“We’re not strange,” Sister Beck assures. “We’re distinct, we have stature, and we are different in happy ways.”

This is an excerpt of LDS Living's March/April 2012 cover story, "Sister Julie B. Beck: Continuing the Legacy." To read the full article, pick up a copy of the March/April 2012 issue of LDS Living.

Teachings of George Albert Smith Lesson 6: Sustaining Those Whom the Lord Sustains

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:04:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "Those called, sustained, and set apart are entitled to our sustaining support." -James E. Faust

Note: As the Church has said, the manual has been prepared as the primary source of lesson material. This supplement, from a general conference address, is only meant as a complement to your study on this lesson's topic.

Excerpt from "Called and Chosen" by President James E. Faust, October 2005 General Conference:

My dear brethren of the priesthood, please accept our appreciation for all you do to carry forward the Lord’s work worldwide. I desire to speak about the sacred offices of those priesthood leaders who have been “called and chosen” 1 to guide the Church in this day. This is a special year for at least two reasons: first, we are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Joseph Smith this December, and second, President Gordon B. Hinckley celebrated his 95th birthday this past June. I testify that the Prophet Joseph Smith was called and chosen as the first prophet of this dispensation and that President Gordon B. Hinckley is the present prophet, seer, and revelator of this Church.

When Mike Wallace interviewed President Hinckley some years ago for the television program 60 Minutes, he said, “[People will say] this is a church run by old men.” To this, President Hinckley replied, “Isn’t it wonderful to have a man of maturity at the head—a man of judgment who isn’t blown about by every wind of doctrine?” 2 So if any of you think the present leadership is too old to lead the Church, President Hinckley may need to give you some further counsel about the wisdom that comes with age!

Of the 102 Apostles called in this dispensation, only 13 have served longer than President Hinckley. He has served longer as an Apostle than Brigham Young, President Hunter, President Lee, President Kimball, and many others. It is wonderful to have his inspired leadership. Please forgive me for saying that I myself feel at times that I am standing on the edge of eternity. At age 85, I am the third oldest of all the living General Authorities. I have not sought this honor. I have just lived for it.

To read the full talk, click here.

Changes made to the Presidency of the Seventy

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:44:00 -0700

source: Newsroom.lds.org

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) announced that Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Quorum of the Seventy has been called to serve in the Presidency of the Seventy.

Prophets.LDS.org features new biographies of living apostles

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:39:00 -0700

source: news.lds.org

New biographies of members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were published today on prophets.lds.org, under the section titled “Meet today’s prophets and apostles.”

The first biography to be featured on Prophets and Apostles Speak Today is that of President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. One biography will be featured each week over the next 11 weeks, in order of the Apostles’ seniority.

Elder Oaks testifies before Senate committee, defends charitable deductions

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:13:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: This committee is meeting about proposed tax changes that would limit charitable tax deductions for some citizens; Catholic and Baptist representatives supported Elder Oaks's testimony. Elder Dallin H. Oaks told the U.S. Senate Finance Committee Tuesday morning that proposed "impairments" of the charitable tax deduction in order to increase tax revenues available for government expenditure are not religious, political or even economic issues. Rather, he said, they pose "a question about the nature and future of America."

Elder Oaks. a member of the Quorum of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was invited to testify at the committee's hearing on charitable giving by ranking committee member Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. He was accompanied by representatives of the Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who he said had indicated their full support of his testimony.

Looking Up to the Brethren

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:31:00 -0600

source: mormonmommyblogs.blogspot.com

Mormon Life says: A fun post about how parents' testimonies impact children. My family was on Temple Square during a visit with Utah relatives, when suddenly, my mother grabbed me by the shoulders, and propelled me with alarming urgency towards the Tabernacle. An old man was moving away from an open door there and people were gathering around him. With a degree of determination and boldness uncharacteristic of my mother, she shoved through the crowd until I was standing at his feet.

He looked down at me. His gentle eyes never left mine as my mother panted, “President Tanner, THIS is my daughter, Ramona.” It was certain that I had never heard that kind of awe and pride in her voice.

I was so young, I don’t remember then if he said anything. I don’t remember if I said anything. What I remember most, is how important it was to my mother.

