Transitional Characters

Marco is a very bright young University student from Mexico. He was raised by a single mom and admitted the difficulties he has been through without a father in his life.  We sat by each other at a United Families International event last week.  The presenter spoke about fathers and how important they are in society as a whole.  As Marco heard the definition of a "transitional character",  he leaned over to me and said, "That's what I want to be."
I smiled and responded, "It looks like you are becoming one already."

"A transitional character is one who, in a single generation, changes the entire course of a linage.  The individuals who grow up in an abusive, emotionally destructive environment and who somehow find a way to metabolize the poison and refuse to pass it on to their children.  They break the mold.  They refute the observation that abused children become abusive parents, that the children of alcoholics become alcoholic adults... Their contribution to humanity is to filter the destructiveness out of their own linage so that the generations downstream will have a supportive foundation upon which to build productive lives." (Broderick, 1988, p. 14)

Now Marco is not a member of my faith and there are somethings I wish I could have told him more about to be a tool for him in his life as he desires to be this "transitional character", to be a good father and good husband someday.  But in my trip to the United Nations, we weren't supposed to proselyte, so all the more I wanted to say I couldn't.  I wished I could have given him a "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet and directed him to the chapters, Entertainment & Media and Sexual Purity.  I sometimes wonder how often these things are taught in other religions.  It's so vital!  He will need to understand these things if he wants to be a good husband and father.

A few nights ago I drove a young 16-yr. old girl home from a youth activity.  We talked for nearly an hour as she described to me her broken life and how completely exhausting it is to be pulled and torn between the arguments of her separated parents and used like their pawn.  They haven't learned to communicate decently, let alone effectively.  Like 3-yr. olds they are constantly dragging her in as a third party to be the other's advocate.  Both parents are very toxic.  I encouraged her to be brave, that in the situations that do not involve her she must learn to repeat, "I'm sorry but this is not my issue, this is yours.  You need to work this out between each other.  I have to stay out of it."

Then I asked her a question, "Do you believe you can learn from your parents poor behavior."
"I can learn what NOT to do" she said.
"Very good! That's exactly right," I agreed.  "You can be a transitional character, a chain-breaker.  You can refuse to be a part of the statistics and say in your mind, 'all of this ends with me.  I'm not passing this down to my children!' Next time your parents fight and scream at each other, I want you to pay close attention to the kinds of words they use, the tone of voice, and those things that seem to escalate the arguments.  Write them down if you have to and tell yourself, 'I'm going to practice the exact opposite of these things.'  Refuse to be pulled into their childish bickering. It's not right and it's not fair to you."

I encouraged her to call me if she needed a friend to talk to, any time, day or night. Ultimately though, I testified that the most important Person to call upon is our Father in Heaven.  I testified to her of prayer and how it has gotten me through so many dark days.  My life growing up wasn't near as difficult as hers is but there were many times during my teenage years where I felt frustrated, heartbroken and completely alone. I wanted so desperately to feel security in my own home but instead everything felt raw and vulnerable, as if something could shatter at any given moment.  I learned to cry to my Father in Heaven, to pour out my soul to Him and lay out every piece and fragment of my heart.  He answered my prayers.  He showed me LOVE and in a miraculous way His love seemed to fill all the voids, the gaping wounds, the fractures, and holes in my soul.  I became a new person through Christ.  He changed me, He transitioned my character! He became my Father and I found in Him, I could do all things.  I told my young friend that she is not meant to carry this weight alone and encouraged her to make the choice daily to turn to her Eternal Father and she would have everything she could possibly need through life.

