Bonnie D. Parkin
{{Infobox LDS biography
| name = Bonnie D. Parkin
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| birth_name = Bonnie Dansie
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1940|08|04}}
| birth_place = Murray, Utah, United States
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| residence = Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| education =
| alma_mater = Utah State University
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| spouse = {{marriage|James L. Parkin|1963}}
| children = 4
| parents =
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| position_or_quorum1 = 14th Relief Society General President
| called_by1 = Gordon B. Hinckley
| ordination_reason1 =
| predecessor1 = Mary Ellen W. Smoot
| successor1 = Julie B. Beck
| start_date1 = {{start date|2002|04|06}}
| end_date1 = {{end date|2007|03|31}}
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Bonnie D. Parkin (born August 4, 1940) is an American religious leader, teacher, and speaker. She served as the fourteenth Relief Society General President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 2002 to 2007.{{Cite news |last=Groutage |first=Hillary |date=2004-09-26 |title=Relief Society women should 'belong' |page=17 |newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111173709/relief-society-women-should-belong/ |access-date=2022-10-12 |via=Newspapers.com}}
Early life and education
Parkin was born in Murray, Utah and grew up with four siblings in Herriman, Utah.{{cite book |last1=Peterson |first1=Janet |last2=Guant |first2=LaRene |title=Faith, Hope, and Charity: Inspiration from the Lives of General Relief Society Presidents |date=2008 |publisher=Covenant Communications |isbn=978-1598115208}}{{rp|269-270}} In 1963, she married James L. Parkin. She earned a degree in elementary education and early childhood development from Utah State University (USU) in Logan, Utah.[https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/2003-03-01/utah-state-university-honors-sister-parkin-23138 "Utah State University honors Sister Parkin"], Church News, Utah, 27 October 2005. Retrieved on 2 August 2019. Parkin and her husband moved to Seattle, Washington as he finished his residency. The couple returned to Utah when he took a position in the division of otolaryngology at the University of Utah School of Medicine. She taught elementary school for three years. Parkin’s community service included work as PTA board president, docent for Utah Symphony, and page on Utah Senate floor. She was also a public speaker and at community and religious events.Hancock, Jacob. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180924125419/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/705377568/MCAP-conference-defends-faith-in-ministry.html "MCAP conference defends faith in ministry"], Deseret News, Utah, 2 April 2010. Retrieved on 2 August 2019.Stack, Peggy Fletcher. [https://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/utah/ci_3060820 "LDS women told to find joy in journey"], Salt Lake Tribune, London, 27 September 2005. Retrieved on 2 August 2019. In 2008, she received USU's Giving Heart Award.{{cite news |title=Parkin earns USU's Giving Heart Award |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/282217914/Record/5EF2636E209D426BPQ/30 |access-date=14 October 2022 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=May 30, 2008}}
LDS Church service
Parkin served in various capacities in the LDS Church, including stake Young Women president, ward Primary president, and ward Relief Society president.{{Cite news |last=Babbitt |first=Christi |date=2004-05-01 |title=Panel: Families can find protection, safeguards despite life's challenges |page=27 |newspaper=The Daily Herald |location=Provo, Utah |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111173522/panel-families-can-find-protection/ |access-date=2022-10-12 |via=Newspapers.com}} In September 1990, Parkin served as chairman of a transition committee which helped young women transition to membership in Relief Society. In 1994, she was called to serve as second counselor to Janette C. Hales in the Young Women General Presidency. She then served with husband when he was president of the church's England London South Mission from 1997 to 2000. While in London, she suffered from an inner ear blood clot and lost hearing in one ear.{{cite news |last1=Stack |first1=Peggy Fletcher |title=LDS' Parkin Wants 'Global Sisterhood' |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/281300703 |access-date=14 October 2022 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=October 5, 2002 |page=A1|id={{ProQuest|281300703}} }}{{rp|280-283}}
In 2002, Parkin was called as the church's Relief Society General President.Westenskow, Rosalie. [https://web.archive.org/web/20190802130624/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/660195358/Hows-your-heart-an-LDS-leader-asks.amp "'How's your heart?' an LDS leader asks"], Deseret News, Utah, 14 February 2007. Retrieved on 2 August 2019. Kathleen H. Hughes and Anne C. Pingree served as her counselors; both have professional backgrounds in education.{{Cite news |last=Hoag |first=Karen |date=2002-05-03 |title=Relief Society leaders speak at conference |page=7 |newspaper=The Daily Herald |location=Provo, Utah |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111174071/relief-society-leaders-speak-at/ |access-date=2022-10-12 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Hilary Groutage |title=Parkin to Head Relief Society |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/281159346 |access-date=14 October 2022 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=April 7, 2002 |page=A9|id={{ProQuest|281159346}} }} Parkin’s twelve addresses in the church's general Relief Society Meeting or general conference included How Has Relief Society Blessed Your Life?, Fat-Free Feasting, and Gratitude: A Path to Happiness.Jones, Morgan. [https://web.archive.org/web/20141125205144/http://www.deseretnews.com/top/2876/14/Sister-Bonnie-D-Parkin-Attitude-of-gratitude-25-quotes-from-LDS-leaders-on-being-thankful.html "'Attitude of gratitude': 25 quotes from LDS leaders on being thankful"], Deseret News, Utah, 19 November 2014. Retrieved on 2 August 2019. Her address in the 2003 general Relief Society meeting warned against criticizing and gossiping.{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Celia R. |title=LDS Relief Society asks women to choose well |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=27907925&q=%22bonnie+d.+parkin%22&sort=rel |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=Salt Lake Tribune |date=2003-09-28 |page=B4 |language=en}} She also gave the keynote address at Brigham Young University's annual Women's Conference in the same year.{{cite news |last1=Stewart |first1=Amy K. |title=Women's Conference highlights sisterhood, acts of selflessness |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=23560077&q=%22bonnie+d.+parkin%22&sort=rel |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=Provo Daily Herald |date=May 2, 2003}} In an open letter to the Federal Communications Commission, Parkin and the other members of the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary presidencies asked for strict guidelines on children's television content, including asking that family relationships, schools, and religions not be ridiculed.{{cite news |title=LDS women leaders want TV cleaned up |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=29665307&q=%22bonnie+d.+parkin%22&sort=rel |work=David County Clipper |date=1995-09-22}} Her speech at the 2006 general Relief Society meeting emphasized that feeling God's love would help comfort women in the church.{{cite news |last1=Stack |first1=Peggy Fletcher |title=Relief Society assured of God's love in meeting |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/281993173 |access-date=14 October 2022 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=September 24, 2006|id={{ProQuest|281993173}} }}
Personal life
Parkin and her husband have four children and they live in Utah.
References
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External links
- [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/callings/relief-society/relief-society-presidents/bonnie-d-parkin?lang=eng Bonnie D. Parkin Official Profile]
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Category:Latter Day Saints from Utah
Category:Utah State University alumni