Neal A. Maxwell – “A Brother Offended”

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:56:00 -0600

source: asoftanswer.com

Mormon Life says: This is simply a quote from an old Elder Maxwell talk - but it's a good one. "Quickly forgotten by those who are offended is the fact that the Church is “for the perfecting of the saints” (Eph. 4:12); it is not a well-provisioned rest home for the already perfected.

"Unsurprisingly, therefore, we do notice each other’s weaknesses. But we should not celebrate them. . . ."

General Authorities chart - October 2011

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 18:01:00 -0600

source: ldschurchnews.com

Mormon Life says: Download a PDF of the newest chart showing the General Authorities of the Church . . . The Church News edition of October 15, 2011, contained a two-page chart showing the General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To download a .pdf copy of the chart, follow the link below to the LDS Church News.

2011 Seminar for New Mission Presidents

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:35:00 -0600

source: ldschurchnews.com

This article has links to the following talks from the seminar:

President Henry B. Eyring: Holy Spirit will help missionaries succeed

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: Presidents help missionaries reach their potential

President Boyd K. Packer: A voice felt, rather than heard

Elder Russell M. Nelson: Learn, live and teach the doctrine of Christ

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: Mission president, trainer important to new missionaries

Elder David A. Bednar: Becoming a 'Preach My Gospel' missionary

Elder D. Todd Christofferson: Faith in Christ is an 'upward cycle'

Elder Richard G. Hinckley: Recent changes intended to encourage senior couples to serve missions

Bishop Richard C. Edgley: Book of Mormon, combined with Spirit, is missionary's most powerful resource

Elder Hallstrom speaks at BYU-Idaho devotional

Sat, 14 May 2011 10:19:00 -0600

source: ldschurchnews.com

Keeping earthly covenants leads individuals to keep eternal covenants, Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Presidency of the Seventy said during a BYU-Idaho devotional held on May 10.

"If we understand and believe the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the role of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in helping us achieve the glorious plan of God, then our priorities become clearer," Elder Hallstrom told the gathering assembled in the BYU-Idaho Center.

It is through focussing on the things that "matter most" that individuals will be able to understand their eternal purposes — despite the views of the world. As they relentlessly study the doctrine and exercise faith in the Savior, they are more able to remember who they really are, Elder Hallstrom said.

LDS apostles sought truth in science and religion

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:06:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Elders James E. Talmage and John A. Widtsoe, two LDS apostles, knew a thing or two about science.

Before they were both ordained as special witnesses in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Widtsoe was a chemist and Elder Talmage was a geologist. Both men were considered scholars in their respective fields. Both served terms as president of the University of Utah. Both men also demonstrated it was possible to balance academic and scientific pursuits while progressing spiritually.

“The church supports and welcomes the growth of science. … The religion of the Latter-day Saints is not hostile to any truth, nor to scientific search for truth,” Elder Widtsoe said in his 1943 book “Evidences and Reconciliations.”

Elder Widtsoe said science and religion both seek truth.

Elder Jack H. Goaslind Jr., Mormon emeritus general authority, dies at 83

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:27:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Elder Jack H. Goaslind Jr., 83, an emeritus general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died Wednesday, April 27, 2011, in Salt Lake City.

He served as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy for two decades, twice as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy and as counselor in the LDS Church's Aaronic Priesthood MIA general presidency and later as the general Young Men president.

He is survived by his wife, Gwen Caroline Bradford Goaslind, and their six children. Funeral services are pending.

A prominent Salt Lake businessman before his call to full-time church service, Elder Goaslind was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy at the fall 1978 general conference. He served in the Presidency of the Seventy twice — from October 1985 to August 1987 and again from August 1995 through August 1998. He received emeritus status at the October 1998 general conference.

New General Authorities and Area Seventies Named at April 2011 Conference

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:16:00 -0600

source: Newsroom.lds.org

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced 10 new General Authorities and 41 Area Seventies at the Saturday afternoon session of the Church’s 181st Annual General Conference being held this weekend.

Emeritus LDS Church leader and political pollster dies

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:40:00 -0600

source: ksl.com

Richard Bitner Wirthlin, an LDS Church general authority who was Ronald Reagan's chief strategist and pollster, died Wednesday of natural causes. He was 80.

