Teachers College and later Arizona State. She was accompanied by her older brother. She graduated from college in 1911 and went into teaching for many years. She taught in a one room school, on an Indian Reservation, at an elite academy, and retired from teaching in 1959. As a young girl I can remember accompanying her to her position in Deer Valley.
Once a year she would take one of her grandchildren, to spend the day at her school. She would pack their lunch, they would leave very early in the morning and arrive about 1 1/2 hours later. She had a variety of jobs at this school. She was the principal, teacher, nurse, custodian, athletic coach,
and bus driver. You would have thought she was the only person there, but I believe she truly was everything to these students on this Indian Reservation. This lady was my grandmother, Neoma Brimhall. I consider her one of the most influential people in my life. She always found time to
play school, or a game, read a book with us, teach how to cook, teach us how to work around the house, or nurse us back to health with a big doseof milk of magnesia no matter what ailed us. She instilled in me at a young age the importance of a testimony of the gospel and lived it completely
every day of her life. She was truly a breath of fresh air. She possessed a great sense of humor and had a wonderful outlook on life. No one was more ready for a good party or event than my grandmother. She would put her squash blossom necklace around her neck every day (It was a gift from the families on the reservation when she retired), and head out the door to something important. She was very active in politics in Phoenix and served as their state chairman. She held many important positions in the church but most of all, she made all of us want to live a better life and give back to everyone who had crossed our paths. Her funeral was a big deal because everyone thought they were Neoma’s best friend. That’s how she made everyone feel when they were around her. She was a born leader, teacher, mother, grandmother, scriptorian, temple worker, missionary and when she talked, everyone would listen. Was she an Exemplarily woman? I believe so.
Let’s spend a few minutes talking about the women who are exemplary in our lives. Who are they? Why do they have this impact on us?
Today we are going to spend some time finding how each of us, in our own way, can be an Exemplary Woman and aid in the growth of the church in these last days. Important things are happening, and we as women will be blessed to be a part of all this. Forty years ago Pres. Spencer W. Kimball, issued a defining prophecy about the women of the church. He made it known that important things were to occur, and women would be the ones to defend our morality and families. The brethren need our strength, conversion, conviction and ability to lead to make these things happen more now than ever.
What characteristics sisters, do you think you need to possess in order to fulfill this great prophecy?
SIDENOTE: I do not want anyone to leave here today feeling discouraged or depressed because we aren’t doing all these things. There is a season for everything and knowing what is expected of us will help us remember these things and the season to accomplish it.
The following are things President Spencer W.Kimball admonished us to do in order to be a worthy participate in these latter days and in the building up of his kingdom. I have taken the liberty to add my own interpretation to his words regarding his directions and have attempted to expound on them.
1. We need to be women who can receive and carry out personal revelation. When the Spirit prompts us to do something, we need to listen and obey whether it comes by an impression, a thought, or a
feeling, of the Holy Ghost. To some it may even come as a vision, dream or even visitation by angels. Stop what you are doing, evaluate your priorities and then get busy following through with these
inspirations and or revelations in a timely manner. Ask if Sisters have ever felt the Spirit and received answers.
How do you feel about the Temple?
2. We need to be women who understand the temple endowment . This means we need to visit the temple often, reflecting on its power and the peace that is found there. Think often of the covenants you have made in the temple and take a few minutes to do a personal inventory of how you are doing.
How can we make our prayers meaningful? And how often?
3. Sisters; We need to be prayerful in our lives. We would benefit greatly if we would utter many small prayers during the day for protection for our children, members of our family, our extending
family, ward family, and leaders in our country, and community. We have been given the opportunity to call upon the powers of heaven, to strengthen us, guide us and protect us. We need to use these powers often.
4. Understanding the gospel and its doctrine will be very important in these latter days. Studying and then putting in to practice these principles will help us in building up his kingdom. Read the scriptures daily, sing the hymns while riding in the car, read the conference talks over and over again taking mental notes of things that stand out in your own life and how you gain wisdom from our leader’s words.
How did you feel about President Nelson’s admonishment to read the Book of Mormon before year’s end?
5. Satan and his troops are out and will continue be out in full force. It will be necessary for us to be able to detect deception and those among us who will try and destroy the sweetest of the Gospel.
Controlling our appetites, passions and temptations will allow us to overcome these evils and keep us in tune with the spirit of the gospel.
6. One important thing we will need to do will be to testify often about the Gospel. Testify that we know that He lives, that he loves us and that everyone, no matter what their past experiences, can be forgiven and come unto Christ. Testify about the need to render service and bear one another
burdens. Testify often to your children about different gospel principles and teach them why they are important to adhere to them. Don’t go or do anything that you know will hinder your ability to invite Satan into your life. Remember he is very good at what he does!
Why do you think it is difficult to share the Gospel.
We will need the courage and vision of Mother Eve to accomplish all that the Lord has planned for his children. We need to go out in our communities, our homes, and the Kingdom of God more than we have ever before. We must remember our sacred covenants and keep them so that we can speak with the power and authority of God.
