Marianne C. Sharp

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Marianne C. Sharp
First Counselor in the general presidency of the Relief Society
April 6, 1945 (1945-04-06) – October 3, 1974 (1974-10-03)[1]
Called byBelle S. Spafford
PredecessorMarcia K. Howells
SuccessorJanath R. Cannon
Personal details
BornMarianne Savage Clark
(1901-10-28)October 28, 1901
Grantsville, Utah, United States
DiedJanuary 2, 1990(1990-01-02) (aged 88)
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Resting placeSalt Lake City Cemetery
40°46′38″N 111°51′29″W / 40.7772°N 111.858°W / 40.7772; -111.858 (Salt Lake City Cemetery)
Spouse(s)Ivor Sharp
ParentsJ. Reuben Clark
Luacine Annetta Savage

Marianne Savage Clark Sharp (October 28, 1901 – January 2, 1990)[2] was the first counselor in the general presidency of the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1945 until 1974.[1]

Early life and education[edit]

Born Marianne Clark, she was a daughter of J. Reuben Clark, who was a member of the LDS Church's First Presidency, and his wife Luacine Annetta Savage Clark.[2] Sharp was born in Grantsville, Utah.[1] While growing up, she attended school in Washington D.C. Marianne Clark attended Western High School where she was the editor of the school year book and graduated in 1919 as the valedictorian of her class.[3]

Marianne Clark then went on to attend the University of Utah, graduating with high honors.[4] She studied Ancient Languages,[3] She received a teaching fellowship in Latin during her senior year at the university. Sharp and graduated in 1924 and continued teaching Latin at the University of Utah and also at Stewart Training School.[5]

In 1927 she married Ivor Sharp in the Salt Lake Temple. For the next decade she lived in New York City. While there, she served for a time as a stake Relief Society president. From 1938 on she lived in Salt Lake City, Utah.[3]

Church service[edit]

Sharp served on the General Relief Society Board for 34 years.[3] She was appointed to the Relief Society General Presidency in 1940.[2] J. Reuben Clark tried to dissuade Relief Society president Belle S. Spafford from choosing his daughter as a counselor.[citation needed] In 1943, she became the associate editor of Relief Society Magazine[2] until 1945, when she became its editor.[1] She remained its editor until it ceased publication in January 1971.[2] Sharp was made president of the Relief Society in April 1945.[2]

Sharp was awarded an honorary doctorate of humanities from Brigham Young University in 1974.[2] She served in numerous capacities throughout her lifetime, including as a member of the board of governors of the LDS Hospital and Primary Children's Medical Center. She was also a member of the General Deseret Industries Committee. Sharp was a consultant to the Ensign magazine and was part of the Presiding Bishopric's Training Committee for the church.[2] She was also a delegate to the International Council of Women to meetings in Washington, D.C., and Toronto.[3]

Sharp died at Salt Lake City, Utah, on January 2, 1990.[2]

Publications[edit]

Articles[edit]

  • "TA Present Day Challenge". Relief Society Magazine. 24 (1): 6–7. January 1937.
  • "Morning Music of the Immortals". Relief Society Magazine. 26 (1): 31. January 1939.
  • "Study My Word". Relief Society Magazine. 46 (11): 721–723. November 1959.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Ludlow, Daniel H, ed. (1992). "Appendix 1: Biographical Register of General Church Officers". Encyclopedia of Mormonism. New York: Macmillan Publishing. p. 1648. ISBN 0-02-879602-0. OCLC 24502140.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Marianne C. Sharp Dies, Ex-Relief Society Leader". Deseret News. 3 Jan 1990. Retrieved 29 Jan 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Death: Marianne C. Sharp". Deseret News. 4 Jan 1990. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  4. ^ "Church Fills Vacancies in Council of Seventy". The Salt Lake Tribune. 7 April 1945.
  5. ^ "Marianne Sharp to Receive Honorary Doctorate at BYU". The Daily Herald. 31 Jul 1974. Retrieved 5 August 2016.

Further reading[edit]

  • Quinn, D. Michael. J. Reuben Clark: The Church Years. Provo: Brigham Young University Press, 1983. p. 92-93.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles
Preceded by First Counselor in the general
presidency of the Relief Society

April 6, 1945 (1945-04-06) – October 3, 1974 (1974-10-03)
Succeeded by
Relief Society Magazine titles
Preceded by Editor
1945–1970
Magazine discontinued