Sister Jean Barrus Bingham is the 17th general president of the Relief Society, one of the world’s largest women’s organizations. At the time of her call in April 2017 she was serving as first counselor in the Primary general presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She also served on the general board of the Primary, the Church’s organization for 1 million children who are 11 and younger.
The Provo, Utah, native is the third of Robert R. and Edith Joy Clark Barrus’s nine children. Her childhood and youth were spent in Texas, Minnesota and New Jersey.
Sister Bingham met her husband, Bruce, while they were both students at Brigham Young University. They were married in the Provo Utah Temple December 22, 1972, and are the parents of two daughters and have five grandchildren. She and her husband were also foster parents to teens and children, many of whom have become part of their family.
While her children were in their later school years, Sister Bingham returned to college. She received a bachelor's degree and master's degree in teaching from National Louis University in Illinois. She also received associate degrees from Brigham Young University and Elgin Community College.
She taught English as a second language to elementary students at a private school, in addition to immigrants and others for nonprofit organizations. She also worked as a nurse’s aide.
Sister Bingham worked as a volunteer aide in her children’s schools and served in numerous teaching and leadership positions with the women, children and youth in her local congregation, serving as president of the Primary and Young Women and as counselor in the Relief Society. She taught teenagers in early-morning seminary for six years and served as a temple ordinance worker in the Chicago Illinois Temple.
She credits the “faithful examples” of her parents for her testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, in addition to personal church attendance and service. Participating in family history work and attending the temple have strengthened her commitment to becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ.
She enjoys reading, outdoor recreation such as hiking, camping and canoeing; traveling; cooking for her appreciative family; and spending any time available with grandchildren.