One of the things I appreciate about being a part of this effort is to read the words of my fellow brothers and sisters. Their perspectives and experience enrich my experience engaging the words of the prophets. Of course, we don’t want our posts to replace the words of the prophets, but we hope perhaps this project will inspire you in some way, as it has us.   

The other posts from this week’s reading, which focused on the Friday Morning Session of the April 1971 General Conference, are at the bottom of the post. 

– – – –

Liberty Jail

“[W]here the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” -2 Cor. 3:17

This was a week of reading that left me wishing I had time to write several posts. Elder Boyd K. Packer’s talk brought the Spirit strongly to me, and articulated some important principles that I’ve been tossing around in my head for quite a while.  (I’ve been moved by how many good people are out there finding truth in their own spheres, and how God has used the insights of those not of my faith to strengthen my faith. And yet, there is only one “true and living church.” I wanted to write a post about what that phrase means to me, what it means to me to belong to this church.)

And I think Elder Benson’s talk really deserves its own post; it has such strong, clear words of warning about harmful media, particularly music. I’m going to share it with my daughter; we just had a conversation about this very topic last week.

But the pattern that stood out to me the most, the pattern about which I felt I should write, can be seen even in the titles of three of the talks.

A Time of Testing – Henry D. Taylor

Decisions – Eldred G. Smith

The Purpose of Life: To Be Proved – Franklin D. Richards

(Ezra Taft Benson’s message about youth also wove threads of similar messages.)

I’m reminded of something Elder Andersen said about how, in General Conference,

“[t]here are no assigned subjects, no collaboration of themes. The Lord’s way, of course, is always the best way. He takes the individual prayerful efforts of each speaker and orchestrates a spiritual symphony full of revelation and power. Repeated themes, principle building upon principle, prophetic warnings, uplifting promises—the divine harmony is a miracle!”

As I read talk after talk, I tried to mark all the repeated themes I was seeing, but they became too numerous. As a postscript to this post, I tried to capture a few of the patterns.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox, in her beautiful poem entitled“Gethsemane,” expressed it this way:

It’s all too easy to think of liberty as an absence of bondage, but I think there is a deeper meaning to be found in these scriptures.

Besides the examples of hard trials given in these Conference talks (and to highlight a few examples of those not of my faith who have strengthened my faith), I think of Corrie Ten Boom and Viktor Frankl. They found liberty in their captivity because they came to understand how to trust in God in the face of their trials.

I think also of a post written by a Christian blogger that a friend recently shared:

“It never mentions anywhere in the scriptures that the Lord won’t give you more than you can handle. Yes, in 1 Corinthians 10:13 it speaks of Him giving us an escape from temptations so that it’s not too much to bear. But when it comes to pain, trials, heartache, and burdens– not once does it say it won’t be more than we can bear. Instead, it beautifully says this instead:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me…for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11: 28-30)

I didn’t really know what needing him meant until I had no other choice. I didn’t know what it meant until I wrapped my arms around my middle so I wouldn’t fall apart–or the time I choked on tears and yelled toward Heaven. Or the times when I was utterly alone, and the silence was too much to bear. Those are the times that taught me he’s not just a want or a convenient symbol of love or a reason to do good deeds.

No, he’s the very air we breathe.

And he’s the only one who can make it bearable when life is simply anything but.”

Many of the talks spoke of freedom of choice that God gives us. In the face of opposition, we have really two choices — will we turn toward God, or away from Him. We are not meant to walk this mortal journey alone. He wants to help us, free us, comfort us, guide us, strengthen us. I pray for the strength to use my God-given agency to choose Him and His will in all I do so that I can find the truth, the peace, the Spirit, the liberty that He promises.

– – – – –

Postscript:

Restoration scripture has a priceless record of the Lord teaching Abraham — and all of us  — in the premortal world about the purpose of life.

“ This gospel is the plan of salvation. It was ordained and established in the councils of eternity before the foundations of this earth were laid, and it has been revealed anew in our day for the salvation and blessing of all our Father’s children everywhere.” ~President Joseph Fielding Smith

“Let us go back together in our thoughts to the time before this earth was created—to the time of the great council in heaven, when you and I and all of us were instructed by our Father in heaven as to the purpose and opportunities of this earth life.

