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motherhood

A Conversation with Bonnie Oscarson

January 24, 2025 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

Salt Lake City native Bonnie Oscarson served as the Young Women general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2013 to 2018. She and her husband, Paul, served as mission president and companion in the Sweden Gutenberg Mission and later in the Stockholm Sweden Temple as temple president and matron. Together, she and Paul have seven children and 29 grandchildren. Bonnie also authored the book What Makes Us Sisters, which addresses women’s roles to develop and share their talents and gifts. Connie Sokol, who until recently was the host of the LDSPMA podcast Called to Create, interviewed Bonnie about her callings in the Church and her creative pursuits.

Bonnie recognizes a pattern throughout her life that prepared her to serve as the Young Women general president. Growing up, she developed empathy by living in several different states and attending wards and branches of various sizes. No matter where she was, she found ways to relate to the young women.

Forty years after first attending BYU, Bonnie returned to earn a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis on British and American literature. Though she has always found writing challenging, she gradually improved her craft through the many essays assigned to her in school. Bonnie hadn’t guessed that writing would become a necessary skill for her, but later, she found herself called upon to write articles for conferences and magazines. She looks back on this and other experiences as evidence that Heavenly Father knows what opportunities lie ahead and places experiences in our paths to prepare us for the future.

Sometimes, we may wonder why we are having certain experiences and what purpose they serve. At times, it’s only in looking back that we can see how important these lessons were in shaping who we have become. Bonnie feels that choosing to devote oneself to a life of faith allows the Lord to provide some of these experiences. “I think sometimes if we hold back, we may miss a few of them,” she shares.

Connie adds that as creators, we may be tempted to focus solely on the art we are creating. However, if we shift our focus to creating a meaningful life and allow the Lord to guide our experiences, we will be prepared for the future He has in store. This approach won’t negate any other pursuits we’ve chosen; instead, it will enrich them.

Bonnie asked multiple stake and ward Young Women leaders, “How do your young women see themselves in this work?” Every answer she received came down to, “We support.” This insight prompted her to focus on shifting the young women’s perspectives from being cheerleaders to becoming fully engaged participants in the gospel of Jesus Christ. She encouraged leaders to step back to allow the young women to teach lessons, to conduct meetings, and to help minister to others.

Bonnie and Paul now serve in the MTC as ecclesiastical leaders, and she has seen an increase in young women choosing to serve missions. “I just see greater self-confidence [in them] and a belief that [they are] an important part of this work.”

After Bonnie spoke in a women’s session of general conference, Deseret Book asked her to write a book. She was surprised that they thought so highly of her talk. They referenced her Pinterest board to find images that reflected her personality. Bonnie had gone through her boards to make sure nothing would reflect poorly on her new calling. Connie points out that as creators and Christians, our focus should be on reflecting the Savior’s light, including how we present ourselves on social media. She extends the invitation to review our social media accounts to note whether they reflect that light.

Bonnie has had many mountain and valley experiences, as we all do, where she chose to let go of something to create a more meaningful life. She met her husband while working on a degree in commercial art, which she loved, but chose a future with him instead of pursuing her education at the time. Upon having children, she repurposed the drawing board her parents had bought her years earlier into a baby-changing table. Though she put aside art in many ways, she feels that raising children is a creative process. Bonnie found fulfillment outside the stereotypes of “Mormon mothers” and taught her children how to use their creativity. When she and her husband moved to Sweden to serve as mission president and companion, she was 25 years old with five small children. Though the experience was difficult, she has no regrets.

Looking back, Bonnie can see how God prepared her to return to Sweden to serve as temple matron and then to fulfill her calling as Young Women general president. Her experiences helped her guide young women, missionaries, and those learning about the Church to focus not just on the baptismal font but also on the temple.

As Connie describes it, we may leave our creative projects on the altar as a sacrifice. However, like Bonnie using her drawing board as a changing table, what we sacrifice is recompensed in many different ways because we don’t only gain—we change. We become more capable and effective.

Bonnie notes that because we are all trying to keep the same commandments and meet the same expectations, we may think we have to be alike in every way. However, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are diverse and should embrace our differences. Living a creative life requires following our unique paths and using our unique gifts rather than trying to fit a mold. We ought to follow those paths confidently, bringing our families along with us.

This article is based on the Called to Create podcast featured during Season 3, Episode 2o. You can listen to the full podcast here.


Filed Under: Articles, Called to Create Conversations Tagged With: motherhood, young women

A Conversation with Jane Clayson Johnson

May 3, 2024 By LDSPMA 2 Comments

Jane Clayson Johnson is a renowned journalist, author, public speaker, wife and mother, and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jane uses her platform to advocate for issues like motherhood and mental health by drawing on personal experiences and helping others share their stories.

Jane’s love for storytelling and conveying information began when she was young. She recalls, “In high school, I devoured Time magazine from cover to cover every week. I just got lost in the stories of journalists in faraway places telling sometimes difficult and sometimes heartwarming stories. And I just thought it was such an interesting venue to share storytelling, get facts, tell the truth, and share that in a meaningful and informative way.”

