Sheldon Child learned early the value of hard work.
Born 8 May 1938, he spent his childhood helping on the family’s 20-acre
farm located in Syracuse, Utah, a small town near the Great Salt Lake.
When Sheldon was eight years old, his parents gave him a calf to raise.
When the calf was sold, Sheldon carefully counted out money for tithing
and took it to the bishop. Counting the money again, Sheldon realized he
had brought more money than he actually owed, but he gave it to the bishop
anyway. Even then, Sheldon was generous with things pertaining to the Lord,
a pattern that would continue throughout his life.
He attended Utah State University and the University
of Utah. In 1957 he married Joan Haacke in the Salt Lake Temple. He went
to work with his brother Bill at the R. C. Willey store, then a two-man
appliance shop. Over the years the two brothers built the small business
into a seven-store home furnishings chain.
During those years of hard work, Church callings
took priority in Brother Child’s life. In the Syracuse Second Ward, he
served as elders quorum president, then as bishop. Later he was called
as president of the Syracuse Utah Stake. These years, rich with Church
experience, were also spent in community service and in raising the couple’s
six children. His greatest joys come from his family, he says.
One of his highlights in Church service came with
a call to serve as president of the New York New York Mission. Upon their
return, the family moved to Salt Lake City to be nearer to his work. It
wasn’t long after his return that he accepted a call to serve as an Area
Authority for the Utah North Area.
When called to the Second Quorum of the Seventy,
Elder Child said: “I love the Lord and have a strong testimony of the gospel
of Jesus Christ. I always want to be found doing the things the Lord would
have me do.”
In the April 1998 General Conference, Elder Child was
sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy. He served in the First Quorum
until 2008 when he was released and granted Emeritus Status.