“’And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;

“’And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them….'” ~Eldred G. Smith

“The prophet Abraham found favor in the sight of the Lord. He was given the assurance that he was a great and noble intelligence before coming to this earth. Helearned that the earth was created as a place for the intelligences to dwell after their birth as mortal beings.Here they would be tested and tried to see if theywould do all things that the Lord God would command them to do. Earth life would thus become a testing ground.” ~Henry D. Taylor

“Joseph Smith, the Prophet, has given assurance that we were present as spiritual beings at a council when the plan was presented, and we gave it our approval.” ~Henry D. Taylor

Opposition and temptation are part of the plan — the devil is real , but God and the Atonement are more powerful. Opposition enables the blessing of agency, of the opportunity to seek God, trust Him, and follow Him. The choice is ours as to whether we will seek God, trust Him, and follow His will. 

“The devil is well organized. Never in our day has he had so many emissaries working for him. Through his many agents, his satanic majesty has proclaimed his intentions to destroy one whole generation of our choice young people….

“There must needs be opposition in all things. Freedom of choice is a God-given eternal principle. To escape Satan’s snares and booby traps by following the Lord is our assignment. It is not an easy one.” ~Elder Benson

When my children were young, they once asked me if the devil has more power than God. I wish I could have had this quote to share with them:

“Remember, Lucifer did not come here of his own choosing. He lost that war in heaven and was put hereto do a job, and he is doing a good job.

“God is just. Lucifer, then, can do on this earth only what he is permitted to do.” ~Eldred G. Smith

“Free agency requires that there must be a choice. There must be an opposing force. There is no growth, no movement, no accomplishment or progress without overcoming an opposing force.” ~Eldred G. Smith

So we have nothing to fear!

“We need not fear the fiery darts of the adversary, nor be troubled by world conditions, as long as we walk in that light which a gracious Father has so abundantly shed forth upon us in this final gospel dispensation.” – President Smith

All we need to do is seek God’s help. We need His help; we are not meant to walk this path alone.

“Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened unto you. Ask and you shall receive.”(See Matt. 7:7; Luke 11:9.)

“It’s your decision. Each individual must make his own decisions. No one can live someone else’s life for him.

“If you ask the Lord for help, he will give you strength, power, and ability to overcome Lucifer and withstand his efforts, and thus you will be strengthened and made more perfect. We must seek the Lord’s help in prayer.

“The Lord has made no promise to those who try to go it alone.” ~Eldred G. Smith

– – –

Other posts from this week’s Odyssey reading:

The post Liberty (#ldsconf Odyssey) appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

~by Shauna

There is an old Chinese proverb that goes something like “When the student is ready, the Master will come.” Adversity is a gift from God. It softens our hearts and prepares our souls to begin an increase in spiritual growth. For some it comes early in life, for others later, but it WILL come.

I never thought I would encounter, deal with, or work through the trials I have endured the past ten years. Listing the issues almost seems inconsequential now, as some of them will continue for years to come. This is what I have learned as I yielded to the whisperings of the Holy Ghost.

#1- Understanding our divine nature and INDIVIDUAL role in the Plan of Salvation is crucial

This nugget of knowledge is worth it’s weight in gold. It has helped me grow from the “why me” pleadings to the “I will go and do” mindset. It has provided peace to my anxious, broken-hearted, often troubled and yes, jealous soul. I am weaning myself off of the continual line of thinking I am being punished or not worthy of the blessings others around me seem to effortlessly receive. It is providing peace..

#2-Refining is a PROCESS, not a destination.

Understanding that our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to return to him is basic. For us to obtain a spiritual confidence to even stand in hHs presence we need to pursue turning our natural man ways into spiritual ways…and that takes a life time! Think about how metal is purified…heat…heat, and more heat! The Lord has given us the template for learning and it’s real simple…line upon line, precept upon precept…here a little, there a little.

#3-The Lord ALWAYS prepares his people.

