In the mid-1950s, Elaine Schwartz loved the quiet evenings when her father would let her accompany him to the Ogden (Utah) 4th Ward meetinghouse. He was the bishop and many nights he had meetings or work to do.

Photo by Keith Johnson

Stephen E. and Elaine S. Dalton believe the "best way to serve the Lord is through serving His children. She really wants to be a shepherd and feed the sheep," he said.

While her father was in his office, the little blonde-haired girl, about 8 years old, would climb the stairs to what they called "the tower room." A steep spiral staircase with a pink carpet led to a room where the priesthood brethren met on Sundays. The room was enclosed by stained-glass windows and there was a fireplace. Above the mantle of that fireplace was a painting of the Savior. The little girl would just sit and "feel so close" to Him.

"I knew then that the Savior knew me and that He loved me and that He was very near, and that He would be there always for me, to lead me by the hand and answer my prayers," the now-grown woman recalled, her voice cracking with emotion.

She recently saw that picture again, at least a copy, in Syracuse, Utah, where she went as a member of the Young Women general board. "Again, I knew what I knew as a young girl — that He's so close. That was the message [I offered] that night."

Elaine Schwartz Dalton will continue to share that message with young women throughout the world, but now she does so as a member of the Young Women general presidency. Sister Dalton was sustained Oct. 5 during general conference as second counselor to new Young Women General President Susan W. Tanner. (Please see Nov. 23, 2002, and Nov. 30, 2002, issues for profiles of Sister Tanner and her first counselor, Julie B. Beck.)

"I am very excited," Sister Dalton said of her new calling while seated by her husband, Stephen E. Dalton, during an interview with the Church News. "I love young women."

Her husband is quick to add: "There's no one who loves working with the young women more than she does and she is 100 percent dedicated to serving the Lord. Elaine realizes the best way to serve the Lord is through serving His children. She really wants to be a shepherd and feed the sheep."

To describe the positive leadership his wife offers young women, Brother Dalton recalled his days as bishop of a singles ward in Salt Lake City. "We used to have a lot of visitors who would come to our home. I soon realized they weren't coming to see me. They were coming to see my wife. She makes people feel good."

Sister Dalton already knew many of these ward young women, having just been released as stake Young Women president. She watched them go through the Young Women program, attend the singles ward and then many of them marry in the temple. She has hiked and back-packed with them and even gathered them around her when a bear ransacked their Young Women camp while they were away.

Church News Most Popular

1. New mission presidents
2. New stake presidents
3. Women gather for a "Souper" Saturday of sewing
4. New Mission Presidents
5. New mission presidents

Deseret News stories

1. LDS bishop ordered to stand trial for witness tampering, failure to report abuse charges
2. 'Why I'm a Mormon': Steve Young
3. Obama birth control policy divides Democrats
4. Evangelicals and Mormons: Can we talk?
5. 'Why I'm a Mormon': Stephanie Nielson

MormonTimes stories

1. 'Why I'm a Mormon': Steve Young
2. Friday Minute: Flourishing in perilous times
3. Steven Kapp Perry: LDS athletes going downhill fast ... and that's a good thing!
4. Cupid visits the singles ward
5. Today in the Bloggernacle: Power of music, trials and testimony