"Know then that every soul is free,
To choose his life and what he'll be"
- Hymn 240

- Alicia

As a "Keeper of the Hearth"

"I know of no better answer to [the] foul practices that confront our young people than the teachings of a mother, given in love with an unmistakable warning... No one can calculate the tremendous force for good that you can become. You are the keepers of the hearth. You are the managers of the home...I charge you to stand tall and be strong in defense of those great virtues which have been the backbone of our social progress." - President Gordon B. Hinckley

One of the biggest threats to the family is the devastatingly destructive drug of pornography.  If we as mothers are to be "the keepers of the hearth" we must educate our children about this pernicious evil.  Mothers and fathers must be vigilant in filtering the images and messages that come into their homes through music and media and help their children choose wisely.

"You live in a world of terrible temptations. Pornography, with its sleazy filth, sweeps over the earth like a horrible, engulfing tide. It is poison. Do not watch it or read it. It will destroy you if you do. It will take from you your self-respect. It will rob you of a sense of the beauties of life. It will tear you down and pull you into a slough of evil thoughts and possibly of evil actions. Stay away from it. Shun it as you would a foul disease, for it is just as deadly." -  President Gordon B. Hinckley

Each time a person chooses to view pornography, it eats away at their true identity and the true identity of others, especially those closest to them.

"Research has found that after men are exposed to pornography, they rate themselves as less in love with their partner than men who didn’t see any porn. On top of that, another study found that after being exposed to pornographic images, people were more critical of their partner’s appearance, sexual curiosity, sexual performance, and displays of affection"
 - See more at: http://fightthenewdrug.org/porn-kills-love-2/#sthash.PPxsfbtR.dpuf

It's interesting to me that in a society, where their is so much spouse and child abuse, we have these extremely well-funded agencies and organizations that insist on pushing what they call "sexual rights".  They go so far as to DEFEND the multi-billion dollar porn industry under this "right". These people have no interest in parental rights and  they refuse to defend or protect the traditional family, and in fact see it as a threat.  They insist the solution is in teaching "safe sex".  Imagine the difference these organizations could make if they focused on educating abstinence before marriage and fidelity after.

These things are extremely agonizing and difficult for me to think about.

I find strength and hope to see their ARE groups and organizations coming together in a coalition to make the truth be told.  I pray for the youth of this world, for the fathers and mothers.  I pray for a return to virtue, human dignity, and responsibility.
- Alicia

2015 - 20th Anniversary

This is the year we celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Proclamation to the World about the family.  Interestingly, it is also the year that the UN celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Platform.

The first document to the world describes our Divine identity as women, and the beautiful role we play in our families. The second document sees motherhood in a negative light and seeks to dismantle our role in the family.

"In the preliminary document for the Beijing +5 Conference in 2000, one of the stated obstacles to human rights (translation: abortion on demand and same-sex marriage) was the "...persistence of traditional and stereotypical attitudes."
   In the section on Woman and the Media, there was language stating opposition to the 'negative images of women; and stereotyped portrayals;' (translation: mothers).  The women at this conference were urged to target journalists and media specialists, media associations, educational and training institutions to promote balanced and non-stereotyped portrayals of women." - Susan Roylance (Mothers & Fathers Defending Marriage and Family in the Halls of the U.N.)

Simply stated in "UN Beijing platform language" - "motherhood" and "traditional family" are bad words and damaging stereotypes and must be done away.

"In the gathering storm over defending marriage, the weather-vane pointing to our future is oscillating wildly.  Our destiny as a society will depend on whether we can protect our most fundamental social institution: marriage and the family.  As citizens of a democratic republic, we need not be at the mercy of judicial winds.  We can control our destiny!" - Richard G. Wilkins (Author of 'A Sacred Duty')

So how do we defend our most fundamental institution? The answer is simple.  We start in our own homes.  We seek to do all we can to strengthen our marriage and our relationships with our children, to build our home on a foundation of faith and trust in God. We embrace the complimentary unique and different roles of husband and wife. We always work with and for each other and never against. We strive to practice patience, kind words that build and uplift, habits that nurture and invite the Spirit.  We must be vigilant in safeguarding and monitoring closely the amount and content of media diet being fed to our minds and our family.  Wise mothers and fathers do not allow the rivers of filthy water to flow through the airwaves of their home.  They constantly ask themselves, "what is being taught" and "how is it being received".  Wise mothers and fathers seek the Spirit of the Lord in all they do through constant daily prayer and scripture study.

