Search Results

The Gospel Doctrine lesson 28 manual objective is “To help class members understand that the word of God will lead them to Jesus Christ and to encourage them to ‘nourish the word’ in their hearts.” Our Objective To demonstrate through Alma’s teachings how the Word of God is available to all — women, children, men, and society’s outcasts — to make us wise and direct us to Christ. Commentary When I was about ten, my mother stopped going to church, her life experiences incompatible with her expectations of Christ’s people. Eventually after receiving her PhD, she would teach gender roles and Mormon women’s history at the University of Utah. To her eternal credit, though she made her position clear, she never attempted to draw her children away from the church. My father continued attending and serving, but said little. As the oldest of four children, I was unsure of my path ahead. Among my tools was the Book of Mormon, which my seminary teacher urged us to read. As I laid it open on the occasional late night in my basement bedroom, “the virtue of the word of God” ( Alma 31:5 ) began powerfully entering my space, clearing my head and surprising me with doctrines I had never heard. Far from a miraculous conversion, I was moved by the simple clarity of the words that slipped into my muddled life. Alma’s mighty discourse on the word was evoked by the distress of the needy Zoramites, who complained of being sidelined and unsure of their position before God even after receiving the gospel. He rejoiced in their humility and “lowliness of heart” ( Alma 32:12 ), because he knew that the word “had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than…anything else” ( Alma 31:5 ). And so it was with me. Though I didn’t fully realize it for a while, my true conversion had begun through the power of the word of God, independent of and greater than my life circumstances. I didn’t find it. It found me. I was just needy enough to let it in. How many of us have found ourselves in a similar place—as outliers with uneasy social standing among our fellows in the church, maybe even having compromised our grounding in the gospel? The great prophet Alma, a former enemy to God, proclaimed to his listening Zoramites a paradoxical truth. Essentially: this alienation is a gateway to your greater faith and salvation through the word of God. Alma chastened and encouraged them with these words: “Remember that God [unlike their fellow apostate Zoramites] is merciful unto all who believe on his name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye should believe, yea, even on his word. And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned ( Alma 32:23 , emphasis added). Here we find one of very few places in the Book of Mormon where women (and our companion children) are explicitly included as participants in a core doctrine—this time that of receiving God’s own word, even by angels, and also through scripture (see also Mos. 27:25 and Alma 9:21 ). That this must be overtly stated seems to validate the observation that women were less visible in Nephite society as they have been in ours, while testifying that God nevertheless offers women all His gifts. As the Book of Mormon demonstrates, this good news spans gender, culture, and time. As through chapters 33 and 34, Alma and Amulek continue instructing the Zoramites, advantaged because of their humility; they teach that the ultimate Word the Zoramites seek is Christ Himself, He who rescues and reclaims, as He does me, and as He did my mother. My mom returned to the church in her seventies, not because her concerns had been resolved, but because she heard Christ calling her back. Through the voices of her ancestor angels, she awoke and aroused her faculties to an experiment upon God’s words, exercising a particle of faith, doing no more than desiring to believe (see Alma 32:27 ). She continues that journey today, along with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.   Related Mormon Women Project Interviews When You’re Ready , Pam Shorr “I always felt like I was ‘kicking against the pricks’ when I was active before. When I was reactivated, I had to work through some of my issues. I had to get rid of my hard heart. It was difficult….Sometimes I wonder where I would be if I had never left the Church. But then I remember that recent talk by Elder Holland where he tells us that where we are right now is enough. It’s enough.” Faith Unto Salvation , Patricia Joseph “Reading the scriptures and praying as I heard the elders pray, my life started to change. It was then I realized that I could also save Kirt and his girlfriend. I prayed and started to walk with my head up again. I blamed myself for giving birth to a person who might have taken another person’s life, and it was not until I read the Book of Mormon that I realized I was not responsible for my son’s action. Without the Church, without the word of God and Joseph Smith I would have not been able to ease the pain in my heart.” Other Related Women’s Voices Yielding Our Hearts to God , Neill F. Marriot “When we offer our broken heart to Jesus Christ, He accepts our offering. He takes us back. No matter what losses, wounds, and rejection we have suffered, His grace and healing are mightier than all. Truly yoked to the Savior, we can say with confidence, ‘It will all work out.’” Righteous Traditions , Cheryl C. Lant “There is only one way to become personally converted. It is through a witness of the Spirit as we study these very scriptures that testify of Jesus Christ. It comes as we pray and as we fast. It comes only when we have a deep desire to know the truth. Our motivation must be to openly seek truth rather than justify our actions by finding fault with the scriptures, the teachings of the prophets, or the Church itself. Our effort must be toward hearing the interpretations of the Spirit rather than the understandings of the world. We must be willing to open our hearts and minds, accept the Lord’s way, and, if need be, change our lives. Our personal conversion comes as we begin to live the way the Lord wants us to live—steadfast and immovable in keeping all of the commandments, not just those that are convenient. This then becomes a process of refinement as we strive to make each day a little better than the last. Thus our traditions become traditions of righteousness.”   Looking for additional perspectives on this lesson? We recommend Mormon Sunday School , Meridian Magazine  and LDSLiving .

The Gospel Doctrine lesson #29  manual objective is “To teach class members Alma’s counsel for remaining faithful in the gospel and to help parents understand how to teach and counsel both righteous and unrighteous children.” Our Objective To show how Alma’s devotion to sacred writings can apply to our day. Commentary In the October 2000 General Conference , Virginia U. Jenson told a story of a letter written by Emma Smith. This letter was circulated among various readers until it reached one Dan Jones, a boatman on the Mississippi. He related, “I shall never forget the feelings which that…letter caused me to have. I perceived clearly that not only did [she] believe the New Testament, the same as I—professing the apostolic faith, and rejoicing in the midst of her tribulations at being worthy to suffer all…for a testimony of Jesus and the gospel—but also it contained better counsel, more wisdom, and showed a more…godly spirit than anything I had ever read!” I am reminded of that simple letter when I read Alma’s words to his sons, personal instruction and advice that ended up having a far-reaching effect. These are Alma’s final sermons before he died. Just as Jesus questioned Peter before setting him apart to guide his church, so does Alma formally catechize Helaman in Alma 45:2-8 , questioning him about what he has just been taught in Alma 36-37 . Helaman’s response to these questions is a succinct two sentence summary of these chapters, a declaration of two tenets of belief. First, is the sacredness of the record he is called to protect and maintain. Second, is the coming of the Messiah. Christ and the scriptures: these are the sacred charges passed down by Alma. It is clear that for Alma, his discipleship and sacred texts are inextricably connected. He says in 37:5-6 . “And now behold, if they [the records] are kept they must retain their brightness…Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.” How has Alma himself kept the record bright? On the one hand, he must have protected it as a physical object, and his imagery indeed evokes tangible physicality, plates of metal that must be kept “bright,” not corroded or tarnished. But Alma loves metaphor and symbol. Alma-who calls the word of God a seed and who describes God’s love as music-uses the term “brightness” to go beyond the physical. His own conversation with Helaman in Alma 36-37 is a deft demonstration of the very act of keeping scripture bright and alive in his own heart. How does Alma do this? He honors ancient scripture. Citing the history of the children of Israel, he takes hope from their deliverance from Egypt and trusts that God will keep his promises of miracles. ( Alma 36:28 ). Alma also cites records that are relatively modern for him, retelling the story of the Lehites in the wilderness, but also giving homage to the faith of his father, who led his own band of followers into the wilderness. For Alma, this is family history. ( Alma 36:29 ; Alma 37:38-42 ) He is versed in Jaredite records, kept by a people entirely outside the House of Israel. Alma puts away any bigotry he might feel for a group that is ethnically unrelated and looks for (and finds) God’s hand in their history. For Alma, no group of people is left out of the Lord’s plan. ( Alma 37:21-31 ). But the history that is perhaps most important to Alma is the record he himself keeps. Alma’s sermons consistently reference his own life, not just his dramatic angelic visitation, but his continued path of faithful learning and inspiration, and even the doubts and longings of his heart. Alma internalizes the writings of past historians, but he doesn’t relegate their relationship with God to the distant past or to distant lands. He recognizes God’s hand in his own life. He writes spiritual history as he lives it. Is there any way in which my reading of this as a woman is different than a man’s would be? Different as a 21st century reader versus an ancient Nephite or a American frontier settler? No, not really. We are all engaged in Alma’s task. His study of scripture honored diverse peoples, a polyphony of