Tag Archives: men

General Conference From the Past: Mother, Catch the Vision of Your Call

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I know we talked about moms last week as we studied a past Conference talk, but between the upcoming Mother’s Day and the fact that I’m a mom, I reserve the right to address the subject again! This week, we’re looking at a talk from 1974, given by Bishop H. Burke Peterson of the Presiding Bishopric. The talk is entitled “Mother, Catch the Vision of Your Call.” Bishop Peterson begins by citing the true story of a teenage delinquent. A neighbor remembered a time when, as a young child, he had told her that there was no mother at his … Continue reading →

On The Road: Tips For Women Who Travel Alone

Upon graduating from college I accepted a job in a city located about 200 miles from where I went to school. My boyfriend at the time decided to remain in our college town, so thus began our long-distance relationship. It was kept alive by each of us driving about six hours roundtrip once a week. (I drove down on my weekends off and he drove up on his “weekends”—he had Tuesdays and Wednesdays off.) Back then I didn’t think much of it. I simply loaded up my Toyota with my favorite tunes and snacks and hit the highway as soon … Continue reading →

Relief Society Presidents: Bonnie D. Parkin

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The third in a family of five children, Bonnie Dansie was born on August 4, 1940 to Jesse and Ruth Butikofer Dansie. She grew up in Herriman, Utah, and attended Utah State University. A year after graduating, she met James L. Parkin, and the two were married in 1963 in the Salt Lake Temple. They have four sons. Bonnie served on the Relief Society general board from 1990 to 1994 under Elaine L. Jack, and then was called as second counselor in the Young Women general presidency. In 1997, her husband was called to serve as mission president of the … Continue reading →

Relief Society Presidents: Mary Ellen Smoot

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Born on August 19, 1933 in Ogden, Utah, Mary Ellen Wood was the fifth of six daughters in her home. She was sealed to her husband, Stanley Smoot, in the Salt Lake Temple in 1952. Within the first eight years of their marriage, they had given birth to six of their seven children. Mary Ellen served as a ward Relief Society president, on the editorial board of The Friend magazine, and as a member of the Church Correlation Writing Committee. She also served in the Ohio Columbus and then the newly-created Ohio Akron missions with her husband while he was … Continue reading →

Relief Society Presidents: Elaine L. Jack

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The first Relief Society president from outside of the United States, Elaine L. Jack was born March 22, 1928 in Cardston, Alberta, Canada only a quarter of a block away from the Alberta Temple. Elaine graduated high school as valedictorian, and went on to attend the University of Utah. During her first year of college, she met her future husband, Joseph E. Jack, although they didn’t become engaged until he graduated medical school. Married in the Alberta Temple on September 16, 1948, the young couple moved immediately to New York, where Joe completed his internship and residency. Two years later, … Continue reading →

Relief Society Presidents: Barbara W. Winder

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Born May 9, 1931, Barbara Woodhead was the eldest of four children born to Willard and Marguerite Hand Woodhead. Although both of her maternal grandmothers served as Relief Society presidents, her parents were inactive in the church. Barbara spent a great deal of time learning the gospel at a neighbor’s house, and a Primary teacher took Barbara to class each week and to be baptized at the age of eight. Growing up, Barbara wanted her family to be sealed together forever, but this dream would take some time to bear fruit. When nineteen-year-old Barbara was married to Richard William Winder, … Continue reading →

Relief Society Presidents: Barbara B. Smith

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As the first Relief Society president born in the twentieth century, Barbara Bradshaw Smith found her ten year term filled with unrest as the proposed Equal Rights Amendment was discussed and finally defeated. Her time as President was marked by her determination to stand for women’s rights, albeit not in the same manner viewed by the world. Born on January 26, 1922 in Salt Lake City, Utah, Barbara’s attending physician was her maternal grandmother, a woman whose example highly influenced her granddaughter. She was the third of six children born to Dorothy Mills and Dan Delos Bradshaw, parents who taught … Continue reading →

Top Ten Male Stereotypes

What is a stereotype? It is generally an idea or a perception about a specific demographic that may have some truth to it but is not likely to be true of all persons in that demographic. Still, we all tend to hold common stereotypes of certain people in mind. What are some common stereotypes when it comes to men? Here are ten, in no particular order: 1. Men have a difficult time relinquishing the remote control. 2. Speaking of remote controls, many men would have one for everything if it were possible. 3. Men will watch a show they’ve already … Continue reading →

Relief Society Presidents: Emmeline Wells

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When she was called to serve as the fifth president for the Relief Society at the age of 82, she was the oldest woman to serve in that position. She had personally known all four of the previous Relief Society presidents, and was the last president with a personal knowledge of the Prophet Joseph Smith. From leading the women’s suffrage movement to editing the second women’s magazine in the nation, her life was devoted to women. Born in Massachusetts on leap year day – February 29, 1828 – Emmeline later attributed her vigor to the fact that she only aged … Continue reading →

Relief Society Presidents: Bathsheba W. Smith

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Nineteen-year-old Bathsheba Smith was the youngest attendee at the first Relief Society meeting in Nauvoo. She loved the temple, and felt that serving in the Lord’s house was one of the most important things she could do as Relief Society President; she served in the Nauvoo Temple, the Salt Lake Endowment House, the Manti Temple, the Logan Temple, and the Salt Lake Temple. She was a woman of great faith and love. The eighth of nine children, Bathsheba Smith was born in West Virginia on May 3, 1822 to Mark and Susannah Ogden Bigler. As a young girl, she traded … Continue reading →