Julie B. Beck
Encyclopedia
Julie Bangerter Beck has been the general president of the Relief Society
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 31 March 2007. She is the fifteenth woman to hold this position.
to William Grant Bangerter
and Geraldine Hamblin, Beck grew up in Utah and in São Paulo
, Brazil
, where her father served as a mission president
for the LDS Church for five years. Beck attended Dixie College and graduated from Brigham Young University
with a degree in family science. On 28 December 1973, she married Ramon P. Beck in the Salt Lake Temple
.
In October 2002, Beck was called to be the First Counselor to Susan W. Tanner
in the Young Women
general presidency of the LDS Church. Beck served in this capacity until her call in 2007 as the general president of the Relief Society
, succeeding Bonnie D. Parkin
. Beck is the fifteenth general president of the Relief Society since it was organized in 1842. As the Relief Society General President, Beck is an ex officio member of the Boards of Trustees/Education of the Church Educational System
and is also a current member of the executive committee of the Boards of Trustees/Education. Beck is assisted by two counselors, Silvia Henriquez Allred and Barbara Thompson
.
.
Beck's father, William Grant Bangerter
, began his service as a general authority
of the LDS Church in 1975, when he was called as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
. In 1976, when the position of Assistant to the Twelve was abolished, Bangerter became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He twice served as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, in 1978 to 1980 and from 1985 to 1989, at which time he was given general authority emeritus
status and released from active duties.
Beck is also the niece of Utah's thirteenth governor, Norman H. Bangerter
, who held office from 1985 to 1993.
that caused some controversy among some members of the church. In her sermon, Beck equated "nurturing" with "homemaking" — which Beck said "includes cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and keeping an orderly home" — and stated that "Latter-day Saint women should be the best homemakers in the world". A report issued a few days after Beck's speech stated that "she has caused a stir among Mormon women not seen since 1987, when President Ezra Taft Benson said unequivocally that mothers should not work outside the home except in emergencies."
Beck reiterated her counsel in a March 2008 address.
Beck's second annual address to LDS Church women in September 2008 focused on strengthening the role of the Relief Society in each congregation throughout the world. The address was viewed as being more inclusive of single women and women without children and was more enthusiastically received in the United States than previous addresses.
Relief Society
The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA and has approximately 6 million members in over 170 countries and territories...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 31 March 2007. She is the fifteenth woman to hold this position.
Biography
Born in Granger, UtahUtah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
to William Grant Bangerter
William Grant Bangerter
William Grant Bangerter was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1975 until his death. In 1989, he was given general authority emeritus status and released from active duties....
and Geraldine Hamblin, Beck grew up in Utah and in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, where her father served as a mission president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
for the LDS Church for five years. Beck attended Dixie College and graduated from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
with a degree in family science. On 28 December 1973, she married Ramon P. Beck in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
.
In October 2002, Beck was called to be the First Counselor to Susan W. Tanner
Susan W. Tanner
Susan Winder Tanner was the twelfth general president of the Young Women organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2002 until April 2008.-Biography:...
in the Young Women
Young Women (organization)
The Young Women is a youth organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
general presidency of the LDS Church. Beck served in this capacity until her call in 2007 as the general president of the Relief Society
Relief Society
The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA and has approximately 6 million members in over 170 countries and territories...
, succeeding Bonnie D. Parkin
Bonnie D. Parkin
Bonnie Dansie Parkin was the fourteenth general president of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2002 to 2007. Parkin was also a member of the general presidency of the church's Young Women organization from 1994 to 1997.Bonnie Dansie was raised in a...
. Beck is the fifteenth general president of the Relief Society since it was organized in 1842. As the Relief Society General President, Beck is an ex officio member of the Boards of Trustees/Education of the Church Educational System
Church Educational System
The Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners...
and is also a current member of the executive committee of the Boards of Trustees/Education. Beck is assisted by two counselors, Silvia Henriquez Allred and Barbara Thompson
Barbara Thompson (Mormon)
Barbara Thompson has been a member of the general presidency of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since March 2007.-Early life:...
.
Family
Beck and her husband have two daughters and one son and currently reside in Alpine, UtahAlpine, Utah
Alpine is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 9555 at the 2010 census. Alpine has been one of the many quickly-growing cities of Utah since the 1970s, and especially the 1990s. It is located on the...
.
Beck's father, William Grant Bangerter
William Grant Bangerter
William Grant Bangerter was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1975 until his death. In 1989, he was given general authority emeritus status and released from active duties....
, began his service as a general authority
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
of the LDS Church in 1975, when he was called as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, commonly shortened to Assistant to the Twelve or Assistant to the Twelve Apostles, was a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1941 and 1976...
. In 1976, when the position of Assistant to the Twelve was abolished, Bangerter became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He twice served as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, in 1978 to 1980 and from 1985 to 1989, at which time he was given general authority emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
status and released from active duties.
Beck is also the niece of Utah's thirteenth governor, Norman H. Bangerter
Norman H. Bangerter
Norman Howard Bangerter was the 13th Governor of Utah from 1985 to 1993. He was the first Republican elected to the position since 1965.- Biography :...
, who held office from 1985 to 1993.
Key addresses
At the October 2007 general conference of the LDS Church, Beck delivered a sermonSermon
A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts...
that caused some controversy among some members of the church. In her sermon, Beck equated "nurturing" with "homemaking" — which Beck said "includes cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and keeping an orderly home" — and stated that "Latter-day Saint women should be the best homemakers in the world". A report issued a few days after Beck's speech stated that "she has caused a stir among Mormon women not seen since 1987, when President Ezra Taft Benson said unequivocally that mothers should not work outside the home except in emergencies."
Beck reiterated her counsel in a March 2008 address.
Beck's second annual address to LDS Church women in September 2008 focused on strengthening the role of the Relief Society in each congregation throughout the world. The address was viewed as being more inclusive of single women and women without children and was more enthusiastically received in the United States than previous addresses.
External links
- "General Auxiliaries: Sister Julie B. Beck", lds.org
- “Julie Bangerter Beck First Counselor, Young Women General Presidency”, Ensign, Nov. 2002, 124
- "Julie B. Beck: Relief Society General President", Ensign, May 2007, 127.