voices both ancient and contemporary, all children of God. He joined his voice with theirs, recognizing God’s hand and expressing that knowledge. We can do the same. Scripture cannot be bright if it is a dusty, distant relic. The act of earnest reading works in part to polish its brightness. But we must also add our small and simple expressions of faith to scripture. Emma Smith’s simple letter has not been canonized, but it touched hearts in a significant way. Like Emma’s faithful testimony, each of our voices can take up its own thread in the spiritual history of God’s children. Related Mormon Women Project Interviews Bearing Her Testimony in a Different Way , Trang Thach I also discovered that while I did have a testimony, a lot of it leaned on my white parents and what I’d known because of them. I think for me it was really the first time that I discovered my own relationship with the Lord, which for me was a very important milestone because I didn’t have them to lean on as I would have at home. It was hard but I really feel that that was important because it really stretched me. There were just days when I felt so lost and so confused. And it was also actually the first time that I’d asked a friend of mine for a blessing of comfort. Up until then it was my brother or my white dad who had given me a blessing. It was through that I gained my own testimony of the priesthood, as well, and of the power of priesthood blessings. I would say that was where I was really converted. A Life in Full Color, Aïda Stevenson That evening I prayed. I waited for my sister to fall asleep, and I opened the Book of Mormon randomly and I came across Alma and the passage that said, “I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.” (Alma 34:33) When I read that, I felt the Spirit. I said, “I’ve got to get baptized, or it’s over.” I felt like the response was, “Yes, if you don’t do it this evening, you never will.” So, I called the missionaries and I said, “Ok, I want to get baptized on Monday!” and they said, “Oh wonderful! We’ll see when works,” and I said, “Even better, how about today!” They said, “But today is our P-Day,” and I said, “So?” I didn’t even know what that was! So I said, “Well, we can still baptize me,” and they said, “of course, but we have to rent a pool,” because there wasn’t a chapel at that time. I said, “Are you joking?” You think that I’m going to get baptized in a pool?” I said, “No, I’m going to get baptized in nature, like Jesus Christ! I want to be baptized in a lake, in a river, or in the sea. That would be even more wonderful!” So they said, “Sister, today is November 27th.” I said, “Yes, it doesn’t matter!” So, I was baptized November 27, 1961 in Switzerland in Lake Geneva. Other Related Women’s Voices The Lord Has Not Forgotten You , Linda S. Reeves One of the sweetest father-to-son moments in the Book of Mormon is Alma the Younger’s testimony to his son Helaman. Alma described the “inexpressible horror” he felt as he imagined coming into the presence of God to be judged of his many transgressions. After feeling the weight of all his sins for three days and nights, he repented and pleaded with the Savior to have mercy on him. He described to Helaman the “exquisite and sweet” joy of remembering his pains “no more.” Instead of feeling “inexpressible horror” at the thought of coming before the throne of God, Alma saw a vision of “God sitting upon his throne” and declared, “My soul did long to be there.” Is that not how we feel, my dear sisters, as we repent and contemplate the love, the mercy, and the gratitude we feel for our Heavenly Father and our Savior—that we too “long to be there,” to be embraced by Their loving arms once again? Press Forward and be Steadfast , Elaine Dalton You will find yourself faced with choices that will have eternal implications. You can press forward with vision. The Holy Ghost will help you remain steadfast, and your testimony of the Savior will help you proceed with a perfect brightness of hope. Looking for additional perspectives on this lesson? We recommend Mormon Sunday School , Meridian Magazine  and LDSLiving .

The Gospel Doctrine lesson 30 manual objective is “To help class members gain a greater understanding of life after death and the mercy that is available to them through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.” Our Objective To learn about the role of women in the spirit world, and to examine varied perspectives on the afterlife from Alma and the Doctrine and Covenants. Commentary A friend of mine once said that God was a Riddle Maker, and suggested that the body of scriptures was one interwoven work, unified by clues and connections. God wants us to dig and discover, she said, treasure hunts being more fun than lectures. And more memorable, because they engage and draw us out as we bring our own questions to them. I have loved this perspective as I have sought to understand the dissimilar views of the spirit world and resurrection seen in this lesson, including a brief and beautiful glimpse of women in the post-mortal world. In these chapters from Alma , and in D&C 138 , we see three seekers curious about the afterlife from varied perspectives: Alma, his son Corianton, and President Joseph F. Smith. Why Alma’s son Corianton is concerned about the afterlife we can only guess, but his serious recent sins might have something to do with it. His father Alma was ever curious about doctrine (see Alma 5:46 ; 40:1 , 19-21 ), willing to state clearly what he knew and did not know, and bringing his own experience in youthful rebellion to the job. President Smith, in contrast, exhibits the inquisitiveness of one facing his own death, still learning about a seemingly strange doctrine unique to the church. To his son, Alma explains clearly that salvation is not a child’s game. Real consequences of our decisions play out in the next life. He lays out the elegantly clear law of restoration. We reap what we sow, now and into eternity. If we choose wickedness, Satan will “take possession of [our] house,” and we will be “led captive by the will of the devil ( Alma 40:13 ).” Moreover, “wickedness never was happiness” ( Alma 41:10 ). (One day I heard my then teenage daughter, whose path of faith was in doubt, repeat that truth to another friend over the phone, and I grinned for about a week.) When we sow evil and misery, we reap evil and misery. Justice and mercy bring forth justice and mercy. Additionally, everyone will be resurrected so that they can stand before God to be judged of their works. This description of the afterlife is straightforward, simple and sobering. More than 2000 years later, toward the close of World War 1 and in the midst of a flu pandemic, President Smith pondered on “the great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the Son,”( D&C 138:3 ). His thoughts led him to 1 Peter and a practical question about the Savior’s work in preaching to the innumerable “spirits in prison” who had lived on the earth by the time of the crucifixion “which sometime were disobedient,” and the difficulty of visiting them all in the short days between his death and resurrection, as suggested in 1 Peter 3:18-20 . His meditation and its resulting vision provide a rare picture window into the very spirit world Alma contemplated, providing more details than Corianton heard from his father. President Smith sees “the hosts of the dead, both small and great,” including “the spirits of the just…filled with joy and gladness,” assembled to meet the Savior. These, he learns, will be Christ’s messengers, sent personally to “carry the message of redemption unto all the dead.” ( D&C 138:11, 15, 37 ) Among them first “Father Adam, the Ancient of Days,” appears, followed by “our glorious Mother Eve, with many of her faithful daughters who had lived through the ages and worshiped the true and living God” ( D&C 138:39 ). After the women, a good list of prophets up to modern times rounds out those who serve the Savior in bearing witness of Him to countless souls who died in ignorance of their Redeemer. In President Smith’s modern addition to scripture, we see a more nuanced spirit world with ramifications for ourselves as Christ’s people. Once in the midst of my own worries, the phrase “our glorious mother Eve and her faithful daughters” entered my mind unexpectedly during a sacrament service. I felt in the moment that I belonged to that sisterhood, and that Jesus Christ could and would use me in his work—as a faithful woman. Just how is a riddle I’m pursuing.   Related Mormon Women Project Interviews Seeking Peace That Passeth Understanding , Patty Gutshall “We were all in shock. It didn’t seem real. Like a bad dream that we were going to wake up from any moment and find him standing there and everything would be fine. We did wake up to find, in a sense, that everything was okay. We woke to a new understanding and appreciation for the power of the Atonement and the Resurrection. We woke to the promised peace that ‘passeth all understanding.'” To Sit At The Feet of Christ , Christie Kay Hansen Frandsen “[My children] love the scriptures and it is because I love the scriptures and I would share things with them. They would see me studying and I know that was a really great example, especially to my daughters. It is kind of a Mary story. To sit at the feet of Christ, to read the scriptures, to teach the scriptures with authority. My daughters have something to offer and men will be receptive to that.” Other Related Women’s Voices Ripples , Virginia U. Jensen “We, like Mary, Eve, Sarah, and Emma, are unique. We have ripples to make and water to share. Given our eternal heritage, we must remember how powerfully our simple, righteous actions can ripple through the hearts and homes of those around us. We have such a great opportunity to do so much good…” The Holy Scriptures: Letters from Home , Ardeth G. Kapp “Learning to study the scriptures is like learning to walk. When you first begin reading them, you feel unsure; you’d much rather read something familiar, like a favorite story. But I can tell you from my experience, if you will try reading the scriptures every day, just as you kept trying to walk, these precious records will become as important to you as being able to walk. In fact, I believe more so. Every day will go better for you. Your confidence will grow, and you will find the strength to resist temptation and discouragement. But you have got to begin.”   Looking for additional perspectives on this lesson? We recommend Mormon Sunday School , Meridian Magazine  and LDSLiving .

