Camille Fronk Olson

Camille Fronk Olson is a professor emeritus of ancient scripture and former department chair at Brigham Young University. She received the Karl G. Maeser Excellence in Teaching Award, the university’s highest recognition for teaching. She served a full-time mission to Toulouse, France, before earning a master’s degree in ancient Near Eastern studies and a PhD in sociology of the Middle East. Formerly dean of students at LDS Business College, she has served on the Young Women General Board and on the Church’s Teacher Development Curriculum Committee. Her published books include In the Hands of the Potter; Mary, Martha, and Me; Too Much to Carry Alone; Women of the New Testament; and Women of the Old Testament. She is married to Paul Olson, which includes the blessing of two children and four grandchildren.

A man kneels in front of a glowing golden heart with black colors fading out from the bottom corner.

Help for Life Challenges

Love lessons from the Savior’s parables, part 3: How the Lord opens our eyes to truly see others

By Camille Fronk Olson

May 17, 2024 06:25 AM MDT

We cannot truly love others until we complete this crucial step.

3 Min Read

Help for Life Challenges

Love lessons from the Savior’s parables, part 2: Our job is to love, not judge

By Camille Fronk Olson

May 10, 2024 04:56 AM MDT

The kingdom of heaven is more inviting, more colorful, more remarkable, and more effective because “fishes of every kind” belong to it.

2 Min Read

A group of people of all ages passes on good deeds.

Help for Life Challenges

Love lessons from the Savior’s parables, part 1: Let go of preconceived ideas

By Camille Fronk Olson

May 03, 2024 09:17 AM MDT

We don’t need to be the best cook to offer to feed another, a medical professional to offer healing aid, or flush with cash to ease another’s burdens.

4 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

What “Having the Priesthood in Your Home” Meant to Me as a Single Woman

By Camille Fronk Olson

March 11, 2020 12:00 PM MDT

Camille Fronk Olson is a professor emeritus of ancient scripture and former department chair at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. Her research and publications have focused on women in the Bible and Palestinian families. She loves to travel, garden, and research stories about her ancestors. She scored when she married Paul Olson, a decision that included the blessing of two children and four grandchildren.

10 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

5 Prophecies About Mary That Will Help You See Her in a New Way

By Camille Fronk Olson

December 19, 2019 09:08 AM MST

The following story originally ran on LDS Living in 2016.

3 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Christ and Women: 4 Powerful Moments from the New Testament

By Camille Fronk Olson

March 02, 2019 04:40 PM MST

In a bold disregard for male superiority, the Savior was not ashamed to describe Himself by using feminine images. He is the mother hen yearning to protect her own under her ample wings if they will come to Him in faith (Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:37), and the woman who searched her house until she found the lost coin (Luke 15:8–10). He invited all who were thirsty to come to Him and drink from His koilia (John 7:37–38), an interesting but debated image. The term refers to a “hollow of the body” and is typically translated as “belly” or “womb.”

8 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

How the Samaritan Woman at the Well Teaches Us Powerful Truths About Christ's Nature and Message

By Camille Fronk Olson

February 12, 2019 05:15 PM MST

In every aspect of Christ's ministry on earth and in heaven, women have held a prominent role as witnesses and receivers of His divinity and grace. Eve knew, worshipped, and offered sacrifices for the premortal Christ. Mary brought the Son of God into this world. The Samaritan woman witnessed Christ's first recorded declaration that He was the Messiah of the world. Mary and other women witnessed our Savior at the tomb after His resurrection. The angel Moroni showed Mary Whitmer the gold plates, allowing her to be a witness of their truth. Clearly, women hold a significant and sacred role in the eyes of our Savior and in His ministry. Camille Fronk Olson speaks of this role in her book Women of the New Testament.

3 Min Read

Recommended by Us

What ‘prophetess’ means in scripture and why it matters for women today

By Camille Fronk Olson

February 22, 2018 03:00 PM MST

Between the time the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness and the Savior's birth, the Bible refers to several women as prophetesses, a term that can be troubling to those who restrict the meaning of prophet to a man whom God authorizes to declare doctrine, relay His will to His people, and lead them back to Him.

3 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Why Pontius Pilate's Wife Tried to Save Christ and the Incredible Dream That Inspired Her

By Camille Fronk Olson

October 06, 2017 02:21 PM MDT

Although her appearance in the New Testament is brief (only 38 words) and she is unnamed there, Pontius Pilate’s wife is known for her attempt to prevent her husband’s involvement in the death of Jesus of Nazareth. As a Roman, she lived in Caesarea but seems to have accompanied her husband to Jerusalem and may have become acquainted there with aspects of Jewish culture. Later histories record her name as Procla, or perhaps Claudia Procla, and suggest she was a God-fearer or perhaps even a proselyte to Judaism. Subsequent Christian myths magnify and embellish her support for Christians. The scriptural text, however, highlights her sensitivity to spiritual promptings through dreams and her courage to speak out against unjust punishment.

6 Min Read