Dear Sisters,
Do you realize how precious you are? Do you recognize the vital part you play in preparing the world for the second coming of the Lord? Our lesson today was on Leadership, and I couldn’t help but think of this quote by Elder Packer:
“We need women who are organized and women who can organize. We need women with executive ability who can plan and direct and administer; women who can teach, women who can speak out. …
“We need women with the gift of discernment who can view the trends in the world and detect those that, however popular, are shallow or dangerous.”
Tonight, I would like to echo Elder Nelson’s words from his most recent talk, “A Plea to My Sisters.” This is a talk I urge each of you to familiarize yourselves with—I would very much like to quote the entire talk… in fact I did, and then I had to painfully edit and re-edit. Brevity is not one of my strong suits.
He quoted a prophecy President Kimball made over 30 years ago.
“Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world … will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world.”
Elder Nelson exclaimed that we are the women he foresaw! Do you think of yourself as distinct and different in happy ways? I absolutely love that idea and the reminder that we need to stand out and “lighten up.” The Gospel should be bringing you joy!
“I wonder if we as Church members might benefit from asking ourselves from time to time: “Is my experience in the Church working for me? Is it bringing me closer to Christ? Is it blessing me and my family with peace and joy as promised in the gospel?” (Elder Uchtdorf)
If we are not feeling joy in the gospel, Elder Uchtdorf urges us to “simply” and “start where we are.”
“God will take you as you are at this very moment and begin to work with you. All you need is a willing heart, a desire to believe, and trust in the Lord.”
“Today, we need women who know how to make important things happen by their faith and who are courageous defenders of morality and families in a sin-sick world.
I pray each of you will do your part to fulfill President Kimball’s prophecy. Elder Nelson promises that as we do, “the Holy Ghost will magnify your influence in an unprecedented way!”
Start where you are!
Sincerely,
Lydia
AMEN!
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