Sister Tracy Y. Browning becomes first Black woman to give conference talk
Oct 1, 2022, 11:24 AM | Updated: 11:32 am
Sister Tracy Y. Browning, second counselor in the Primary general presidency, speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 192nd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Oct. 1, 2022. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
SALT LAKE CITY — Sister Tracy Y. Browning became the first Black woman to speak in a general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Her talk, which invited Latter-day Saints to see more of Jesus Christ in their lives, was given during the Saturday morning of the Church’s 192nd Semiannual General Conference.
“Through rigorous effort to look to and for Jesus Christ in my every thought and deed, my eyes were enlightened, and my understanding quickened to recognize that Jesus Christ was calling for me to ‘come unto Him,'” she said.
History made today: Sister Tracy Browning is the first Black woman to ever give a talk at the Latter-day Saint #GeneralConference.@Ch_JesusChrist | @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/6daLGfRTsN
— Erin Cox (@erincoxnews) October 1, 2022
Browning was sustained as the second counselor in the Primary general presidency in April, becoming the first Black woman to serve in a general presidency.
She told the Church News that she views her new calling as an opportunity to bless and minister to all of God’s children.
Tracy Y. Browning: "And as we allow Him to direct us in all things, we receive testimony that 'all things denote there is a God,' because where we look for Him we will find Him—each and every day."#GeneralConference
— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) October 1, 2022
“I am a daughter of God, one of his Black daughters, and because I’m Black, I’ve had very specific cultural experiences that influence my perspective, my leadership and my faith,” she said. “I know that is complementary in His kingdom. I’ve learned that as I join the notes and chords of my particular life experiences with the other members of the Church, who bring their own unique compositions, we create harmony. We harmonize because we’re focused in the same direction.”
Browning was born in New York and raised on the island of Jamaica. She joined the Church at the age of 16 and studied at St. John’s University. Sister Browning has worked in financial services for 15 years and is now a director in the Publishing Services Department of the Church. She and her husband, Brady Browning, are the parents of two children.
“When we fix our sight on Jesus Christ, we recognize and we understand that He is the only source and way to receive forgiveness and redemption, even unto eternal life and exaltation.” —Tracy Y. Browning #GeneralConference pic.twitter.com/TkQiIbfrSv
— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (@Ch_JesusChrist) October 1, 2022
Watch all sessions of general conference on KSL TV, the KSL TV app or ksltv.com/live.
