RS Presidency

Relief Society General Presidency: A little refresher course on our great leaders!!

Julie B. Beck, the new general president of the Relief Society, was serving as the first counselor in the General Young Women Presidency prior to receiving her call to direct the Church’s women’s service organization. As a child she learned to speak Portuguese when she lived in Brazil with her parents and 10 brothers and sisters while her father served as mission president.In the Church she has served on the Young Women General Board, as ward Young Women and Primary president, as counselor in a stake Relief Society presidency and at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. She is a graduate of Dixie College and Brigham Young University.Beck was a full-time homemaker prior to her service in the Young Women general presidency. Beck and her husband are the parents of three children and eight grandchildren.

Silvia H. Allred, newly named as first counselor in the general presidency of the Relief Society, was most recently serving with her husband as he presided over the Missionary Training Center in the Dominican Republic.A native of El Salvador, she and her husband served as public affairs missionaries in Madrid, Spain. She also served with her husband when he presided over the Paraguay Asuncion Mission. Allred served as a member of the Young Women General Board, as stake and ward Relief Society and Primary president, and as a full-time missionary in the Central American Mission.Allred attended the University of Arizona, Brigham Young University and the General Francisco Marzan Institute in El Salvador. She has been a Spanish language instructor at the Missionary Training Center, grade school teacher, PTA president and Girl Scout leader. She is married to Jeffrey A. Allred, and they are the parents of eight children.

Barbara Thompson, called today as second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, most recently served as the activities chair in her home ward in Salt Lake City. Her previous Church service includes Gospel Doctrine teacher, ward Young Women president, Laurel advisor, Relief Society General Board member, ward Relief Society counselor, Beehive advisor and camp director.Most recently Thompson has been working as the executive director of an international assessment center for abused and neglected children. She has worked in the social services field directing a number of state-level human and family services departments. She received a bachelor’s degree in social work from Brigham Young University and as master’s degree in social work from the University of Utah.