Power: of Christ, of Women, of Music, of Faith

More Highlights from BYU Women's Conference

Elder and Sister Merrill J. Bateman

[The Batemans spoke on the temple, but I think a lot of the things they said can apply to those who do not attend the temple as well.]

• -Desire is the first step of learning about spiritual things.
• -Spiritual things are not revealed to doubters.
• -Ponder: The Holy Ghost speaks to the heart.


• "If one wishes to find the Savior, the temple will be the most likely place."

• -Baptism has the power to cleanse
• -The Holy Ghost has the power to teach and purify
• -The Priesthood has the power to bless and to serve

"I can think of no better way for children to come unto Christ than [for parents] to model their home after the House of the Lord."

In the temple:

• -People speak in soft voices.
• -Everyone is trained in their responsibilities. It is a house of order. First you teach the importance of a task, then you demonstrate the task; you have the child perform the task with assistance, and eventually you have them do it on their own.
• -Begin and end with prayer.
• -Everyone is treated with kindness. Kindness is the order of things.
• -Begin the day early in the morning.
  

Also, for those of you who are LDS (and the curious among the rest of you), Elder Bateman shared the following scripture: Revelations 1:6.

Julie B. Beck

[Sister Beck spoke about the divinely apponted roles of men and women. Men are given the responsibilities of the Priesthood. Women are given the responsibilities of influence. As daughters of God, we all have this gift. Both parts are equally important and necessary in the Plan of Salvation. Whether we, as women, influence for good or for evil is the choice we have to make every day. I loved this talk so much.]

Each of us has a divinely appointed role to play. If we don't do our part, no one can do it for us.

"Influencing is ever so much more lasting than managing."

YOU have control over your mind- where you go and what you think about.

Home is a small fort. There you are safe.

Put the most effort in the area where you are weakest. [I have tested this principle this year. I truly know that the Lord will make weak things strong unto us if we put our trust in Him. I have always struggled reading my scriptures on a regular basis but this year I have put the most effort into that. The reward has been an outpouring of both the Spirit and personal revelation like I have never known before.]

Fortify and strengthen your child's school so they are safe. We always hear "They" will fix it. There is no "They", there is only You. YOU are "They".

Serve WITH your family.

Our Heavenly Father gave us half the responsibility [our brothers have the other half]. We cannot delegate it.

Dianne Bytheway: Fear Not: For They That Be with Us Are More Than They That Be with Them

[It is a dark time in the history of the world. The end is upon us. The signs of the times are all around us. We need not fear.]

Dearest children, God is near you,

Watching o’er you day and night,

And delights to own and bless you,

If you strive to do what’s right.

He will bless you, He will bless you,

If you put your trust in him."

~Hymns #96

Though deep’ning trials throng your way,

Press on, press on, ye Saints of God!

Ere long the resurrection day

Will spread its life and truth abroad,

Will spread its life and truth abroad.

~Hymns #122

Be thou humble in thy weakness,

and the Lord thy God shall lead thee,

Shall lead thee by the hand and

give thee answer to thy prayers.

Be thou humble in thy pleading,

and the Lord thy God shall bless thee,

Shall bless thee with a sweet and

calm assurance that he cares.

~ Hymns 130

"Faith and fear cannot coexist."

Quoting Elder James E. Faust from this excellent talk on hope, she said,

"Everybody in this life has their challenges and difficulties. That is part of our mortal test. The reason for some of these trials cannot be readily understood except on the basis of faith and hope because there is often a larger purpose which we do not always understand. Peace comes through hope."

2 Kings 6:15-17

15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

2 Timothy 1:7

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

"The Lord has confidence in us. We need to have trust in him."

Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.

I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,

Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

~ Hymns #85 (How Firm a Foundation)

John Bytheway: Fear Not: For They That Be With Us Are More Than They That Be With Them

"It's hard to have a negative attitude about things if your life is focused on the Prince of Peace."

