LDS Female Leaders Invited to Serve on Key Priesthood Councils at Highest Level of Church

Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, who currently serves as the general Young Women's president made this stunning announcement this evening via a Facebook page status update. This historic news will affect the women of the Church's visibility, value and voice within the highest councils of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Mormon)

I still vividly remember President Thomas S. Monson announcing the lowered missionary age for young women. Today I witnessed another significant moment – I received an invitation to participate as a member of the Missionary Executive Council. I am honored. This is one of three key councils of the Church, each led by members of the Twelve. Sister Linda Burton will now serve on the Priesthood and Family Executive Council and Sister Rosemary Wixom will be on the Temple and Family History Executive Council.

What a great time to be a woman in the Church where our voices are needed and valued more than ever. I am grateful for the opportunity to add my perspective and experience to this council as we work together to spread the message of the restored Gospel.

Tad Welch from the Deseret News reports:

The LDS Church has added women to three important committees, a historic development that gives women significant, permanent, official voice in church leadership. 

Church leaders changed the name of the faith's Priesthood Executive Council to the Priesthood and Family Executive Council and invited the church's Relief Society General President, Sister Linda K. Burton, to sit on the council. 

The General Young Women President, Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, will join the Missionary Executive Council. 

The General Primary President, Sister Rosemary Wixom, will be on the Temple and Family History Executive Council.

I will update post, as more information from the Church is provided.

Here is what Linda K. Burton, who serves as the general Relief Society president, has to say about this historic event in Church history -- on her Facebook page, too! These ladies really know how to use social media to spread the good news!

It is with a thankful heart that I have been appointed to serve on the Priesthood and Family Executive Council. Good men and women of the Church throughout history have worked together to build a strong foundation for Christ’s restored Gospel to flourish and give hope to a world that is so often without light. It is now more important than ever that we stand together and follow Heavenly Father’s plan to bring his children home.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks shared Sister Oscarson's Facebook status update on his Facebook page and included these supportive comments:

I was very pleased to read Sister Bonnie Oscarson’s Facebook post about the new assignments of our women officers to the three general priesthood councils. We need their wisdom and participation! It is sensible that their assignments line up with their current responsibilities. 

Sister Oscarson will serve on the Missionary Executive Council at a time when the Church has an unprecedented number of missionaries, a great number of whom are young women. Sister Wixom’s appointment to the Temple and Family History Executive Council will help us teach our young people to learn about their ancestors. 

I was also very pleased to learn that the First Presidency has approved renaming the Priesthood Executive Council to the “Priesthood and Family Executive Council.” We know Sister Burton will give valuable insight in this new position as she represents women of the Church around the world.

The Mormon Newsroom blog posted this report Women Church Leaders Appointed to Leadership Councils, which includes the above information along with Sister Rosemary M. Wixom's Facebook page status update:

Primary children sing “I Love To See The Temple.” Some children even research family names and index. They love to listen to stories about the temple and their own ancestors. It gives them a sense of belonging and reinforces in their hearts the goal to remain steadfast in the gospel and attend the temple one day. I know that the truths we teach our children are those that remain in their hearts as adults, which is why I consider it a special privilege to now serve on the Temple and Family History Executive Council.

The Mormon Newsroom stated that these assignments are effective immediately.

“We are confident that the wisdom and judgment of these general auxiliary presidents will provide a valuable dimension to the important work accomplished by these councils,” said a letter to general authorities and general auxiliary presidencies from Church President Thomas S. Monson; President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency; and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency. 

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Kathryn Skaggs