I’ve covered a lot of the history of the Relief Society on this site. Since I’m not a scholar, I don’t have a

driving passion to find every single pioneer record, or to write extensive biographies on every woman who ever lived and breathed, and for that matter, I’ve discovered that many documents and records

are now on-line and available to anyone interested in finding them.

I have also shared my opinion, more than maybe I should have, with the purpose of sharing ideas, experiences, and offering broader avenues to guide you and your sisters in case you happen to be interested. The purpose of Relief Society is singular, yet allows for vast creativity. This is a perfect vehicle for our world-wide sisterhood.  There are countless ways to save a soul.

Our future is bright, sisters, and our destiny is on course. The church is expanding exponentially and our sisterhood touches the lives of so many who thought they were lost and forgotten. We know that sometimes it can only take a sister’s love to pull someone up, so we stand side by side with our men helping to further the work of the Lord.

We all grew to love Sis. Beck. She voiced the cause of Relief Society with strength and sure-footedness. She gave us documents that will continue to strengthen us and help us know who we are and help others to know who they are. Teaching the basics brought us new enlightenment and courage to step forward.

Now we have a new Relief Society General President, Linda K. Burton. We are still getting to know her, but already she has laid the course of her presidency. She, with her counselors, has challenged, encouraged, and directed us to learn for ourselves about the

Atonement     

and our

                                             Covenants.

As our testimonies strengthen and grow, we will be a

                United

force to be reckoned with in the world. The Lord needs his daughters now more than ever.

The first time we heard Sis. Burton speak to us she said, “Making, keeping, and rejoicing in our covenants will be the evidence that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is truly written in our hearts.” If the doctrines are written in our hearts, then we will act upon the covenants we have made with faith, we will receive personal revelation whenever we ask for it, and the Holy Spirit will be our constant companion.

She reminded us that we are the people so many of the early prophets saw in vision.   God’s children, those who have already lived as well as those still yet to come, watch us as we lead this church out to the ends of the earth, preparing the world for the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Using a handcart full of our most important desires as a metaphor, she asked us what ours is filled with. If we fill it with personal knowledge and testimony of the doctrines of our gospel, some past important desires may “sort of fall out of the wagon.” As we pull these handcarts along, maybe we should make sure we are carrying truly valuable weight across life. After all, we don’t need to make life any harder than it already is, and our Savior did promise that He would carry our burdens if we asked Him to. I wonder how much we really believe that?

I have decided to share with you my personal journey. I already have a testimony of the gospel and the blessed Atonement of my Redeemer. But I would like to gain a deeper understanding and grow my testimony even more, as suggested by Sis. Burton. My heart bursts with what I know now, but through study and prayer, the writing on my heart may just enhance my steadfastness through each new trial, each new struggle, and each new determination to pass the mighty test.

I invite anyone to join me in this quest. It would be helpful to share what each of us are learning about the gospel of Jesus Christ, His life and mission on this earth, and the blessings we have received because of Him, as we choose—over and over—the good part.

Right now, I am reading Tad R. Callister’s book, The Infinite Atonement. As I read through it, I am looking up each of the scripture references. As I read and study, I have an occasional glimmer of spiritual insight that helps me understand, fills me with gratitude, and empowers me. There are other books that have been written that teach from the scriptures and I hope to get to them some day. But it is the scriptures that truly inspire my spiritual being. There is ultimately no substitute for the Word of God.