Divine Role of Women

Our Father in Heaven has a plan that we might be happy. That plan has roles for His daughters as well as for His sons. Today I will write of the role of the daughters. "We have the female half to take care of, and if we don't do our part, no one else is going to do it for us. The half of our Father's plan that creates life, that nurtures souls, that promotes growth, that influences everything else was given to us. We can't delegate it. We can't pass it off to anyone. It's ours. We can refuse it, we can deny it, but it's still our part, and we're accountable for it. There will come a day when we will all remember what we knew before we were born. We will remember that we fought in a great conflict for this privilege. How do we meet this responsibility? We daily put our energies into the work that is uniquely ours to do" (Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president, Ensign, Feb. 2009, 67). The basic purpose for the Creation of the earth was to provide bodies for God's spirit children. Mothers and fathers are very important to the work of God as they rear and teach their children, but all men and all women have roles to perform. Heavenly Father intended that men and women progress together to fulfill His plan. Males and females have distinctive temperaments and capacities and each brings unique perspectives and experiences to the relationship. Women have been blessed with divine attributes of love, compassion, kindness, and charity. Whether we are married, widowed, or single, we are required to use these attributes to bless Heavenly Father's children. No matter what our personal circumstances are, we all have opportunities to help and nurture others. The following quote is one of my favorites about women and the good that we have the capacity to perform. "To be a righteous woman during the winding up scenes on this earth, before the second coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman's strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times" (President Spencer W. Kimball, "Privileges and Responsibilities of Sisters," Ensign, Nov. 1978, 103).