General Women's Meeting

Tonight was the General Women's Meeting of the Church. This is a new meeting that has replaced an annual General Relief Society Meeting (women ages 18 and up) in the spring and a General Young Women's Meeting (ages 12 to 18, plus mothers and leaders) in the fall. (They might have been opposite times of the year). Anyway, it is now a semi-annual meeting for all women of the church, ages 8 and up! Millions of women gathered around the world to watch it in dozens of different languages. It's pretty amazing, and the messages were beautiful.

Here is the link if you'd like to watch it for yourself. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch?lang=eng It's about 90 minutes total.

There were 4 speakers and a few musical numbers.

I don't know about you, but I go through periods of life when I just feel a little down. Or inadequate. Or... not quite up to par for some reason. I can't always put my finger on why I feel that way. Sometimes it's because of changes in life, and other times I think it's because I'm anticipating changes rather than enjoying the present. I dunno, but it happens. And lately I've been in one of those slumps. Probably because I'm anticipating all sorts of changes coming in the next few months, and because I don't feel like I'm doing much right now that is useful. (Not to mention the bouts of inadequacy and worry that I sometimes feel when I contemplate becoming a mother in about 5 months.)

Anyway, I've been in this slump, so I have been praying that something in this meeting and in General Conference (next weekend -- I can't wait!) will help me somehow. That someone, as they are addressing millions of members across the world, would speak directly to me. That someone would address the fears and worries and questions in my heart. Well, tonight they did. And I fully expect that I will experience it again next weekend. Miracles happen all around us.

So here are some of my thoughts on the meeting. There was a lot of focus on keeping our covenants (formal promises made to God at baptism and in the Temple) and about serving others. The very first speaker, Sister Wixom, said something like as we strive to keep our covenants our feelings of inadequacy will cease. (I took some notes, but I usually paraphrase them in my notes.) Well, there you go, Abbey. Focus on keeping your covenants better. Be more Christlike. Look for more opportunities for service. Have more charity. Be a better friend. Get to know the people around you, and instead of focusing on your own needs and wants, focus on theirs. Learn more about the words, life, and examples of Christ and His prophets by studying the scriptures harder and attending the temple.

The next speaker, Sister Oscarson, mentioned that we will always feel inadequate when we compare ourselves to others, and that it isn't Christlike to be so hard on ourselves (or others). That kind of struck me. It's not Christlike to be so hard on ourselves. I had never thought of it like that before. She also spoke about serving others. I guess it would do me good to focus on my gifts and talents, figure out what more of them are, and use them to help others.

Sister Burton spoke about being a disciple of Christ. She said the best way to strengthen a home is to keep the covenants we have made. That was a welcome reminder. Of course it's important to strengthen your home no matter what stage of life you are in, but with a little one on the way, I've been thinking more about it. How do you show your children the love that you have for Christ, and the love He has for them? How do you keep them safe from all the evil things in our society but still encourage them to go out and find the good? How do you teach them to be a force for good in the world? You keep your covenants and have faith. And pray. A lot.

President Eyring spoke last. He gave the sweet reminder that our Heavenly Father sees greater potential in us, in each of us, than we could ever imagine. We are surrounded by others that are here to help us along our path home. Before this life, we lived with our Heavenly Father, and he taught and tutored us, preparing us for the challenges that we are facing now. It is always comforting to remember that we have God on our side and that He believes in us.

So, for me the meeting was filled with a spirit of comfort and peace. I'm sure that others "heard" different messages than I did, depending on their needs. That is how personal revelation works. The Holy Ghost can speak to our hearts through the words of others, and I am so grateful for that.

Next Saturday and Sunday, there will be 4 General Conference sessions, which anyone and everyone is welcome to attend/ tune into. They start at 10am and 2pm each day (MDT). You can find various ways of listening or watching on this page here. Past conferences are also available as text, audio, or video on LDS.org. Come check it out!

And, as always, feel free to ask me anything you'd like to know about Mormons. I'd be happy to talk or put up a post on the topic.