No - not Mountain.
Sheri!
Yesterday, while getting ready for the day, I decided to listen to a Women's Conference talk. The truth is, I just didn't want to listen to another 80's lunch rewind or whatever (
yes I was getting ready during the lunch hour). So, in the spirit of trying to be prepared to contribute
something to
my upcoming assignment, I flipped on this year's BYU Women's Conference and decided against watching
Sister Beck's talk again, although that was a hard decision because, boy oh boy,
(good expression incidently) is that talk good. Instead I chose Sheri Dew. She's always a crowd pleaser for sure, as well as inspirational, motivational and spiritual.
(The Relief Society Building - yes, there's a building for Relief Society! Directly east of the Temple. :))
(And yes, I took all the pics in this blog - except the ones of me and the one of Sister Dew.)
And
this talk did not disappoint. In fact, I've been thinking about it for most of the day and I'm
really feeling like some action is in order.
So I thought I'd share.
The theme of the Conference this year was "Awake, Arise and Come Unto Him" taken from Moroni 10:30-32. Sister Dew talked about how dewing those 3 things will ensure we have the righteous influence Heavenly Father has blessed us with and expects of us in the circles in which we find ourselves.
Sister Dew said, "
Influence is not about elevating self, but lifting others."
She also said that "
influence to lift others comes as we come unto Christ. To come unto Christ means walking away from the world.
And walking away from the world means choosing holiness and purity over worldliness and impurity.
Our Father wants us back, and He wants us back clean."
Isn't that excellent?
She said, "We may not be the first generation of sisters to be influenced by the world but we need to be the last. We’ve got to be the last. The apostle Paul said it best. “It is high time to awake out of sleep… The night is far spent, the day is at hand; therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Romans 13:11-12).
"If it’s any consolation we’re not the first generation to struggle with this. In 1873, Eliza R. Snow said this to the Relief Society. 'I have thought how necessary for the Saints of the living God to be more of a distinct people than they already are… to be as different from the rest of the world as our privileges are more exalted—we should be a shining light to the nations of the earth. But I often say to myself, are we what we should be?'
We're certainly not the first generation to be influenced by the world but we must be the last.
(In fact, there are so many good quotes from that talk - that'll have to be a new happy little "element" of my blog.)
(Speaking of happy and little - remember Bob Ross? The happy painter? Happy little clouds, happy little trees... I may have to do an 'ode to Bob Ross post'.
Catheryn seriously loved him.)
You know -- I think there is just too much world in my world. I realized it especially when she read again this quote from President Spencer W. Kimball.
"My dear sisters, may I suggest to you something that has not been said before or at least in quite this way. 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 (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality) 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."
Isn't it wonderful that President Kimball say "distinct and different in HAPPY ways"?!!! That alone made me So Happy!
But what are those ways?
I mean - he's talking about drawing "the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality") to the Church.
How are we different in happy ways from such good, spiritual women? Are we?
Rather -- am I?
Sister Dew continued, "It has been 3 decades since that call to action... Are we ever going to do more than just quote President Kimball? We have the gift of the Holy Ghost. A living Prophet. Spiritual gifts. Access to Priesthood power. Ordinances that endow us with knowledge and power. Unique leadership training and the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness. We should be far more distinctive than even the very finest women in the world. Are we? In our everyday lives do we talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, preach of Christ and testify of him?
Are we women on a mission to build his kingdom? …Are we the women God needs us to be in the latter part of the Latter-days?"
No wonder they want us to study For the Strength of Youth (as Sister Beck emphasizes it). It is the guide by which we can measure just how far the world has moved away from the Gospel and if we are drifting too or holding fast to the Iron Rod.
"Sisters it is high time for us to arise and have the influence that God intended us to have. It is high time for us to lead the women of the world. It’s high time for us to model the distinctiveness and happiness that sets true followers of Jesus Christ apart."
So, the world in my world, and distinct and different in happy way #1.
A good chunk of the world flows right into my living room through the ol'boob tube.
So - today, I unplugged it.
Yep - I'm gonna see if I can just go a week without watching it.
(Or at least make it more difficult so that if I really do need to see something I'll have to make an effort to watch it - you know - a conscious choice instead of just falling back into that comfort zone of nothingness. Watching movies with friends doesn't count, right?)
I mean really - how important are the Kardashian's? Or knowing what's happening on The View? Or having Oprah tell me how to live my best life? I'm pretty sure I know how and it didn't come from listening to the Big O. (Sister Dew said she heard someone quote a talk show host in Relief Society the other day. Then she said, "Come on! Surely we haven't become so numb that we would endorse an openly immoral celebrity in the Lord's organization for women.")
But occasionally I get lulled and think all that nonsense matters.
So I'm grateful that Sister Dew has provided me a wake up call in the form of her talk.
She said, "If we truly want to walk away from the world, our single most important pursuit is
to seek to hear the voice of the Spirit."
