Influence of Righteous Women

                We can bring the greatest of all liberties into our individual lives by living true and correct principles.  This liberty comes to us as we learn to live as though Jesus Christ were walking beside us.  We gain this freedom as we invite the Holy Ghost into our lives.

                  The liberty principle for today is number thirteen in a series of true principles suggested by Elder Richard G. Scott in his book

21 Principles – Divine Truths to Help You Live by the Spirit.  I will merely introduce the principle and suggest that you obtain Elder Scott’s book in order to truly understand this principle.  Elder Scott explained that principles “are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances.  A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and challenging circumstances.”  You can see principle #1 “True Principles of Freedom” here, principle #2 “Trust the Holy Ghost” here, principle #3 “Try New Things” here, principle #4 “Accept Promptings” here, principle #5 “Decisions Determine Destiny” here, principle #6 “Accept God’s Will” here, principle #7 “Power Limited” here, principle #8 “Discerning Answers” here, principle #9 “Mentors Help” here,  Principle #10 “Internalize Principles” here,  Principle #11 “The Why of Adversity” here, and Principle #12 “Power of God” here. 

                  Principle #13 is the simple fact that a righteous woman who puts principles before feelings of the heart has the power to influence her husband to accomplish good works and to bind her family together for eternity.  The second part of this principle is that women are natural nurturers and gain strength from helping other people but have the need to know that their efforts are appreciated.

                I love the way Elder Scott speaks and writes of his beloved Jeanene and the great influence she had on his life and continues to have even though she passed away many years ago.  Elder Scott explained that his father was not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his mother was less active during his childhood and youth.  Even though his father later joined the Church, and both of his parents were active members and even temple workers, he had no idea what it meant to “have a patriarch in my home or a mother who would teach all of the things an active Latter-day Saint mother can teach her children.”

                While dating the future Apostle, Jeanene told him, “When I marry, it will be to a returned missionary in the temple.”  This statement had a great impact on him, and he was soon in his bishop’s office being interviewed for a mission.  Jeanene also served a mission before their temple wedding.  Her statement many years ago and her continuing righteous influence helped him to become who he is today.

                “So many of our sisters are disheartened, even discouraged, and disillusioned.  Others are in serious trouble because of the choices they make.  Satan has unleashed a seductive campaign to undermine the sanctity of womanhood, to deceive the daughters of God and divert them from their divine destiny.  He well knows women are the compassionate, self-sacrificing, loving power that binds together the human family.  He would focus their interests solely on their physical attributes and rob them of their exalting roles as wives and mothers.  He has convinced many of the lie that they are third-class citizens in the kingdom of God.

                “If there is any woman reading these words who wonders about how valuable you are, would you remember that you are the last created, you are the best.  He saved womanhood for the final magnificent creation, and you are not to feel otherwise.  We need to help those women around us recognize how precious they are.

                “The daughters of Father in Heaven are extraordinary.  Women are different from men in more than physical ways. Women just naturally want to help others, whether they are mothers or not.  They have joy in serving others.  But we as men must understand they need to know from us whether their nurturing is appreciated and beneficial.  I think many women worry about that.  So whether you are a husband or a son or a priesthood leader, tell the women in your life specific things that you appreciate in what they are doing so they can know that you are aware of it, and you are grateful for their nurturing that is a part of their divine nature.  You may even wish to put it is writing.”

                Elder Scott shared how Jeanene wrote notes to him and put them in unexpected places.  Her notes had an unexpected effect on him, and he began to write notes to her.  After her death he found where she had saved many of the notes so she could enjoy them time and again.  He encouraged men to write notes to their wives.

                Elder Scott also spoke about motherhood and how “Father in Heaven loves and appreciates those daughters who are willing to lay their lives on the altar to bring forth life and to nurture.”  He mentioned other ways that righteous women influence children:  sensing each child’s unique talents and capacities, being there at the teaching moments, reading scriptures to teach them the truth, teaching them to pray and to trust Heavenly Father.     

                “Mothers like those have a vision of the power of obediently, patiently teaching truth, because they look beyond the peanut butter sandwiches, soiled clothing, tedious hours of routine, struggles with homework, and long hours by a sickbed.

                “Let us be grateful to our Father in Heaven for His precious daughters.  Let us help them as much as we can.  Let us encourage every woman who questions her value to turn to her Heavenly Father and His glorified Son for a supernal confirmation of her immense individual worth.  I testify that as each woman seeks that assurance in faith and obedience, the Savior will continually provide it through the Holy Ghost.  That guidance will lead her to fulfillment, peace, and consuming joy through magnifying her divinely appointed, sacred womanhood” (pp. 62-67).

                I know that righteous women, particularly mothers, have great power and influence in the lives of other people.  When my husband and I moved to Alaska more than forty years ago, we had only one vehicle to drive – a pickup truck.  I had the use of the truck on most days because my husband drove a company car to and from work, but we had a growing family with growing needs for a vehicle with more seating capacity.  My husband’s parents came to visit, and his mother asked a simple question, “Why haven’t you bought a car?”  Within a matter of weeks we had a car!”

                I have a wonderful mother-in-law, but I also have a wonderful mother.  My mother was a quiet woman who said few words, but her actions spoke volumes.  She gave birth to twelve healthy children and served her family until her death.  I know now that she made many sacrifices of time and comfort for the good of her family and never complained.  I cannot remember ever hearing my mother speaking badly of anyone.  If she could not say something good about a person, she said nothing at all.

                I am blessed to have seven sisters by birth and five sisters by marriage.  Each of these women has influenced my life for good, and I am grateful for their influence.  I have wonderful daughters, both by birth and by marriage, who have impacted my life for good.  I continue to learn good things from each of them that help me become a better person.  I am so very grateful for my daughters and the good they bring into my life as well as what they do for my sons and grandchildren. 

                I know many righteous women who are influencing their families and other people to perform good works.  I appreciate their power for good.  I am also aware of many women who sell themselves short, and I grieve for them as they are missing many blessings.  I am grateful for the opportunity to be a woman with the capacity to nurture and bless others.  I am grateful for a husband who accepted the responsibility to provide for our family in order for me to be a full time mother, and I am grateful that my daughters have this same blessing.  I am grateful that my grandchildren are being reared by righteous women.  I encourage you to tell the women in your life how much you appreciate them.