The Gospel Doctrine lesson 31 manual objective is to “To help class members see how the Nephites’ attitudes and actions in times of war can serve as a pattern for dealing with our earthly conflicts and the battle against Satan.” Our Objective To juxtapose the actions of war with the desire to protect family and loved ones. Commentary Alma 43 and 44 are part of the Book of Mormon’s famous “war chapters,” the end of Alma that seems to many readers to be mired in the strategic and gory details of long-term conflict. While I have known some who are intrigued by the actual military strategy or are inspired by Moroni’s leadership skills, I have certainly spent most of my years of Book of Mormon study puzzled why so much of that precious scripture is devoted to butchery. This puzzlement may be more profound among women – it’s more of a stretch for women to “liken the scriptures unto themselves” here than most any other place in scripture – but I have generally found it to be gender agnostic, meaning men too find the violence to be incongruous with the Prince of Peace’s universal message. The whole thing seems so, well, male. Male military leaders lead armies of men who kill each other in brutal and torturous ways. The “work of death” (chapter 44, v. 20) feels instinctively antagonistic to women’s work of creation; it’s the work of destroying the very beings that women create. And yet, in rereading these chapters in preparation for this lesson, it struck me that these might be among the Book of Mormon chapters that most emphasize women’s influence and presence in that ancient community. The feminine is not present in the violence itself; we have no accounts of female captains at Moroni’s side or young women joining their stripling brothers in this fight. However, in his work of editing Alma’s account, Mormon works hard to make sure the reader is understanding why this work of death is happening. And it is in this why where the women dwell. We are first told in Chapter 43 that the Nephites fought the Lamanites “to support their lands and their houses, and their wives and their children, that they might preserve them from the hands of their enemies….” Later, we learn that the Nephites “fought like dragons” because “they were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church.” In justifying the Nephites’ behavior even more, Mormon tells us, “The Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed.” (chapter 43, v 47) So it seems Mormon’s goal to make sure the readers know that the gruesome actions he’s describing were motivated by a desire to defend wives, children and families. It feels here like a welcome antidote to the sacrifice of Ammonihahite women and children in Alma 14; instead of being tossed aside in the work of death, women are instead here positioned as being worthy of protection at all cost. We may have our own modern responses to the work of death being done in the name of protecting women. I know that doesn’t sit right with me; I like to think today the men and women would be working together to preserve and protect their communities – their children, their elderly, their institutions and family unions. But we are still working to move out of the “protectionist” stance that defined gender relations since the Victorian era, so this image of being protected by our men may still have resonance for some. Regardless of our contemporary views, though, the Book of Mormon seems to make clear that war – justified, purposeful war as defined by the Nephites – is deeply intertwined with the existence and preservation of loved ones. It’s not just a man’s game after all. As with many parts of the Book of Mormon, I look forward to one day hearing the other side of the story, the women’s side. What were they doing while this work of death was happening? Did they appreciate being protected? But was that a passive stance for them, or were they actively involved in Captain Moroni’s campaign? Did they fly the title of liberty themselves, as it had been created in their names? With both the blame or the righteousness of the war seemingly falling on their shoulders, what did they think? I look forward to one day knowing.

The Gospel Doctrine lesson #32 ; Alma 53:10–19 ; 56:1–8 , Alma 56:9–58:41 When Bethany and I were writing Girls Who Choose God: Stories of Strong Women from the Book of Mormon , we talked about the story of the stripling warriors a lot. Three main ideas kept percolating for us: 1- From the mother’s side: It is one of the “go to” stories that we use in lessons and talks to refer to the power of a mother’s role. And that’s true… mother’s teachings are powerful messages in this world. I see my children reference my phrases and perspectives. I still quote my mother… often to my children. When my children are heading out the door to school I often call out “Be a sponge!” as my mother did to me most days. I think if I raised my children as my mother did then I will have done a fabulous job… but I also know I am not my mother and will need to do things in my own way. For example, my husband and I both believe in being involved in charitable acts… and we both got this belief from not only watching our mothers but also participating as a family. And, yet, we each go about this activity in very different ways. And I think that’s one of the powers of this story… all 2,060 boys did not have the same mother. And while the mothers were women of great faith… they were women who the sons said of “we do not doubt our mother’s knew it”… but they could not have possibly taught their children in the exact same way. And, there are plenty of us that are not currently mothers. It was not until I was 37. However, I can still be a teaching woman to children I come in contact with… I served in YW, seminary, primary. So, yes, we need to teach our and others’ children… but we can each do that in the way that makes sense for us and our children. 2- From the “thwarted” mother’s side: I am sure we all do our best to teach our children. However, there are always going to be times we cannot be with our children. Children go off to school and friend’s houses and even have the audacity to grow up and move out. And sometimes even with our children are with us we cannot, for various reasons, teach them all we would want. Perhaps our children hit a time when they do not want to listen or perhaps we are in a situation where we cannot speak. However, the story of these mothers’ faiths still gives me hope. We are taught by the scriptures that the sons were preserved, “because of their exceeding faith…” I am sure this is true. However, the scripture goes on to say their faith was in “that which they had been taught to believe.” The mothers were people of great faith who taught their sons. And, I am QUITE certain that if my son were in battle I would have been praying my heart out. While the boys’ faith sustained them I am also certain that powerful prayers of preservation were being sent up on their behalf as well. So, if for some reason we are “thwarted” from teaching our children at some point, we can still pray our guts out for them. 3- From the sister’s side: And then there are the sisters. We never hear of them in the Book of Mormon text, but they must have been there. I am sure they were also taught by their mothers. What role did they have in all this? We don’t know. But, the fact I had never considered them before, made me want to stop and pay attention. Who else needs nurturing that I am overlooking? To me, this question applies within my own family and then an ever-widening circle of concern and influence. Bethany and her husband meet once a week to discuss their children’s current needs and how to meet them. She also teaches her children to spot needs in front of them in their neighborhood and ward, and be aware of needs far beyond in other places in the world. Whatever else we can manage physically and emotionally to give, we can always call on heaven to help. So, let us not forget those who are not mentioned. Related Mormon Women Project Interviews Saving Lives, One Mother at a Time , Dana Allison I started to see a common thread: If the mother is there, the child isn’t orphaned. If the mother is there, the economic input increases in the family. If the mother is there, the education, health and nutrition of the family improves. That’s when I decided that if you really want to help, you focus on keeping the mother alive and well. The Mind of A Mother , Lia Colling I was never a little girl who was really looking forward to doing the mom thing. But if our goal here is to become godlike and to root out all of those weeds, all those bad plants I was talking about earlier, motherhood is the way. Everything that bothers me in my children they got from me, even little things. I never thought of myself as a dramatic person, but my children are all really dramatic. I am realizing that I am dramatic. Even mannerisms – these little plants grow without our realizing it, and motherhood is a really effective way to bring it to our attention. If the point is to be godlike, if “making it” means becoming godlike, then the little primary song, “God gave us families to help us become who he wants us to be” is totally true. Other Related Women’s Voices Love Her Mother , Elaine S. Dalton In the Book of Mormon, Abish was converted by her father’s sharing with her his remarkable vision. For many years thereafter, she kept her testimony in her heart and lived righteously in a very wicked society. Then the time came when she could no longer be still, and she ran from house to house to share her testimony and the miracles she had witnessed in the king’s court. The power of Abish’s conversion and testimony was instrumental in changing an entire society. The people who heard her testify became a people who “were converted unto the Lord, [and] never did fall away,” and their sons became the stripling warriors! Looking for additional perspectives on this lesson? We recommend Mormon Sunday School , Meridian Magazine  and LDSLiving .

