President Camille N. Johnson, Relief Society General President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, joined with a group of women diplomats in Los Angeles on Monday, March 10, for the 9th annual International Women-In-Diplomacy Day.
“As women, we are part of a global sisterhood,” President Johnson told the audience of more than 120 women in the Church’s Los Angeles Temple Visitors’ Center, “I know that when the hearts of women are knit together in unity and love, we can change the world, one life at a time.”
“Imagine what would happen if we, as women in leadership roles, could unleash the full power of women to transform their personal inspiration into organized action,” President Johnson said. She was also the keynote speaker at the event.
This annual event coincides with International Women’s Day, which was observed on Saturday, March 8.
President Johnson moderated a panel discussion at the event. The panel discussions and other activities were attended by women diplomats and other international leaders.
This annual gathering for women diplomats began nine years ago and was started by Mame Toucouleur Mbaye, the honorary consul of the Republic of Senegal in Los Angeles, who said interest in this event has been growing yearly.
“Nine years ago, I was almost alone here as a diplomat,” she said.
The focus of this year’s event was on mental well-being for women worldwide. Mbaye said President Johnson’s message on the topic was well received by the global leaders.
“I was so grateful and thankful that she was able to come because she enlightened a lot of women here,” Mbaye said. “I learned a lot from her professional work … experience and … life.”
President Johnson has served as the leader of the Relief Society since April 2022. For 30 years she worked as a lawyer and is the mother of three children, as well as a grandmother to eight grandchildren.
“I speak to you today in my capacity as the President of the Relief Society,” she said.
“Each of our communities depends upon ordinary women for human flourishing as they perform their unique roles as leaders, teachers, nurturers, healers, mothers, daughters, sisters, and peacemakers,” President Johnson said.
“If ordinary women are to accomplish their unique roles, they themselves need to be inspired, nurtured, healed, empowered, and have sound mental well-being,” she added.
“I strive to be a disciple of Jesus Christ,” President Johnson told the audience. “Christ’s most important requirement for me as His disciple is to recognize immediate individual needs around me and respond with patience and love.”
The overview of the Relief Society, provided by the global Church leader, noted that it represents nearly eight million women, making it one of the world’s largest and oldest women’s organizations.
President Johnson also leads the Church’s global humanitarian initiative to address the basic needs of women and children. She reported that in the last two years the Church had donated about $100 million to improve the health and well-being of women and children globally.
President Johnson invited attendees to “not neglect the individuals within our immediate circle of care.”
She concluded by adding, “We cannot reach every person in the world no matter how well funded our programs, well penned our policies, or well developed our diplomacy. But through our global sisterhood, we can reach every single soul.”
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