"Motherhood is not a burden to be borne, it is a privilege to be enjoyed. It is not a trial of endurance, it is a time of celebration." Winnie Dalley

6.16.2010

Truth



Yesterday I had the opportunity to go to the temple. I love the temple for many reasons, one of which is that it is there that I learn what it really means to be a woman. There is so much power that comes from the knowledge we receive there. I get distracted sometimes by listening to the voices of the world that tell me that the way my body looks is what matters most about being a woman. I love this quote by Elder M. Russel Ballard, he said, "It is, unfortunately, all too easy to illustrate the confusion and distortion of womanhood in contemporary society. Immodest, immoral, intemperate women jam the airwaves, monopolize magazines, and slink across movie screens-all while being celebrated by the world. The Apostle Paul spoke prophetically of "perilous times" that will come in the last days and specifically referenced something that may have seemed particularly perilous to him: "silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts"(2Timothy 2:1,6). Popular culture today often makes women look silly, inconsequential, mindless, and powerless. It objectifies them and disrespects them and then suggests that they are able to leave their mark on mankind only by seduction- easily the most pervasively dangerous message the adversary sends to women about themselves."


Wow. That really makes me stop in my tracks when I obsess about how many cookies I have eaten today. Yes, we should all try to be as healthy as we can, but I believe that the vast majority of women spend way too much time thinking and obsessing about how much they weigh and how they look- myself included! And when we do that, Satan wins! I am so grateful that Heavenly Father sends us the truth about what it means to be a woman through the scriptures, His prophets, and through the whisperings of The Holy Ghost. I am so grateful for the temple where I can learn and listen and remember who I am. I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father will help me when I do fall and give me strength to recognize and not listen to the noise of confusion that is the world.


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is SO hard though - to not get caught up in all of that. I wonder if I will ever be able to not put myself down about how I look or how my hair looks or if I don't have make up on, etc. I want to be able to love myself and take care of myself and my body without getting so caught up in what everyone else thinks. My mom always said,"No one cares what YOU look like. They're all worried about themselves and if they look okay." I think it's true. We've got work to do on this earth .. we need to get over ourselves! =o) It's hard though. I appreciate this post. You're the best!

Missy said...

Thanks for posting this. I too have issues with me. I am nowhere near where I want to be in the ME department.
I think the world tells us we need to look one way, but I think it is quickly creeping into the wards. I think some members turn there noses up on people who are not the thinnest. They are trying too hard to look how the world wants them too, and judging others. Utah is one of the most depressed states and I believe it stems from Mormons trying to keep up with other mormons, not the world. We need to heed the prophets and apostles counsil and love us for us. Even if we are a little "softer" than we want tobe.

Mary said...

It is so true, Missy! As women who have been given such great knowledge of who we are and what is important, we really should not fall into all the traps! Thank goodness for the atonement and that we can try harder every day. And thank goodness Heavenly Father is constantly giving us reminders so that we won't forget.

Laura said...

Well girls, i weigh more than most people think i should. I have many chronic health issues that have contributed to my body image. I struggle with it every day. I have spent more than a little time in prayer to ask for help to love what i see in the mirror or at least like it. Heavenly Father never lets me down and the Holy Ghost tells me I am blessed to be alive and be able to wear makeup and nice clothes..."i am acceptable to Him."
A few months ago i took my biological father to lunch for his birthday...among several flying insults he told me i was not of his name because, "I should never,ever have let myself get so fat and unattractive". These are among the reasons it is soo hard. I am blessed to have a husband who tells me i am beautiful every day of my life. He never belittles me or teases me about it...he is a reminder to me that he loves me being alive and that is beautiful to him. My body is a living record of sacrifices i have made to have children and be a mom no matter what was going on in my life, including life threatening illness and emotional and spiritual stress.
Heavenly Father's bottom line to me is the most important one. I am acceptable to Him. Then why should i not be acceptable to myself?!
God bless you young and old sisters....YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Laura Friend said...

I was reading an article in the Ensign (by Elder Bednar) about things as they really are. In it he mentions falling into the traps Satan sets for us and says that one of them is worshiping the false idol of body image. I have been thinking about that a lot lately. There are many women in my ward who are very caught up in the whole weight issue. They run in races together and many are nutritionists. I am happy for them that they do the things they love, but some of them are very vocal about their diets and opinions about people who are overweight. I know they mean no offense and are not thinking really about what they are saying, but there is a very definite statement they make that being thin is the most important thing a woman could be. It is hard not to get caught up in their fanaticism, but it's a choice I have to continually make. I don't want to be one who worships any false god, including the worlds definition of body image. What a good thing for us to talk about and realize we are not alone in this attack on our precious bodies. The article spoke much about using our bodies in the way our Father intended - I recommend everyone read it! Thanks for these good thoughts, Mary. Love you!

Grammie Star Wars said...

Thank you for reminding me, again.

Don't count the cookies you have eaten. Count your blessings to have the cookies and to make wise choices not to eat them all but the share them with others.

;.)