Thursday, June 6, 2013

My Inherent Authority

"The place of a woman is to walk beside the man, not in front of him nor behind him." -Elder Widtsoe

I think that it is important that women know the truth of who they are.  John 8:32 says "ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father.  I love Him, and He loves me.

Sis. Dew said, "If we don't have a clear sense of our identity and purpose, we are much more vulnerable to Lucifer.  He of course knows this and accordingly attempts to blur our vision.  He lies.  He shades and obliterates truth.  He makes evil look good and good look unenlightened and unsophisticated.  Make no mistake about it: Lucifer will do anything to derail, disappoint, dishearten, discourage, and deceive us- and particularly those who have made and are seeking to keep sacred covenants.  His motives are entirely self-centered, selfish, destructive, and evil."
She also talked about how satan hates women of the noble birthright.  "He hates us because of the influence we have on husbands and children, family and friends, the Church and even the world.  It is no secret to him that we are the Lord's secret weapon."

The Lord needs us women to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places. "Regardless of your marital status, your age, or the language you speak, you are a beloved spirit daughter of Heavenly Father who is destined to play a critical part in the onward movement of the gospel kingdom."- Sheri Dew

So what is a women's role?  We hear it all the time that the man provides for the family and the woman nurtures the family.  Let me tell you about a talk by Jack R. Christianson called, Women of Light.  His talk is simply amazing.  I cannot say it better than him, so I will be quoting him lots.
He starts out by saying, "If all things bear record of Christ, is there any one thing in particular that would bear record of Him more than anything else?  And could that be a woman?  A woman.  Sisters, are you truly perhaps the ultimate symbol of the Son of God?  Do we understand that concept in our culture, in our society, and even in the Church?"  He goes on to say, "Now, think about it.  When God created the earth, He ended with what?  (Don't get depressed, brethren.)  He ended with his crowning jewel, which was glorious Mother Eve."

Jack then talks about Moses 6:58.  It says, "imasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul..."  Jack talks about the three elements that are present when a child is born: water, blood, and spirit.  At some point, the spirit enters the body.  The verse continues to talk about how we are cleansed by the blood of mine Only Begotten.  "Now sisters, why are you a symbol of Christ?  As Jesus shed His blood, to give spiritual life and eternal life, what then is the role of those who have the opportunity to be mothers?  They shed their very life's blood to give physical, mortal life.  And so the birth process- how we all enter this world- is literally a symbol of being born again, a symbol of the Son of God shedding His blood."

Now this is just simply amazing.  I've never thought of it like that before.  Elder Matthew Cowley said, "You sisters belong to the great sorority of saviorhood.  You may not hold the priesthood.  Men are different, men have to have something given to them to make them saviors of men, but not mothers, not women.  You are born with an inherent right, an inherent authority, to be saviors of human souls.  You are the co-creaters with God of his children.  Therefore, it is expected of you by a right divine that you be the saviors and the regenerating force in the lives of God's children here upon the earth."  [again, don't get offended, brethren.  The women is not complete without the man.  You have divine callings too:)]

I have an inherent authority to be the savior of humans... that is incredible.  Women have been blessed with this sacred gift.  Satan will lie to me.  He will tell me that i'm not good enough.  He will try to do anything in his power to destroy families.  "He will do anything to degrade womanhood and get the daughters of God mixed up and confused about their role." You can't let satan in your mirror!  He will get in there and tell you that you are worthless, but you are not.  Women, you have a divine calling.   You are a daughter of God.  You are a symbol of Christ.