The Prophet Joseph Smith appeared to Brigham Young in a vision and said, "Tell the people to be humble and faithful and sure to keep the Spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; it will teach [you what] to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom. Tell the brethren [and sisters] to keep their hearts open to conviction so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it. They can tell the Spirit of the Lord from all other spirits. It will whisper peace and joy to their souls, and it will take malice, hatred, envying, strife, and all evil from their hearts; and their whole desire will be to do good, bring forth righteousness, and build up the kingdom of God. Tell the brethren [and sisters] if they will follow the Spirit of the Lord they will go right."

Malachi teaches about turning our hearts to our fathers and the most important Father we should turn to is our Heavenly One.  We are His children and His heart has been turned to us from the very beginning.  He loves us with an immeasurable and powerful love!  "We love Him because He first loved us." As we rightfully make Him first in our lives, everything else will fall into its proper place.  I know this. I trust this with my whole soul!

The Family Proclamation declares this irrefutable truth, "Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."

The solutions of the world are not found in the works of the flesh, in the intellects, the philosophers, and talking heads. Show me a person who has innumerable followers, popularity, high accolades, degrees and doctorates, scholarly knowledge, who has read all the books and passed all the tests but who has never learned to care for their family, never learned to recognize and act upon the Spirit, never learned to reach beyond their obsession of self to sincerely love their neighbor, who has never learned to truly love and truly serve - and you've shown me a fool, indeed.

The Kingdom of God will crush the Kingdoms of the earth in a way that those who only see by the flesh won't be able to understand because they will not open their eyes.  The stone cut out of the mountain without hands means "without the flesh"... it will be by the power of the Spirit!  Those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts that understand will not faint but with hope will listen to "the distant triumph song."

-Alicia

Our Youth, Our Hope

Untied Families International invited our group of women to team up with them in an event the first of its kind at a United Nations convention.  Amelia from UFI informed me over the phone, "Its going to be like one big Family Home Evening."  The time slot given to UFI by the UN just happened to be on a Monday night, how fitting. We had a few powerful musical numbers and a panel of speakers planned to share inspiring stories of their mothers and grandmothers, to inspire the spirit of Elijah.  We hoped the people would walk away with a greater desire to return home and not only strengthen their families but encourage everyone in their sphere of influence to do the same.
http://utahvalley360.com/2015/03/17/lds-women-defend-motherhood-standing-room-un-event/

Early morning prior to our "combined effort event, " we stood in line with a host of nationalities waiting for the UN gates to open so we could get our badges that would allow us entrance to the convention.
I said to my friend Jeanette, "If we want a ton of people to come tonight, now is the perfect time to invite them.  Everyone is just standing here."
"I'm with you Alicia, let's go," she said.

One by one we went about shaking hands, introducing ourselves and inviting them to our event.  Among the crowd, we met a long line of about 25 youth between the ages of 17 to 21.  From the moment my eyes met theirs and I opened my mouth to speak to them, there was a connection!  Their faces bright and their spirits radiating out so tangible, "I know these youth," I thought to myself.  In my heart I swore I had seen each of their faces before.  They listened to my invitation intently.  They were Catholic students from universities in Mexico and Ecuador (The two countries my sweet nephews are currently serving in as missionaries.) I explained that the intent our event was to awaken an awareness of the importance of faith and family. They smiled affirmatively as if I needn't say anymore.  Their mission was the same on almost every level.  It was miraculous.

I watched them attend various presentations put on by other groups, opposing groups.  These youth were not afraid to stand up and speak. I was in awe of their equanimity!  For the duration of the week we showed support by attending one another's events...  Each time meeting up, building many more great stories to be told.