It is important to not limit our friendship or acquaintances to only church members. Be friendly to everyone so they can see your light and how they can get it. Your good relationships with women, whether they are coworkers, sports moms, PTA mom, neighbors, or even those who render
services to us such as a cosmetologist will trigger a desire in them to find out what makes you tick. Be sincere, faithful, godly women and this significant force will draw others into the church. Don’t be selective as to who you are going to friendly with, everyone is God’s child.
I have a very sick daughter, though no fault of her own. In her journey, she has come in touch with so many different people and had a huge impact on their lives as well as they having an impact on her life. Almost daily, she receives a card, comment or visit asking how they can help her. Many
times they remark at how strong she is to face these afflictions. I have seen her look at the chaos in her home and feel overwhelmed. There have even been times when I’m sure she has questioned why this happened to her and did the Lord forget her? The other side of this is, I have witnessed her
ward rally to her needs without complaining, and step in when she needs it. I have wondered how they knew she needed them at that particular time and be willing to freely give service to this little family struggling daily with life’s challenges. I have also seen her testimony grow as she called out to
the Lord to help her. She has learned that Jesus Christ was stronger than even her terrible circumstances and that she can rely on his strength as she walks this path of affliction. It is imperative that we bear one another burdens in any way possible. It could be a small act like dropping a dollar in
the Salvation Army kettle at Christmas time, or giving a foot rub to a friend suffering grief or affliction.
Sister Eubanks, the first councilor in the Relief Presidency, related an incident that happened on Panama City Beach in Florida this last July. Late in the afternoon Roberta Ursrey saw her two young sons screaming for help from 100 yards out in the ocean. They had been caught in a strong
current and were being carried out to sea. A couple nearby tried to rescue the boys, but they also got caught in the current. Members of the Ursrey family dove in to rescue the struggling swimmers and quickly it became apparent that the people were caught in this strong current. There were no
lifeguards there. The police sent for a rescue boat. By this time, the people had been out in the ocean struggling for 20 minutes and they were exhausted. Some had their heads slipping under the water. Among the onlookers on the beach was a lady named Jessica Mae Simmons. Her husband shared with her an idea to form a human chain. They shouted at people on the beach to help them, and dozens of people linked arms and marched into the ocean. Jessica wrote,” To see people from different races and genders come into action to help total strangers was absolutely amazing.” An 80-person chain stretched toward the swimmers. In this one split-second this couple had thought of a different solution. Sometimes we will be called upon to think differently from the norm. I think innovation and creation are spiritual gifts that allowed this couple to receive this inspiration.
Everyone else on the beach could only think of the traditional solutions and they were paralyzed. We, as sisters of the gospel, are not always going to fit in with the world. But being different in positive ways can be a life line to others who are struggling. Back to the story, Jessica Mae said, “I can hold
my breath… and go around an Olympic pool with ease. I knew I could get each swimmer to the human chain. With the aid of a boogie board, Jessica and her husband swam down the chain until they reached the swimmers and ferried them back one by one through the human chain. Jessica had
practiced swimming, so when the emergency came she was ready. This is a lot like the Gospel, we have to be strong enough to help when others are being swept away by the current. Dare to be different and distinct.
Sisters we have to be happy. This does not mean slapping a plastic smile on our faces no matter what is going on. It means keeping the laws of God and building and lifting others. There is a certain energy that comes from happiness and optimism that doesn’t just bless us; it builds everyone
around us. I had an iWork student in Hawaii on my mission who truly lived this law of happiness. This kid was born in total poverty. Nothing had been easy in his life. In fact, knowing his background, you could say he had every reason to be miserable and unhappy. But that wasn’t Kevin. Every day he would come into the iWork office and say “Hello Sis. Card. I just came by to get a big hug from you before I started my work shift. One day I asked Kevin why he was so happy all the time. He said” Sister Card, I had a mission President that told me, keep one foot in front of the other, keep the commandments and you have nothing to worry about.” From that day on Kevin has been optimistic and happy about life. His roommates told me they have never seen him angry or upset. He just would smile and say “Everything is going to be alright because we are doing the things the Lord
wants us to do. Don’t worry.”
In a conference address, President Monson quoted Belle Smith Spafford, who was the 9th general Pres. Of the Relief Society, “Never have women had greater influence than in today’s world. Never have the doors of opportunity opened wider for them. This is an inviting, exciting, challenging, and demanding period of time for women. It is a time rich in rewards we keep our balance, learn the true values of life, and wisely determine priorities.”
President Nelson says” I plead with my sisters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to step forward! Take your rightful and needful place in your home, in your community, and in the Kingdom of God; more than you ever have before. I plead with you to fulfill President Kimball’s
prophecy. And I promise you in the name of Jesus Christ that as you do so, The Holy Ghost will magnify your influence in an unprecedented way.”
I plead with you as sisters to step forward! Take you rightful and needful place in your homes, in your community, and in the Kingdom of God. Those of you that can, consider serving a senior mission, volunteering time in the community, going back to school to increase your knowledge about the many things the world, and above all, keep the commandments.
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