After receiving a violin performance scholarship, Jane began her college career at Brigham Young University. However, she soon realized she wanted to pursue music as a hobby rather than a profession. She then shifted her focus to journalism and gained experience by writing news cut-ins for the campus TV station KBYU.

While leaving the Harris Fine Arts Center, she stumbled upon an internship opportunity at KSL TV. Despite the tight deadline, she drove to Salt Lake City to submit her application and secured the internship. She eventually transitioned from a part-time position at the station to a full-time role upon graduation.

Jane worked with the KSL Nightbeat newscast team, including Dick Nourse, Shelly Thomas, and Bruce Lindsay, who “took her under their wing.” She learned “to work hard and to be the first one in the door and the last one out,” “to be humble,” and to “respect everyone’s job and to learn from everyone because everyone has something to offer and something to teach you.”

Although Jane was happy working at KSL and had no plans to leave, her perspective shifted when an agent from New York contacted her about an interview opportunity with ABC News. Within a couple of months, she had moved to Los Angeles to work as a correspondent for affiliates around the country. She later became a network correspondent on World News Tonight with Peter Jennings. Her career took her all over the world, including assignments in Kosovo and Macedonia, where she reported on the refugee crisis after the NATO airstrikes. She also covered high-profile cases such as the O.J. Simpson trial and the fall of the Soto government in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Jane prevailed over tough competition when CBS launched a campaign to find Bryant Gumbel’s new morning cohost. Describing the role as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, she acknowledges the demanding schedule that required her to be up by 3:30 a.m., arrive at the studio by 4:00 a.m. to read newspapers and meet with producers, then present the news from 7-9:00 a.m. on air before providing updates for the West Coast two hours later. Despite the demands, Jane is grateful for the unforgettable opportunities, including covering major events like 9/11 and interviewing prominent figures such as presidents and First Ladies. She credits this experience for preparing her for the diverse seasons of her life that followed.

When asked how she maintains her composure during difficult broadcasts, like her coverage of 9/11, Jane reveals that she feels deeply and tends to over-empathize with her interview subjects. However, she realizes that a reporter is not the story but a conduit for the story. She adds, “I think in the days of kind of showmanship journalism, where lots of folks are trying to . . . be at the center of it all, I think we have to remember to have humility and to try to understand what another person is going through and to help them describe it.”

Jane relied on her faith to anchor her amidst the shifting responsibilities and challenges of high-profile journalism. In an environment where most people had never met members of the Church, Jane recalls, “I had to . . . stand up for my beliefs, and I always tried to do my best. I always felt like I was a representative for the Church and wanted to be seen as someone who lived the gospel in its purest form, which is to be an example of the Savior.” Jane regards her ability to believe as one of her spiritual gifts, which she attributes to her upbringing. She expresses gratitude for her parents, who taught her gospel principles while allowing her to make her own decisions. Once she developed her own testimony, she says, “I realized how precious it was and I didn’t ever want to do anything that would detract from living a life that would. . . allow me to feel the Spirit.”

Jane chose to transition to a new season of life when she met her future husband. Despite receiving a lucrative offer to return to ABC, Jane, then 36, decided to leave the fast-paced world of network news to start a family. Although this choice was met with skepticism from others, and the transition was difficult, Jane knew the decision was right for her. Reflecting on her journey, she emphasizes that individual circumstances and desires are crucial in life choices. She explains, “After working (at) quite a high level for a lot of years, I knew that I wanted to have a family, and I personally didn’t see how it was going to work to be able to do both. I know a lot of women do, but for me, this was the choice that I made.” She relocated to Boston, and within two and a half years, she and her husband welcomed two children.

While Jane had never planned to be an author, an idea for a book came to her in the early morning hours when she was caring for her newborn. She jotted down her thoughts on a yellow notepad. Before she knew it, a book had taken shape. Of the creative process, Jane says, “Each of us has experiences that we can translate into lessons for others.” Her book I Am a Mother challenges the notion that being a stay-at-home mom is not a meaningful or essential role. Hearing many moms say, “Oh, I’m just a mom,” prompted Jane’s desire to help women recognize the value and significance of their role. Drawing from personal experiences and those shared by other women, she sheds light on the often overlooked but essential role of motherhood.

In her second book, Silent Souls Weeping, Jane delves into her personal experience with debilitating clinical depression. Her struggle to navigate the darkness and isolation of mental illness inspired her to embark on a new journey to catalog stories of over 150 individuals who struggle with depression. As Jane notes, “We all have a weakness. We all have times in our lives where we need help, and we need to acknowledge that we need help.”

Despite initial apprehension about sharing such raw and vulnerable experiences, the overwhelming response from readers reaffirmed Jane’s conviction that openness and understanding are essential in combating the stigma surrounding mental illness. She recalls, “We . . . created a community and a conversation within our faith that hadn’t been had before.”