It's interesting that this is the year the United Nations sets the agenda in place that will be in effect for the next 15 years.  Currently as the Post 2015 Agenda stands, there is no wording at all to protect the family.  We came here to change that and never before has the UN seen such a large presence of pro-family/ pro-faith groups.  We pray our voices will be heard.

How fitting that this group of mothers would convene with these valiant youth at "such a time as this!" It makes sense, mothers and youth - the two parts of society that are targeted and exploited more than any others are the very ones who are standing up, charging forward bold and brave at the front-lines of the battle.

I came here to the UN expecting to be weighed down with the force of opposition undermining our basic institution.  And believe me, the force is heavy and I have learned things that have forever changed my perspective, some of which are nightmares realized, horrific and frightening beyond description, things that the majority of society is completely ignorant to, things that are hard for me to explain.

But with these youth, I was lifted.  

Last night was the final time I would see them.  I embraced each one of these young men and women and thanked them for who they are, for their courage, for the light of Christ that is so evident in their eyes.  With tears of gratitude I thanked them for giving me the unexpected at this convention....

 HOPE!

 -Alicia

A Sense of the Sacred

Stepping off the subway onto the platform, we perceived that we were close.  Even though our travels left us with little to no sleep we intuitively knew that this had to be the very first part of our eight-day trip.

"Take the stairs on your right," were the instructions I recalled as I relayed them to the sisters at my side.  I kept my eyes toward the Manhattan sky as we neared the top steps that led to 66th street.  I wanted him to be the very first thing I saw... Sure enough, there he was, the Angel Moroni! What a beautiful sight!

Tears welled up in my eyes, I wished that I could stop the bustling crowds on the street, somehow halt them in their helter-skelter, take each person by the shoulders, and emphatically declare, "Do you know what this place is? Do you know what it has to offer your life? This is home! This is what I treasure and where I feel treasured, it sustains me, it gives me hope and purpose! It means the world to me, oh how I love the Temple!"

The next couple of hours were spent in reverence within the walls of our "home away from home" as we performed sacred ordinances there, prayed there, and read pages from the scriptures there.  The Spirit of the Lord was strong confirming our purpose for coming to New York and witnessing that His hand is in all of this.

The following day we had the opportunity to return for Sunday services.  They happened to be having Stake Conference and  Elder Holstrum and Elder Smith of the 70 were the main speakers. They were both inspired in their words and again we felt confirming witnesses in our purpose.

 Elder Smith spoke of feeling inadequate when he was called to the 70 and testified of the Lord's ability to qualify those whom He calls.

Elder Halstrom spoke of reverence and defined it as a deep and abiding respect and love for God, a respect and love so deep and so profound that it changes us, influences everything we do and every choice we make, everywhere we go.  He quoted the following from Elder D. Todd Christofferson:

"The importance of having a sense of the sacred is simply this—if one does not appreciate holy things, he will lose them. Absent a feeling of reverence, he will grow increasingly casual in attitude and lax in conduct. He will drift from the moorings that his covenants with God could provide. His feeling of accountability to God will diminish and then be forgotten. Thereafter, he will care only about his own comfort and satisfying his uncontrolled appetites. Finally, he will come to despise sacred things, even God, and then he will despise himself.

On the other hand, with a sense of the sacred, one grows in understanding and truth. The Holy Spirit becomes his frequent and then constant companion. More and more he will stand in holy places and be entrusted with holy things. Just the opposite of cynicism and despair, his end is eternal life." - D. Todd Christofferson (BYU Speeches 2004 A Sense of the Sacred)

As he quoted these words, I couldn't help but think of the things I held as sacred in my life; the Temple, marriage, family, motherhood, inspiring friends, scripture study, personal prayer, and the freedoms fought for me to have all these things.

I admit, these first two days here have been overwhelmingly busy, consuming every minute of the day, we get less than 5 hours of sleep each night.  But the Spirit we have felt among each other and in the preparations we have made have also been overwhelming and consuming.  What a feast it has been and what a perfect way to start out our mission!

