Saying she wants to "unfurl a banner" for young women throughout the world — whether members of the Church or not, Elaine S. Dalton was introduced as the new Young Women general president April 6 during a news conference in Salt Lake City.

"We invite all young women to arise and stand for truth and righteousness in a world that needs their light. They will be and are the bright shining hope of the future, the future of their families and for future generations to come. We stand on a firm foundation of prophets and apostles," said Sister Dalton, who was sustained during the Saturday morning session of general conference.

She succeeds Susan W. Tanner, who was released after serving as Young Women general president since October 2002.

Accompanying the new general president to the news conference in the Reception Room of the Relief Society Building were her counselors in the Young Women general presidency, Mary N. Cook and Ann M. Dibb, who are serving as first and second counselors, respectively.

Elaine Schwartz Dalton previously served as a first and second counselor to Sister Tanner in the Young Women general presidency. She is also a former member of the Young Women general board. Married Stephen E. Dalton, six children.

Mary Nielsen Cook had been serving as second counselor in the Young Women general presidency at the time of her new calling. She is a former member of the Young Women general board and is married to Elder Richard E. Cook, an emeritus General Authority and current managing director of the Church's Perpetual Education Fund; step-mother to four children.

Ann Monson Dibb was serving on the Young Women general board at the time of her call to the Young Women general presidency. She previously served as a counselor in her ward Relief Society presidency. Married to Roger Dibb, four children.

At the news conference, during which each member of the new general presidency briefly spoke, Sister Cook related her observations when she served with Elder Cook when he presided over the new Mongolian Mission. Sister Cook said she saw "young women in an emerging Church. The challenge is difficult — the culture and taking on new values and new ways of life, often as the only member of the Church in their family, but they became the strength within their families and, as a result of their examples, many, many parents were brought into the Church."

Sister Dibb urged those listening to "look to those that we sustain as prophets, seers and revelators and recognize that as we follow their counsel, as we look to the Savior and follow His example, we will be able to do all that is before us, all that the Lord wants us to be able to do and we will be happy. We will be successful and we will be a beacon to those who want to find a better way. But it's going to require that these young women step up and do their part. They have to exercise faith. They have to exercise obedience as they strive to build their own testimonies because that's what the Lord wants for each one of them, that they know that they are daughters of God."

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