Sister Sharon Samuelson was born in Salt Lake City and has spent most of her life there. She attended Highland High School and later graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s of science in history education.
Sister Samuelson and her family lived in Durham, N.C., while her husband completed his residency for medical school at Duke University. The Samuelson family also lived in England from 1995 to 1998.
Sister Samuelson is the oldest of five children – she has four younger brothers – which, she says, is why she loves sports.
After college, she worked as a secretary for her future father-in-law. Sister Samuelson did not know Elder Samuelson at the time, but he soon returned home from his mission. The two met, began dating and were eventually married.
The Samuelsons have five children. The four oldest are married. Their oldest son is 35, and their second oldest is 30 and completing his medical school residency at Duke, just like his father did. The Samuelsons adopted two Mayan Indian twins who are now 26, and their youngest daughter is 21 and attends the University of Utah. Sister Samuelson offered these observations in an interview:
Have you been surprised at the service opportunities that you’ve had through your husband’s calling or any callings you’ve had?
When I was first thinking about the man I would marry, the only stipulation I had was he wouldn’t be a doctor. I never dreamed of any of these other things [church callings]. It never entered my mind. When I married him, he wasn’t a doctor, so we had to do all that later. He was still an undergraduate then.
I’ve always known he’s really capable, but with the different calls that have come to him, I’ve been overwhelmed.
I look around in my own ward, and I see all these wonderful, spiritual people, and I think, ‘Why us? Why my husband?’ But, as I said, I’ve always known he’s really capable, so I’ve never been surprised that way.
The gospel’s always been really important in his life, and his family’s always been really important. He’s always had the ability to balance those things.
I was going to ask you that. How have you been able to balance church responsibilities and family? Has that been difficult?
There are always times when he has to go to another meeting, and it’s difficult, but I know he’s always had his priorities. I’m an independent person, and so I don’t need him home all the time.
Some of my sisters-in-law would just love to be able to do some of the things we’ve done, but they wouldn’t be able to have a husband who isn’t home all the time.
I’ve been independent enough to have things I like to do, and he’s always been willing to tend to the children. So if I can get away for a time and do my things, then I’m willing to take the time to do things at home.
We have been alone a lot, but I’ve always had people who have helped me.
My husband’s always been able to do the things that are most important and leave the things that are least important out.
We built this house, actually. My husband built it, and I did a lot too.
He had a great father who taught him many skills and a great work ethic. So he’s always been able and wanted to work really hard and do his best. So the things that weren’t important had to go by the wayside.
We’ve also always made it a point to do as many family activities as we can. For a while, we had a boat, which we don’t have anymore because there isn’t time for it.
We’ve built great memories on a lot of family trips, and my husband’s always let the family know they’re important, but he’s always filled his other responsibilities too.
I’ve had the philosophy that anything I can do I do. Then the things that he can’t do, I’ll take those things. I’m the one who knows how to run the VCR. If something goes wrong with the TV, he says, 'Sharon, what’s wrong with it!?'
Is it going to be tough switching from being a Ute to being a Cougar?
You’ve probably heard all the rumors because there are some really funny rumors going around about our swimming pool. You can look in our back yard. We do not have a swimming pool that has a big U at the bottom.
I hadn’t heard that rumor.
You hadn’t heard that one? Elder Wirthlin heard it and asked us.
When our kids found out we were coming to BYU, they just laughed at us. But they’re really supportive.
Our two sons are pretty avid Utah fans so they’ve kind of joked with us. Actually, it’s been kind of fun.
They’re all really supportive, and they will be. They realize that it’s a call, and that’s the example you want to give to your kids.
If the prophet asks you to do something, then you do it, and you don’t hesitate at all. One of the reporters asked my husband at the press conference after it had been announced, 'How long did it take you to decide you would accept this?' They don’t understand. My husband said, 'Well, President Hinckley asked me, and I said yes right there.'
It’s certainly going to be a big job.
Yes. I think my pat answer right now is, ‘I don’t know.’ Where are you going to live? I don’t know. What are your responsibilities? I don’t know. But I’m going to meet with Sister Bateman soon.
Have you had a chance to talk to Sister Bateman a little bit about what you’ll be doing?
Just a little at conference or the day it was announced. The only advice she gave me is that my role will be whatever my husband would like me to do. Everybody makes their own path and does it their own way.
I think you’re right. Are there any unique talents or experiences you and your husband will bring to BYU?
The fact we’ve had an experience at other universities has given us a different picture of the Y. We’ve always been supportive of BYU. But our experience has allowed us to know how other people look at BYU.
Also, my husband has a great ability to get along with people. He can be very firm when a decision is made. He’s always had the ability to work with people.
That’s not unique. Elder Bateman had that too, but I think that’s something that will really help my husband.
We’re both very overwhelmed by this. Actually, when my husband first told me about this, I kind of thought he was teasing me for about a half hour. After a while, I said, ‘Well, he might be serious about this.’ And he was.
Were there any messages at conference that, knowing where you and your husband are heading, really jumped out at you?
Sure. Whenever they mentioned putting your life in the hands of the Lord and letting Him direct you that really impressed me. You have to be able to do that in any calling you get. There’s inspiration there. The Lord’s in charge, and you have to realize this is where He wants you. You go with that mindset and accept callings.
Also, messages about faith were important to me. Those messages, especially the ones about letting the Lord direct your life, were really important.
If you had a single piece of advice you could give to BYU students, what would that advice be?
I would say enjoy the time right now. Don’t wish for it to end. I tell people that all the time. You think you’re going to be happy in the future, but when? When you’ve finally graduated? Or when you have your first child? You tell yourself, that’s when you’re really going to be happy, but it never is. So you just have to be happy along the way. Enjoy those years.
Copyright Brigham Young University 16 Apr 2003
