WISE WORDS

Yo Fam...your Angel Mother continues her specialness. I'm ever amazed at her productivity and insights, and treasure her suggestions.

What follows is, in my opinion, a remarkable compliation written by Sweet Betty Jo, and is equally applicable to us boys as well as you girls. All please take time to read this in its entirity. The pixs are from our Milwaukee trip last July. Luv...pops

Dear Sisters of the Kimberly Idaho Stake:

When we met with President Allen this month, as the Stake Relief Society Presidency, he, as many times before, expressed a concern that our Sisters have a tendency to compare themselves to others and short change themselves. He said that we are all created by the same Maker with abilities unique to each of us. He also said that as Daughters of God we are created to be who we are for a purpose and we should not desire to be anyone else.

President James E. Faust years ago in a Young Women’s General Meeting taught, “The true spirit of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gives to women the highest place of honor in human life. I wonder if you sisters fully understand the greatness of your gifts and talents and how all of you can achieve the ‘highest place of honor’ in the Church and in the world.”

President Faust also said, “One of your unique, precious, and sublime gifts is your femininity, with its natural grace, goodness, and divinity. Femininity is …the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your qualities, your capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each of you possesses it.”

What wonderful qualities President Faust attributed to women of all ages! Attributes that we All possess! Yes, some of us are great artists, amazing quilters, fantastic cooks, accomplished musicians, play writers, song writers etc. If we each had all of the qualities of every other sister, we would not need each other nor could we learn and grow as is expected while here on the earth. Earthly skills and talents should not be confused with or take precedence over those universal God-given characteristics of womanhood.

Elder Russell M. Nelson stated in a General Conference, “There are times when a woman’s ability to endure is taxed to the limit. A teacher may have had enough of childish pranks, or a mother might be heard to say she’s ‘ready to resign.’ She could become discouraged, especially if comparing herself unrealistically to others or focusing on what she is to do instead of on what she is to be.”

A woman’s “self-esteem cannot be based on physical features, possession or lack of a particular talent, or comparative quantities of anything. Her self-esteem is earned by individual righteousness and a close relationship with God. Her outward glow is generated by goodness within. Feelings of worth come when a woman follows the example of the Master. Her sense of infinite worth comes from her own Christ-like yearning to reach out with love, as He does. In partnership with God, her divine mission is to help spirits live and souls be lifted. This is the measure of her creation. It is ennobling, edifying, and exalting.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard said, “Of this you may be certain - The Lord especially loves righteous women—women who are not only faithful but filled with faith; women who are optimistic and cheerful because they know who they are and where they are going; women who are striving to live and serve as women of God.”

When we went to the Idaho Falls Temple as a Stake Relief Society, I had the words of “I Am a Child of God” constantly going through my mind prior to our trip. As I pondered those words while in the temple with you great sisters, I realized that the Lord’s House was truly the best place to discover that “I am a child of God”, to learn why “He has sent me here”, “to understand His words”, to know that “great blessings are in store”, and that “if I but learn to do His will I’ll live with Him once more.”

I was touched with the comments of Sister Margaret Lifferth at our recent Stake Conference when she told of a non-member sister that made the cross stitch of the words to “I am a Child of God” and memorized it. I feel very strongly that most of us really understand and believe that we are truly God’s daughters. But for some reason, we look at others and think that everyone else is measuring up more perfectly that we are. By doing this, we allow the adversary to bring great despair and hopelessness into our lives.

Turning to the words of a song, a favorite scripture, the Relief Society Declaration, or a positive affirmation of our choice can pull us out of the adversary’s grasp. Actively attending Relief Society is enriching! Participating in Home, Family and Personal Enrichment Meetings and Activities will fill our spiritual reservoirs and buoy us up to face life’s challenges. For me, during those very busy child-raising years, a periodic Priesthood Blessing performed miracles. It still does as a grandmother.

Sisters, let us not get caught up in trying to have the perfect body, driving the fanciest car, living in the most highly decorated home, having the most diversely talented children, or anything else the world deems important. Likewise, let us not compare our righteous efforts with those of our friends or with our sisters in the gospel. True happiness and contentment in one’s self comes when we are exercising faith in a loving Heavenly Father, following the promptings received from Him, and discovering our own personal ministry.

We love you, pray for you, and are enjoying walking with you through this earthly journey.

Sincerely,

Kimberly Idaho Stake Relief Society Presidency