Chieko N. Okazaki
Encyclopedia
Chieko Nishimura Okazaki (October 21, 1926 – August 1, 2011) was the first counselor to Elaine L. Jack
in the Relief Society
general presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1990 to 1997. She was the first non-Caucasian
woman to serve as a member of the general presidency in one of the LDS Church's auxiliary organizations
.
Okazaki was born and raised in Hawaii as a Buddhist, the daughter of Hawaii-born Japanese. At the age of fifteen she converted to the LDS Church. She married Edward Y. Okazaki, and they had two sons. By profession she was an educator and taught in Hawaii, Utah, and Colorado, and was also an elementary school principal.
Edward Okazaki served in the United States Army during World War II
.
In 1961 Okazaki was appointed to the YWMIA board in the LDS Church and was the first non-Caucasian to serve in this position. From 1968 to 1971 she served with her husband as he served as the first president
of the Japan–Okinawa Mission
of the church and then the Japan Central Mission after the Japan–Okinawa Mission was split. The Japan Central Mission was based in Kobe
.
In 1990, Okazaki was called to be the first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency. In that position, she became one of the first LDS Church leaders to address in a church setting the topic of sexual abuse.
Okazaki served as a member of the Southern Virginia University
board of trustees. She was a frequent speaker at Brigham Young University
's women's conference and other events sponsored by the LDS Church or organizations owned by the LDS Church. She wrote several books, most of which are geared to an audience of Latter-day Saint women.
Okazaki died of congestive heart failure in Salt Lake City, Utah
, aged 84.
Elaine L. Jack
Elaine Low Jack was the twelfth general president of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1990 to 1997. She also served in the general presidency of the church's Young Women Organization between 1987 and 1990...
in the Relief Society
Relief Society
The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA and has approximately 6 million members in over 170 countries and territories...
general presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1990 to 1997. She was the first non-Caucasian
Caucasian
Caucasian may refer to:*Anything from the Caucasus region**Peoples of the Caucasus or Caucasian peoples, humans from the Caucasus region**Languages of the Caucasus, languages spoken in the Caucasus region...
woman to serve as a member of the general presidency in one of the LDS Church's auxiliary organizations
Auxiliary organization (LDS Church)
An auxiliary organization is a secondary body of church government within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is "established for moral, educational, and benevolent purposes." As their name suggests, LDS Church auxiliary organizations are ancillary to the governing power of the...
.
Okazaki was born and raised in Hawaii as a Buddhist, the daughter of Hawaii-born Japanese. At the age of fifteen she converted to the LDS Church. She married Edward Y. Okazaki, and they had two sons. By profession she was an educator and taught in Hawaii, Utah, and Colorado, and was also an elementary school principal.
Edward Okazaki served in the United States Army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In 1961 Okazaki was appointed to the YWMIA board in the LDS Church and was the first non-Caucasian to serve in this position. From 1968 to 1971 she served with her husband as he served as the first president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the Japan–Okinawa Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
of the church and then the Japan Central Mission after the Japan–Okinawa Mission was split. The Japan Central Mission was based in Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
.
In 1990, Okazaki was called to be the first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency. In that position, she became one of the first LDS Church leaders to address in a church setting the topic of sexual abuse.
Okazaki served as a member of the Southern Virginia University
Southern Virginia University
Southern Virginia University is a liberal arts college located in Buena Vista, Virginia that promotes standards and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while not being owned nor operated by the Church...
board of trustees. She was a frequent speaker at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
's women's conference and other events sponsored by the LDS Church or organizations owned by the LDS Church. She wrote several books, most of which are geared to an audience of Latter-day Saint women.
Okazaki died of congestive heart failure in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, aged 84.