Women of Faith

A friend whom I respect and admire greatly recently sent me an excerpt from a talk by Sister Nadauld to help me through an...interesting...situation I've been dealing with. I've always felt very grateful for a family that really encouraged and helped us realize our divine nature and worth. I come from a family of 10...6 daughters, 2 sons, and 2 amazing parents. I was always encouraged to try different things and develop my talents. Thanks to my parents' support, I always had my hands (or feet) in something and really gained a lot of confidence in who I am and who I had the potential to become. As I've been forced to reflect as of late on who I am, I've really come to realize how much influence the women in my life have had and continue to have on me. The following excerpt describes these women:

A woman of faith trusts God and faces adversity with hope. She knows of His interest in her life. She knows that He knows her. She loves His words and drinks deeply of that living water. She is grateful for the prophet He has sent for these latter days, and she trusts his counsel and follows it, for she knows that by so doing she will find safety and peace. In prayer she seeks the kind, unfaltering guidance and help of a listening Heavenly Father. As she prays, she listens—allowing the communication to be two-way. She trusts that in His still and quiet way, He will lead her by the hand and give her answer to her prayers.

A woman of faith is confident because she understands the divine plan of our Heavenly Father and her role to bless lives. She is confident that any sacrifice she makes is worth something in an eternal sense. She knows about sacrifice from knowing of the life of the Savior. She knows that her sacrifices may be small by comparison, but she knows that Heavenly Father understands and values what she does to strengthen her home and her family and the world in which she lives. Her confidence grows because she is virtuous and lovely and gracious, which is even better than beautiful. She has pure motives. She is loving and gentle and kind. The hearts of her husband and her children safely trust in her. And so do the children or youth or women that she has been called to teach, lead, serve, and love—they are drawn to her because of that special spirit that she radiates. It is the image of God that she has in her countenance that is appealing and important. She is confident that she is fashioning a character and a record of performance that will be invited to stand in the presence of her Heavenly Father. She will be able to do so with the sense that she fully belongs there, that she is known by Him and loved and valued and treasured forever and always.

A woman of faith is fearless. She fears no evil, for God is with her. There is no ambiguity, no uncertain trump in her life. She can live a principled life because she studies the doctrine and teachings of a perfect teacher, the Master. She is a noble example to all who know her. She is less than perfect, of course, not because she doesn’t have perfect principles or the perfect example in Christ, but because she is human. She stays away from the evil influence and the unclean thing, and if it encroaches on her territory, she is as a lioness protecting her cubs. A fearless woman of faith has the courage to talk with her children about practices which would destroy them. They not only hear her discuss her commitment, but they see her commitment in her daily living—in the way she dresses, what she reads and watches, how she spends her leisure time, what she loves and laughs at, whom she attracts, and how she acts at all times, in all things, and in all places. She has a certain style of her own that is attractive and joyful and bright and good. Our little girls and our young women can safely trust in her example. We pray that they too will be fearless as they seek out and promote that which is uplifting and happy and decent, for they are our future.

Thank heaven for women of faith in our lives. A woman of faith loves the Lord. She wants Him to know it by the life she lives, by the words she speaks, by the service she renders to His children, by her every action. She knows that He loves her even though she is imperfect and still trying to be better. She knows that when she does her very best, that it is enough, as President Hinckley has told us.

A woman of faith is blessed by faithful men in her life who hold the priesthood of God and honor this privilege: her father, bishop, husband, brothers, sons. They value her and the divine gifts given by God to His daughter. They sustain and encourage, and they understand the great mission of her life as a woman. They love her; they bless her. They are in turn blessed by this woman of faith as they walk the path of life together. They know, as scripture teaches, that “two are better than one. … For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow.” (Margaret D. Nadauld, “A Woman of Faith,” Ensign, Nov 2002, 73)

My mom and sisters in particular come to mind.

My older sister Krista and I are about 16 months apart. We had our typical childhood relationships and spats growing up, but as soon as I hit college-she became my anchor and example. I wanted to be just like her. She is beautiful, witty, intelligent, extremely talented (check out her photography website she designed HERSELF while suffering with morning sickness), and very generous and kind. As she's become a mother, I've also admired her strength and selflessness.

Lil' sister Janessa has always been a peacemaker with a quiet strength. She is dedicated and nurturing and she is faithful. The past two years have brought many a trial and adventure in her life, yet she has met them all head on as opportunities for growth. She is truly an example to me. She recently welcomed her 3rd child, a little boy, to her sweet family right after a job change and move to another state...I'm telling you, she is a TROOPER!



Lil' sister Sara has become one of my very dearest friends during our time in Utah. Having her at BYU so close has been so much fun for me and my kids. She is Taylee's hero. Sara is the most selfless person you will ever meet. Truly. She is constantly thinking of others and trying to deflect attention off herself. She is kind and hardworking and an amazing friend. Oh yes, and she is adventurous...in lieu of attending her senior prom, she went skydiving. Yesterday was her big day as she turned 21...we had so much fun celebrating with her.

I have a lot of respect for my two youngest sisters (M&M as I referred to them growing up). Their lives are filled with temptations and challenges that just weren't around when I was their age. I really loved the talk by Elder Hamula in the October 2008 general conference about how the Spirits coming now and being raised in this time were truly saved for this time because they proved their strength before. They are a righteous generation that will stand up and defend the cause. I am grateful to these two sisters for their strength and example. I often think my two little sisters helped me realize my mission in life to work with young children....I LOVED having babies around the house to hold and help and play with growing up. McKayla is spunky and cute, clever and kind. Marissa is nurturing and giving. I often don't think she fits the typical "youngest child" mold because she spends so much of her time entertaining and watching our kids.

I am grateful for my heritage and for the examples of righteous women around me. They help me to understand and gain confidence in who I am. This experience I've dealt with the past couple weeks has helped me realize that I do know who I am and what I believe and I'm not afraid to take a stand for what is right.

"...I believe in myself. I do not mean to say this with egotism or arrogance. But I believe in my capacity and in your capacity to do good, to make some contribution to the society of which we are a part, to grow and develop, and to do things that we may now think are impossible. I believe that I am a child of God, endowed with a divine birthright. I believe that there is something of divinity within me and within each of you. I believe that we have a godly inheritance and that it is our responsibility, our obligation, and our opportunity to cultivate and nurture the very best of these qualities within us. I do not have to be a scrub. Though my work may be menial, though my contribution may be small, I can perform it with dignity and offer it with unselfishness. My talents may not be great, but I can use them to bless the lives of others. I can be one who does his work with pride in that which comes from hand and mind. I can be one who works with respect for associates, for their opinions, for their beliefs, with appreciation for their problems and with a desire to help them should they stumble. I believe in the principle that I can make a difference in this world. It may be ever so small, but it will count for the greater good. The goodness of the world in which we live is the accumulated goodness of many small and seemingly inconsequential acts." (Gordon B. Hinckley, Brigham Young University Fireside on 1 March 1992)