As I met different challenges and began to supplicate and ponder accompanied by prayer, I began to understand that the Lord does not leave us without “tools” to till the garden. Each one of us is gifted with different experiences unique to our circumstances and personal roles in life. I began to see a pattern that when facing issues I already had been equipped with knowledge and experience relative to the adversity at hand. I had to rely on the Holy Ghost to teach me and help me recognize the “tools” the Lord had already placed at my disposal, but as I did I felt a spiritual confidence that gave me strength I didn’t know I had. He has not and will not abandon ANY of us, especially when we need him most…which leads me to my last point…

#4-Without Adversity, I would NOT know Jesus Christ as I do now.

There is a purpose to everything under heaven! When I choose to humble myself and entreat the Lord to help me, there begins to be a viable give and take. It is a relationship like no other. As I learn to bend my will to the Father’s and partner with Christ to guide my life through the promptings of the Holy Ghost miracles happen! I have seen physical miracles, spiritual miracles, and miraculous happenings in every facet of my life! He lives! Our Father lives! This mortal realm we attempt to navigate through is a gift, albeit, harder than we could ever imagine at times, but peace comes and the growth we longed for is achieved….I’m betting my life on it.

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It was the night before Christmas Eve. John was already asleep beside me, unconcerned about the last minute plans I was making. I had meant to be all ready for Christmas, but I didn’t count on the chicken pox. For three days and nights I had cared for Rebecca and Scott, trying to soothe the constant itching. How annoying, I thought—couldn’t they have waited until after the holidays? But now the worst was over; they would sleep well tonight. As I drifted off, a jumble of images fill my mind – no visions of sugar plums – just things to do: Christmas dinner to make…the house to clean…some gifts to deliver…packages to wrap…toys to assemble…a few more stocking stuffers…a list of phone calls…so much to do…

I was awakened early Christmas Eve morning by Rebecca’s touch. “Mommy, my chin hurts.” I could see some puffiness around one of her chicken pox. I admonished her not to scratch it, and closed my eyes again, but she tugged at me again and said, “I don’t feel good.” I reached for her forehead, wondering why her fever had returned.

Since the first of December, she had been counting the days to Christmas, faithfully reminding us every morning what day it was. Yesterday she had proudly announced, “It’s two more days ‘til Christmas!” But this morning, she didn’t say anything about Christmas.

Medication did nothing to ease Rebecca’s fever. Her chin and cheek became hugely swollen, and she lay on the couch, her eyes dull and lifeless. We couldn’t even coax a smile out of her. Something was terribly wrong.

That evening we admitted her to the hospital. I was vaguely aware of the carols playing over the intercom, the strings of colored lights, and the Christmas tree. Mostly, I noticed how strangely quiet it was. As we carried Rebecca down the hallway, I overheard a nurse say, “Wouldn’t it be horrible to bring your child to the hospital on Christmas Eve?”

Yes, it was horrible. I had cried earlier as I selected one present from under the tree for each of our four boys and said good-bye to them, sending them to my parents’ home. Ten-year-old Gary responded, “We don’t even want to have Christmas without Rebecca.” Often the true spirit of Christmas is manifested in a single moment, and this year, the moment was now. “Bless you, Gary,” I said.

Rebecca had cellulitis, a deadly, strep-like infection of the skin that invades deeper and deeper layers of tissue, threatening breathing passageways and the brain within hours. It was not surprising to hear how fast the disease could spread – we had literally watched her face grow throughout the day. Had we waited too long to call the doctor?

Both John and I stayed in her room that first night, watching, worrying, praying and trying to make her comfortable. In the morning she awoke slowly. The infection had spread under her chin and to the other side of her face. John looked at me from across the bed and said grimly, “Merry Christmas.” Rebecca gazed blankly at a white teddy bear on a chair in the corner – a gift from Santa. I was struck by the contrast of this morning with all the other Christmas mornings of my life: No whispers, no giggles, no squeals, no wrapping paper or boxes or bows, no noisy toys, no surprises.

Funny—a few days ago we considered it a hassle to have chicken pox during the holidays. Yesterday, we worried that she was too sick to enjoy her presents. Today we didn’t care about presents. Today we didn’t care about any of the frantic and frivolous Christmas rush.