Gospel Doctrine lesson 33 ; Helaman 1-5 When I had been the Relief Society president for about a year, a woman in the ward came to my house one Sunday evening. She said she felt like there was no place for her at church, that she wasn’t wanted or accepted there because her views and opinions didn’t match those many others had. She also expressed distress at some of the programs, policies and culture at church that she felt limited women and stifled their voices. She said she was not sure she could keep coming to church—that it hurt too much. It was the first time I had had a conversation like this—although over the next year and a half, I would have many more with many others. I shared many of her opinions about women’s roles at church but her fervor was new to me and I felt alarmed—and helpless. I told her I cared about her and wanted her at church. I said I knew she found truth and beauty there—that I knew she felt church was a place people could come to Christ. She agreed. I said, “Then please don’t leave. Focus on the role church plays in bringing people, bringing you, to Christ and let go of the rest. All of the rest—those programs and policies—they’re just fluff.” When I first read this lesson, I thought of that conversation. In essence, I was reminding this woman that she had built her testimony on the foundation of Jesus Christ and that was what mattered. I still believe that. But actually, it’s not what I told her, but instead her response to my admonition that has really stayed with me. She said, “What if that fluff has gotten so thick that I can’t see through it anymore?” We are told in Helaman 5:2 “that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that yet must build your foundation.” After all, it reminds us in verse 9 that “there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ.” We know also that at some point for all of us “the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind” and that “his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you.” These whirlwinds can come in many forms: sickness, economic struggles, hurts committed against us by others, broken hearts, or, perhaps faith challenges—which might sometimes be caused by the “fluff” of policies, programs, words of leaders, cultural norms etc. that feel hurtful and confusing. I believe there are two ways to help when storms rage in our lives or the lives of others. First, of course, we can build our foundation on Jesus Christ and help others build theirs. We can pray, read our scriptures, serve others, strengthen our personal relationship with Christ, and nurture our faith. The stronger our foundation, the more prepared we will be for the whirlwinds. Sometimes, though, we can also do something about the whirlwind. Of course life is filled with whirlwinds that we can’t do anything to prevent or even control. But sometimes we can—in fact, sometimes we can do a lot. Sometimes I think we actually add to the wind at church—that we turn a fan on high and point it toward people, some of whom already have other storms raging against them. Then when they blow away we say, “I guess you weren’t grounded enough. You should’ve built a stronger foundation.” Instead, let’s turn off the fans. We can do that by listening to what causes people pain at church with a heart open to understanding. I’ve seen people at church go to great lengths to serve—to reach out a helping hand to those who are suffering from all types of emotional and physical pain. But I wish we could do a little better at reaching out to those who are blown about in a faith whirlwind. Instead of just telling them what is wrong with their foundation, maybe we could stand beside them to shield them from the wind. Maybe we could hold our own umbrella over them to stop some of the rain. After all, a friend that truly cares without judging is an important addition to any foundation. But even more useful would be to take a good long look at the fan and see if we might make some adjustments there—to the program and policies that are causing some to feel like a mighty storm is beating down. Or another way to say it is that instead of just telling people to look harder, we might help clear away a little of that fluff so they can more clearly see those beautiful truths of the gospel. Related Mormon Women Project Interviews Where Her Truth Is , Morgan Lyon Cotti “In the end, we each have to figure out where our truth is. It may sound like a trite cliché, but it is of paramount importance. It helps us weed out the nonsense. I know I have value within my home and community, sadly I don’t always feel that within my home ward. But I know what I feel is true. I know what I love about the gospel, and my knowledge, leadership and other attributes are valued within that space.” All Here Together , Bianca Morrison Dillard I think of Mormonism like this image of the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, rolling forward to envelop the Earth. I feel like that is the Gospel of Christ. And we are just rolling along, picking up ideas and beautiful light and knowledge as we go. That’s what Mormonism is to me. Love and inclusion. All the people, all the ideas, and everything that is virtuous and lovely and of good report and praiseworthy. And then everything else will fall away. Other Related Women’s Voices At All Times, In All Things, and In All Places , Elaine S. Dalton “Your foundation of faith must be firmly centered on Jesus Christ. Having that kind of faith means you rely on Him, you trust in Him, and even though you do not understand all things, you know that He does. You also know that you are a daughter of God, that He knows you by name, that He hears your prayers, and that He will help you accomplish your earthly mission.” Come to Relief Society , Virginia U. Jensen “The first objective of Relief Society is to build faith in Jesus Christ and to teach one another the doctrines of the kingdom of God. Through Relief Society lessons, activities, and shared experiences, you can gain a testimony or you can strengthen the testimony you already have. When it comes right down to it, that may be the single most important thing we do in Relief Society, for the spiritual strength and secure testimonies of the women of the Church are absolutely vital—to themselves, to their families, to their branches and wards, and to the world itself.” Looking for additional perspectives on this lesson? We recommend Mormon Sunday School , Meridian Magazine  and LDSLiving .

