Young Women General Presidency
Called as the new general president to lead the worldwide organization of Young Women is Emily Belle Freeman. Tamara W. Runia and Andrea Munoz Spannaus were called as first and second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, respectively.
These women, under the direction of the Lord and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, guide, inspire and oversee the thousands of young women between the ages of 12 and 18 in 170 countries in the world.
Under their direction, Young women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their friends, leaders and parents are invited to follow new Facebook and Instagram accounts just for them.
Young Women Worldwide is an initiative of the Young Women organization, and it launched the first week in August 2023 on Instagram at Young Women Worldwide and on Facebook at Facebook, quickly gaining tens of thousands of followers.
With the tagline of, “A community for young women, leaders, and parents,” the new Young Women general presidency wrote in a welcome post:
“We created this space intentionally for you. It’s a place where we will talk about Jesus Christ. It’s a place where we will learn how to become disciples and how to mentor others. It’s a place where we will talk about covenant relationship as beloved daughters of heavenly parents.”
Emily Belle Freeman
President Freeman was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 31, 1969, and raised in Sandy, Utah. As a 17-year-old, she moved with her family to California when her parents were called as leaders of the California Ventura Mission. Greg Freeman, whom she married on December 19, 1989, served as a missionary in that mission. They are the parents of five children—four of them born to them, and one "who came to them from love."[1]
She attended Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. She is an author, speaker, podcaster, and teacher. She has written many books and spoken at a variety of conferences, workshops, and gatherings. She taught for many years in the Church Educational System and has served as a Gospel Doctrine teacher, Young Women president and Relief Society president in her ward.
Tamara W. Runia
Sister Runia was born on March 2, 1961, in Concord, California, and raised in Walnut Creek. She attended Brigham Young University, where she met her husband, Scott. They served as leaders of the Australia Sydney Mission (2018–2021). She has also served as a stake scripture class instructor, stake Young Women president, and stake Relief Society presidency counselor.
Sister Runia participates in civic life, which has included 20 years on the board of the Food & Care Coalition in Provo. She and her husband have seven children and live in Provo, Utah.
Andrea Munoz Spannaus
Sister Spannaus was born on May 18, 1968, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and served in the Argentina Resistencia Mission. She earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and also studied art and interior design.
She has been an adviser in a young single adult Spanish-speaking ward, an early morning seminary teacher, on the FSY Utah Latino Conference Committee, and a member of the South America South Area committee to organize For the Strength of Youth conferences. She served as mission leader with her husband, Alin, in the Mexico Cuernavaca Mission (2009–2012). They are parents of two daughters and live in North Salt Lake.