For two days, we stayed by Rebecca’s bed and watched the infection grow as an IV steadily pumped a high-powered antibiotic into her tiny veins. Her fever hovered around 105. She was afraid of the nurses who came to test her blood for toxins. She was motionless one moment, and restless the next, and miserable all of the time. I prayed in a way that I had never prayed before, and realized more than ever what an immeasurable blessing it is to know that He lives, to know that He would hear my prayers. I begged Him for a miracle. Oh, please, I kept saying, please make her better.

By the third day John and I were nearing exhaustion, but we began to notice a change in Rebecca. Her appetite returned and her fever began to drop. She felt well enough to be bored. When she saw herself in the mirror, she pouted, “My face looks stupid.” Actually, the swelling was beginning to go down. I lifted my eyes heavenward and whispered, “Thank you for this gift.”

After lunch the next day, I was sitting on Rebecca’s hospital bed, reading a new book to her. “Mommy,” she said suddenly, “I missed Christmas.” Tears welled in my eyes. She was right—she had missed Christmas, but none of the rest of us had. Instead, we experienced the most meaningful holiday of our lives. We understood more completely all the true gifts of Christmas, the gifts freely granted us because Christ the Lord was born a babe in Bethlehem: The gift of hope, the gift of love, and yes, the gift of life itself.

We brought Rebecca home two days later when the only sign of her illness was a knot on her chin. The unopened presents were still under the tree where we had left them nearly a week ago, but they held little meaning for us. We had our Christmas gift.

Grace Crowell penned these words that were so appropriate then, as they are now:

I shall have leisure—I shall go out alone from my roof and my door;
I shall not miss the silver silence of stars as I have before;
And oh, perhaps—if I stand there very still and very long,
I shall hear what the clamor of living has kept from me—the angel’s song.

– See more at: http://mormonwoman.org/2009/12/10/first-person-we-didnt-miss-christmas/#sthash.gIpXlBmc.dpuf

*Image source 

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On two different days this week, I wore purple. I don’t usually do things like this, so I wanted to write why I did.

First, read this post.

I wore purple to celebrate brave women like  TC who are talking about the struggles they have, and who are strengthening others through such vulnerability.  

I wore purple because I struggled with an eating disorder for over a decade of my life. I have touched on that here in other places (and I also found out that an essay I wrote about my experience got published in a book).

But I also wore purple because I think an awful lot of women struggle with what TC wrote about — the core of what eating disorders are often about. We don’t need to have an eating disorder or end up in the hospital or an inpatient facility to have this be a REAL and devastating illness amongst us as women. (I know men struggle, too, but I do think that this struggle runs deep with women.)

TC writes:

“I spent a lot of time listening and learning about how so many dynamic, smart, happy, lovely, fun, beautiful women ended up with eating disorders that were drastically affecting their lives.  In my experience, the universal problem was that we all trusted lies.  Every single one of us, on some level, believed lies.

 “The lies I trusted had a lot to do with being worthy.  I absolutely believed that I was unworthy… of everything.  I was unworthy of God, of love, my family, my friends, my children, my marriage… everything!  I believed that I could and would never be worthy, that nothing and no one could possibly EVER love me, simply because I was unlovable, I was unworthy of love.  And I believed this with all of my heart.  To me, this was reality. “

My dear sisters, your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. It is simply there. It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.

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By Teresa Hirst

My friend Camille stood behind the clear glass window of our front entry doors. As soon as I saw her with a grocery bag I knew I shouldn’t have opened my mouth and revealed my need.

In church the day before, I had taught the story of the widow of Zarephath feeding Elijah the prophet. Her faith in the Lord and the words of a prophet, knowing this serving of food was the last in the house, sustained her and her son through a time of famine. (See 1 Kings 17.)

The Holy Ghost had shown me—in the middle of teaching this lesson—the clear need to develop this faith myself and apply it to our financial challenge. I had masked my emotional reaction to that message with a lighthearted remark to the class about taking the last bottle of oil from our food storage that very week.

Now, my friend brought what I presumed was a large bag of food at my front door, and I didn’t want to open it.

