Joy D. Jones

Joy Diane Harmon Jones (born July 20, 1954) has been the 13th Primary General President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since April 2016.

Joy D. Jones
Joy D. Jones in 2018
13th Primary General President
April 2, 2016 (2016-04-02)
Called byThomas S. Monson
PredecessorRosemary M. Wixom
Personal details
Born (1954-07-20) 20 July 1954
The Dalles, Oregon, United States
Alma materBrigham Young University
Spouse(s)Robert B. Jones
Children5
ParentsAldo Harmon, Adelia Ellsworth Harmon

Jones is a native of The Dalles, Oregon. She is the daughter of Aldo Harmon and Adelia Ellsworth.[1] Jones was raised in Oregon and her parents were among the early builders of the LDS Church in the region. The church was not deeply established in the area and she was raised in a branch that was part of a district. The event which most influenced her gaining faith in the LDS Church was a talk given by Robert L. Backman, who was then the mission president in the region.

Jones holds an associate of science degree from Brigham Young University (BYU) in family living. Jones worked as a dispatcher at the U.S. Forest Services dispatch center in Oregon. She also worked as an administrative assistant at the Federal Building in Provo and at a dermatology clinic.

Jones has lived in Texas, Oregon, California and Utah. For 14 years she lived in Santa Rosa, California, and in 1994 she relocated to Draper, Utah. Jones was involved with the open house of the Draper Utah Temple.

LDS Church service

For six years prior to her call as Primary General President, Jones served on the Primary General Board. She has also served as a ward Relief Society president and in presidencies of the Relief Society, Primary and Young Women organizations, at both ward and stake level.

In April 2016, Jones was called to succeed Rosemary M. Wixom as the church's Primary General President.[2] She initially called Jean B. Bingham and Bonnie H. Cordon as counselors and later replaced Bingham with Lisa L. Harkness as her first counselor.

In 2018, Jones was the keynote speaker at the Utah Coalition Against Pornography Meeting.[3] In 2019, Jones participated in the first-ever 'Sister-to-Sister' question-and-answer worldwide live event as part of Brigham Young University's Women's Conference.[4] Jones was selected to participate in the 2019 White House National Day of Prayer and was quoted, "We pray for the leaders of this nation. Bless them, protect them and grant them wisdom."[5] Jones gave a commencement address at the Brigham Young University-Idaho graduation in July 2019.[6]

Personal life

Jones married Robert B. Jones in the Manti Utah Temple in 1974. They met while studying at BYU and have five children.

References

  1. Johnson, Valerie. "Sister Joy D. Jones: A lifelong love of learning and motherhood", Church News, Utah, 7 July 2016. Retrieved on 7 August 2019.
  2. Carlson, Sonja. "New Primary general presidency announced at LDS General Conference", Ogden Standard-Examiner, Utah, 2 April 2016. Retrieved on 7 August 2019.
  3. Salt Lake Tribune report on Utah Coalition conference
  4. Weaver, Jennifer. "BYU Women's Conference to include first ever 'Sister-to-Sister' live event", KUTV CBS News, 15 April 2019. Retrieved on 13 March 2020.
  5. "Latter-day Saint children’s leader Joy Jones prays at White House", The Salt Lake Tribune, 2 May 2019. Retrieved on 13 March 2020.
  6. "Primary President Joy Jones speaks during BYU-Idaho commencement", Rexburg Standard Journal, 24 July 2019. Retrieved on 13 March 2020.

See also

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles
Preceded by
Rosemary M. Wixom
Primary General President
2016 current
Succeeded by
Incumbent
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