Jane Clayson Johnson’s remarkable journey can inspire us to have faith in our own creative paths and believe that we are being guided to what we should be doing. She admonishes, “No one should discount the experiences that they’re having, whether they be difficult. Whatever they are, they’re preparing you for the journey ahead.”

This article is based on the Called to Create podcast featured during Season 3, Episode 7. You can listen to the full episode here.

Filed Under: Called to Create Conversations Tagged With: broadcasting, journalism, motherhood

Keeping Your Creative Spirit Alive

July 13, 2023 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

I graduated from Utah State University with a degree in commercial and fine art, ready to make my mark on the artistic world. USU was connected with The Art Center School in Pasadena, California—now called Art Center College of Design, one of the top art schools in the nation.

After finishing my education, I was anxious to see if I could compete with other artists in the field. One little hiccup—I got married the week after graduation. This would not have been an issue, but we found out about a month later that we were expecting our first baby. Not a problem, I thought. I can still get out there and set the art world on fire. However, the pregnancy was more difficult than I had thought it would be, and I was extremely ill. Unfortunately, we lost that baby a few months into the pregnancy. A month or so later, we found out we were expecting again. I was thrilled, but very sick. The doctor scheduled an ultrasound to make sure all was well, and surprise! There were two little heartbeats.

Original Art by Laramie Dunn

I began teaching art at Grantsville High School, but I had to quit when I became too weak and nauseated to stand for long hours. So, at home with extra time on my hands, I sent off my portfolio and was picked up by two large galleries in Montana. I also started doing freelance illustration.

Twenty-two months after the twins were born, we welcomed another baby girl into our family. By this time, we had built our first home, and I made my studio in the unfinished third level of our multi-level house.

A company in southern Utah hired me to do a painting for the cover of their yearly magazine. They planned to send it out to all their stockholders and clients.

Painting with small children was not an easy feat. I could only paint after they were in bed, so I would work from about eight p.m. to one a.m. After I put more than one hundred hours into the piece, it was ready. The people who had hired me were scheduled to pick up the painting. Before they came, I went upstairs to check on my sleeping baby and unwittingly left the door to the studio open and my paints out. I realized what I’d done halfway through changing a diaper, so I quickly finished up and ran downstairs.

There they were, my darling little boy and girl, each with a paintbrush in hand, swishing paint across my masterpiece. I muffled a scream, sat on the steps, and shed a few tears. I realized that being a professional artist and having three small children was possibly not the best idea if I wanted to keep my sanity. Thankfully, I was able to salvage the painting before the clients arrived.

Being a young mother with small children is rewarding and exhausting. So many moms lose sight of their talents and ability to create during those difficult years raising their little ones. It’s important to carve out time for music, art, and literature, as creativity enriches not only Mom, but her family as well.

As my children grew older, I was able to set aside time to work on artistic avenues that fulfilled my desire to create. I taught art classes in the evenings and an art history class at Utah State Extension in Tooele, Utah. Using my talents to educate others was a fun outlet and helped provide my family with extra income.

Here are a few ideas to help keep your creative spirit alive during the years when your children are small.

  • Find time to indulge in creative endeavors, even if it’s late at night. I looked forward to the quiet times when my children were in bed to watch a show or listen to music and work on an art project.
  • Volunteer at an elementary school. Teachers are always looking for parents to help with the arts, and my kids were so excited and proud to have me visit their classrooms.
  • Include your children in your art. For many years, I taught art classes in my home. I did have my children join the classes, but it was easier to have fun with them on my own time.
  • Take your family to art-related activities to teach them an appreciation for the arts. We visited many galleries and sculpting studios. I did this more with my two younger children when the older kids were involved with other activities.
  • Encourage your young children to be creative and unafraid to experiment with new mediums and ideas. I found if I made art materials available to my children, they would be free to create in their own ways.

Though my attempt to continue with a professional art career while working as a stay-at-home mom ended in catastrophe, I never lost the desire to be involved with the arts in some capacity. Those hectic days have long since passed, and I don’t regret my decision to put my art on hold. For me, being a mom was much more rewarding than advancing my art career. Now I paint for family, friends, and just to enjoy creating art without the pressure of deadlines or critiques.

Headshot of Laramie Dunn

Laramie Dunn

Laramie Dunn spent most of her youth riding horses and raising sheep. After graduating from Nutana High School, Laramie trained and showed Quarter Horses professionally across Canada and the United States. She became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when she was 19 and attended Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. She later attended Utah State University and graduated in illustration and secondary education.

She met her husband, Clayton Dunn, in her senior year of college. They married and moved to Tooele, Utah, where they raised their five children. They now live in Stansbury Park and enjoy entertaining their 14 grandchildren.

    Filed Under: Articles, Craft Skills, Creativity, Faith & Mindset, Fine Art Tagged With: artist, motherhood, Painting

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