Economic challenges, like many trials, bring internal conflict from the external situation. The ones typical to financial struggle include but are not limited to embarrassment, fear, feelings of failure, worry about how to meet daily needs, stress from making do or doing without, sensitivity about how others might judge the situation, pressure to fix the problem, loss of identity, emotional pain from the friction in family relationships, and loneliness.

Why didn’t I want to open the door? The conflict inside me would inevitably tumble out now that she knew we were hurting. I didn’t want to be defined by the mess inside myself. I was a woman of faith, wasn’t I?

Although I’ve been a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as a young adult I came to know for myself that our Eternal Father exists. Through prayers of faith to Him, in the name of Jesus Christ, I felt the power of the Savior’s atonement closing the spiritual distance. The understanding that they know me individually and will guide and help me motivated and increased my faith into adulthood and greater spiritual maturity.

More than twenty years later, however, in this particular economic trial, I didn’t feel strong. Faith hadn’t overcome the negative effects of this trial like I thought it should—and that created the biggest conflict of all. For very reason I didn’t want to open the door to my friend, but I did.

Truly meeting this trial with faith required that I humbly recognize that the source of these negative feelings within me—these internal conflicts—came from my reaction to the circumstances themselves.

In reality, I had never stopped placing my faith in Jesus Christ. I had continued to study, learn, and live His gospel. I believe that as a result of this ongoing exercise of faith, the Holy Ghost showed me ideas of how to increase my faith in some more specific ways.

In my case, it meant overcoming those negative feelings or negative reactions associated with the trial. When I felt them, I learned to neither suppress them nor magnify them. Instead, in the very moment, I tried to acknowledge them and then replace them with positive reminders of my individual, personal faith in Jesus Christ such as spiritual witnesses, tender mercies, love given and received, and answers to prayers.

I learned to use my agency to choose to remember Him.

As a result, I received the comfort that came from divine sources directly to my heart. I also only opened a door to the service, love, and comfort others around me could bring.

Through simple faith, applied over and over, like the widow of Zarephath, He sustained us through our drought.

Watch this dramatazation of the story of the widow of Zarephath on lds.org: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-03-071-elijah-and-the-widow-of-zarephath?lang=eng

Teresa Hirst was born in Texas and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She received a BA in communications from Brigham Young University in 1994. Today, she observes and tells insightful stories—both nonfiction and fiction—that characterize our emotional experience with life. She is the author of Twelve Stones to Remember Him: Building Memorials of Faith from Financial Crisis. She lives in Minnesota with her family where she volunteers in Church public affairs in her area. Read more of Teresa’s reflections on life and faith on her blog at www.teresahirst.com/blog

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This past Tuesday night, we had a stake Relief Society meeting. [In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a stake is a group of about 8-10 local congregations. The Relief Society is the women’s organization in the Church.] I love gathering with my sisters in the Church, and this meeting was one of the best Relief Society meetings I’ve ever attended. The messages were humble and powerful. Women shared personal experiences and reflections, and there were a few times when I felt their words were directly given from heaven, through them, for me.

I participated in the choir, and one of the songs we sang was the song that inspired the name for this site. Who We Are was written by Tammy Simister Robinson, who graciously allowed us to share the song on our site. The message and power of that song was captured beautifully in one of the talks. I wish you could have heard her give it in person, but she kindly agree to share the text of her talk here. I echo her testimony that knowing Who We Are can make all the difference in our lives. 

– – –

Who We Are 

~by Becky

In December, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). At first, I was stunned. How can this be? I feel fine, I am healthy. Questions for my future flooded my mind. What does this mean for my golf, my skiing, my eyesight?

As I wrestled with many emotions, I remembered June 18, 1988 delivering our second son, Joseph, who was stillborn. I recalled questioning then myself and my future. I remember sitting with my Mom on the couch and saying, “Life seems so uncertain.”  I remember she simply said, “Becky, it always has been.” I was reminded again of the song that helped me through that time by Janice Kapp Perry, which instructs us…; “Our journey will take us to far different places than we had ever dreamed, our journey will take us to sad, lonely places that some have never seen.  Places with a different kind of beauty; a special place apart, touching far different places in our hearts.”

