Words To Us From A Prophet of God

"We need you...the women of the Church, to stand with us and for us in stemming the tide of evil that threatens to engulf us. Together we must stand faithful and firm in the faith against superior numbers of other-minded people. It seems to me that there is a great need to rally the women of the Church to stand with and for the Brethren in stemming the tide of evil that surrounds us and in moving forward the work of our Savior. Nephi said, "Ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men, [women and children]......You are chosen to be faithful women of God in our day, to stand above pettiness, gossip, selfishness, lewdness, and all other forms of ungodliness. Recognize your divine birthright as daughters of our Heavenly Father. Be one who heals with your words as well as your hands. Seek to know the will of the Lord in your life, and then say, as did that wonderful exemplar Mary, the mother of Jesus, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."

President Howard W. Hunter

When women are united, our influence and force for good is limitless. No wonder the adversary works so hard to pit us against one another...always trying to get us to compare ourselves with eachother and compete in one way or another. I am so grateful for the words of Prophets that remind me of who I really am and the kind of woman that I want to be. And I am most grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ that makes it possible for me to repent and to become even as He is. I love and rejoice in our Father's perfect plan for His children!

Women of God

"Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity."

Margaret D. Nadauld

Show of Hands...

How many of you have ever felt like this?
I know most women do and pretty often! Here's what Julie Beck had to say about this:
"A good woman knows that she does not have enough time, energy, or opportunity to take care of all of the people or do all of the worthy things her heart yearns to do...A good woman must constantly resist alluring and deceptive messages from many sources telling her that she is entitled to more time away from her responsibilities and that she deserves a life of greater ease and independence. But with personal revelation, she can prioritize correctly and navigate this life confidently."
Yes! Thank you, Sister Beck!
You can read all of Sister Beck's talk from this past conference by clicking on this link:
http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1207-3,00.html

A True Queen

In a talk given to the Young Women this past conference, Sister Elaine Dalton told a story of an experience she had that taught her the meaning of what she calls "deep beauty". She had the opportunity to meet President David O. McKay and his wife Emma. She says, speaking of President McKay:

"He leaned back in his chair and reached for his wife's hand and said, "Now, young women, I would like you to meet my queen." There seated next to him was his wife, Emma Ray McKay. Although she did not wear a crown of sparkling diamonds, nor was she seated on a throne, I knew she was a true queen. Her white hair was her crown, and her pure eyes sparkled like jewels. ..Hers was a beauty that cannot be purchased. It came from years of seeking the best gifts, becoming well educated, seeking knowledge by study and also by faith. It came from years of hard work, of faithfully enduring trials with optimism, trust, strength, and courage. It came from her unwavering devotion and fidelity to her husband, her family, and the Lord.
On that fall day in Huntsville, Utah, I was reminded of my divine identity, and I learned about what I now call "deep beauty"- the kind of beauty that shines from the inside out. It is the kind of beauty that cannot be painted on, surgically created, or purchased. It is the kind of beauty that doesn't wash off. "
Here is a picture of President McKay and his queen Emma Ray. I want to be like her when I grow up.
I hope we all remember today that each one of us was born to be a queen, because we were. I am so grateful for the wonderful plan of salvation and for the part Heavenly Father has created for me, and all women.


You can read Sister Dalton's full talk by clicking on the link 'Remember Who You Are' under Good Words That Inspire.

This Woman Has Deep Beauty

I am sure most of you have probably heard of this woman, Stephanie Nielsen. Her story is so beautiful, and she is such an inspiration to me and to so many women that I had to put it on this blog that celebrates women. Here is a woman who is able to rejoice in her role amidst great hardship and pain. She knows who she is and what an honor and privilege it is to be a woman. I rejoice in her example! She is truly the definition of real beauty. Her example strengthens my resolve to focus on what really matters in my own life and to not listen to what the world says is important.

A Wise Woman Once Said...

"We are all in this together. We need eachother. Oh, how we need eachother...It is a sociological fact that women need women. We need deep and satisfying and loyal friendships with eachother. These friendships are a necessary source of sustenance. We need to renew our faith everyday. We need to lock arms and help build the kingdom so that it will roll forth and fill the whole earth."

Marjorie Pay Hinckley

I Rejoice Through The Example Of Others

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts." Jeremiah 15:16

Today I rejoiced in my womanhood as I was blessed to have some time to study the word of God. I am so grateful for His spirit that He sends to teach us and testify of truth.

I was reading in the book of Ruth. I am grateful for the story of Naomi and Ruth. As I read, I was impressed with the great example and strength that Naomi was to Ruth. She must have been, because Ruth left her own mother and father and the land of her birth in order to follow Naomi...and to follow Naomi's God. Naomi was a woman whose example strengthened another. I am also grateful for Ruth's example of faith that she would follow what she felt was right in her heart.

As I pondered these women today, I thought about the many women in my life whose examples strengthen me and inspire me to fulfill my role as woman with greater love, strength and faith.

One friend in particular came to mind. She recently had a new baby and has 3 other small children. I admire so much the way that she raises her children. She is very tired, as I am sure most of you who might read this are, but she is filled with a light that radiates her whole being. I believe that light comes from the sacrifice she gives of herself to better meet the needs of her children. She told me of her desire for her children to trust her, and that desire leads her to be able to sacrifice her sleep and her own needs in order to accomplish that goal. It is clear that her children do trust her and that is so beautiful to see. I think that is the most important thing to establish when raising our children, because if they don't trust us, how will we have any power to be an example to them or teach them the ways they should go? We won't. So I am grateful this morning for the example of this righteous woman and how she embraces her role as woman.

Picture by Anthony Sweat

This Made Me Happy Today

" I have a testimony gained from pondering and studying the scriptures of a plan of happiness given to us by our Father in Heaven. That plan has a part for His daughters. We have the female half to take care of, and if we don't do our part, no one else is going to do it for us. The half of our Father's plan that creates life, that nurtures souls, that promotes growth, that influences everything else was given to US! We can't delegate it. We can't pass it off to anyone. It's ours. We can refuse it, we can deny it, but it's still our part, and we're accountable for it. There will come a day when we will all remember what we knew before we were born. We will remember that we fought in a great conflict for this privilege. How do we meet this responsibility? We daily put our energies into the work that is uniquely ours to do."
Julie Beck, Relief Society General President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I too have a testimony of the divine role of women. Yesterday I was overcome by the influence I have over my children through a simple display at our breakfast table. My little J and I were eating cereal and as I finished, I drank the milk from the bowl. Upon seeing me do this, little J immediately put down his spoon and picked up his bowl and drank his milk just the same as he had seen me do (of course his dribbled all down his chin and made a big puddle on his lap:). I laughed and then was overcome with the realization that I am his greatest example of what is good and acceptable to do. Feeling a bit overwhelmed at my responsibility, I prayed for help from my Heavenly Father to be the example to my children that He wants me to be. I felt His peace and reassurance...and I rejoiced in my womanhood!

I Love Being A Woman!

I love being a woman so much! I love the goodness that is innate in women. I love the purity, virtue, and Christlike love that so many women display. I believe that this is the most wonderful time in the history of the world to be alive and to be a woman. Sometimes I feel like I am going to burst with the joy that I feel from fulfilling my role as a woman. I wanted to start this blog as a way to express my love of womanhood and all that it means to me.