Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined a group of women diplomats in Los Angeles on Monday, March 10, 2025, 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 gathered at 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.”
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| Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson takes a photo with a group of sister missionaries at the Los Angeles Temple Visitors' Center in Los Angeles, California, on Monday, March 10, 2025. 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 15 / 15 |
“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,” said President Johnson, the keynote speaker at the event.
The annual event coincides with the global celebration of International Women’s Day, which was officially observed on Saturday, March 8.
Women diplomats and other international leaders attended the panel discussions and other activities. President Johnson also moderated a panel discussion at the event.
The gathering for women diplomats was created nine years ago by Mame Toucouleur Mbaye, the honorary consul of the Republic of Senegal in Los Angeles, who said interest in the event has been growing yearly. “Nine years ago, I was almost alone here as a diplomat.”
Women’s Mental Health
This year’s event focused 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,” said Mbaye. “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. She worked as a lawyer for nearly 30 years and is the mother of three children and 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 global Church leader provided an overview of the Relief Society, one of the world's largest and oldest women's organizations. It represents nearly 8 million women.
She also leads the Church’s global humanitarian initiative to address the basic needs of women and children. In the past two years, President Johnson reported that the Church has donated about $100 million to improve the health and well-being of women and children worldwide.
President Johnson invited the attendees to “not neglect the individuals within our immediate circle of care.”
She concluded: “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.”