"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is a power to be reckoned with."~ M. Russell Ballard

"The only thing to fear is sin- and that is no matter for our Savior."

"Religion is not a crutch, it is a sword."

Saying, "Lord, Thy will be done."- that's where we get peace.

[He quoted Elder Boyd K. Packer, who, speaking about the 9/11 tradgedy said,] "This is a great time to live." (Things of the Soul, p. 195)

[He quoted President Gordon B. Hinckley who often said,] "Things will work out."

Doctrine & Covenants 6:36

36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

President Thomas S. Monson

"I plead with you not to let the important things in life pass you by. Find joy in the journey."

"Every day in your life is a special occasion."

"Try not to delay anything that will bring joy and laughter into our lives."

"There will be regrets. Try to keep the list as short as possible."

"Always express your thanks."

"Never let a problem to be solved seem more important than a person you love." [That one stung me a little. : )]

"Our mortal life was never meant to be easy."

"We become better, polished, and more beautiful with the things we overcome."

"No pain that we suffer is wasted."

"All that we endure, especially what we endure patiently builds up our character, purifies our hearts,..."

Remember, it is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

Awake, Arise and Come Unto Christ

Noteworthy Thoughts from BYU Women's Conference

Shari Dew

"Rally to the cause of Jesus Christ."


"We rarely understand how the Lord uses us."

"We are here to influence the world."

"If we would unleash the full influence of covenant-keeping women, the kingdom of God and the world would change overnight."

“The place of woman in the Church is to walk beside the man, not in front of him nor behind him. In the Church there is full equality between man and woman. The gospel, which is the only concern of the Church, was devised by the Lord for men and women alike” (Improvement Era, Mar. 1942, p. 161). "Much of the major growth... in the last days will... happen to the degree that the 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. " ~ quoting President Spencer W. Kimball (Ensign, Nov. 1979, pp.103-104)

We should ask "Are we the women God needs us to be in the latter part of the latter days?" "Why has the Lord brought me here today?"

"Seek to have influence in as many ways as possible."- [One of her suggestions was to start a blog to share your testimony and thoughts about spiritual things. I was surprised by this. I have read an awful lot of blogs that are negative and contain all kinds of inappropriate content, comments, inuendo, and flirtation. I think we have to be just as careful to beware of the negative influence we have without even meaning to, as we are to spread our positive influence in the world.]

The time to awake, arise, and come unto Christ is NOW.

Romans 13:11-12

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Pray about who the Lord needs us to be rather than living to impress one another.

"The Holy Ghost shows us all things what we should do."

"The power to influence comes when the Atonement changes our hearts."

Sue Egan- Cherish That Role That Is So Uniquely Yours: Parenting for Young Mothers

Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Ask, "How do my children feel when they are around me?" Ask the Lord, "What should I do to invite the Spirit?"

[One of her suggestions I liked for those of us constantly battling our way through Mount Maytag: As you fold laundry, think of a blessing that the child whose article of clothing you're folding brings to your home/family. For each article of clothing think of another one.]

"We mustn't wallow in our imperfections."

"What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."~quoting Elder M. Russell Ballard

Nona L. Maxwell: Cherish That Role That Is So Uniquely Yours: Parenting for Young Mothers

"The essential things often take a backseat to nonessential things."

"Stop what I was doing, look at their face, listen to what they were saying. Make them feel like they are one of my priorities."

"Is what we're spending time on consistent with what we want?"

1. Remember children are a gift from God and our role is a sacred privilage.
2. Look to Christ "No career approaches in importance of that of a mother."

Jesus fed 5000; We feed our families.

He washed the disciples' feet; We wash hands and faces.

He healed the sick; We take care of the sick.

He taught the Beattitudes; We teach them too.

He gave His life; We give our lives.

He gave His time and talents; His Father's will was His priority. So should ours be also.

3. Be obedient.- Obedient mothers raise obedient children. [Hmmm....?]

"I'll be a Heavenly Mother in training."

More later....