April 2, 2026
President Susan H. Porter, Primary General President
Post contributed by
Eastin Hartzell
Parents: Hans J. Holland and Charlene Coleman Holland
Education: Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Brigham Young University
Husband: Bruce D. Porter
Married: February 2nd, 1977 - Washington DC Temple
Children: 4 Children
Callings: Primary General President, President Porter has served on the Relief Society General Advisory Council and as a stake Relief Society presidency counselor, ward Relief Society and Young Women president, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and Primary music leader.
Sustained: April 2nd, 2022
Early Life and Education
Born on July 31, 1955, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, President Susan Holland Porter was raised in Painted Post, New York.1
She attended Brigham Young University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. It was at BYU during a religion class that she met her husband, the late Elder Bruce D. Porter. They were married in the Washington D.C. Temple in 1977 and raised two sons and two daughters.2
Professional and Global Experience
Sister Porter’s professional background includes working as a lab assistant at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and as a part-time mathematics teacher.3
Because her husband served as a General Authority Seventy from 1995 until his passing in 2016, President Porter lived in diverse global locations, including Germany, Russia, and the Middle East.4
Recent teachings
During the 2025 First Presidency Christmas devotional, President Porter discussed the everlasting light of Jesus Christ.
She reflected on Christ's visit to the America's saying, "The sun had set, but the sky was filled with light."
She likened that to the darkness that we may feel in life, but with Christ, there is always light to be found:
"During our lives there will be times when the sun may go down on our hopes and dreams. The sun may go down when we experience loss or physical and emotional challenges. But because Jesus Christ came to earth and rose on the third day, triumphant over sin and death, there will be no permanent darkness at the going down of the sun. We can seek and find His life-giving light."
- 1. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/callings/relief-society-organization/this-is-your-relief-society/general-leaders/susan-h-porter?lang=eng
- 2. https://www.thechurchnews.com/2021/7/10/23218139/sister-susan-h-porter-new-primary-general-presidency-counselor/
- 3. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/susan-h-porter?lang=eng
- 4. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/callings/relief-society-organization/this-is-your-relief-society/general-leaders/susan-h-porter?lang=eng