14 Women Called to Young Women General Advisory Council

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Fourteen women have been called to the Young Women General Advisory Council of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They will assist the Young Women General Presidency as they counsel with other general and local Church leaders to teach, serve and watch over the young women of the Church. Members of the council began serving on August 1, 2023.

The Young Women General Presidency — President Emily Belle Freeman and counselors Sister Tamara W. Runia and Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus  — were sustained during April 2023 general conference and began serving August 1, 2023.

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The new council members are as follows:

Lía Alejandra Baez Vidal, 24, Pioneer YSA Spanish Ward, Salt Lake Pioneer YSA Stake. Born in New York City to David A. Vidal and Marisol Cabral Vidal. Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at Westminster University. Works as a director of policy for a nonprofit organization. Serves as a ward interpreter/translator and is a former ward Relief Society presidency counselor, Relief Society teacher, ward service coordinator, ward pianist and full-time missionary in the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission.

Camille Buckley, 25, Orem Utah YSA 13th Ward, Orem Utah YSA 1st Stake. Born in Provo, Utah, to John William Buckley and Diane Davies Buckley. Earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Brigham Young University. Works as an executive assistant at an experience management software company. Served as a ward Relief Society president, Relief Society teacher, temple ordinance worker and shift coordinator, young single adult service committee leader and full-time missionary in the Argentina Bahía Blanca Mission.

Irene Isabel Caso-McCrary, 45, Deseret Ward, Kaysville Utah Deseret Mill Stake. Born in Madrid, Spain, to Juan Carlos Caso Soroa and Isabel Rioja Banda. Earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from University San Pablo CEU, Madrid, Spain. Works as a media manager for the Church Communication Department and is a former broadcast journalist. Married to Michael McCrary; two children. Served as a ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, ward Primary presidency counselor, youth Sunday School teacher and full-time missionary in the Spain Bilbao Mission.

Haylie Chase, 22, Provo 19th Ward, Provo Utah YSA 2nd Stake. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, to David A. Chase and Rachelle Rasband Chase. Earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Brigham Young University. Served as a “Come Follow Me facilitator,” a Service Committee member, a Family Home Evening leader, and a full-time missionary in the Brazil Londrina and Florida Orlando missions.

Emily Darger Deans, 43, Edgemont 1st Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont North Stake. Born in Boise, Idaho, to Stan Darger and Anne Carroll Peterson Darger. Earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business and studied art history at Colorado State University while serving as captain of the volleyball team. Worked as director of marketing for BYU Athletics, and in community building and education in Palo Alto, California, and Utah. Married to C. Logan Deans; four children. Served as a stake scripture class teacher, ward Young Women president, ward Primary and Relief Society presidency counselor, Primary teacher and Nursery leader.

Scharman Thorn Grimmer, 48, Alpine 9th Ward, Alpine Utah Stake. Born in Dallas, Texas, to Blaine Randall Thorn and Janet Scharman. Earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in child and teen development from Syracuse University. Works as a child and teen development specialist. Married to Matthew Grimmer; five children. Served as a stake and ward Primary president, stake Young Women camp director, ward Young Women president, ward Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary presidency counselor, Primary music leader, Gospel Doctrine teacher, early morning Seminary teacher, Primary teacher and nursery leader.

Katie Wilson Hughes, 45, Angel Street Ward, Kaysville Utah West Stake. Born in Salt Lake City to Randon W. Wilson and Gayle Dunford Wilson. Earned a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from the University of Utah. Worked for CES Youth and Family Programs at Brigham Young University and is an experienced business owner now focused on non-profit and interfaith work. Married to William Cannon Hughes; five children. Served as ward Relief Society president and teacher; ward Young Women presidency counselor, adviser, secretary, and camp director; Sunday School and Primary teacher, nursery leader, and ward Primary music leader.

Rachel Rose Larsen, 24, Orem Utah YSA 30th Ward, Orem Utah YSA 3rd Stake. Born in Austin, Texas, to Kelly Greg Larsen and Sarah Durrant Larsen. Earned an associate degree from Utah Valley University in health administration and is earning a bachelor’s degree in communication at Utah Valley University. Works for Humanitarian Experience and as a medical assistant for a local doctor. Served as a ward Relief Society secretary, presidency counselor, ministering secretary and teacher; family home evening leader; and full-time missionary in the Brazil Sao Paulo South Mission.

Tamara McFadden, 53, Alpine Cove Ward, Alpine Utah North Stake. Born in Redondo Beach, California, to Porter Jones Hall and Janice Walker Hall. Earning a bachelor’s degree in family studies at Brigham Young University. Married to Robert A. McFadden; six children and guardian of three children. Served as stake and ward Young Women president; ward Relief Society and Young Women presidency counselor; seminary, Sunday School, Gospel Doctrine, and Relief Society teacher; and Primary music leader.

Jordan Murray, 31, Emigration YSA Ward, Salt Lake Bonneville YSA Stake. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Taz Murray and Tamera Brown Murray. Earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Brigham Young University. President of Humanitarian Experience, Inc. Served as a ward Relief Society presidency counselor, Young Women adviser, Sunday School teacher and full-time missionary in the Missouri Independence and Kansas Wichita missions.

Kathryn Evelyn Irene Reynolds, 41, Bountiful 7th Ward, Bountiful Utah South Stake. Born in Kiel, Germany, to John Arlon Reynolds and Olinda Leigh Hoehne. Earned an associate degree in health science from BYU-Idaho, a bachelor’s degree in marriage, family and human development, and a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from Brigham Young University. Former executive assistant to a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. Works as a licensed marriage and family therapist at a group practice. Served as a ward Relief Society president, ward and stake Relief Society counselor, temple ordinance worker, ward temple and family history consultant, Relief Society General Advisory Council member (2020-22), Young Women camp director and full-time missionary in the New York Utica Mission.

Courtney Rich, 40, Strasburg Ward, Highland Utah Central Stake. Born in Wheaton, Illinois to Steven D. Carlston and Diana J. Williams. Received a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Brigham Young University. Worked in television and media consulting and is the founder of a social media brand. Married to Ryan C. Rich, two children. Served as a ward Young Women presidency counselor, ward Primary presidency counselor, Young Women adviser, Primary teacher, Relief Society teacher and youth Sunday School teacher.

Barbara (Bobbie) Sandberg, 46, Edgemont 2nd Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont Stake. Born in San Francisco, California, to John S. Tanner and Susan Winder Tanner. Earned a bachelor’s degree in linguistics, a master’s certificate in TESOL, and a master’s degree in instructional psychology and technology from Brigham Young University. Married to Steven M. Sandberg; six children. Served as ward and stake Primary president and counselor, ward and stake Relief Society presidency counselor, ward and stake Young Women camp director, ward Young Women counselor, ward Primary Activities leader and ward choir director.

Ruth Jones Todd, 61, Parleys 3rd Ward, Salt Lake Parleys Stake. Born in Safford, Arizona, to Charles Edward Jones and Elizabeth Ann Anderson. Earned a Bachelor of Arts and MBA from Brigham Young University. Works as an executive vice president and Chief Content Officer for Bonneville International and serves on several community boards. She is a former SVP of global public affairs, television news anchor and reporter, broadcast journalism teacher at BYU, Church Public Affairs media team member and Church spokesperson. Married to Bryan Burton Todd; five children. Serves as a “Music & the Spoken Word” host. Served as Young Women General Advisory Council member, stake Young Women president, stake Young Women camp director, ward Relief Society, Primary and Young Women presidency counselor, and Gospel Doctrine teacher.