Julie Bangerter Beck

First Counselor, Young Women General Presidency

“We had to come up with a way to help our children learn how to work,” says Sister Julie B. Beck, newly sustained first counselor in the Young Women general presidency. “We didn’t have a farm, so they couldn’t milk cows. Music was our cow.”

Just as her own three children learned how to work by practicing the piano, Sister Beck learned the joy of work and service by growing up in the middle of 11 children. Born on 29 September 1954 to William Grant and Geraldine Hamblin Bangerter, Sister Beck grew up in Granger, Utah, and in São Paulo, Brazil, where her father was a mission president.

Sister Beck graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in family science. On 28 December 1973 she married Ramon P. Beck in the Salt Lake Temple. They live in Alpine, Utah, and have two daughters, one son, and three grandchildren. Sister Beck’s favorite activities are with her family. “Our children are our best friends,” she says.

Sister Beck has held several callings in Relief Society and Young Women, but she has a special place in her heart for the young women of the Church and recognizes the role hard work and service play in their spiritual development.

“I still have my bandolo from my Beehive years,” says Sister Beck, mentioning a Church program from her youth. “I enjoyed working to earn all my Young Women awards.”

She carries that enthusiasm into the current Church program for young women—Personal Progress. She served on the Young Women general board and worked on the revised Personal Progress program.

“I think Personal Progress helps a young woman understand and practice keeping her baptismal covenant,” says Sister Beck. “And I believe if she can understand and keep her baptismal covenant, she will be prepared to make and keep temple covenants.”