The Gospel Doctrine lesson #34 ; Helamen 6-11   Often in the evenings I sit in the hallway and knit while my little kids fall asleep. This quiet (hopefully) time gives me a lot of time to think and reflect, and more than once I’ve found myself thinking about all the women in history who spent their evenings knitting or working on clothing for their families. One evening, I started thinking about how several times in The Book of Mormon it mentions women spinning and weaving cloth. So after my kids were finally asleep, I got out my scriptures and looked up the exact verses. Women making cloth is specifically mentioned in Helaman 6:13 , Mosiah 10:5 and indirectly in Ether 10:24 . It really intrigued me that in all three scriptures (even though they are historically generations apart) almost the same wording was used to describe the work that the women were doing. Both scriptures state that 1) the women did toil, spin and weave fine-twined linen, 2) that the reason they made it was “ that we might clothe our nakedness ,” and 3) that immediately after mentioning women making cloth the author states “ and thus ” there was peace in the land, implying that cloth making somehow related to bringing peace to the land. These verses got my scripture mind thinking and pondering and I did a scripture study on the words “linen,” “cloth,” “sew,” and “weave”. There really aren’t a ton of scriptures on those words so my study was short but very enlightening. The most significant thing learned was the spiritual significance of linen, which is made from flax. Here are some of the verses about linen that I felt were illuminating: The veil of the tabernacle was made from linen. Exodus 26:31 instructs, “And thou shalt make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work.” Exodus 39:27- 29 it mentions that the temple robes that Aaron and his sons wore were made from linen. Ezekiel 44:17 also specified that priests were only to wear linen in Solomon’s temple. In Revelation 19:8 the “Bride of the Lamb” is clothed in “fine linen” and it states “for the fine linen is the righteousness of the Saints.” Also it is specified that the armies of the Lord, mentioned in Revelation 19:14, will also be clothed in fine linen. In Mathew 27:59 we learn that when Christ was brought down from the cross he was wrapped in a linen cloth; John 19:40 specifies that Christ was wound and buried in linen clothes.   Almost all the references to “linen” in the scriptures had to do with temple worship or other spiritually significant events. Linen, though also worn for everyday use as well, seems to have been the fabric reserved for garments or objects with spiritual significance. This insight in to the use of linen made me wonder if there wasn’t a deeper reason why The Book of Mormon makes such a big deal about women making “ fine twined linen ” to “ clothe our nakedness .” Personally I think that these women weren’t making just ordinary clothes. We know from 2 Nephi 5:16 that the Nephites built temples which were constructed after the pattern of Solomon’s temple. We don’t know for sure what sort of work they did in those temples but seeing as the Nephites lived the law of Moses it was probably similar to the type of temple work that went on in the Old Testament temple. It is interesting to think that among the spinning and weaving these Nephite women did, they may have made garments similar to the linen ones Aaron and his sons wore to serve in the tabernacle to be used for service in their temple in Ancient America. If in deed these women were making linen to be used in the temple, it then make much more sense to me why, in all cases were it is mentioned, the author concludes by stating “ and thus ” there was peace in the land. Where ever there are men and women engaged in going to, serving, and working in the temple there often an out flowing of peace in the land. In fact, the time period of Helaman 6 is one of the most prosperous peaceful times in The Book of Mormon. Not only are the Nephites and Lamanties not fighting but they had established free trade and free movement between each other’s lands and became “ exceedingly rich, both the Nephites and the Lamanites. ” (Helaman 6:9). In listing all the combined riches of the Nephites and Lamanites, Mormon listed that they had much gold, silver, crops, herds, and that “ …their women did toil and spin, and did make all manner of cloth, of fine-twined linen and cloth of every kind, to clothe their nakedness. And thus the sixty and fourth year did pass away in peace ” (Helaman 6:13). From a purely economical or worldly stand point it would be easy to conclude that the reason the people were prosperous and had riches, like fine-twined linen, was because of the peace and the open trade agreement. Yet might it not also be true, that the peace and prosperity was a result of the fine-twined linen, and the accompanying temple work that might have gone along with it. Looking at it that way changes the story in Helaman from one about economic prosperity to a story in which women, through their spinning and weaving contributions, create sustained peace…one strand at a time. Related Mormon Women Project Interviews Dressed for Success , Athelia Woolley LeSueur I think fashion is like music: it can be powerfully uplifting or it can tear one down. Fashion can make one feel beautiful, no matter what a person looks like. If one wears something that is both flattering and respectful, one acts like a respectful person. That’s why people at private schools often have their students wear uniforms. That’s why we dress up for church. You behave differently when you’re dressed better. In college, my Mormon friends and I talked about the idea of radical feminism. It’s a belief that states that women and men are coequal but inherently different. This is what the church teaches. I think clothing can celebrate that inherent femininity, without compromising self-respect. In the work place and in life, if we can’t respect ourselves it’s very hard to demand respect from others. Dressed Like a Queen , Rosie Card I also feel like temple work is part of the most important work that we can partake of in this earth. I always felt a little weird going to the temple in my temple dress because it was not as nice as anything that I would wear to church. It was this weird skirt and this poor quality lace that would ball up and cling to itself, and I thought it was so weird that I dress up more for a party essentially than I do to go to the house of the Lord. I wanted something where I felt like my ultimate best. I wanted something that said, “Here I am, doing the most important thing, and I’m dressing accordingly.” I couldn’t find anything that felt that way, and that was also comfortable and me , and I think it’s important for us to maintain who we are in our personal styles – kind of like when sister missionaries go on missions and they kind of turn into robots, “the perfect Mormon woman missionary.” I want to push against that, because Heavenly Father called you , and your style and your quirks and your personality, and we should maintain that. I felt like I was putting on the temple costume that everyone wore and I didn’t like it at all and it didn’t feel comfortable and didn’t feel right, and I felt that someone needed to offer something that’s more me and girls like me, so that we can feel comfortable and we can feel like we’re wearing what we would want to in order to go and do the most important thing. Looking for additional perspectives on this lesson? We recommend Mormon Sunday School , Meridian Magazine  and LDSLiving .

