Woman

Who can find a virtuous woman for her price is above rubies.

Adam declared upon the creation of woman “This is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh…the grand summation of all the marvelous work that has gone before” (Gen. 2:20–23).

We teach the young men of this church from a very early age about how men should respect women. Failure to give proper respect to women results in divorce, disrespect, neglect, criticism, abuse, and abandonment.

A woman’s role is complementary and equal to men’s—really superior…  Gordon B. Hinckley

Women are co-equals with men in value and contribution. Our lives would be hollow, incomplete, and diminished without their warmth, understanding, and intelligence.

Women are the key to strengthening our homes. Helaman’s stripling warriors gave proper respect and deference to their mothers when asked how they were able to excel in their performance.

General and local leaders in the Church meet together often to seek the involvement and contribution of women. We are stronger together than independently; the increased involvement of the roles of women heighten charity, humanitarian service, relief, and teaching in our homes, churches, and communities.

Our stature is not diminished by women; our standing is exemplified by them.

Just as the influence of good women can strengthen and lift us because of their queenly endowment, women’s contributions are essential in building strong homes and families and kingdoms.

Man is at his best when complimented by a good woman. The effectiveness of our work can be increased significantly by upholding women’s value.

Gratitude and appreciation are appropriate for all that women do in their divinely appointed roles.

“If every husband and every wife would constantly do whatever might be possible to ensure the comfort and happiness of his or her companion, there would be very little, if any, divorce. Argument would never be heard. Accusations would never be leveled. Angry explosions would not occur. Rather, love and concern would replace abuse and meanness.”  President Gordon B. Hinckley

 

How thankful I am, how thankful we all must be, for the women in our lives. The Women in Our Lives

The Role of Righteous Women and their important contributions cannot be overstated.

Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Excerpt from the Family Proclamation

Grandmother

My respect for Mother grew as I got older and appreciated all she did for people, and her gentle, kind and loving nature. One of the last years of her life was spent with Margie and me in Castle Valley. In all of the time that she was there, I can’t remember once when she complained. Sometimes, I’d cook dinner (I’m not very good at that), but it didn’t matter how poor it was or how late it came, she never had a word of complaint. I was busy working and wasn’t home all of the time. But, when I came home, I found if I spent 20 minutes or so with her, talking about my day and other things, she loved to sit there and listen. I enjoyed being able to talk to her and express myself without lectures or comments, just listening. I learned a lesson about being a good listener from her example. (Dad’s words)

Mother

Building a homestead meant work and a lot of it. But gratefully, Mother never let us forget that it meant fun as well. I have such fond memories of getting all bundled up on a wintery morning to travel to the La Sal Mountains to cut down a Christmas tree. What seemed a relatively small task turned into a day-long event. After donning winter clothes, we gathered sleds and snow flings along with the saws for the tree. Mother packed a lunch of thick-crusted bread, thermos of warm, homemade soup, fruit, and her famous chocolate cake and placed it all tenderly in a picnic basket in the back of the truck where the lot of us was sitting for our fifteen-minute drive to the mountains.

Or perhaps at the end of a hot day’s work in the fields on the farm, Mother pulled us all together to go for a swim up at the pond near the top of the valley. Our activities did not have to be elaborate and were never costly, but they united the family and brought joy to otherwise tedious chores, duties, and responsibilities we really were just learning about. Mother always made work fun and gave us something more to look forward to. I didn’t knowingly appreciate the importance of that ability then, but I knew it was more than a stroke of luck. It was Mother’s capacity to make difficult situations turn into exciting adventures. Let me emphasize that it was not money or lavish opportunities that enabled this. It was perspective and attitude that turned a simple a drive around Canyonlands into a treasured, life-long memory. Picnics on the farm, carnivals for the children, regular work projects in summer’s heat with pitchers of fresh lemonade and homemade batches of bread, yogurt, buttermilk, and treats—Mother made everything better.

Wife

The best choice I ever made was to marry your mother in the right place, at the right time, by the right authority. Hands down that was the best decision of my life. Buying that business, choosing that major, going on a mission, and getting an education were all important decisions, but each one pales in comparison to the best choice.

I could go on and on about the wonderful family she has given me, our beautiful home, her constant love and support, her patience with my shortcomings, and her love and support amid challenging times. But to list all the ways she has blessed my life would fill volumes. She is exemplary in so many ways.

Daughter

Have you ever been in a large crowd and the person on stage was talking directly to you. For a minute you look at the people around you to see if the words are meant for them, but they are looking back at you. Suddenly, you’re increasingly aware that the comments are targeted at you, so with surprise on your face you point your finger to your chest and tapping mouth the words “Are you talking to ME?” The speaker continues “That’s right. You. I am talking to you.” For an awkward moment your face flushes as you realize that you are the center of attention.

That is very much the scenario right now, except for the flush face. You are exactly the person this message is directed toward.

The God in Heaven created all things in heaven and earth for you. He gave his Son that you might be exalted. His very purpose is to bring to pass your resurrection and exaltation. Moses 1:39

With that in mind every week our young women stand and recite these words:

WE ARE DAUGHTERS of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him. WE WILL “STAND as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9) as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:

Faith • Divine Nature • Individual Worth • Knowledge • Choice and Accountability • Good Works • Integrity • and Virtue

WE BELIEVE as we come to accept and act upon these values, WE WILL BE PREPARED to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.

You, my sisters, play a most important role in our welfare both in heaven and earth.

God sent us an angel. It’s you.

How Near to the Angels – James E. Faust

#ItWasMom (https://youtu.be/GQ4TPn8hjxI)