LaVern W. Parmley
Encyclopedia
LaVern Watts Parmley was the fifth general president of the Primary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Parmley was the first woman to be awarded the Silver Buffalo Award
from the Boy Scouts of America
.
LaVern Watts was born in Murray, Utah
. She married Thomas J. Parmley
, a physics
professor at the University of Utah
.
In 1942, Parmley was asked to become the second counselor to May Green Hinckley
in the general presidency of the Primary. She served in this capacity until Hinckley's death the following year. When first counselor Adele C. Howells
succeeded Hinckley, Parmley was asked to be her first counselor, and she remained in this position until 1951, when Howells was released and Parmley was selected to succeed her as the fifth general president of the Primary. Parmley served as Primary president until she was succeeded by Naomi M. Shumway
in 1974; in total, she served 23 years as president and 32 years as a member of the presidency.
During Parmley's tenure, Scouting
was integrated into the Primary program for boys ages eight through eleven. The Primary curriculum was also revised and became more centered on teaching doctrines of the LDS Church. "I Am a Child of God
", written by Naomi W. Randall
, was introduced to Primary in 1957 and CTR rings were introduced in 1970.
From 1951 until 1970, Parmley was the final editor of The Children's Friend. Parmley oversaw its phase-out and the launch of the church's new magazine for children, The Friend
.
Parmley was the first woman to sit on a national Scout committee in the United States
and in 1976 became the first female recipient of the Boy Scouts of America
's Silver Buffalo Award
.
Parmley died in Salt Lake City, Utah
. One of her sons, William W. Parmley, became a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy and a general authority
of the LDS Church in 2003.
Silver Buffalo Award
The Silver Buffalo Award is the national-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. It is presented for noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth on a national basis, either as part of, or independent of the Scouting program...
from the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
.
LaVern Watts was born in Murray, Utah
Murray, Utah
Murray is a city situated on the Wasatch Front in the core of Salt Lake Valley in the U.S. state of Utah. Named for territorial governor Eli Murray, it is the state's fourteenth largest city. According to the 2010 census, Murray has approximately 46,746 residents.Murray is close to Salt Lake City,...
. She married Thomas J. Parmley
Thomas J. Parmley
Thomas J. Parmley was a physics professor at the University of Utah. He served as chairman of the UofU's physics department from 1957 to 1963....
, a physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
professor at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
.
In 1942, Parmley was asked to become the second counselor to May Green Hinckley
May Green Hinckley
May Green Hinckley was the third general president of the Primary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1940 until her death. She was the stepmother of Gordon B. Hinckley, fifteenth president of the LDS Church.May Green was born in Brampton, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England.In...
in the general presidency of the Primary. She served in this capacity until Hinckley's death the following year. When first counselor Adele C. Howells
Adele C. Howells
Adele Morris Cannon Howells was the fourth general president of the Primary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1943 until her death....
succeeded Hinckley, Parmley was asked to be her first counselor, and she remained in this position until 1951, when Howells was released and Parmley was selected to succeed her as the fifth general president of the Primary. Parmley served as Primary president until she was succeeded by Naomi M. Shumway
Naomi M. Shumway
Naomi Maxfield Shumway was the sixth general president of the Primary organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1974 to 1980.Naomi Maxfield was born in Provo, Utah. She married Roden Grant Shumway....
in 1974; in total, she served 23 years as president and 32 years as a member of the presidency.
During Parmley's tenure, Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
was integrated into the Primary program for boys ages eight through eleven. The Primary curriculum was also revised and became more centered on teaching doctrines of the LDS Church. "I Am a Child of God
I Am a Child of God
"I Am a Child of God" is a Latter-day Saint hymn and song for children. The lyrics were written in 1957 by Naomi W. Randall and have been translated into over 90 languages...
", written by Naomi W. Randall
Naomi W. Randall
Naomi Harriet Ward Randall was a Latter-day Saint songwriter and author and a leader in the Primary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, was introduced to Primary in 1957 and CTR rings were introduced in 1970.
From 1951 until 1970, Parmley was the final editor of The Children's Friend. Parmley oversaw its phase-out and the launch of the church's new magazine for children, The Friend
The Friend (LDS magazine)
The Friend is the monthly English language children's magazine published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is aimed at those of Primary age , approximately ages 3 through 12...
.
Parmley was the first woman to sit on a national Scout committee in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and in 1976 became the first female recipient of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
's Silver Buffalo Award
Silver Buffalo Award
The Silver Buffalo Award is the national-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. It is presented for noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth on a national basis, either as part of, or independent of the Scouting program...
.
Parmley died in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
. One of her sons, William W. Parmley, became a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy and a general authority
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
of the LDS Church in 2003.
External links
- LaVern Wells Parmley : short biography from 2003 church museum exhibit