Steven and Elizabeth Warner’s lives were intertwined even before birth. Steven Warner has been serving as the president of the Hawaii Honolulu Mission for the past two and a half years with Sister Warner faithfully standing by his side. Before they were born,their parents were friends while attending the University of Utah, and all transferred to the University of Minnesota to focus on graduate work. Sister Warner said, “When my mother was in labor [with me], President Warner’s father was on call at the hospital. He wasn’t an obstetrician, so he would run in and out between my father and my mother and would keep my father updated on the situation. Back in those days, fathers weren’t allowed in the delivery room.” When it came time for Sister Warner to be delivered, the only doctor around was her future father-in-law. The two families continued to stay close, with little Elizabeth in the family. “After that, both families eventually moved back to Salt Lake and we were raised in parallel,” said Sister Warner. “Our mothers played tennis together and our fathers were in different groups together, but we didn’t really see a whole lot of each other. He went to East High School and I went to Highland High School, but I would see him every now and then.” After his mission in Japan, President Warner began attending the University of Utah where he said he had a string of bad blind dates. After expressing his woes to his father about the dates, his dad asked, “Why don’t you call that Engar girl?” He heeded is father’s advice and took Sister Warner out to see a John Wayne movie and the two have been together ever since. After seven months of courtship, President and Sister Warner were attending a sorority dinner and dance in Midway, Utah, when he decided it was time to pop the question. “He pulled me away after dinner before dessert, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I had no idea he it was coming,” said Sister Warner. They were engaged for 10 months and married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 14, 1973. Their 43-year marriage have given them five children and 15 grandchildren. Uploaded Feb. 17, 2016
Writer: Alex Maldonado
