What Latter-day Saint Women Do Best: Stand Strong and Immovable

My thoughts on Sister Beck's talk "What Latter-day Saint Women Do Best: Stand Strong and Immovable"

What a powerful talk! Now I wish I would have gone. I’m sure the spirit was HUGE in the chapels across the world as she spoke.

Things that stood out to me:

“Within the plan of the Lord there are specific things Latter-day Saint women must do because they are daughters of God, chosen to come to the earth at a time which has been called “a very difficult season in the history of the world.”

AMEN! My visiting teachers were over yesterday and we were just discussing this and we were talking about the VT message for the month of October which goes hand in hand with this talk. Pres. Kimball said, ““To be a righteous woman during the winding up scenes on this earth, before the second coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman’s strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home—which is society’s basic and most noble institution. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife”

Two things to point out. First Sister Beck says, “MUST DO BECAUSE THEY ARE DAUGHTERS” and Pres. Kimball calls it a “NOBEL CALLING” WOW!!!! We are so necessary. We are so important right now. and because of that Satan is going to work overtime to pull our families apart. We have to save home and family! We have to be strong and immovable! Do you see how we HAVE TO! Yes, we have a choice, but we don’t—our families depend upon us. Their eternal salvation depends as much on us as the earth depends on rain to water it.

Sister Beck give us three areas and today I will talk about FAITH, the first one.
How many of you have shared your testimony with your children? Do they know you know the scriptures to be true? Do they know you love the Prophet and will follow his councils? Do they know you serve them because you love your Savior? Do they know you love them because they are yours eternally? That was one thing specifically that my sister wanted to make sure her children knew before she died. She wanted them to know that the gospel is TRUE! That was a powerful journal entry to read.

She gives a great list of things for us to strive to do. We could talk about all eight but I will just touch on three.
3. Study His doctrine in the scriptures and the words of prophets.
This isn’t about me patting myself on the back because I didn’t think of this idea: it was truly inspiration from above. But we are doing that my friends. At least those who are diligently reading and studying these talks are. (I truly hope that is every one of you—even you silent ones.) Seriously, when I started this group a year ago the Spirit told me I had to study the words from conference much more diligently and I knew that to be accountable I had to set up something like this. I had no idea it would be a success, but I believe it has. I have never had the words of the latter day prophets speak so clearly to me just in every day stuff. I see their words again in my mind when facing a problem (and boy am I facing more and more every day—teens!) I’ve been blessed with a husband who believes in the power of family scriptures so we are studying as a family. I have also been blessed with a RS who has put together a RS study group and this year we are doing the book of Revelation. It is truly been a great blessing for me to follow this council. I can only imagine how pitiful my life would be if these three things weren’t in it. I sure hope that I can call upon the blessings pour out for those who follow this direction some day and I BEG Heavenly Father that they be poured out upon my children now.
6. Participate in sincere personal and family prayer.
We hold family prayer twice a day. Again I sure hope that my kids are reaping the blessings. (tears flowing) The night before Nov 24, 2002, we had our normal family prayer and my then five year old Matt blessed that “no harm or danger will befall us” like every one says in the Blanding family every morning and evening. It seems very trite, but from that day on, it will never be trite, repetitive or insincere. That next morning I was in a horrific auto accident that should have taken my life. I walked out of the hospital at 10 AM (the accident happened at 5:30am). My children never take that for granted either, or at least I hope they remember—they could have been too young. I count that as morning as a miracle and a blessing to my family for our diligence in obeying the command to pray as a family.
I have a very strong testimony of the power of prayer and as of late, I haven’t used it as well as I could. I need to repent and do better. Maybe that is my goal for the rest of the year. Maybe I need to make them more meaningful and powerful. Maybe I need to do my thankful prayers again and see what happens. I need to ponder this one a bit more.
8. Live principles of self-reliance and provident living. Why is this one under “faith?” WHY? Why is this a matter of faith? I think I know why, but I’m sure I’m wrong. But I need to do better. My husband gave me a strict budget not to many months ago. BOY was that an eye opener. I can almost say I can live within it. I’ve got to do better. I’ve cut the grocery bill down significantly, but there are a few other areas that I need to a little more help in.

She then says that those eight things (I only picked 3) are ESSENTIAL things and they must be done before all else. Once again Sister Beck, a chosen servant of our Lord, has called me to repentance. I guess I better do better!

“…these are personal practices and habits that set us apart as strong and immovable for that which is correct.” Do you hear her say “peculiar people?”

The next paragraph (I won’t quote it) made me step up and take notice of what the power of one times 5,000,000 could and SHOULD do. Guess I better put my shoulder to the wheel.