How to better let my light shine in a world that needs me.
In 1979, Prophet Spencer W. Kimball declared,
“Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world---will be drawn to the church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the church are seen as distinct and different---in happy ways---from the women of the world,” Sister Eubanks elaborated on this by saying that we can accomplish
this by doing 5 different things:
First: Be Righteous! Being righteous does not mean being “perfect,” At least not in today’s sense of the word. (See Matt. 5:48)
Hugh McKay said this about wholeness: ...Wholeness is what we ought to be striving for and part of that is sadness, disappointment, frustration, failure; all of those things which make us who we are. Happiness and victory and fulfillment are nice little things that also happen to us, but they don’t teach us much. Everyone says that we grow through pain and then as soon as they experience pain, they say, ‘Quick! Move on! Cheer up!’ ...[When you experience trials,] Ask yourself, ‘Is this contributing to my wholeness?’ and if you are having a bad day, it is.”
Righteousness is more about experiencing mortality, humbly learning from it, and openly accepting the atonement in our lives. Hugh Nibley put it this way:
“Who is righteous? Anyone who is repenting. No matter how bad [s]he has been, if [s]he is repenting, [s]he is a righteous [wo]man. There is hope for [her]. And no matter how good [s]he has been all [her] life, if [s]he is not repenting, [s]he is a wicked [wo]man. The difference is which way you are facing. The [person] on the top of the stairs facing down is much worse off than the [person] on the bottom step who is facing up. The direction we are facing, that is repentance; and that is what determines whether we are good or bad.”
Isn’t that nice to know?
To be righteous, you just have to do 2 things:
1. You need to willingly experience the troubles, challenges, joys, heartbreaks, disappointments, victories, embarrassments, and lessons that earth life has in store for us.
2. Plus, we need to look toward the Savior. Whether we stumble and fall, fail miserably, disappoint ourselves and others, lose our tempers, cry, curse our situations, or anything else that qualifies as a bad case of “humanitis,” we need to be willing to try to learn and become more like Him.
Judging on the fact that you are sitting here today, you are righteous!
7 Second: Be Articulate
This might feel like a tricky one for some people. Maybe you are shy. Maybe you don’t feel like you are a particularly gifted speaker. Maybe the country you live in does not speak the language that you learned first or know best. That’s okay. You can still be articulate within your sphere of influence. You just need to be you.
8 Simple everyday ways to share the gospel:
1. You can tell your children or grandchildren why you believe.
2. You can explain to friends what you like about our church.
3. You can post uplifting messages or gospel ideas that resonate with you
on social media.
4. You can be kind, especially to those who are different than you.
5. You can withhold judgement. Leave that big job for God; he’s better at it
anyway.
6. When people ask what you did this weekend, you can tell them that you
went to a women’s conference. Tell them what you liked about it.
7. You can volunteer to help someone out, and do it with a happy heart.
Third: Be Different!
I think Sister Eubanks is not just saying be different from women outside of the church. I believe she is also saying that it is okay for us to be different from one another. Each of us has unique gifts and a personality that is all our own. There is tremendous power in that diversity. Never forget that. Rid yourself of the myth that all Mormon women need to act alike, dress alike, and have the same skill set. We need you to be YOU. Develop your talents. Find your passion. Educate your minds. In short, make the most of the talents God has blessed you with.
"All of you need to drink in deeply the gospel truths about the eternal nature of your individual identity and the uniqueness of your personality. You need, more and more, to feel the perfect love which our Father in Heaven has for you, and to sense the value he places upon you as an individual.”---Pres. Kimball
President Nelson says that we need women (of):
1 “...Strength...”
2 “...Conviction...”
3. “...Who can lead...”
4. “...Who are organized and who can organize…”
5. “...With executive ability who can plan, and direct, and administer…”
6 “...Who can teach. women who can speak out…”
Fourth: Be Distinct
Distinct can mean different or easily recognizable, and women of the church are certainly that. But the meaning that I like best for this word, the one that I feel gets most to the heart of what president
Kimball is asking of us to be is this: being distinct means being definite, or decided.
We can have firm testimonies; we may not know all things, but we can know what we know. We can be steadfast and immovable in doing good. In this we are distinct. In this we are an advantage, a
distinct advantage, in the battle that is waged against good and evil.
Fifth:Be Happy
Okay. I get it. Life isn’t always happy. It can feel at times like we are in the trenches and we are under heavy enemy fire. I don’t think Sister Eubanks or President Kimball are under any delusions about
the tragic nature of life. However, we can be optimistic and content with the choices we have made to live a gospel centered life even in the midst of trial and tribulation, perhaps especially in the the midst
of trial and tribulation. The gospel can give us peace of mind, a positive sense of purpose, and a sense of serene satisfaction even in the most difficult times. Others will look toward you in times of trouble and as a moral compass when you have the spirit with you.
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