Chieko N. Okazaki

Chieko N. Okazaki
First Counselor in the general presidency of the Relief Society
March 31, 1990 – April 5, 1997
Called by	Elaine L. Jack
Predecessor	Joy F. Evans
Successor	Virginia U. Jensen
Personal details
Born	Chieko Nishimura October 21, 1926 Hawaii, United States
Died	August 1, 2011 (aged 85) Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Cause of death	Congestive heart failure
Resting place	Mountain View Memorial Estates[1] 40°36′41″N 111°48′14″W / 40.6113°N 111.8040°W
Spouse(s)	Edward Y. Okazaki
Children	2
Parents	Kanenori 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
• —— (May 1992), "Spit and Mud and Kigatsuku", Ensign
• —— (1993), Lighten Up!, Deseret Book, ISBN 978-0-87579-668-0
• —— (May 1993), "Cat's Cradle of Kindness", Ensign
• —— (1993), Healing from Sexual Abuse, Deseret Book recording, ISBN 978-0-87579-742-7
• —— (1993), Valuing People: Six Lessons in Leadership, Deseret Book recording, ISBN 978-0-87579-749-6
• —— (November 1993), "Strength in the Savior", Ensign
• —— (1993), Christmas Presence, Deseret Book recording, ISBN 978-0-87579-808-0
• —— (1994), Cat's Cradle, Bookcraft, ISBN 978-0-88494-904-6
• —— (1994), Shared Motherhood, Bookcraft, ISBN 978-0-88494-932-9
• —— (November 1994), "Rowing Your Boat", Ensign
• —— (1995), Aloha!, Deseret Book, ISBN 978-0-87579-979-7
• —— (November 1995), "A Living Network", Ensign
• —— (May 1996), "Baskets and Bottles", Ensign
• —— (November 1996), "Raised in Hope", Ensign
• —— (1997), Sanctuary, Deseret Book, ISBN 978-1-57345-154-3
• —— (1998), Disciples, Shadow Mountain, ISBN 978-1-57345-413-1
• —— (2002), Being Enough, Bookcraft, ISBN 978-1-57008-876-6
• —— (2004), Stars: Reflections on Christmas, Shadow Mountain, ISBN 978-1-59038-353-7
• —— (2008), What a Friend We Have in Jesus, Deseret Book, ISBN 978-1-59038-855-6

Notes

1. "Obituary: Chieko Okazzki". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Deseret News. 7 August 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
2. Peggy Fletcher Stack, "Beloved Mormon women’s leader Chieko Okazaki dies", 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
7. Joseph Walker, "LDS leader, author, speaker Chieko Okazaki dies", Deseret News, 2011-08-03.

References

• “New Relief Society General Presidency Called,” Ensign, May 1990, pp. 110–11.
• Aloha! by Chieko N. Okazaki
• Deseret Book bio of Okazaki
• Chieko N. Okazaki at Find a Grave