President Bonnie D. Parkin, the 14th Relief Society General President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away on Monday, July 28, 2025, at age 84. Her life was marked by devoted service, enduring faith, and a heartfelt desire to help others feel the love of God.
Before being called as General President in 2002, Sister Parkin served in numerous Church roles, including Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency under Janette Hales Beckham and as a member of the Relief Society general board during Sister Elaine L. Jack’s presidency. Her broad experience prepared her to lead with compassion and clarity during her five-year tenure as Relief Society General President from 2002 to 2007.
Early in her presidency, Sister Parkin prayed to understand the needs of Latter-day Saint women. The answer she received became a central theme of her ministry: “We, His daughters, need to know that He loves us.” In a 2006 address, she explained, “Feeling His love encourages us to press forward, reassures us that we are His and confirms to us that He cherishes us even when we stumble and experience temporary setbacks.” She encouraged women to learn how they personally experience God’s love and to share it freely with others.
In an interview with President Julie B. Beck, who succeeded her as Relief Society General President, Sister Parkin shared a simple but profound testimony: “With God’s love, you can do just about anything required.” That simple conviction carried Sister Parkin through decades of service and into the hearts of countless women around the world.
Bonnie Rae Dansie was born August 4, 1940, in Murray, Utah, the third of five children. She grew up working on her family’s farm and in the family store, Dansie’s Place. From a young age, she was taught to live by principle. “My mother trusted me,” she once said. “Trust is one of the greatest gifts she gave me.” The family motto—“Do what is right; let the consequences follow”—became a guiding force in her life.
A formative experience at age 14 shaped her understanding of giving. That Christmas, despite their own financial struggles, the Dansie family organized and delivered gifts to a family in need. “We each gave one of our own toys or possessions,” Sister Parkin remembered. “The kids were thrilled—there was something for Christmas.”
After graduating from Utah State University in 1962 with a degree in elementary education and early childhood development, Sister Parkin taught third grade in Bountiful, Utah. Her college years were filled with leadership and service, including roles in Kappa Delta Sorority, Mortar Board honor society, and her student ward’s Relief Society presidency.
In 1963, she met James L. Parkin on a blind date. “We shared great conversation, and I thought, ‘I’d like to date him some more,’” she recalled. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on July 1, 1963, and raised four sons together. “She is my best friend and my best investment,” Brother Parkin once said. He preceded her in death in 2023.
Their early married life took them to Seattle, Washington, where Brother Parkin pursued medical training. It was there that Sister Parkin deepened her love for the scriptures and established a routine of gospel study that would sustain her for the rest of her life. “I would read to my children Bible stories,” she said. “Because I was also reading the Book of Mormon, I connected the two, and this is when I learned to love the scriptures.”
Sister Parkin served in many Church callings, including stake Young Women president, ward Primary president, Relief Society president, counselor, and Sunday School teacher. She and her husband presided over the England London South Mission from 1997 to 2000. Her civic involvement included serving on the PTA, participating in the Great Books Foundation, and working as a docent for the Utah Symphony.
As Relief Society General President, she emphasized the importance of family and home. “Everyone belongs to a family, and every family needs to be strengthened and protected,” she taught. She credited her mother, grandmother, and Relief Society sisters with helping her become a homemaker and create a welcoming, gospel-centered home. In collaboration with Young Women General President Susan W. Tanner, she helped initiate combined monthly opening exercises to strengthen ties between generations of women in the Church.
“My belonging to Relief Society has renewed, strengthened and committed me to be a better wife and mother and daughter of God,” she said in her October 2004 general conference address. “My heart has been enlarged with gospel understanding and with love of the Savior and what He’s done for me.”
Her final testimony was clear and unwavering: “Jesus is the Christ. He is my Savior, my Redeemer, and I’m ever grateful for His redeeming love and His obedience to our Heavenly Father.”
Sister Parkin is the third former Relief Society General President to pass away in the past six months, following Sister Mary Ellen Smoot in February and Sister Elaine L. Jack in June. Funeral services are pending, and the Church’s official statement will be updated as further details are announced.
See a list of all of Sister Parkin’s general conference addresses here.
Holly Wallace is a writer and storyteller drawn to meaningful questions and overlooked details. Her work explores Latter-day Saint life and culture through faithful inquiry, inviting readers to pause, consider, and engage more deeply with what matters most.