Each earthly experience is carefully crafted for our own finding of self and Deity.

I also want to share with my memory from 10^th grade. As a youth I wanted to be a tall, blonde girl named ‘Angie’. You know, I wasn’t completely looking to be someone else but in some ways I was. Yes, I had successes but I wanted to be one of those beautiful girls that the guys just can’t help but notice.

It was the spring of my sophomore year and time for cheerleader tryouts. I had been a cheerleader for 3 years – but this year was different.  The selection committee for varsity cheerleader was comprised of the junior and senior high school boys with four faculty members overseeing the event. 

The next day in an assembly they announced the winners. They called up the girls one by one. My name was not called. The losers silently filed out of the auditorium with our heads down. I particularly recall coming eye-to-eye with one senior boy who looked at me and seemed to snicker. I felt humiliated, ugly and undesirable. It opened a deep wound of self- doubt.

A couple years out of high school, I returned to Star Valley for the summer and found myself, one summer day, outside the school. School was out and only a few janitors were around the property. I walked inside. Walked to the auditorium. I tried the auditorium door. It clicked open. As I walked inside, the years vanished and I could feel again that day years before. But as I looked at the rows of seats, I thought how small it looked now. It used to seem so large. I thought, how did an event so minor seem so big at the time? And then, I understood: I didn’t fully know who I was.

Today I know who I am.  I am a Latter-day Saint woman. I am a daughter of God. I am a unified eternal companion with my husband. I am a mother in Zion. Do I know all the answers to all of life’s questions or to the future?  NO, certainly not.   

But these experiences address how fragile and difficult life can become.

Satan tries to confuse, and distract us.  He wants us to see ourselves as the world sees us.

Sisters, we will never become women of God until we overcome our mortal identity crisis and remember who we are and who we have always been.

Our spirits long for us to remember the truth about who we are because the way we see ourselves affects everything we do. It affects how we treat others, how we develop ourselves, how we handle both successes and defeat, how we feel about the Lord Jesus Christ and His message.

Remember what Polonius speaks, in Hamlet, “This above all, to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not them be false to any man.” 

True vision of identity brings with it purpose and motivation for growth. 

The young women stand each week….“We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us and we love Him.” 

It is a remarkable blessing to know that we are Daughters of God.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World declares that we each have “A divine nature and destiny.” And the first words of the Relief Society Declaration are “We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction.”  And yet with all our talk, do we really believe?  Do we really understand?  Has this transcendent doctrine about who we are penetrated our hearts?

If we are to make our journey home, we need to have a clear understanding of identity and purpose.

My nephew, Alan stayed after school to finish a picture after kindergarten one afternoon because he lived only a few houses from the school.  Mrs. James had an appointment to get to.  She wanted to be patient but as the minutes passed she knew her time was running down.  She scurried Alan to the coat rack spying the only coat and boots remaining.  She sat Alan down and began to twist and push on his galoshes.  Standing him up and putting his arms in his coat, Alan then announced; “These aren’t my boots.”  Annoyed at herself, for being so presumptuous, Mrs. James pulled off the boots as Alan stated, “They’re my sister’s — but my mom makes me wear them.” Again frustrated at herself for jumping too fast, she again twisted and pushed to return the boots to his feet. Almost complete, she asked; “Alan, Where are your gloves?”

He said; “They’re in the toes of my boots.”

How often are we so focused on doing the many tasks that seem to press upon us in pursuing the so-called good life that we don’t stop to make sure we know who we really are and what we really need to be about?

While life is meant to test and challenge and strengthen us, if we are attempting to negotiate the twists and turns and ups and downs of mortality alone, we’re doing it all wrong. We have access to not only to the divine text but to Him who authored it.       

He said in Doctrine and Covenants 25:10 “Lay aside the things of the world and seek for the things of a better.” 

Our Savior promised, “I will go before thy face.  I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you to bear you up.”  (D&C 84:88)

We are told:  “In the days ahead, a casual commitment to Christ will not carry us through.”

Pres. Kimball stated; “Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days …will happen ….to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different – in happy ways – from the women of the world” (Nov. 1979 Ensign) What a noble task!