-Alicia

To the Women of the World

I have been given the opportunity to attend the Convention on the Status of Women at the United Nation's Headquarters.  I will be taking note and observing many things that are of grave concern involving the women of the world especially the young women.

I find it interesting and of no coincidence that many of the ladies I am traveling with have recently been given callings in the Young Women's Program, including myself.  Also, my roommate will be an amazing sister who formerly served on the General Young Women's Board. I'm excited for such a privilege.

ARISE AND SHINE by, James Christensen
Young Women Holding The 8 Values and the Banner of the Temple

The reason we are going is because "Far too many corrosive social policies are being made that have direct impact over our sphere of influence. As we gather together our presence and influence will expand to make the creative changes that can grow goodness. Because we are life-affirming, we will not stand idly by as destructive changes take place (such as in national and international policies). We wish to highlight to the world that the internal power that we cultivate is indeed tremendously powerful, and what we do everyday within the walls of our homes is deeply valuable. We are united with women from all parts of the world that care, safeguard, protect, and sacrifice." 
-Carolina Allen

While there, we will seek out and network with women from all over the world who share our desire to protect and uphold the family unit, who believe in the complimentary and Divine relationship we share with men. We will stand as witnesses of God at all times, in all things, and in all places.  The proverbial banners we wave are the values we proclaim every Sunday in Young Women's written in a universal language that sisters of all faiths and nations can understand.

1.) We believe in God and are women of Faith. For many of us worldwide women. We believe in a higher power. It is what gives us our internal strength and courage as we face life's challenges. It is an integral part of our identity and it is powerful.
2.) We  embrace our life-affirming biology. To be a female means that we we have a unique and powerful life affirming anatomy. We celebrate this.
3.) We are each unique and innately worthy of respect. Every individual is worthwhile and special.
4.) We seek after wisdom and knowledge. We have each been endowed with an internal compass that when used can magnify our wisdom and knowledge for the good of humanity.
5.) We have the freedom to choose, and choose wisely. The freedom to choose is inalienable. We choose life-affirming and non-violent paths.
6.) We reach out and serve others in need. We are the innate healers of suffering, and do so with great compassion.
7.) We follow our conscience with integrity. We speak truth amidst confusion and  we follow our intuitions with faith and confidence.
8.) We cultivate wholeness and harness our creative power. Our virtue is priceless and we guard and cultivate our wholeness.

We are ready to embark! Who is coming aboard?

-Alicia


About the Painting
Arise and Shine Forth

by James C. Christensen

“Years ago I did a painting," relates Jim Christensen, called 'Virtue,' which featured a quiet and determined young woman making her way, alone, through the darkness with the light of faith to guide her. One of the things I wanted to say is that not only are our young women strong, they are not alone. They are well prepared and know how to stand for what they believe. They know how to support each other and the community. As a group they are unstoppable in their ability to reach their divine potential. There is always another group coming up behind them.”

Marriage Family and Responsiblity

"Our individual responsibility is to learn what we should learn, to live as we know we should live, and to become what the Master would have us become." - Elder David A. Bednar

One of the articles in Elder Bednar's book, "Increase in Learning" is a copy from his talk "Marriage Is Essential to His Eternal Plan." This talk is based on the timely and inspired declaration, The Family: A Proclamation to the World.

"Today we are engaged in a war for the welfare of marriage and the home, in my latest reading of the Book of Mormon I paid particular attention to the ways the Nephites prepared for their battles against the Lamanites. I noted that the people of Nephi 'were aware of the intent of [their enemy], and therefore they did prepare to meet them' (Alma 2:12). As I read and studied, I learned that understanding the intent of an enemy is a key prerequisite to effective preparation. We likewise should consider the intent of our enemy in this latter-day war." - David A. Bednar

What perfect timing it is for me to be reading these articles as I am one week away from traveling with my friends to understand a little more fully "the intent of the enemy" and to help share this inspired Proclamation with the world.

