Michaelene P. Grassli
Encyclopedia
Michaelene Packer Grassli (born June 19, 1940) was the eighth general president of the Primary organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1988 to 1994. She was a member of the general presidency of the Primary from 1980 to 1994.
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah
, Michaelene Packer was raised in Blackfoot, Idaho
. She attended Brigham Young University
and later married Leonard M. Grassli in the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple
.
In 1975, Grassli became a member of the general board of the Primary. In 1980, she was asked to become the second counselor to general Primary president Dwan J. Young
, and she served in this capacity until April 1988, when she was selected to succeed Young and the general president of the Primary. Grassli called Betty Jo N. Jepson and Ruth B. Wright as her counselors. During Grassli's tenure, the Primary issued a new Children's Songbook
for use in the Primary.
In October 1988, Grassli became the first woman to speak in the LDS Church's General Conference
in the conference's 133-year history.
In 1994, Grassli and her counselors were released and Patricia P. Pinegar
was selected to succeed Grassli. Grassli was a member of the National Cub Scout
Committee of Boy Scouts of America
and is a recipient of the Boy Scouts' Silver Beaver
and Silver Antelope Award
s. She is the author of six books, including the coauthor with Susan Grassli Andersen of three children's storybooks based on incidents in the Book of Mormon
.
In 2006, Grassli was named the American Mother Inc.'s Utah Mother of the Year.
Grassli is the mother of three children, grandmother of ten, and great grandmother of two. She and her husband reside in Pleasant View, Utah
.
Born 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...
, Michaelene Packer was raised in Blackfoot, Idaho
Blackfoot, Idaho
Blackfoot is a city in Bingham County, Idaho, United States. The population was 10,419 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Bingham County. Blackfoot is self-designated the "Potato Capital of the World", because it claims to have the largest potato industry in the world...
. She attended 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...
and later married Leonard M. Grassli in the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple
Idaho Falls Idaho Temple
The Idaho Falls Idaho Temple is the tenth constructed and eighth operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Idaho Falls, Idaho it was the first LDS temple built in Idaho, and the first temple built with a modern single-spire design.The LDS temple...
.
In 1975, Grassli became a member of the general board of the Primary. In 1980, she was asked to become the second counselor to general Primary president Dwan J. Young
Dwan J. Young
Dwan Jacobsen Young was the seventh general president of the Primary organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1980 to 1988.- Biography :Dwan Jacobsen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah...
, and she served in this capacity until April 1988, when she was selected to succeed Young and the general president of the Primary. Grassli called Betty Jo N. Jepson and Ruth B. Wright as her counselors. During Grassli's tenure, the Primary issued a new Children's Songbook
Children's Songbook
The Children's Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official songbook for children in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was first published in English in 1989...
for use in the Primary.
In October 1988, Grassli became the first woman to speak in the LDS Church's General Conference
General Conference (LDS Church)
General Conference is a semiannual world conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held in April and October, where members gather in a series of two-hour sessions to listen to instruction from Church leaders...
in the conference's 133-year history.
In 1994, Grassli and her counselors were released and Patricia P. Pinegar
Patricia P. Pinegar
Patricia Peterson Pinegar was the ninth general president of the Primary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1994 to 1999....
was selected to succeed Grassli. Grassli was a member of the National Cub Scout
Cub Scout
A Cub Scout is a member of the section of the worldwide Scouting movement for young persons, mainly boys normally aged about 7 to 11. In some countries they are known by their original name of Wolf Cubs and are often referred to simply as Cubs. The movement is often referred to simply as Cubbing...
Committee of Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
and is a recipient of the Boy Scouts' Silver Beaver
Silver Beaver Award
The Silver Beaver Award is the council-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. Recipients of this award are registered adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council...
and Silver Antelope Award
Silver Antelope Award
The Silver Antelope Award is the regional-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America and recognizes outstanding service to young people within one of the four regions of the BSA...
s. She is the author of six books, including the coauthor with Susan Grassli Andersen of three children's storybooks based on incidents in the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
.
In 2006, Grassli was named the American Mother Inc.'s Utah Mother of the Year.
Grassli is the mother of three children, grandmother of ten, and great grandmother of two. She and her husband reside in Pleasant View, Utah
Pleasant View, Utah
Pleasant View is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. The population was 5,632 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ogden–Clearfield, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Publications
- All I Really Need is My Mom (Salt Lake City, Utah: BookcraftBookcraftBookcraft was a major publisher of books and products for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-History:In 1940, LDS Church President Heber J. Grant asked the church's Improvement Era magazine to compile his sermons into a book called Gospel Standards. Compiler G...
, 1993) ISBN 0884948773 - Ammon Saves the King's Sheep (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 2003)
- Jesus Visits the People of Nephi (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 2003)
- Leaderspeak
- Nephi Breaks His Bow (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 2003)
- What I Have Learned from Children (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1993) ISBN 0875797016