I doubt many of us feel noble or great.  But as we come to understand, who we really are, we will feel greater purpose and more confidence living as women of God in a world that doesn’t celebrate women of God.

Great blessing await us if we choose to come to the feet of the Master and make covenants through the priesthood of God that blesses us with great power and influence. “I invite everyone of us to stand on our feet and with a song in our heart move forward, living the gospel, loving the Lord, and building the kingdom.”

We are covenant-keeping women of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose and direction.  Of this I testify!

The post Who We Are appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

You can read more about Kenna at this Deseret News article: Open, honest, and vulnerable: one blogger’s journey. Or visit her blog at http://ileftmyheartinnz.blogspot.com/. (You’ll see that the links in this post take you to more reflections at Kenna’s blog.)

My name is Kenna Christensen, and at the age of 21 I was divorced.

Growing up I witnessed lasting marriages in my life. I was raised being told marriages meant forever. I went into marriage believing that no matter how hard it got, love in a marriage always persevered.

My short-lived marriage was no walk in the park. We were poor. We were learning to somehow morph two-former lives into one – values, beliefs, habits, bank accounts, you name it. I now had a permanent roommate, which took some getting used to, but despite all of that – there was not a thing in the world I wanted more than a successful, happy and lasting marriage, and there was absolutely nothing I wouldn’t have done to earn that, so when my former husband decided to throw the towel in, my whole vision of marriage, as well as my world – were completely and entirely shattered.

Looking back a year and a half later, I can confidently say that there were two specific things that got me through it: time, and knowing with every fiber of my being that God loved me, He was there for me, and He would never leave me – even if at times it would feel that He had. I was not in it alone. My Savior had felt this pain – He had felt this pain so He could help me overcome it when it was my turn to experience it. The betrayal, the agonizing confusion, the endless questions. The dismay, the disbelief, the wet pillows, and the darkest most hopeless moments. He knew this feeling, He had walked this path before, and He was prepared and waiting patiently to walk me through it now.

I needed peace; He blessed me with it. I needed to know the answers; He extended me faith so I no longer did. I needed to find forgiveness; He lent me His so I could lend it to someone else. I needed hope; and He has reminded me every day that He lives, He knows me, He loves me and God’s plan is far, far better than my own.

I am a Latter-day Saint. I believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have a testimony that God lives, that He loves me, and that if I live worthily – my blessings in the next life will greatly exceed my trials in this one. I know my Father in Heaven lives. I know He sent His Son to die for me, and I know that They are lovingly watching me, constantly cheering me on, and perfectly guiding my each and every footstep.

To those who have experienced divorce or currently are, whether it was your own or a loved one’s, to those of you who have been married for any length of time, to those of you who have felt the blessings of an eternal family jeopardized, whether that loss was within or without of your control: God loves you. He knows you individually. He knows your pain. Go to Him with your anger. Go to Him with your broken heart. Tell Him you can’t do it anymore. Ask Him to take your load for a little while. He will carry you. He will walk beside you. He will never leave you. Always remember and never forget that in your most hopeless moments, the moments you are lying on the bathroom floor, physically ill with absolutely no desire to go on, remember that those are the defining moments of your life, those moments God gives you in love, because only He sees who you can become.

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Grab a tissue. This video, “Sandy Hook: ‘Evil did not win.'” is heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once. The mother of Emilie Parker, one of the 20 victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting last year on December 14, 2012, shared her tender feelings about the grief, the pain…and then the things that helped her start to heal. The kindnesses, letters, meals, support, prayers…the combined love of so many helped lift their family and helped her remember and feel the power of God.

She answers the poignant question that she’s been asked, “Where was your God when this happened? Why didn’t He stop it?” Her response is breathtaking and sums up Mormon beliefs about the plan of salvation, the importance of agency, and the power of love and of God.

Thank you, Alissa Parker. Thank you for opening your heart in this powerful video.

The post Mom of Victim at Sandy Hook: Evil did not win appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Teachings from Elder Scott come to life in this tender video about a couple who faces severe physical adversity but has been able to keep their marriage alive and strong in the face of trials.

