In an interview with KSL’s Dave McCann, Bonnie Oscarson shared some of her experiences, thoughts, and feelings she has had since being called to serve as the Young Women general president for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Oscarson said she is continually impressed with the amazing, valiant young women in the Church that have a sincere desire to do what is right. Believing that many of the youth need more direction in their lives, Oscarson suggests that parents take every opportunity, even if spontaneous, to teach their children gospel truths.
While some parents might shy away from difficult topics for various reasons, Oscarson stated that parents should be open and honest. “I think [children] want transparency,” Oscarson told McCann. “I don’t think they want us to shy away from the difficult issues. I think they want us to be up front and introduce the difficult topics ourselves.”
Never imagining she would be called to serve in what many perceive to be a high position in the Church, Oscarson said she was shocked when asked to meet with the First Presidency. After President Thomas S. Monson extended the call to her, Oscarson said she started crying.
“I said, ‘President Monson, I don’t know anything about how to do this,'” Oscarson recounts. “And he just looked at me with that funny kind of half smile that he has and said, ‘Of course not, Sister Oscarson, we just called you.’ So I just kind of left the room in a daze. Honestly it was the last thing I would have expected in my life.”
Since accepting her call to serve, Oscarson says she has felt so blessed.
Every day is a pinch-me moment. I can’t believe that I’m doing this. I consider it one of the greatest privileges in my life. It truly really is.
Although Oscarson feels this opportunity to serve is one of the greatest privileges in her life, she says she is often required to do things out of her comfort zone. She explains that the first time she was to speak in the Conference Center was when she conducted the General Women’s Session of conference. She remembers leaning over to her counselor, Carole McConkie, a minute before it was supposed to start and saying, “I don’t want to do this.” McConkie told Oscarson that she had to, and Oscarson remembers the experience as follows:
“There are moments like that when you say, ‘What am I doing here and how can I, just a normal person, be doing what I’ve seen these people I admire all my life do.’ The clock does hit that point and the little sign does go on that says stand up and so you walk to the pulpit and something kind of miraculous happens when you step up to that pulpit. I call it the bubble of protection. There is something that surrounds you when you stand up there and you feel calm, and you feel peace and you know you’re not alone.”
Sister Bonnie Oscarson has served as the Young Women General President since April of 2013.