Gospel Doctrine Lesson #35 ; Helaman 13-15 The Catholic writer Flannery O’Connor said, “To the hard of hearing you shout, and for the almost blind you draw large and startling figures.” 1 I shy away from abrasive discourse. These days especially, I work hard to keep myself from jarring speech. There is so much of it. But Samuel the Lamanite’s talk from the wall ( Helaman 13-15 ), made famous by the familiar illustration and his miraculous survival, was neither gentle nor avoidable. And the Lord ensured that he was heard. Fortunately, he spoke the truth. Of course, Samuel’s audience of prosperous BC Nephites found the Lamanite prophet’s speech offensive, too. He spoke plainly of their sins, and clearly of Christ. His old fashioned, Old Testament-style message has resonance today with its still unpopular messages, including: • Nothing can save us from destruction but repentance and faith on Jesus Christ• It’s easier to revere dead than living prophets• Happiness is not found in sin• We love our things more than the God who gave them to us. Riches without gratitude lead to pride and destruction• We support “prophets” who flatter us and uphold our decisions, rather than those who admonish us• We procrastinate repentance• Christ is coming. He is our pathway to Life. So I’ve been thinking: Am I addicted to soft messages, to ideas I already cherish, and which do not challenge me? Am I open to inspired, even critical voices? How much do I let style get in the way of the content of messages? To whom should I be listening more? Also, to reverse the situation, there are times when the Spirit may direct me to speak plainly “the words of the Lord which he doth put into my heart” ( Hel 13:5 ) to those not disposed to appreciate them. As Latter-day Saints women, when and how might we may find ourselves with the opportunity to speak an unfamiliar or unpopular truth when prompted by the Spirit? Can we do so in the company of those who may disagree, regardless of the consequences? Years ago, President Kimball foresaw a time of growth in the church when Mormon women would step forward and speak, reflecting “righteousness and articulateness in their lives.” 2 That day is here, isn’t it? A day when, to add President Kimball’s perspective to D&C 1:20 , “Every [wo]man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world.” I am elated to be among the female followers of the gospel of Christ with the privilege of speaking and being heard. I’m thrilled that our voices are expanding. And though I desire graciousness of speech, I do not want to be so careful that I understate those truths most important to me. I probably need a little more of Samuel the Lamanite’s courage. Mercifully, unlike him, we are not usually called to shout to the hard of hearing, but perhaps we may speak more clearly and, as Amulek, “say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord.” ( Alma 11:22 ) A high, but worthy standard. *I recommend M. Catherine Thomas’ discussion of the power of the Word in her chapter, “Is there not Thunder in the Word?” from The God Seed, Digital Legend, 2014. 1 Flannery O’Connor, “The Fiction Writer and His Country,” 1957. 2 Spencer W. Kimball, “The Role of Righteous Women,” Ensign, November 1979. Related Mormon Women Project Interviews Mohawk Junkie , Jessamyn Lau “I’ve learned that boldness enacted from a place of peace can be good.” Other Related Women’s Voices Defenders of the Family Proclamation , Bonnie L. Oscarson “I recently read the story of Marie Madeline Cardon, who, with her family, received the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ from the first missionaries called to serve in Italy in 1850. She was a young woman of 17 or 18 years of age when they were baptized. One Sunday, while the family was holding a worship service in their home high in the Alps of northern Italy, an angry mob of men, including some of the local ministers, gathered around the house and began shouting, yelling, and calling for the missionaries to be brought outside, I don’t think they were anxious to be taught the gospel—they intended bodily harm. It was young Marie who marched out of the house to confront the mob. They continued their vicious yells and demands for the missionaries to be brought out. Marie raised her Bible up in her hand and commanded them to depart. She told them that the elders were under her protection and that they could not harm one hair of their heads. Listen to her own words: ‘All stood aghast. ….God was with me. He placed those words in my mouth, or I could not have spoken them. All was calm, instantly. That strong ferocious body of men stood helpless before a weak, trembling, yet fearless girl.’ The ministers asked the mob to leave, which they did quietly in shame, fear, and remorse. The small flock completed their meeting in peace.” Looking for additional perspectives on this lesson? We recommend Mormon Sunday School , Meridian Magazine  and LDSLiving .

The Gospel Doctrine lesson #36 ; scriptures 3 Nephi 1-7   The drama of 3 Nephi 1 always takes me by surprise. Without fail, I feel a tingle of suspense at the plight of the believers, their dramatic moment before the fulfillment of the most important prophecy of all. We know the end of the story. The miraculous sign occurs in the nick of time to save these believers from an unjust death sentence. And in the words of the manual, the people’s faith is “vindicated”when the prophecies are proven to be true. The Nephites’ belief becomes a certainty, and many nonbelievers (though not all) are also convinced to trust in the redemption of Christ. I love this chapter, but when it comes to likening scripture to my own life it’s one that I’ve come to read with some caution. There’s only so much I can relate to in this politically and socially fraught narrative. After all, few if any of us are in such a starkly oppositional situation of external pressures on our religious beliefs. Instead, the drama of faith takes place within myself. My own belief and unbelief are in constant dialogue. Doubts glibly take the oppositional role, and like the persecutors of the faithful in 3 Nephi, my unbelieving side weighs the promises of scripture and the Holy Spirit and creates ultimatums and deadlines for them. When it comes to my spiritual and temporal hopes and dreams, I sometimes become preoccupied with vindication, looking for proofs and certainties that are frustratingly slow to take shape. I think it’s this hope for vindication that makes me sad and envious when I encounter 3 Nephi 1. These people had every whit of prophecy fulfilled before their eyes ( 3 Ne 1:20 ). All their expectations were satisfied, with little room left for doubt and discouragement. But my life isn’t like that. It has a full share of disappointments and doubt. I’ve been given promises that weren’t met, priesthood blessings that haven’t quite worked out as hoped, moments of personal inspiration that I haven’t seen fulfilled yet. My religious beliefs have never been proven beyond doubt to any general public. I’m still struggling along with faith, not knowledge—-with hope, not fulfillment. When I think about this imperfect faith, I find an ally in the Apostle Paul. Our Relief Society motto, “Charity Never Faileth” in fact is taken from Paul’s epistle, 1 Corinthians 13:8 . We don’t often read the verses that follow this motto, but they are ones that I relate to: “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (1 Cor 13: 9-10). When I think of the gray areas of uncertainty that are always hovering around the edges of my belief, I’m grateful for these words. If even Paul could speak of imperfect prophecies, then I don’t need to worry quite so much at the flaws I see in myself and my community of faith. The plan of God may be perfect, but its actualization in this human world encounters plenty of bumps and pitfalls. But Paul doesn’t simply resign himself to partial knowledge and partial prophecies: His answer to this uncertainty is charity, the pure love of Christ. Can charity play a part in the faithful endurance demonstrated in 3 Nephi 1? I think about the nonbelievers in this story. Their greater sin was not their unbelief, but their hatred toward those who believed. And what about the believers? Was their greatest merit in sticking to a claim, beyond reason and against all hope? This kind of faith certainly does take courage and determination. But the point of the Lord’s coming is not primarily to prove these believers right. Instead it is to bring God’s love to humanity. When the sun set on that dramatic evening, and the sky stayed bright, there wasn’t any need for the believers to say “I told you so.” In the general astonishment of that moment, I hope what they felt was an overwhelming sense of love, a realization that Christ was being born among believers and non-believers alike, that his mortal sacrifice would send ripples of selflessness throughout history. The concrete fulfillment of prophecy is dramatic in this story, but the real vindication comes in the realization of this love. God has a perfect plan. His plan is one of love. Looking for additional perspectives on this lesson? We recommend Mormon Sunday School , Meridian Magazine  and LDSLiving .