Born in Salt Lake City, Wirthlin was a close adviser to Reagan for more than 20 years and directed Reagan's successful presidential campaigns in 1980 and 1984.

According to a press release, Reagan once said of him, "Dick Wirthlin is the best in the business... When he speaks, I listen." Former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese III called Wirthlin "a great man, a great friend and an invaluable counselor to President Reagan."

Wirthlin chronicled his relationship with Reagan in a 2004 book.

He also served as an adviser and pollster to Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

First General Authority of Japanese descent dies

Sat, 05 Mar 2011 09:13:00 -0700

source: ldschurchnews.com

Elder Adney Yoshio Komatsu, who served in the First Quorum of the Seventy from 1976-1993, died in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Feb. 23. He was 87.

Elder Komatsu was born Aug. 2, 1923, in Honolulu to Jizaemon and Misao Komatsu, who had come from Japan to live in Hawaii. In 1941, at age 17, Adney Komatsu joined the Church after being raised in the Buddhist faith.

He served in many capacities in the Church, including branch president, stake clerk, high councilor and bishop.

Elder Adney Y. Komatsu passes away

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 09:52:00 -0700

source: ldschurchnews.com

Elder Adney Y. Komatsu, who served in the First Quorum of the Seventy from 1975 through 1992, passed away in Honolulu, Hawaii, Wednesday, Feb. 23, at age 87.

He served as president of the Tokyo Temple from 1982 to 1985 and, prior to his call as a General Authority, as president of the Northern Far East Mission.

Raise Light to World, Apostles Tell Central American Saints

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:18:00 -0700

source: news.lds.org

Each member of the Church must build a deep faith in Christ, Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles told members in Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua during recent assignments in Central America. Along with other Church leaders, they counseled members to strengthen their families through prayer, scripture study, temple service, family home evening, observance of the Sabbath day, obedience to the Lord’s commandments, and sharing their faith with those around them.

Raise the Light

“We must raise our light so it shines before the world,” Elder Christofferson taught young adults in Nicaragua. “Others must perceive in us something of the light of Christ. Living that way does not happen overnight; it requires perseverance and devotion.”

Worldwide leadership broadcast round-up

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 16:32:00 -0700

source: ldschurchnews.com

A trio of apostles from the Quorum of the Twelve -- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Elder David A. Bednar and Elder D. Todd Christofferson -- participated in a roundtable discussion about several chapters from the new Church handbooks that provide essential information for gospel leadership.

The Brethren focused their discussion on the introductory chapters from Handbook 2, focusing on priesthood principles, the work of salvation in the ward and stake, and on the mission of priesthood quorums.

“We hope that we can ourselves do what we're asking you to do and that is be open to the Spirit,” said Elder Holland. “We're praying for the Spirit to guide us a we talk here in this setting, just as you will want the Spirit to prompt you and guide you as you study these handbooks and as you meet in your councils and in your leadership settings.”

Elder Kikuchi: 'How to open your heart to heaven'

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 10:31:00 -0700

source: ldschurchnews.com

Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi of the Seventy taught three simple principles to the audience gathered in the Marriott Center on the BYU campus Tuesday, Jan 18, and promised their lives would be changed if they follow them. Elder Kikuchi addressed the students, faculty and staff audience and quoted from the 13th chapter of John when he said that Heavenly Father is the Farmer, the Savior is the Vine, and "we are the grapes."

In order to cultivate spiritual nourishment from the Vine daily, Elder Kikuchi suggested three things to cultivate, increase and deepen spirituality.

First, hold a personal morning devotional.

"I would like to invite you to wake up a little early, but not super early because it won't last," Elder Kikuchi said in a joking manner. He said to be up reasonably early in order to prepare in mind and body for the day ahead.

Apostles Tell Young Adults How to Strengthen Their Faith

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 10:21:00 -0700

source: Newsroom.lds.org

“Be not afraid—only believe” was the advice from two apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to young adults in New Zealand recently. The Church’s New Zealand website captures the apostles’ visits.

Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to hundreds of young adults, ages 18 to 30, in South Auckland and Mairangi Bay. The two men answered questions about how the gospel of Jesus Christ can help in the daily challenges of life.