WOMEN'S CONFERENCE 2012

Women’s Conference 2012

We stood in a dark room shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart--  15,000 women each with a light in her outstretched hand, waving as we sang:

As sisters in Zion, we’ll all work together

The blessings of God on our labors we’ll seek.

We’ll build up his kingdom with earnest endeavor

We’ll comfort the weary and strengthen the weak.

The spirit was overwhelming to the point of tears.  I wanted to stay there and sing that song again and see the thousands of lights waving in the dark and feel the power of conviction in those beautiful women.   It was 10:00 PM and we had been together since 9 O’clock that morning, being taught the “The errand of angels…”  There was every size, age and color of us, but we all came for the same reason—to learn how to be a better woman of Christ.  We stood in line eating a quick sandwich or a mint brownie, because we didn’t want to miss a word.  We laughed and cried through stories of joy, pain and hope.   Some of us are the weary weak, but we were learning to understand that the spirit will guide us and then we will become stronger.  We were there with our private pains and disappointments, seeking strength and answers to endure and serve in spite of our fears and weaknesses.  We left with conviction that, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Life is not easy and when we see some of the trials that others are going through it makes ours seem small.  That night we met a Relief Society President from Christchurch New Zealand who came to tell us about the service that was done by the local members of Relief Society last year when they endured the devastating earthquakes that went on daily for weeks.  There was a video of the female mayor of Christchurch talking about the “Church of the Latter Day Saints.”  This woman was amazed at the army of Relief Society women who went through the town helping where they could see a need day after day.  I want to be that kind of woman, arm in arm on the front lines of service with other women who understand their power to love and help.

There is strength in numbers.  Sometimes it is good to be with so many because you can feel the multiplication of each spirit in the air and as you breath it in it changes you and you realize that you are not alone in your sorrows, beliefs, desires and convictions to be more Christlike.  I came home wanting to be a better disciple.