You know, when I started this blog, I had a lot of questions of what our organization was about. What’s the big deal anyway? There are so many of us now, we reach across the globe, experiencing a multitude of different lives; our interests are drastically different. Being women, our desires change from day to day. What is it that could possibly bring us together?
The answer is that we have the gospel of Jesus Christ that ties us together, stronger than flaxen cord. Whether we are mothers or not, we act like She Bears when “one of our own” is threatened. Satan threatens us constantly, and our hackles are raised.
It is the gospel of Jesus Christ that gives us something to share…instantly. When we meet, anywhere in the world, we recognize one another from another realm. We believe we knew each other before, and it is verified by the Spirit.
Sisters, sometimes we let the world get the best of us. Satan’s world brings pride, fear, and worthlessness, and our hearts feed off that garbage and believe it. By the time our heart is encased, we feel trapped, and we don’t know how to escape.
Every one of us have felt times of despair, without a sister there to comfort. Many times, we have been that sister that ignored the call. Though we are not perfect, we can’t give up. We need to simply adjust our radar antennae and seek out signals to do the work we were born to do.
I testify that Relief Society is indeed a big deal. It is a formal organization, bestowed upon us by Heavenly Father, restored by Joseph Smith, and led by prophets, as well as fellow sisters, who can see our greatness and keep us focused on our destiny, to save every soul who is searching for truth and happiness.
As LDS women, we must overcome the world. Even though the world encroaches all around, and is intimately a part of our lives, we must have control and choose Godly things. Our strength comes from Jesus Christ. Seeking for strength anywhere else will lead to entrapment and failure.
We need to view one another as examples. I have heard so many wonderful stories of strength and courage, just in casual conversation, and I have mixed feelings about that casualness. These examples should be common to us, but at the same time, they need to register as drops of purifying water that quench our anxieties.
I am strengthened when I hear about—
–an Asian woman, new to the United States, struggling with the language, and very poor, insisting on traveling four hours on public transportation to see that those she visit teaches are safe and well.
–a mother of five who has to work 60 hours a week as a nurse, who serves and serves and serves.
–a missionary minded woman, who hears that an investigator is sick (really just trying to get rid of the missionaries) and brings her a loaf of bread to say “I care about you”. (Yes, a baptism followed.)
–a sister who diligently, but quietly, serves in her calling.
–a faithful sister, bent and in pain, who goes to the temple regularly.
There are many more stories out there that are not earth-shattering, but simple and spiritually strengthening to those who know, and understand, the faith that drives the action.
Help me gather at least 100 short stories (a line or two will do) that you have witnessed, experienced, or admired, by the end of the month.