Leaders of General Women’s and Children’s Organizations Minister in Mexico

Church leaders of the general women and children’s organizations visited Mexico in early June to meet with the leaders of various social welfare programs and minister to thousands of Latter-day Saints.

The delegation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints included Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon, Primary General President Camille N. Johnson, and Reyna I. Aburto, second counselor in the General Presidency of the Relief Society, and their husbands.

Their ministering efforts included devotionals and training for members of the Church’s Young Women and Relief Society organizations.

During a devotional with hundreds of women gathered in Mexico City and thousands more who joined a live broadcast shared throughout the country, Sister Aburto talked about the early history of the Relief Society when women organized themselves to sew shirts for the workers building the Nauvoo Temple.

Leaders Minister in Mexico

Church’s women leaders minister in Mexico, encourage faithfulness to Savior

Sister Aburto emphasized that the purpose of organizing the Relief Society was not to sew shirts. "It was to prepare the sisters to make high covenants (special commitments) with God. This should be our top priority."

During another training for Relief Society leaders, Sister Aburto stressed the importance of leaders working in council with their respective ward and stake leaders.

"Working in council is not to bring a preconceived idea of how things should be done but to seek inspiration together, to know what God's will is," Sister Aburto said.

Strengthen Religious Freedom

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The Church leaders also visited several social assistance organizations of the internal ministry of the government of Mexico. 

During their meetings, the leaders of the general presidencies shared the Church's mission to build and strengthen families and communities.

In a meeting with the Office of Religious Affairs of the Mexican Ministry of the Interior (Oficina de Asuntos Religiosos de la Secretaría de Gobernación de México), the Church leaders spoke about the importance of leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ and taught about the role of the Relief Society, Young Women and Primary as organizations dedicated to strengthening women and families in their communities.

The Office of Religious Affairs directs the Mexican government's policy on religious matters, seeking dialogue between the government and religious organizations to guarantee the exercise of religious freedom in the country.

During the meeting, President Johnson commented that to achieve world peace it is necessary to focus on the younger generations. She said that children are "born creators of peace. It is enough to see them in the eye and follow their example."

Some of those present shared their experiences with the Church and how much they appreciate the message of respect and charity the Church shares throughout Mexico. Among those attending this meeting was Jimena Esquivel, director of Respect and Tolerance for Religious Diversity and Peacebuilding (Respeto y Tolerancia a la Diversidad Religiosa y Construcción de Paz).

Outreach Visits

The sisters made outreach visits to a couple of nonprofit organizations during their visit to Mexico. They learned about the programs sponsored by the Association in Favor of People with Cerebral Palsy (APAC), dedicated to specialized care for people with disabilities derived from this condition.

The Church leaders participated in awareness-raising activities and heard the testimony of a grateful mother. She told them about the change she saw in her son after working with the association, seeing him take his first steps and the support the family had through psychological therapy.

The APAC provides help in various areas such as education, computer classes, psychomotor development, music classes, rehabilitation, group therapy and medicine and diagnostics.

The Church of Jesus Christ has worked with APAC for more than three years and donated medical equipment and furniture.

The Church has also donated furniture and professional equipment to the Foundation to Help People with Mental Disabilities (FADEM).

Presidents Cordon and Johnson and Sister Aburto were the guests of honor at a special event organized by the residents of the organization. They also participated in making piñatas with patients. The piñatas are sold to the public and help support those served by the foundation.

"Although these girls come with a diagnosis of what they can't do, here they are made to see what they can do," said Raquel Olvera, director of the institution, who emphasized the importance of emotional support as well as physiological support.

A group of girls sang a thank you song for the Church leaders.

This story was originally published in Spanish. For the original articles, visit:

"Hermanas de las presidencias generales de Mujeres Jóvenes, Sociedad de Socorro y Primaria se reúnen con organizaciones altruistas y dependencias de gobierno en México"

"Presidencias generales de Mujeres Jóvenes, Primaria y Sociedad de Socorro visitan México"