On Saturday, I had the pleasure of tucking myself away in the basement of my sister-in-law's home and watch the LDS Women's Conference streamed live to my brother-in-law's iPad. We were visiting to celebrate the birth of their firstborn -- a son. There were so many family members caught up in the excitement, I didn't want to interrupt. But, oh, how glad I am that I took the time!
One of the special things about this conference was the opening of the meeting to women and girls all the way down the age of 8 years old. For the past few years, there has been some concern that young women transitioning from their YW groups at the age of 18 don't feel like they quite fit the Relief Society mold and extend that perception to a lack of participation within the organization. I am delighted that this "Molly Mormon" mold (that never truly existed in the first place) was broken this evening. "We all need each other" was an overarching theme of the meeting. "Help Wanted" was the call to serve with what we have, wherever we are at, and without unnecessary and ungraceful comparisons to one another.
One sister used the primary song "Teach Me to Walk in the Light" as a theme for her talk. She asked the girls aged 8-11 who were present in the Conference Center to stand and sing the first verse of the song. How their sweet, fearless voices rose up and filled the hall! She then had the rest of the sisters sing the second verse in answer to the plea:
Verse 1
Teach me to walk in the light of his love.
Teach me to pray to my Father above.
Teach me to know all the things that are right.
Teach me, teach me to walk in the light.
Verse 2
Come little child and together we'll learn
of His commandments that we may return
home to His presence to live in His sight
Always, always to walk in the light.
As a woman, this interconnectedness is something I've always understood. I learn so much from my children, my sisters, my neighbors, my friends, my husband, my coworkers, and even strangers who only touch my sphere of influence for a moment. The human family is complex, diverse, and full of wonderful opportunities for growth and connection -- even though we, so often, feel alone, separated, and impossibly different. I'm thankful this idea is being extended so visibly at this time to inspire us to remember that our covenant is not only to the Lord, but is to lifting each other as well.
In addition to the Relief Society General Presidency sharing messages about covenants, service, and extending grace to ourselves and to others, President Henry B. Eyring reminded women that from the beginning -- starting with Eve, the Mother of all Living -- there have been courageous, intelligent women who lead their families and communities in following the Lord by doing so themselves and standing as witness of God at all times, in all things, and in all places.
I was personally touched by the story he shared about his mother preparing him to make covenants by imparting of her faith and expounding scriptures to him from the time he was a little boy.The same scripture (D&C 68:25) that had inspired Pres. Eyring's mother, motivated my own mother to send us to church (even though she wasn't a member) so we would grow up in the gospel. I still recall visiting with a sister who lived in Bonney Lake, Washington so many years ago who justified her lack of scripture study with the scripture (Ecclesiastes 3:1) "to every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven." I felt deeply sad for the lack of scripture power she would likely face in her life and how it might affect her children that she would not have specific scriptures in mind to help them through trials and challenges as they came.
I am thankful for the women in the world who believe their lives have value and purpose -- thankful to be educated and to have others who dig in, research, discover, serve, and apply what they know because they are dissatisfied with sitting back and passively being fed. I am also deeply grateful for a moment of stillness yesterday evening when my heart and mind were wide open, ready to receive, and that I found myself so completely filled.
If you haven't had a chance to watch this session of the conference, I invite you to do so.
One of the special things about this conference was the opening of the meeting to women and girls all the way down the age of 8 years old. For the past few years, there has been some concern that young women transitioning from their YW groups at the age of 18 don't feel like they quite fit the Relief Society mold and extend that perception to a lack of participation within the organization. I am delighted that this "Molly Mormon" mold (that never truly existed in the first place) was broken this evening. "We all need each other" was an overarching theme of the meeting. "Help Wanted" was the call to serve with what we have, wherever we are at, and without unnecessary and ungraceful comparisons to one another.
One sister used the primary song "Teach Me to Walk in the Light" as a theme for her talk. She asked the girls aged 8-11 who were present in the Conference Center to stand and sing the first verse of the song. How their sweet, fearless voices rose up and filled the hall! She then had the rest of the sisters sing the second verse in answer to the plea:
Verse 1
Teach me to walk in the light of his love.
Teach me to pray to my Father above.
Teach me to know all the things that are right.
Teach me, teach me to walk in the light.
Verse 2
Come little child and together we'll learn
of His commandments that we may return
home to His presence to live in His sight
Always, always to walk in the light.
As a woman, this interconnectedness is something I've always understood. I learn so much from my children, my sisters, my neighbors, my friends, my husband, my coworkers, and even strangers who only touch my sphere of influence for a moment. The human family is complex, diverse, and full of wonderful opportunities for growth and connection -- even though we, so often, feel alone, separated, and impossibly different. I'm thankful this idea is being extended so visibly at this time to inspire us to remember that our covenant is not only to the Lord, but is to lifting each other as well.
In addition to the Relief Society General Presidency sharing messages about covenants, service, and extending grace to ourselves and to others, President Henry B. Eyring reminded women that from the beginning -- starting with Eve, the Mother of all Living -- there have been courageous, intelligent women who lead their families and communities in following the Lord by doing so themselves and standing as witness of God at all times, in all things, and in all places.
I was personally touched by the story he shared about his mother preparing him to make covenants by imparting of her faith and expounding scriptures to him from the time he was a little boy.The same scripture (D&C 68:25) that had inspired Pres. Eyring's mother, motivated my own mother to send us to church (even though she wasn't a member) so we would grow up in the gospel. I still recall visiting with a sister who lived in Bonney Lake, Washington so many years ago who justified her lack of scripture study with the scripture (Ecclesiastes 3:1) "to every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven." I felt deeply sad for the lack of scripture power she would likely face in her life and how it might affect her children that she would not have specific scriptures in mind to help them through trials and challenges as they came.
I am thankful for the women in the world who believe their lives have value and purpose -- thankful to be educated and to have others who dig in, research, discover, serve, and apply what they know because they are dissatisfied with sitting back and passively being fed. I am also deeply grateful for a moment of stillness yesterday evening when my heart and mind were wide open, ready to receive, and that I found myself so completely filled.
If you haven't had a chance to watch this session of the conference, I invite you to do so.