It is interesting to me that as we have prepared for this trip, many of the women in our group have made mention of more struggles at home and in their marriage than ever before. Many have felt more tension and friction within the very unit they are seeking to defend.  I feel very fortunate and blessed that I have not had this issue in my own family but I do know that when the Lord calls us to do something, and we set out to do it, "the bells of hell begin to ring" (as Brigham Young would say.)  It is absolutely crucial therefore that in these moments we dig our heels deeper in our resolve of keeping our covenants, seek the Spirit of the Lord, and give all we've got to loving more fully.

When I was sixteen I was given a Patriarchal Blessing wherein I was blessed that marriage would be uppermost in my mind and in my heart.  I feel that this has truly been the case all of my life.  I believe in giving everything I possibly have and doing everything I possibly can to keep my marriage with my husband strong and healthy, come what may, through thick and thin!  This relationship is "central to our Father's plan", upon it hinges the lives of my children, their children and their children's children for generations to come.  This is not a small thing to fight for!

Yet we can see clearly there are few in the world who understand this and they give up at the slightest sign of trouble.  Families are falling apart left and right, especially the core structure of the relationship between husband and wife, father and mother.  The effect is exactly where the Adversary wants it;  a terrible malady, a horrific epidemic of people becoming "miserable, like unto himself".

"No one would wish a bad marriage on anyone. But where do we think 'good marriages' come from? They don’t spring full-blown from the head of Zeus any more than does a good education, or good home teaching, or a good symphony. Why should a marriage require fewer tears and less toil and shabbier commitment than your job or your clothes or your car?

Yet some of you will spend less time on the quality and substance and purpose of your marriage—the highest, holiest, culminating covenant you make in this world—than you will in maintaining your ’72 Datsun. And you will break the hearts of many innocent people, including perhaps your own, if that marriage is then dissolved." - Jeffrey R. Holland - However Long and Hard the Road

Elder Bruce D. Porter has stated:
"We live in a day when the love of many, even toward their own children, is waxing cold; a day when so many people love pleasures more than God; a day when good is called evil and evil good. Those who defend the traditional family, who stand for fidelity and chastity and all that once was considered wholesome and praiseworthy are mocked and ridiculed. On the other hand, those who see no problem with fatherless homes, who advocate abortion, who fight all attempts to limit pornography, and who seek to redefine the very essence of what a family is, are praised and upheld as champions of tolerance. Truly, the world has turned upside down."

All the more reason that people of faith do not stand idly by or faint by the wayside. It is imperative that we go forward with courage in this vital cause of protecting marriage and the family, in our own homes, our own personal lives, and in the world.  I testify that it is worth every single drop of our blood, sweat, and tears!

-Alicia

Water and Rock

My friend, Carolina, stood on a beautiful rock on the shores of Hawaii as she gazed out to the sea.  "Who am I?" she asked herself, "What is my part in this life as a woman?"  She noticed the gorgeous rock beneath her feet.  It was solid and firm, she felt safe there.  She listened to the waves cascade over the shore.  There was something beautiful, something Divine about this relationship between the ocean and the rocks.  What was it?  A feeling of pure light washed over her and she could see now.  The thought came to her as clear as day, "Carolina, the ocean is a symbol of woman and the rock a symbol of man."

......................................

I listened to my friend share this experience with us yesterday evening with a group of several other women and some leaders from United Families International.  She then shared the first few minutes of this video with us and said it was after that revelation that came to her that she happened upon this clip.  It was a confirmation of what she had already felt in her heart.

 I love what Dr. Peter Kreeft says;

 "We're sitting on one of the most masculine things in the world, a rock.  And we're looking at one of the most feminine things in the world, the sea.  And they're deeply satisfying together.  We can't quite analyze why we find that satisfaction, that peace, and that sense of rightness.  The Iroquoi have a word for it: the word is "Orenda".  It means the spiritual power that the Great Spirit put into physical things to attract us.  They said it's especially in the sea, and the stars, and trees.  We can't live in the stars, we can't live in the sea, we don't live in trees.  Why do we love them? Why do we want to be in the presence of them? It's the orenda there!  It fits our spirit.  It's like we're iron filings and that's the magnet... and we're home." 