She also suggested we think of our life as a ministry (which Sister Parkin suggested here too). Not just church callings or taking care of our regular activities but thinking what can I do to really minister to others.
"I’m not talking about doing more although it may mean doing things differently. I am talking about focus and perhaps further consecration. Making of your life a ministry means consciously asking yourself in regular everyday situations, “Why has the Lord brought me here today?” and then looking for ways to build up people and the kingdom. It means asking the Lord what He needs you to do… Ministering might mean… starting a blog to share what you believe online. (Awesome!) (She didn't say awesome by the way.) It is our stewardship, after all, to pass along the legacy of what it means to be a woman of God to the next generation… We’re the ones who need to define Latter-day Saint Womanhood. Not anyone else. This means speaking up and reaching out. It means seeking to have influence in as many ways and with as many people as possible. Those who think of life as a ministry tend to be less lonely, less likely to feel that life has spun out of control, more inclined to have a gentle heart, more filled with purpose."
She quoted the scripture - "For even the Son of Man came to minister not to be ministered unto" (Mark 10:45) and I find myself thinking, "But of course! He was the Savior! He had to know He was here to serve others and get His comfort from His Father
- the God of all comfort (one of my new favorite scriptures) -
with whom He was totally in tune.
The only thing that's different between Him and me however - besides the absolutely obvious many things - is me.
Heavenly Father would bless me with the same comfort. The same peace. The same opportunity to serve in my circle if I would do the same things as Jesus did while He was away from His Father the same as I am now.
We have the same commandments and the same promises.
(How miraculous is that?!).
Except - it's all made possible for me through Jesus Christ.
So it's almost even more incumbent on me to follow Him - since He gave me the example - perfectly - and provided the way for me to get back on the path - lovingly and miraculously mercifully.
I'm kind-of overwhelmed by it all this morning.
Sister Beck said, "There is eternal power and influence in motherhood."
So true.
Sister Dew believes it too.
"What is our potential influence as we and our sisters across the earth rally together for the cause of Jesus Christ? Will you consider the collective power of one? What if every woman in Relief Society living near a Temple went to the Temple just one extra time this year. How much more revelation would flow into the homes of the church? Or – what if we each did one thing this month, just one, to improve our ability to hear the voice of the Spirit? Or – one thing to become more pure? Or – tuned out one talk show and studied scriptures instead… Or – went to cheer on one Laurel we’re not related to. Have you noticed how many times I have said or? What is one thing you could do and would be willing to do? Or – and here’s the big question – what if every sister in Relief Society looked and prayed for one just one opportunity to share the Gospel this year? ...Now does this seem just outrageous? Or is it exactly what President Kimball foresaw; that we, we would be a significant force in both the numerical and spiritual growth of the Church in the last days. I believe it. And I believe it’s high time we make it happen. I’m going to try. Will you?"
Yes, Sister Dew! YES!
"Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said this, 'Something is going to be asked of this dispensation that’s never been asked before. We must be ready to present the Church of the Lamb, to the Lamb, and when that happens, we must be looking and acting like His Church.' This may seem impossible but… with the Lord’s help and our best effort we will prevail…
Our Father sent us now precisely because He knew we would not stop until we got the job done. We are followers of Jesus Christ and we have been his followers and loved Him for a long, long time. Nothing is more important than working and sacrificing and enduring for Him. Let us be the generation of women that, finally, walks away from the world. If we will awake, arise and come unto Christ we will have a degree of influence…that has no limit and no end.
We can do this. I know we can."
That's because the women of the Church have the ability to be different and distinct in happy ways from the women of the world because we have the Gift of the Holy Ghost! And when we follow His promptings (acting quickly to follow every inspiration that is honorable and right) - whether we are mothering our own children or another's (including perhaps someone who may have children older than we are (aka old lady friends)) - we can have influence.
I could go on and on and on. Surprised?
I'll step down from my soapbox for today... but not for long. :)
What are you dewing to avoid worldly influence?
How dew you righteously minister to and influence others?
What are we dewing to prepare the Church of the Lamb to present to the Lamb when He comes?
I'm not saying you aren't, I'm saying you are -- please tell me how!
(And, seriously, if you're still reading at this point, leave me a comment. You get a prize. Just tell me you saw this. :))
Sister Dew quoting President Monson said -
"We cannot escape the influence our lives have upon the lives of others."
She's right - I mean it's one way or the other - not in between.
But we can certainly choose the things by which we will be influenced.
And how grateful I feel for those righteous women who have had influence on my life.
And so many more... Boy, do I love those ladies.
So I'm going to Just Dew It.
And a new resolve to try harder, the Gift of the Holy Ghost and the Promise of the Atonement make me So Happy.
I can see the Light of a brand new day.
I can see the Light of a brand new day.
And I've got my dreams to see me through.
And with Faith and Love there's nothin' I can't do.
Cuz I can see the Light of a clear blue morning.
These pictures were all taken on my trip (except the first one from Maria's reception in Seattle).
