Lehi Stake RS Presidency

Patricia L. Young
  —Stake Relief Society President

I was born in Granger, Utah but was raised in Alpine. I’m number 5 of 13 children so growing up in controlled chaos was pretty much all I knew. I married in 1984 and shortly afterwards my husband joined the army so we were off to see the world. In our sixteen years of marriage we had four children, 2 boys & 2 girls, and moved eight times. In 2001 I turned forty, bought a minivan, and got divorced, you might say it was a bit of an eventful year. In 2003 I married a wonderful man, Dan Young, and we added his three children to our household. He too was a military man, and at the time was flying helicopters in the Utah National Guard. After only seven months of marriage his unit was deployed to Afghanistan for sixteen months. So I became a semi-single mom only with a few more children this time. In 2005 we added a “bonus baby” to the mix. There are 10 years between her and her closest sibling. 

Our family has lived in Lehi for the past 19 years. My husband is retired military but continues to work for the State Department flying helicopters overseas. He is gone for two months and home for one so I often find myself in that semi-single mom status. I have been blessed to be able to “stay at home” with my children for the last 11 years and in between chasing kids to their various activities I am slowly pecking away at my Bachelor’s degree. 

I love Relief Society and am grateful for the opportunity to serve the sisters in this Stake and have loved the opportunity to attend your wards and get to know you wonderful sisters.

I am so grateful for my Savior and his loving sacrifice for us. I have a testimony of this gospel and if there is only one part that I could share with you it is that I know that our Heavenly Father, and his beloved Son, Jesus Christ, know each of us personally. I testify to you that they are aware of every joy, every pain, and every challenge that we experience and that they love each of us individually. They are here for us, they are just waiting for us to reach out to them.

Leilani Parker
  —1^st Counselor

I am the world's most ordinary person. I work, eat and sleep. There is nothing superb or outstanding about me and I love it this way.  I can take the time to relish the pretty pink clouds of a morning sunrise, to enjoy the smell of baking cookies, and the sheer pleasure of smiles and laughter coming my way. I find joy in the opportunities to serve that I have been given and have served in the Primary, the Sunday School, the Relief Society, the Mission field,  the Temple and in my family.   I am learning through the years to appreciate the challenges that have helped me to grow.  And, I continue in the development of an obsessive love of chocolate.

Sandy Garrard
  —2^nd Counselor

I was born and raised on a self-sufficient West Virginia farm that was “almost heaven”. At age 10 I became sick and missed many days of school, transforming me into an introvert who spent much time reading and thinking.  This blessing in disguise helped me understand the Book of Mormon at age 13 when my sister Linda gave me a copy. My wonderful parents, ever protective of their children, would not let me take the missionary discussions at this time.  Leaving for college in 1974 after graduating as high school valedictorian, I immediately contacted the missionaries and joined the church soon after my 18^th birthday.  This wise decision has brought enormous goodness to me and all of my family members ever since.

After graduating from WVU in 1977 with a BS in Family Resources I married and had three lovely daughters.  I ran a day care business during the week and had a typing business at night and on the weekends. Later I found it was easier to work evenings in an Emergency Department part-time as a receptionist, and I worked at WVUH for over 18 years.  Life marched on; my oldest daughter went off to college. It was expensive.  I supplemented our income as a Pampered Chef director and as a face mask test consultant for the CDC and NIOSH.  I also worked full time at the hospital, with unlimited overtime, many days working double and triple shifts (often over 72 hrs. a week there). My second daughter was now in college also.  Life began to unravel. I was a soccer mom to my youngest daughter and we were heavily involved with this sport as she participated on traveling, club, and school soccer teams.

 I ended up going through a separation and divorce, stopped attending the LDS church and went to a little country Presbyterian church instead (it reminded me of my childhood). After 3 years I moved back into WV and returned to my former ward.  Then, a year later, while my youngest daughter was at BYU, I moved to Utah to start a new life. I fell in love and married a long-time friend who had attended WVU years earlier.  Grady and I have been married for over 8 years. We are so grateful for the peace and happiness we have found together.

I have a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, of the power of the atonement and forgiveness, and a knowledge that our Father in Heaven knows us personally and loves us more than we can imagine.  His tender mercies are all around us and if we look carefully we can see the miracles that have shaped the events of our lives. I love to define “perfection” as “wholeness” and “repentance” as “turning back to God”. Jesus is our Savior and He makes us whole again, able to turn back to our Father when we make mistakes.  Life is a wonderful journey, a long road-trip.  And Grady and I love, love, love road trips.  Don’t we all?

Betsy McCreary
  —Stake Relief Society Secretary

Born in California, I was raised in Rhode Island and Virginia. I attended BYU and have a nursing degree from Northern Virginia Community College. I work as a nurse case manager for a local insurance company. I love to quilt, travel, read and garden. 

I have been married to my sweet husband, Lauri McCreary for 10 years. I did not marry until I was 48 years old and feel so blessed to be in this wonderful eternal relationship. We have three daughters and eight grandchildren. Lauri’s and my parents are still living, so we are very involved with them on a regular basis since they live close by in Bountiful and Lehi.  We both also have large, extended families with whom we love to spend time. 

I have a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel. It is the center of my life.  I love the scriptures and inspiring stories from the Pioneer days. Lauri and I would love to serve a full-time mission when I retire in a few years.  I am happy to serve the sisters of the Lehi Stake in this calling.