This morning, I had a few quiet moments, (while my husband bathed my kids--I know. He's AMAZING like that!), so I delved into "Daughters in My Kingdom," the new book about the history of the Relief Society. One of the paragraphs really caught my attention:
Elder James E. Talmage of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, "The world's greatest champion of woman and womanhood is Jesus the Christ."
The Savior taught women in multitudes and as individuals, on the street and by the seashore, at the well and in their homes. He showed loving-kindness toward them and healed them and their family members. In many parables, He told stories of women engaged in ordinary activities. He demonstrated deep familiarity with women's lives and drew timeless gospel lessons from their everyday experiences. He forgave them. He wept with them. He had compassion on them in their specific circumstances as daughters, wives, homemakers, mothers, and widows. He appreciated them and ennobled them.
(Daughters in My Kingdom, p. 3)
This has long been a principle from the Savior's life that I have cherished. But reading it in this context and during this season of my life gave me a different perspective. I find joy in the Savior's treatment and reverence of women. And I find joy in my own womanhood. I know that as I combine the two, Jesus Christ will still do for me and for my family what He did when He was on the earth. He will teach me--wherever I am with an open heart. He will heal me and my family members. He offers me precious forgiveness and has compassion on me as I fall short in so many ways.
I find joy in priesthood leaders who also reverence and respect women. What a beautiful life we create when we, as women, bring our strengths, gifts, and abilities together with the strengths and talents of righteous men. By such means, we create much good in the world. I joy in the opportunity to share my womanhood in my home--to join with my husband and together create a home filled with love and harmony. There is truly no greater joy to me than being a faithful and respected woman.
1 comment:
That's so funny because yesterday morning I started reading the RS book while Chris was bathing the kids, too. I'm reading it and writing in my journal about it as part of my Divine Nature project. I love that quote you put here!
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