Gospel Doctrine Lesson #37 ; 3 Nephi 8-11 I love the theme of this lesson that is expressed in 3 Nephi 9:11 as Christ speaks to the Nephites: “Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.” This is shown literally in chapter 11, verses 13-15 : “The Lord spake unto them saying: Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel…And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth.” The concept of Christ both inviting all to come unto him and receiving all who do is not unique to these chapters. It’s found in many other places. Here are just a few examples: 2 Nephi 26:27-28 and 33 “Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? … Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and … all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden. “He inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.” Matthew 11:28 : “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 4th verse of Hymn #117, Come Unto JesusCome unto Jesus from ev’ry nation,From ev’ry land and isle of the sea.Unto the high and lowly in station,Ever he calls, “Come to me.” President Uchtdorf’s October 2014 talk, “Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth” : “The Church is a home for all to come together, regardless of the depth or the height of our testimony. I know of no sign on the doors of our meetinghouses that says, “Your testimony must be this tall to enter.” The Church is not just for perfect people, but it is for all to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him.” Christ has set forth the criteria of those whom he will receive: those who come to him. That’s it. There isn’t any other criteria. The scriptures don’t say he receives only those who dress a certain way, look a certain way or think a certain way. They don’t say he receives only those who have certain political opinions or whose family fits a certain description. Sometimes the language or examples set forth in the scriptures or at church can make women feel like we are not fully invited—to the decision making table, to walk equally on the sacred path of discipleship, even to the full blessings of the gospel. It’s not just gender that can cause this feeling though, of course. Women and men can feel not invited or received at church because of divorce, mental illness, faith struggles, or even just personality and opinion differences. And yet, the scriptures and other revelations are clear: all are invited by Christ and all who come are received by him. In her October 2006 General Conference address, “To Look, Reach, and Come Unto Christ” Anne Pingree refers to Minerva Teichert’s well-known painting, Christ in a Red Robe . She says: “[In the painting, Christ] stands majestically with outstretched arms. In tenderness and compassion He looks down upon the women straining to reach Him…We long to be close to the Lord, for we know that He loves each of us and desires to encircle us ‘eternally in the arms of his love.’ (2 Nephi 1:15) His touch can heal ailments spiritual, emotional, or physical. He is our Advocate, Exemplar, Good Shepherd, and Redeemer. Where else would we look, where else would we reach, where else would we come but to Jesus Christ, ‘the author and finisher of our faith’ (Hebrews 12:2)?” Sometimes that seemingly simple act of coming can be hard, painful even—especially if we don’t feel truly received at church. But I feel peace to know that each of us has an invitation just as legitimate as anyone else’s and that when we come to him each of us we will be received and encircled “eternally in the arms of his love.” Related Mormon Women Project Interviews Cherish One Another , Cathy Stokes “We need to support each other in our choices as much as we righteously can. Know who you are. Know what power lies within you. Get on a first-name basis with your Father in Heaven. Pour out your heart to Him. You got to get personal with Him. Know what He wants you to know and do what he wants you to do. And always be a proud woman of faith, never apologetic of who you are and what you believe. Never ashamed.” Faith Unto Salvation , Patricia Joseph “When I decided to be baptized, I felt I needed to tell the missionaries and Susan and my other LDS neighbor, Jeff, about my son in jail. It was painful and shameful to talk about, but I knew I had to. However, when I did tell them, there were no shocked expressions or no one pulled away. It was an embrace I had never felt before, no contact but I could feel the acceptance and embrace without the touch. I had never experienced anything like that in all my life. I knew this was the place and people I wanted to be with for the rest of my life. I have finally found the true meaning of Christianity.” Other Related Women’s Voices Are You the Woman I Think You Are? , Sheri L. Dew “We are the ones who determine whether or not we will come unto Him. The drawing near, seeking, asking, and knocking are up to us. And the more we know about the Lord—meaning the more we experience His mercy, devotion, and willingness to guide us even when we may not feel worthy of His direction—the more confident we become that He will respond to our petitions.” Where Can I Turn For Peace , Emma Lou Thayne Where can I turn for peace?Where is my solaceWhen other sources cease to make me whole?When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,I draw myself apart,Searching my soul?Where, when my aching grows,Where, when I languish,Where, in my need to know, where can I run?Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?Who, who can understand?He, only One. Looking for additional perspectives on this lesson? We recommend Mormon Sunday School , Meridian Magazine  and LDSLiving .

Gospel Doctrine Lesson 38 ; 3 Nephi 12-14 As I read the Beatitudes, delivered again by Jesus in 3 Nephi 12, I think of eight women who exemplified or perfectly described these attributes in real life. All of the following stories are true. Some of the names have been changed. 3 Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. I think of Tara, whose family had just purchased brand new living room furniture for their home when she heard that a refugee family had moved in down the street — and that they had nothing. Tara wasted no time. She invited them into her home, and told them they could choose whatever they wanted from her furniture and keep it. Grateful for her offer, they took everything. This was not what she expected, but with a sense of humor she and her family sat on living room lawn chairs for quite some time. Tara was not poor in any material sense; she was poor in spirit — she didn’t see those couches and tables as belonging to her at all. She had no possessions that she believed were her own. Hers was the most humble richness, the most generous poverty. 4 And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. I think of my friend Jody, who tirelessly offers love and nurture to young LGBT people, including her own son. She defines what it means to be a comforter and to share in mourning, as she writes, “There was a period of time when my son chose not to be with us, afraid of being rejected. And all we could do for years was pray for him, and text him, every day – I love you. We are here. Can we come see you? And I felt God there, loving him and all of us, at all times, feeling with him, feeling with us. Now, years further along our journey together, my son calls us every day, shares his day and his life with us. And when he is having a hard time, he turns to us, and trusts us to listen and be there and love him. And he asks me to help him breathe. And I talk him through a spiritual meditation, to look closely at all that is happening in his life, and acknowledge the pain, and the goodness and the love. And breathe in God, and love and strength, and release the pain. And as I hear his breath moving through him, and it becomes a part of me, all that we each know and see and touch reaches out and breathes together, connected, and all is one as we turn to the God we all come from. As we practice love of God, and love of one another, everything else falls away, and we experience a nurtured life.” 5 And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. I think of Mary Karr, who taught me “Who the Meek Are Not”: Not the bristle-bearded Igors bentunder burlap sacks, not peasants knee-deepin the rice-paddy muck,nor the serfs whose quarter-moon sicklesmake the wheat fall in wavesthey don’t get to eat. My friend the Franciscannun says we misreadthat word meek in the Bible verse that blesses them.To understand the meek(she says) picture a great stallion at full gallopin a meadow, who—at his master’s voice—seizes up to a stunnedbut instant halt.So with the strain of holding that great powerin check, the musclesalong the arched neck keep eddying,and only the velvet earsprick forward, awaiting the next order. [1] 6 And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost. I think of my great-great-great-great grandmother, Ann Quayle Cannon. She joined the church in England with her husband and young children. Their family prepared to leave everything behind — their home, their work, and all their dear friends and family who begged them to stay — to join the Saints in America. Though her husband was broken-hearted about leaving, and wavered on their departure plans, Ann “urged the journey.” She had a strong spiritual impression that she would not survive the voyage, but she knew if she died beforehand that her grief-stricken husband might not ever leave his home without her. She died aboard the ship to America, and was buried at sea along with her unborn seventh child. Ann hungered to be righteous, but she hungered as much for her husband’s and her children’s righteousness. She sacrificed her life for it. [2] 7 And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. I think of Corrie Ten Boom, of Holland, whose family sheltered Jews from the Nazis in their home. When they were betrayed and arrested, Corrie and her sister Betsie were sent to the infamous Ravensbruck Concentration Camp in Germany. Betsie died there. Corrie survived, unbelievably resilient, and began a global ministry to spread the message that “there is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” After preaching in Germany about God’s forgiveness, a man approached her. When she saw him, “It came back with a rush: the huge room with its harsh overhead lights; the pathetic pile of dresses and shoes in the center of the floor; the shame of walking naked past this man. I could see my sister’s frail form ahead of me, ribs sharp beneath the parchment skin. Betsie, how thin you were!” Her old guard approached her, thanked her for the sermon, and asked for her forgiveness. “And I stood there—I whose sins had again and again to be forgiven—and could not forgive. Betsie had died in that place—could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking? “It could not have been many seconds that he stood there—hand held out—but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do. “For I had to do it—I knew that. The message that God forgives has a prior condition: that we forgive those who have injured us. ‘If you do not forgive men their trespasses,’ Jesus says, ‘neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.’ “I knew it not only as a commandment of God, but as a daily experience. Since the end of the war I had had a home in Holland for victims of Nazi brutality. Those who were able to forgive their former enemies were able also to return to the outside world and rebuild their lives, no matter what the physical scars. Those who nursed their bitterness remained invalids. It was as simple and as horrible as that. “And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is not an emotion—I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. ‘… Help!’ I prayed silently. ‘I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.’ “And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes. “ ‘I forgive you, brother!’ I cried. ‘With all my heart!’ “For a long moment we grasped each other’s hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God’s love so intensely, as I did then.” [3] Corrie’s ability to be merciful to this man, of all men, stills me. 8 And blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God. I think of Alice. We were going to an event together, and in the car she realized her stockings were mismatched. While at that time in my life I would have felt mortified to be in public in mismatched stockings — would have taken care to keep my legs tucked under the white linen tablecloth — she brushed it off with a laugh and said, “Well I’ll just make everyone else feel better about their appearance!” I could tell she really meant it. Purity of heart is going into a room with the intent to make everyone else feel more comfortable, more loved, more interesting. Purity of heart is not caring what people think of you, except that they think you love them. 9 And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. I think of Sahar , who forgave the soldiers she watched confine or kill her friends and neighbors. Sahar has made peace in her own heart, even while she is surrounded by conflict. I was Sahar’s visiting teacher in Bethlehem for a time during graduate school, and learned from her and her family that one can stand opposed to an injustice, and can still be a peacemaker. “By joining the church I had become a different person and saw things through different eyes. I was able to forgive and love the Israeli soldiers and that feeling was liberating. I was able to let go of anger and hate and thus was able to have personal peace. I believe that this is the only way to peace in this country, forgiveness, love and respect for others.” [4] 10 And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake;12 For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you. I think of Lucy Mack Smith, who watched her people pass through measureless terrors, including the martyrdom of her two beloved sons. While she was in Missouri, several armed men came to Lucy’s home looking for the Prophet with the intent to kill him, and threatened Lucy’s life as well. “Very well,” she said, “I want you to act the gentleman about it, and do the job quick. Just shoot me down at once, then I shall be at rest; but I should not like to be murdered by inches.” “There it is again,” said her assailant. “You tell a ‘Mormon’ that you will kill him, and they will always tell you, ‘that is nothing—if you kill us, we shall be happy.’” [5] When I think of my Mormon foremothers, including Lucy who is my 5x-great grandmother, I pray deeply that they now know the promised “joy and gladness.” They are blessed, blessed, blessed, forever in my heart, for their sacrifices, their creations, and their resilience. 1. http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2013/05/30 2 . https://familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/8062255 3 . http://www.familylifeeducation.org/gilliland/procgroup/CorrieTenBoom.htm 4 . http://saharqumsiyeh.blogspot.com/2014/07/being-lds-woman-in-palestine.html 5 . Lucy Mack Smith, History of Joseph Smith By His Mother, (Bookcraft, 1954), 255 Other Related Women’s Voices Rejoice in Every Good Thing , Chieko N. Okazaki “We don’t need a bishop’s assignment to be kind. We don’t need to sign up to be thoughtful. We don’t need to be sustained by our wards to be sensitive. Rejoice in the power you have within you from Christ to be a nucleus of love, forgiveness, and compassion.” That We May All Sit Down in Heaven Togethe r, Kathleen H. Hughes “All of us long to possess Christ’s pure love, called charity, but our humanness—the ‘natural woman’ in us—gets in our way. We get angry, we become frustrated, we berate ourselves and others—and when we do, we cannot be the conduit of love we need to be if we are to become an instrument in Heavenly Father’s hands. Being willing to forgive ourselves and others becomes an integral part of our ability to have the love of the Lord in our lives and to do His work.” Looking for additional perspectives on this lesson? We recommend Mormon Sunday School , Meridian Magazine  and LDSLiving .

The Gospel Doctrine lesson #39 ; scriptures 3 Nephi 17 , 18 & 19   When Bethany and I had turned in our final draft of Girls Who Choose God: Stories of Strong Women from the Book of Mormon , we breathed a deep sigh of relief. So good to be done! As it worked its way through several committees and processes, we were resting easy. However, when the proof came back to us and we read through the scriptures for a final check, I flinched. We had made a serious error and described the scene with the children and Christ WRONG. Whoops. In our books we describe moments of choice when a person has to choose God…but in this instance, the children did not necessarily choose to come to God…they actually got carried by their parents. Now, this story has a happy ending— we were able to save the book by a little editing. But, it got me thinking. The children come unto Christ because their parents bring them. And I think that is true for all of us…sometimes we have to be carried to Christ by another’s energy, testimony, hard work or faith. I think of all the people who contributed to bringing me to Christ by preparing lessons, or driving me to seminary, or holding activities, or giving me a listening ear, or an example of strength, or wrote a fabulous book that helped me believe Christ. Those people helped carry me to Christ. There have also been times when I have carried others by some of the same activities. We can all take turns carrying and being carried. And, what struck me, is that Jesus doesn’t differentiate. He simply blesses the children. So, whether we are at a carrying or being carried place in our life, we should know we are still welcome. In fact, we are blessed…as in, we will be blessed by Christ when we come…however we get there. Related Mormon Women Project Interviews An Instrument of Homecoming , Joanna Brooks “The Joseph Smith story, the founding story of our religion, has always been extremely powerful to me. Here is a young boy struggling to find answers and not satisfied with any answers the adults in his life could give him, so he went out and sought through prayer a direct answer from God. I was not a young person who necessarily rejected things my leaders said. I felt very happy in the Church, but this example that when you face challenges in your life, you can pray—you can go to a quiet place in yourself and ask for help—was very, very centering for me, very grounding, and is one of the lessons that has really carried me through my adulthood. I love the fact that Joseph Smith was fourteen. And I was never told that he was some special example and that his experience did not apply to me. His experience applies to all of us! I took a lot of strength from that. And the doctrine embedded in that founding story is personal revelation, the practice of prayer. That’s one of the doctrines of the Church that has always been very dear to me.” To Sit At the Feet of Christ , Christie Kay Hansen Frandsen “Most of what I know about the scriptures really came after I started teaching. My professors at BYU ignited the love and the passion and maybe gave me a little bit of insight on how to study the scriptures. So many people ask me how do I do it, how do I learn so much and it was basically just from teaching. It has been such a tremendous blessing. It was something that I could do very easily while I was raising my children. And I think it blessed their lives, in fact I know it did. They love the scriptures and it is because I love the scriptures and I would share things with them. They would see me studying and I know that was a really great example, especially to my daughters. It is kind of a Mary story. To sit at the feet of Christ, to read the scriptures, to teach the scriptures with authority. My daughters have something to offer and men will be receptive to that.” Other Related Women’s Voices That Our Children May See the Face of the Savior , Cheryl C. Lant “Now, I would ask you to look around you at those you love. This is what matters most—our families. I am sure that more than anything, you want this family to be yours eternally. The account in 3 Nephi can help us bring our children to Him because it gives us a pattern to follow. First, we must love the Lord with all our hearts, and we must love our children. Second, we must become a worthy example to them by continually seeking the Lord and striving to live the gospel. Third, we must teach our children the gospel and how to live its teachings. Following this pattern to bring our children to the Savior is a process. Let’s look at the pattern again. First, we must learn how to love the Lord and our families. This takes time, experience, and faith. It requires selfless service. Then, as we are filled with the love of the Lord, we can love. He might weep over what we do, but He loves us and is always there to help us. That is how we must learn to love our children. Second, we must become worthy examples. This is also a process. If we want our children to come to Christ so that they might see His face, it is important that we seek to see it as well. We have to know the way in order to show it to them. We must put our own lives in order so that the children can look to us and follow. We might ask: “What do my children see when they look at my face? Do they see the image of the Savior in my countenance because of how I live my life?” Now remember, none of us will be the perfect example for our children, but we all can become worthy parents and leaders. Our striving to be worthy is an example in itself. We may feel as though we are failing at times, but we can keep on trying. With the Lord and through Him, we can be strengthened to be who we need to be. We can do what we need to do.” Looking for additional perspectives on this lesson? We recommend Mormon Sunday School , Meridian Magazine  and LDSLiving .