Do you have a testimony of Relief Society?

That is the question you need to ask yourself this month. What makes Relief Society different from what the world offers women? I think our lesson this month asks us to examine how we feel, as women, about our place in the kingdom of God.

Women have the worst sense of self, don’t we? We tend to look for ways to be accepted over and over and over again. Our worth is dependent upon our mood-of-the-day.

I testify to you, dear sisters, that our worth is great in the sight of the Lord. We are His daughters. We belong in His kingdom. He needs us, He has chosen us, and He yearns for our return.

Satan is the reason why women have been victims for so long. He wants us to feel weak, unwanted, and helpless. We know how this devil works. That which he attacks most is what he fears will lose him the war. That is why the family is in his radar. Women are the key to every family.

Have you ever read D&C 25 as if the blessing was for you personally? Let’s walk through a few verses.

• 1.  “Hearken unto the voice of the Lord your God, while I speak unto you, (put your own name here), my daughter; for verily I say unto you, all those who receive my gospel are sons and daughters in my kingdom.”  (This reminds me of when Joseph prayed in the Sacred Grove. Heavenly Father knows all of us by name. He knows us!)
• 2.  “A revelation I give unto you concerning my will; and if thou art faithful and walk in the paths of virtue before me, I will preserve thy life, and thou shalt receive an inheritance in Zion.” (His will is to preserve our lives and to give us our inheritance. What is our inheritance? Life with Him in the Celestial Kingdom–with our families. All He asks is that we walk in paths of virtue. The Young Women are learning about virtue. We must gain our own testimony of virtue. It’s what our lives should be.)
• 3.  “Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady whom I have called.” (The blessing of having your sins forgiven is possible for each one of us, no matter where we stand today. If we have been baptized, we are called up, chosen, to be with the Lord. If we are not yet baptized, He is waiting for us to choose Him, for He has already chosen us.) 
• 4.  “Murmur not because of the things which thou hast not seen, for they are withheld from thee and from the world, which is wisdom in me in a time to come.” (This is where things start to get ugly. We must stop murmuring when the world urges us to. We are here to prove our faith in Jesus Christ, in His timeframe, in His wisdom.)
• 5.  “And thou shalt be ordained under his hand to expound scriptures, and to exhort the church, according as it shall be given thee by my Spirit.” (We have all been ordained membership in the Relief Society. We are all expected to know our scriptures well enough to expound upon them, to exhort the church, and live by the Spirit. As the Relief Society of this church, the Lord is depending upon us to teach, train, and rescue all of His children.)
• 6. “And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better.” (This is what we all struggle with. We must look to God’s ways. His will is the path we should follow. Happiness is found at the Tree of Life.)
• 7. “Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made.”
• 8. “Continue in the spirit of meekness, and beware of pride. Let thy soul delight in thy husband and the glory which shall come upon him.”
• 9. “Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive. And except thou do this, where I am you cannot come.”

As valiant members of the Lord’s Relief Society, we can be lifted out of the mists of darkness. Our attitude should be meek. Think of how meek Christ was when He was beaten, mocked, and crucified. He still knew that He was the Son of God and had a mission to fulfill. Pride brought the entire Nephite nation down. It will bring our great nation down as well. But those whose hearts are knit with God will be preserved. Both men and women, having done all the work necessary in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of mankind.

In the temple, we are reminded that we are queens and priestesses. We have a crown of righteousness waiting for us. Satan would mock our belief in this, but we must testify to its truthfulness.

Let us choose God and never look back. Our privileges are to do all things in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; to obey Him, to follow Him, to use the gifts and talents we have been given to further His kingdom on the earth, to be with Him when He wins the final victory.

It is our power and privilege to be the Relief Society of His Church here upon the earth. Is your knowledge, testimony, and purpose full of virtue? Are you armed with power from on high? Do you see yourself as a soldier in the army of God? Then you are indeed His daughters.

Painting:  Living Water by Simon Dewey