I've been so impressed by this concept that I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

Water = Feminine Archetype & Rock = Masculine Achetype.

 It is amazing how this is before our eyes in everything that is beautiful in our sphere. We cannot exist without one or the other. And when men and women work together in a harmonious way, "it is glorious and beautiful!" Just think of all the creations that are magnified in their brilliance and awe when this "masculine and feminine" attain symbiosis: beautiful sculptures in caves and caverns above and beneath the ocean, geodes, crystals, land formations, geysers, waterfalls, white flowing streams and the rocks that give them shape and form.... the list goes on forever.  Plants, animals, people, and all living things are formed out of earth and water.  

I opened my scriptures to Moses where the creation of the earth is described.  There is one other element I discovered that makes this glorious relationship possible.  It surrounds both water and land, we cannot see it but without it there would be no life.  It is the "firmament" or atmosphere.  God calls it "heaven." Moses 2:6-10  This makes perfect sense because a celestial relationship must have the element of Heaven, of God, interwoven into and surrounding everything in its structure to make it eternal and perpetually in creation.

All of this is a witness to me of how amazing God is.  Literally, from the very beginning, our Father in Heaven has been trying to teach us something about our roles as men and women and how powerful we can become and what we can create when we work with full unity of heart, soul, and mind.  We are not meant to be alone just as an earth with only ocean or a planet made of only rock could never reach it's full potential of sustaining and giving life.  

I read this just the day before I heard Carolina tell her story.  But since then, it too has taken on new meaning to me:

  

“President Lorenzo Snow, the fifth President of the Church, said this to the Relief Society Sisters of the Church: 'You have ever been found at the side of the Priesthood, ready to strengthen their hands and to do your part in helping to advance the interests of the kingdom of God; and as you have shared in these labors, so you will most certainly share in the triumph of the work and in the exaltation and glory which the Lord will give to His faithful children.' As women participate in Relief Society, they serve as valiant disciples of Jesus Christ in the work of salvation. Like the women in the ancient Church, they work alongside men who hold the priesthood to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those in need” 
(Daughters in My Kingdom, page 7)."

In the two greatest most influential and Divine organizations, the family and the Church, we can see that men and women are meant to work together, along side each other, each one bringing out the best in the other.  It's awesome to think that the evidence of this has been around from the very beginning.

..........................

I will never look at water, rock, or the atmosphere the same. Now I can see so much more on earth that which was and always has been in heaven.

Now, I will gaze at the beauties of creation that surround me in a new light.  Now I will always see "man" and "woman" and my heart will rejoice in the Divine relationship we share! "It is glorious and beautiful!!"    

What is destiny?

I must admit that every time I hear the word "destiny" I can't help but think of the line in Back to the Future where George Mcfly boldly declares to his love to Lorraine, "I am your density!"  (Of course, what George meant to say was that he was her destiny.)

What is destiny anyway?  In Latin it means dēstināre  or "de"=to remove from  & "stinare"=standing.  It is an indication of movement from one place to another.  To me, destiny sounds like the word "destination" and I think its very fitting.  It is the place that we will eventually come to.  It is something that is yet to happen.

I've been memorizing The Family: A Proclamation to the World. I noticed the word "destiny" shows up in each of the first three paragraphs.

In the context of the Gospel, God has a destination for each of us; a beautiful, loving, and glorious plan!  But he gives us our agency to choose.  He will not force us on the path.

As we exercise faith and go to Him through daily prayer, daily scripture study, and seek to know Him and the destination he has for us, He will reveal to us the right roads to take in miraculous ways and our glorious destiny will unfold!!  Alma 37:39-47

-Alicia :)