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Chieko N. Okazaki

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Chieko N. Okazaki
First Counselor in the general presidency of the Relief Society
March 31, 1990 (1990-03-31) – April 5, 1997 (1997-04-05)
Called byElaine L. Jack
PredecessorJoy F. Evans
SuccessorVirginia U. Jensen
Personal details
BornChieko Nishimura
(1926-10-21)October 21, 1926
Hawaii, United States
DiedAugust 1, 2011(2011-08-01) (aged 85)
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Cause of deathCongestive heart failure
Resting placeMountain View Memorial Estates[1]
40°36′41″N 111°48′14″W / 40.6113°N 111.8040°W / 40.6113; -111.8040 (Mountain View Memorial Estates)
Spouse(s)Edward Y. Okazaki
Children2
ParentsKanenori and Hatsuko Nishimura

Chieko Nishimura Okazaki (October 21, 1926 – August 1, 2011) was first counselor to Elaine L. Jack in the Relief Society general presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1990 to 1997. She was the first non-Caucasian woman to serve as a general presidency member of an LDS Church auxiliary organization.[2]

Okazaki was born and raised in Hawaii as a Buddhist, the daughter of Hawaii-born parents of Japanese descent. At the age of fifteen she converted to the LDS Church. She later married Edward Y. Okazaki and they had two sons. Professionally she was an educator and taught in Hawaii, Utah, and Colorado, and was also an elementary school principal. Edward Okazaki served in the United States Army during World War II. [3]

In 1961 Okazaki was appointed to the YWMIA board in the LDS Church and was the first non-Caucasian to serve in this position.[2] From 1968 to 1971 she served with her husband as he served as the first president of the church's Japan–Okinawa Mission and then the Japan Central Mission, based in Kobe, after the Japan–Okinawa Mission was split.[4][5]

In 1990, Okazaki was called to be the first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency. In that position, she became one of the first LDS Church leaders to address the topic of sexual abuse in a general church setting.[2]

Okazaki later served as a member of the Southern Virginia University board of trustees.[6] She was a frequent speaker at Brigham Young University's women's conference and other events sponsored by the LDS Church or organizations owned by the LDS Church. She wrote several books, most of which are geared to an audience of Latter-day Saint women.

Okazaki died of congestive heart failure in Salt Lake City, Utah, aged 84.[2][7]

Publications

  • Okazaki, Chieko N. (November 1991), "Rejoice in Every Good Thing", Ensign
  • —— (1992), The Power of Charity, Shadow Mountain recording, ISBN 978-0-87579-644-4 {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (May 1992), "Spit and Mud and Kigatsuku", Ensign {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (1993), Lighten Up!, Deseret Book, ISBN 978-0-87579-668-0 {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (May 1993), "Cat's Cradle of Kindness", Ensign {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (1993), Healing from Sexual Abuse, Deseret Book recording, ISBN 978-0-87579-742-7 {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (1993), Valuing People: Six Lessons in Leadership, Deseret Book recording, ISBN 978-0-87579-749-6 {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (November 1993), "Strength in the Savior", Ensign {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (1993), Christmas Presence, Deseret Book recording, ISBN 978-0-87579-808-0 {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (1994), Cat's Cradle, Bookcraft, ISBN 978-0-88494-904-6 {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (1994), Shared Motherhood, Bookcraft, ISBN 978-0-88494-932-9 {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (November 1994), "Rowing Your Boat", Ensign {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (1995), Aloha!, Deseret Book, ISBN 978-0-87579-979-7 {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (November 1995), "A Living Network", Ensign {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (May 1996), "Baskets and Bottles", Ensign {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (November 1996), "Raised in Hope", Ensign {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (1997), Sanctuary, Deseret Book, ISBN 978-1-57345-154-3 {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (1998), Disciples, Shadow Mountain, ISBN 978-1-57345-413-1 {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (2002), Being Enough, Bookcraft, ISBN 978-1-57008-876-6 {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (2004), Stars: Reflections on Christmas, Shadow Mountain, ISBN 978-1-59038-353-7 {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  • —— (2008), What a Friend We Have in Jesus, Deseret Book, ISBN 978-1-59038-855-6 {{citation}}: |last= has numeric name (help)

Notes

  1. ^ "Obituary: Chieko Okazaki". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Deseret News. 7 August 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Peggy Fletcher Stack, "Beloved Mormon women’s leader Chieko Okazaki dies" Archived 2011-08-20 at the Wayback Machine, Salt Lake Tribune, 2011-08-03.
  3. ^ Japanese American National Museum database of Japanese-Americans in the US military
  4. ^ BYU Studies, Vol. 44, no. 2 (2005) p. 152
  5. ^ history of the Japan-Okinawa Mission
  6. ^ bio from Children's Reading Foundation Archived September 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Joseph Walker, "LDS leader, author, speaker Chieko Okazaki dies", Deseret News, 2011-08-03.

References

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles
Preceded by First Counselor in the general
presidency of the Relief Society
March 31, 1990 – April 5, 1997 		Succeeded by
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