As I have studied the history of Relief Society, I’ve come to a conclusion. Mormon women do not understand their true origin or destiny. I certainly didn’t until I began studying. I testify to you that women, who have made the covenant of Baptism, have been given the power of the Holy Ghost. This is real power to call upon the powers of heaven and rightfully ask for blessings. As Mothers in Zion, we have the right and responsibility to use this power to bless our families as we lead and train them to carry on our righteous goals.

Women, this means we have power in the priesthood. We have the Holy Ghost and all manner of gifts of the spirit. We have the power to discern, to testify, to heal, and many, many other gifts that will bring miracles into our lives. The gift of the Holy Ghost has been given to us through the priesthood. Now, the question is: Are we using the power we have been given?

John Taylor presided over the eastern United States in the years 1854-1857. Because of the many attacks from anti-Mormon journalists, Pres. Taylor began publishing a newspaper called The Mormon. In this newspaper, he wrote an article called: Origin and Destiny of Woman. Here it is in part.

“The Latter-day Saints have often been ridiculed on account of their belief in the pre-existence of spirits, and for marrying for time and all eternity, both being Bible doctrines. … Being very politely requested by a lady, a few days since, to answer the following questions, we could not consistently refuse:

Where did I come from? What am I doing here? Whither am I going? And what is my destiny after having obeyed the truth, if faithful to the end?

For her benefit and all others concerned, we will endeavor to answer the questions in brief, as we understand them. The reason will be apparent for our belief in the pre-existence of spirits, and in marrying for time and all eternity.

Lady, whence comest thou? Thine origin? What art thou doing here? Whither art thou going, and what is thy destiny? Declare unto me if thou hast understanding. Knowest thou not that thou art a spark of Deity, struck from the fire of His eternal blaze, and brought forth in the midst of eternal burning?

Knowest thou not that eternities ago thy spirit, pure and holy, dwelt in thy Heavenly Father’s bosom, and in His presence, and with thy mother, one of the queens of heaven, surrounded by thy brother and sister spirits in the spirit world, among the Gods?  That as thy spirit beheld the scenes transpiring there, and thou grewest in intelligence, thou sawest worlds upon worlds organized and peopled with thy kindred spirits who took upon them tabernacles, died, were resurrected, and received their exaltation on the redeemed worlds they once dwelt upon. Thou being willing and anxious to imitate them, waiting and desirous to obtain a body, a resurrection and exaltation also, and having obtained permission, madest a covenant with one of thy kindred spirits to be thy guardian angel while in mortality, also with two others, male and female spirits, that thou wouldst come and take a tabernacle through their lineage, and become one of their offspring.  You also chose a kindred spirit whom you loved in the spirit world to be your head, stay, husband and protector on the earth and to exalt you in eternal worlds.  All these were arranged, likewise the spirits that should tabernacle through your lineage. … Leaving thy father and mother’s bosom and all thy kindred spirits thou camest to earth, took a tabernacle and imitated the deeds of those who had been exalted before you.

At length the time arrived, and thou heard the voice of thy Father saying, go daughter to yonder lower world, and take upon thee a tabernacle, and work out thy probation with fear and trembling and rise to exaltation.  But daughter, remember you go on this condition, that is, you are to forget all things you ever saw, or knew, to be transacted in the spirit world; you are not to know or remember anything concerning the same that you have beheld transpire here; but you must go, … and while in your infancy, subject to sickness, pain, tears, mourning, sorrow and death.  But when truth shall touch the cords of your heart they will vibrate;  then intelligence shall illuminate your mind, and shed its luster in your soul, and you shall begin to understand the things you once knew, but which had gone from you; you shall then begin to understand and know the object of your creation.  Daughter, go, and be faithful as thou hast been in thy first estate.

Thou bade father, mother and all farewell, and along with thy guardian angel, thou came on this … globe.  The spirits thou hadst chosen to come and tabernacle through their lineage, and your head having left the spirit world some years previous, thou came a spirit pure and holy. Thou hast obeyed the truth, and thy guardian angel ministers unto thee and watches over thee. Thou hast chosen him you loved in the spirit world to be thy companion. Now crowns, thrones, exaltations and dominions are in reserve for thee in the eternal worlds, and the way is opened for thee to return back into the presence of thy Heavenly Father, if thou wilt only abide by and walk in a celestial law, fulfill the designs of thy Creator and hold out to the end that when mortality is laid in the tomb, you may go down to your grave in peace, arise in glory, and receive your everlasting reward in the resurrection of the just, along with thy head and husband. Thou wilt be permitted to pass by the Gods and angels who guard the gates, and onward, upward to thy exaltation in a celestial world among the Gods. To be a priestess queen upon thy Heavenly Father’s throne, and a glory to thy husband and offspring, to bear the souls of men, to people other worlds while eternity goes and eternity comes; and if you will receive it, lady, this is eternal life. … Hence, thine origin, the object of thy ultimate destiny. If faithful, lady, the cup is within thy reach; drink then the heavenly draught and live.”

I bolded my favorite phrase. In other writings, Pres. Taylor has used this same phrase to describe men as well as women. I love knowing that. It reminds me that men and women are not here to compete. We are here to build the kingdom of God; to have and raise children unto the Lord; to teach and testify of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. I am convinced that anything that pits men and women against one another comes from Satan who desires to see the Plan of Salvation fail.

As women of God, we can recognize our power, use it daily as we raise heavenly children (well, they’re not always that), and fulfill the destiny offered to us by our Father in Heaven.

First publication: John Taylor, “Origin and Destiny of Woman,” The Mormon, August 29, 1857, New York City.

Also published in the Young Woman’s Journal: “Origin, Object, and Destiny of Women,” June 1897 (Vol. 8) 411-413.