As Sisters in Zion

I am so excited for the opportunity this Saturday to take part in the historical General Women's Broadcast.  I am so excited to be able to hear the words of our leaders directly to women.  And, the best part is, is that even though I am far from several of the women and girls that I love, we will all be watching it at the same time!  I will also be able to be surrounded by many of the remarkable women I have come to love here in Apex.  It truly is remarkable to be part of such a wonderful sisterhood.
Sometimes, it is tricky to remember the divine and sacred call of womanhood.  The ideals of womanhood are attacked by the world in every aspect. However, the world needs us.
“The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity.” -Margaret D. Nadauld
The Lord has called women throughout ages to testify of Jesus Christ.  Women have a unique ability to love and to serve the way the Savior did.  There is in a woman who knows she is a daughter of God, a power that the world greatly needs.  As Sister Nadauld said, this world has enough of the women who do not know or exemplify who they are, the world needs more women of goodness and purity.  The call then comes for those of us who do know, to live what we know.  We need to be a sisterhood of women set apart from the world.  We need to be women like Ester and Abish.  Women like Mary and Martha.  These women knew who they were and whom they served, our Savior Jesus Christ. 
To me, there is so much beauty and joy that comes in serving my Savior.  There is so much beauty in my call to be a woman alongside those who I love and admire.  I am grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside the Priesthood and am grateful for that power in my life, even though it is not my role to be a Priesthood holder. 
Satan knows the power of the Sisters in Zion and so he works hard to demean our call.  He tells us that beauty is how closely we match those on magazines and television.  He tells us that motherhood and homemaking is outdated and unsatisfying.  He tells us that gentleness and kindness are signs of weakness.  Sisters, he is wrong.   The Savior tells us that beauty is found when others can see Him through us.  He tells us that the most sacred call we have is that of motherhood.  He tells us that service to others is our role.  He begs us to turn to Him, to serve His children, to strengthen the world with the goodness we have been given.  He begs us to pray, to study His words and to have faith.  He promises as He did to those women in the New Testament, who turned to Him for healing, that He will heal us, He will make us enough.  No matter what the world says, Jesus Christ will make us more then enough through the Atonement. 

"The errand of angels is given to women; And this is a gift that, as sisters, we claim"

I cannot think of a more sacred calling then that of the errand of angels.  The Savior loves women, He trusts women and as we turn to Him in faith and claim this gift, we will have the power to bring His goodness to this world which so desperately needs Him.  

"As sisters in Zion, we'll all work together"

We must work together, we must strengthen each other.   More then just the women I love will be part of this broadcast, women all over the world.  Imagine the goodness that will come as each of us as women of God, seek to be better.  Imagine those who will know Jesus Christ simply by knowing you as you live worthy of your call to be a Sister in Zion.  I am grateful for knowing that I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father and that He loves me and I love Him.  I am grateful for women who exemplify their call as Sisters in Zion, for those who I am now serving with, for those who I have looked up to my whole life, for friends who support me, but most importantly, for my mothers, who have each played a unique role in teaching me of the errand of angels.  I am grateful to know that Satan is wrong and that womanhood is beautiful and powerful. I hope you will join me Saturday evening with women all over the world.  Here is a link to watch it! https://www.lds.org/general-conference/how-to-view-live?lang=eng

here is the link to listen to this beautiful song!  https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/as-sisters-in-zion-women?lang=eng&cid=email-shared

We'll Bring the World His Truth

In the last week, three of my very best friends, as well as many, many other friends received mission calls.  I have also done some serious reflecting on my friends who are serving in every continent but Antarctica.  With that in mind, my thoughts may be extra emotional.  As missionaries, in the MTC and in the field, we sing some of the words slightly different and those are the words I am going to share, because, it is my blog and I can. (:

"We have been born, as Nephi of old, To goodly parents who love the Lord.  We have been taught, and we understand,  That we must do as the Lord commands."

The Lord commanded that this work will go forth and cover the earth at a faster pace then ever before.  It is.  The work is hastening and to be part of that is incredible.  To be part of this army of missionaries, not only those who wear name tags, but with members!  I love being part of this army, and often, I get discouraged, then I remember that all over the world, my friends are doing similar things.  And more importantly, I am reminded everyday that Heavenly Father is so involved in this work because it is His work, I am just His messenger.  And like Nephi, I have been born to goodly parents, and I am grateful for them.

"We have been saved for these latter days, To build the kingdom in righteous ways. We hear the words our prophet declares:"Let each who's worthy go forth and share."

These words changed my life.  It was an answer to my prayers in a way I was not expecting.  Our beloved prophet said,
"I am pleased to announce that effective immediately, all worthy and able young men who have graduated from high school or its equivalent, regardless of where they live, will have the option of being recommended for missionary service beginning at the age of 18, instead of age 19. . . .
As we have prayerfully pondered the age at which young men may begin their missionary service, we have also given consideration to the age at which a young woman might serve. Today I am pleased to announce that able, worthy young women who have the desire to serve may be recommended for missionary service beginning at age 19, instead of age 21."
Almost eighteen months ago, our prophet declared that each whose worthy should go forth and share.  Thousands have answered the call, and as I serve with these worthy young men and women, I am honored and so grateful to build the kingdom.  To those of you who recently got your calls, I love you.  I am so excited for you to join me in this army.  Heavenly Father has called you, to be yourself and change the world in the areas you have been called to serve in.  To those of you who are not in a place where you can serve as full time missionaries, you have the same charge.  We need you to reach out to those who you are thinking about and open your mouths.  I promise that the words will come, they always do.  Pray for yourself and for those you wish to share the gospel with, and He will provide opportunities and words. 

"We know His plan, and we are prepared, Increase our knowledge through study and prayer. Daily we'll learn for now we are called, To take the gospel to all the world."

There is power in study and prayer. And daily is key.  Studying daily increases our ability to fight Satan and to take this gospel.  We do know His plan, and that plan involves all of us returning to live with Him as families.  He is hastening this work, and it is not a temporary program.  He has just begun the hastening and it will continue until our Savior comes again.  You are prepared for the work He needs you to do.  Study, pray, and then take the gospel to where you are called, be it Italy, Korea, Chile, Nebraska, North Carolina, Czech Republic, Guatemala, or to your neighbor, coworker,
or family member.    He has prepared you to share, as well as them to receive.  Trust in that. 

"We are as the army of Helaman.  We have been taught in our youth.  And we are now the Lord's missionaries, To bring the world his truth."

None of us is exempt from this.  We are His missionaries.  He has trusted us with His children.  We have strength as full time missionaries and we are even stronger through members.  We are His missionaries and we are bringing the world His truth.  Are you ready?  If you are not to the point where you feel you can open your mouth, pray.  When I first came out here I told my companion that I wasn't sure how to do most anything missionaries do, but that I did know how to pray and that I would always be willing to pray.  This is true for all of us.  Prayers lead to miracles and missionary work is really just miracle work.  Pray for the missionaries you know and especially in your area.  Pray for them by name and ask them who they are teaching that you can pray for.  They will be more then happy to provide names, I promise(: And, more importantly, they and those they teach will feel those prayers.

The Lord has called a larger army of Helaman then ever before.  To those just called, be excited.  And be ready to wear this name tag and share what you know.  It is exciting work.  And with this call to go and wear a name tag comes the call for those who are not at home.  Missionary work is best done through you.  Reach out to your friends, open your mouth, pray and most importantly love everyone around you.  Love is the principle behind this work.  It is all about love.  It starts and ends with the love Heavenly Father has for His children and He will bless you with that love.  I love you all, go bring your corner of the world this truth of the Restoration.