*Image source

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Editor’s note: Many thanks to Lauren Laws for this thoughtful post reflecting on her experience at BYU Women’s Conference. Speaking of BYU Women’s Conference, are you taking advantage of the opportunity to listen to the delayed broadcast presentations that are being shared this month on BYUTV?

Lauren Laws is a sometimes-serious comedic writer who will soon graduate from BYU with a film degree. She is from Salem, Oregon and enjoys being outside, writing song parodies, directing music videos, and coming up with t-shirt slogans. She is sort of fluent in Italian and enjoys eating food from all over the world, especially curry. The project that consumes most her time nowadays is a short musical film that she is writing and producing. It will shoot this fall.

You can read more of her thoughts on Twitter @llawsy or at http://lawsren.blogspot.com

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Last year when it was time for BYU’s Women’s Conference I remember sending out an Instagram photo of volunteers setting up for the conference with the caption, “Look out BYU students. The women are coming!”

Many BYU students see Women’s Conference as two days when the lines in the bookstore and the Cougareat are ridiculous and there is a shortage of BYU’s mint brownies. The men’s bathrooms are turned into women’s bathrooms and it is impossible to cross campus at certain hours of the day.

This year I was asked to take press photos and I crossed the threshold from casual observer to field agent. I quickly learned that Women’s Conference is not just a time when women take over BYU in search of brownies and discount BYU merchandise but a time when women from all over come together to share experiences and be uplifted by one another.

Women everywhere share the same heartaches. We have the same questions. We all want to know how we can contribute to society and be better people. Conferences are a chance to gather together and remember that we are the same.

I spent most my time out-and-about, ducking in and out of lectures and focusing more on people’s faces than the speakers but there was one lecture that I sat through titled, “Into the Sunshine: Understanding Depression in Children and Teens.”

The first speaker, Nicki Hopwood, has worked with troubled youth for almost 30 years. The second speaker, Tom Golightly has a PhD in counseling psychology. Credentials aside, both speakers dug deep and spoke from the heart about things that we sometimes like to brush under the table. Nicki referenced personal things from her own life. Sharing our own stories is the key to helping one another. We have to be willing to talk about the hard stuff. In Tom Golightly’s address he stated, “If we don’t talk about hard things we send the message that it’s not okay to feel hard things.”

We sometimes think our lives have to be perfect. Further in her address Hopwood stated, “We tend to make things our fault, not because they are, but because it gives us a sense of control.” We don’t talk about sorrows in our lives because we see it as our own personal weaknesses, but feeling sad does not make us weak, it makes us human. It makes us tender-hearted, loving, and kind. We should embrace the difficulties in our lives and use them for our good.

I remember as a young teenager talking to one of my friends about my brother who struggles with Schizophrenia. It was something that I was never super vocal about because it wasn’t something I felt I had figured out. She then opened up to me about some struggles her own brother was having and how it affected her. I realized in that moment that she would not have felt she could tell me about those things had I not opened up first. In the end, we both felt uplifted because we could relate to each other. That experience made me wonder how many other people were silently struggling, afraid to admit they had difficulties in their lives.

Sometimes we might think that if we are really good we will never be sad. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Pres. Eyring addressed that idea in the closing session of the conference. “Satan, the enemy of our happiness, opposes those who serve the Lord.” When we are doing things right we are going to face opposition.

There are people in my life who have struggled with illnesses, abuse, substances, and a variety of things. Instead of choosing to hide away or try and ignore the issues they have used their experiences to help uplift others and to become more empathetic.

I think God intended for us to face life’s trials together. He could have sent us to earth by ourselves. We could’ve learned about life by sitting alone reading lots of textbooks or watching the Discovery Channel. But we’ve been put into families, communities, schools, clubs, majors, societies, etc. so that we can learn from people–and sometimes be hurt by people–because that is how we become the strong, passionate, loving people we are meant to be.

The different women I interacted with throughout the weekend reminded me what womanhood is about. It is about using our God-given gentleness and sensitivity to make the world a better place. Our vulnerabilities are what give us courage and strength. They increase our capacity to connect with and help one another.

–Lauren Laws

The post Vulnerabilities give us courage and strength: Reflections on #byuwc appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.