Today, I taught the combined Young Women lesson. I love teaching so much. I love studying the gospel and then sharing my testimony with these young girls.
Here is something I shared in my lesson:
When I was young, I sort of lived on a small farm. Right next to our house was the barnyard with chickens and horses, and sometimes a dog. In the pasture up the street, we kept a bunch of cows and sometimes the horses for grazing. At the front of the barnyard, facing the street, was a large, swinging gate that could open up to allow all the animals to come through as we herded them down from the pasture. It was a little frightening to see the animals come down the road and turn into the barnyard, but it was so much fun to stand on the big gate as it swung open, and then stay hanging onto the backside of the gate as the animals ran in. Once they had all entered the barnyard, we would swing that huge gate closed.
When talking about the righteous example and influence of women, President Uchtdorf related this saying: Big gates move on small hinges. When I heard that saying, I thought of our barnyard gate from when I was young.
We talked about all of the little decisions in life that have made a huge difference. I am forever grateful for the way I was raised and taught and nurtured by loving parents. I know it took all that they had, but they gave me the most beautiful gift.
I then shared this personal experience.
I’ve shared this story before because it had such a profound effect of my life, but I’d like to share it again. One day, I was feeling very burdened by all the responsibilities I felt I had. Do you ever feel that way? Overwhelmed?
Pres. Uchtdorf said: Because their potential for good is so great and their gifts so diverse, women may find themselves in roles that vary with their circumstances in life. Some women, in fact, must fill many roles simultaneously.
Well, this was a day that I felt like I was filling many roles simultaneously. I was feeling overwhelmed and upset, and I felt like I had too many things expected of me, and I just wanted to quit for a minute. And it felt like I never did anything important. I started thinking that it was too hard to be a mother to all these children, and I was tired of cleaning and cooking and helping EVERYONE, and I felt kind of mad. I rushed out of the house in a bad mood to go help with the Special Needs Mutual, which was my calling at the time. We always sang an opening hymn at Mutual, and that day, we sang, “As Sisters in Zion.” Hymn number 309.
When we sang the second verse, the spirit just poured over me. This is what it says:
The errand of angels is given to women;
And this is a gift that, as sisters, we claim:
To do whatsoever is gentle and human,
To cheer and to bless in humanity's name.
Did you hear that? The errand of angels is given to women! And it’s a gift that as sisters, we claim! We are willing and anxious to do whatever is gentle and human.
I suddenly had the strongest impression that all of my burdens as a woman were actually the errands of angels. And that I had claimed those gifts in Heaven. That I had been willing in the pre-mortal life to come to this earth for this very purpose: To cheer and to bless my family around me. To be gentle and loving. To be Christ-like and to serve.
Well, I sat a little taller on that bench. And I felt a little lighter. I was reminded at that moment that I am an important part of the Sisters in Zion.
Elder Ballard talked about the sacred exchange between the Savior and Heavenly Father, when Jesus stepped forward and said, "Here am I. Send me." He asked women to imagine having a similar experience. When our Father asked for women who would be righteous and faithful, did I step forward and say, "Here am I. Send me." I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven. I love Him, and I continue to pray for strength to complete my earthly mission. If I said it in heaven, I say it again, "Here am I, Father, send me if you need someone to do your will. I will do my very best."
After a long fast Sunday, we once again were welcomed into Mom's kitchen for dinner. The delicious smells of a turkey dinner, and the love we feel in their presence, just seemed to wrap me up and fill my soul to the brim. We played games and visited after dinner. Mom and Dad's house feels so cozy, and as I climbed into bed tonight, I pondered on the thought that it felt exactly like home. Which makes sense because home is not always a place. Home is where they love you.
My beloved mom is my first and best example of a woman of God. She has been on the errand of angels, blessing my life, since the moment I came into her world. And my wonderful dad helps me know what it feels like to bask in a father's love. I am so thankful for my parents. Sometimes as I'm driving around town, I see them out walking. And my heart skips a beat with love for those two.
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