Biographies of New Young Women Board Members
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Following are biographies of the nine new members of the Young Women general board. More in-depth biographies can be found at ChurchofJesusChrist.org/go/ywbios or by clicking the hyperlinks below.
Carmela M. Hooker
Carmela M. Hooker, 52, San Borja Ward, Lima Peru Santa Patricia Stake; born in Lima, Peru, to Antonio and Emma Mantilla Melero; educated in bank administration, tourism; married Cesar Hooker, four children; served as ward Relief Society and Young Women president and with her husband while he presided over the Peru Piura Mission.
Leslie P. Layton
Leslie P. Layton, 62, Granite Ward, Sandy Utah Granite View Stake; born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Bill Jordan and Margaret McConkie Pope; graduated from Brigham Young University in child development and family relations; married Alan Snelgrove Layton, nine children; served as a temple matron of the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple, Primary president, humanitarian missionary in Peru, and companion to her husband when he presided over the New York Rochester Mission.
Denise P. Lindberg
Denise P. Lindberg, 63, Corner Canyon 2nd Ward, Draper Utah Corner Canyon Stake; born in Havana, Cuba, to Antonio Posse Vazquez and Isaura Margarita (Margot) Blanco Pagán de Posse; received law degree from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in social work, master of science degree, and doctorate from the University of Utah; judge; married Neil Alan Lindberg, two sons (11 grandchildren); former Young Women adviser, Gospel Doctrine and Family Relations teacher; service missionary in the Taylorsville Utah Springhill (Spanish-speaking) Branch.
Dorah Mkhabela
Dorah Mkhabela, 47, Florida Ward, Soweto South Africa Stake; born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Peter Magezi and Annah Tsatsawani; received secondary teaching diploma from Transvaal College of Education; teacher; married Jackson Mkhabela, three children; served as branch Relief Society counselor, seminary teacher, Primary counselor, and Sunday School teacher.
Janet M. Nelson
Janet M. Nelson, 54, Park Slope Ward, Brooklyn New York Stake; born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Milton and Ann Matthews; received bachelor of science degree from the University of Utah and master’s degree from Hunter College in New York City; high school math teacher; married Jeff V. Nelson, four children; served as ward and stake Relief Society president, Primary president, and stake Young Women secretary.
M. Lúcia Silva
M. Lúcia Silva, 58, Cidade Leonor Ward, São Paulo Brazil South Stake; born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to José and Maria Paes de Figueiredo Estaca; received bachelor’s degree in Portuguese and Spanish from Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro; married João Roberto Martins Silva, two children; served as stake Relief Society president, Relief Society counselor, Young Women president, family history consultant, and with her husband while he presided over the Brazil Fortaleza Mission.
Susan S. Taggart
Susan S. Taggart, 53, Yalecrest 1st Ward, Salt Lake Bonneville Stake; born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to L. Glen and Phyllis Saxton; received bachelor of arts degree in German and a master’s degree in applied linguistics from University of Utah; interior designer; married David Nathaniel Taggart, two children; served as stake Relief Society president, ward Young Women and Primary president, and full-time missionary in the Netherlands Amsterdam Mission.
Rosemary Thackeray
Rosemary Thackeray, 46, Cascade 5th Ward, Orem Utah Cascade Stake; born in Medford, Oregon, to Ralph Burnett and NaTel Rose Thackeray; received a bachelor of science degree from Utah State University and a master of public health degree and doctorate in health promotion from the University of Utah; public health faculty, Brigham Young University; served as a Relief Society president, Laurel adviser, and Primary teacher.
Megumi Yamaguchi
Megumi Yamaguchi, 43, Meito Ward, Nagoya Japan East Stake; born in Nagoya, Japan, to Takayuki and Kumiko Yamaguchi; received bachelor’s degree in travel management from BYU–Hawaii; English translator; served as stake and ward Young Women president, stake Primary president, and as a full-time missionary in the Japan Sendai Mission.
