General Women's Meeting - The First One!

On Saturday, March 29, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held its first General Women’s Meeting that included girls and women ages 8 years old and older!  A few months ago, when they announced that this would be happening, I got super excited and had this awesome feeling inside my heart.  I had the same excitement walking into the meeting; and because it is the very first one, I want to share my thoughts on it.

Unfortunately I was a little late, so I missed the beginning of the introduction.  But the first thing that I heard was that the opening prayer was going to be given by a Young Woman who was a brand new Beehive!  Oh my goodness, that made my smile so big.  Then while introducing the choir, Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson (the Young Women General President, who was conducting the meeting) said that the choir consisted of girls and women ages 8-80 years old!  It was at this point that I realized the meeting was not simply adult participants with child attendees; both adults and children were attending and participating.

Sister Rosemary M. Wixom (Primary General President).  Sister Wixom spoke first, and the first thing she did was have all girls ages 8-11 in the Conference Center and watching in their Stake Centers (my mom and I were watching at her Stake Center) via broadcast to stand up.  She personally welcomed all of them to the meeting, and then invited them to sing the first verse of “Teach Me to Walk in the Light” with her.  Then she invited the rest of the women to sing the second verse.  I thought that this was a really great way to start off the meeting.  It welcomed the younger girls, and helped connect all of the women of all ages.

To me, Sister Wixom’s talk focused on keeping covenants, and here are some quotes that were important to me:

·      “We are covenant making women of all ages… keeping covenants empowers us.”

·      She talked about how our journey is personal, that understanding our covenants will change our lives, and that we should use our baptismal covenants and the sacrament to look to the temple.

·      “Once you get on the straight and narrow…press forward.”

We then watched a video of women and children from 8 different countries singing “I Am A Child Of God” in 9 different languages. Then the congregation sang the first verse together.  It was so beautiful!

Bonnie L. Oscarson (Young Women General President).  Sister Oscarson began by talking about how this meeting is going to be important in the history of the Church.  She said that this meeting is the “most faith filled…assemblies of women in the history of the church,” and then added that probably in the history of the world as well.  She said that we are sisters to each other, and that as sisters we have an “unbreakable bond” that allows us to “take care of “ and “comfort each other.”

To me, Sister Oscarson’s talk focused on the unity and bond that LDS women need to have with each other; and here are some quotes that were important to me:

·      “We just need to relax and rejoice in our differences.”

·      “We really and truly need each other.” – With this she talked about influencing the younger generations, and how the younger generations can also teach the older generations.

·      She gave examples of how Relief Society sisters can welcome the new 18 year old in: “a friend to sit next to, an arm around their shoulders, an opportunity to teach and serve.”

·      She quoted Sister Hinckley, “women need women.”

·      And that we should “work hand in hand with righteous brothers.”

We then watched a video that to me highlighted women and the temple.  What stuck out to me were women of all ages doing their daily things, signing their temple recommends in the Bishop’s office, and then going to the temple.  It was that emphasis on the temple that stuck with me.

Linda K. Burton (Relief Society General President).  Sister Burton reminded us that we are daughters of God.  She asked, “What can we do to live with Heavenly Father?”  And using the answers that Jesus gave to those who asked him, she told us: to keep the commandments – all of the them, to lay aside the things of the world, and to follow Christ.  Essentially we are to become perfect, which can be stressful.  She said that the Greek word found in the scriptures that has been translated as perfect, also means complete.  So doing these things makes us complete; but we also need help, and help comes from the atonement, the Holy Ghost and other brothers and sisters.

To me, Sister Burton’s talk focused on becoming a disciple of Christ, and here are some quotes that were important to me:

·      Quoting Mormon, “I am a disciple of Christ, and a [son/daughter] of God.”

·      “Help Wanted! Disciples of Christ.”

·      Our thoughts, words and actions should say, “Here am I, send me.”

·      “It does not matter if we are not perfect or complete.”

President Henry B. Eyring (First Counselor of the First Presidency).  Two or three sentences in President Eyring said, “This is a historic meeting.”  Yes it is!  It felt like such a blessing to be able to attend this.  I wrote down notes and my thoughts in my journal while listening to the speakers.  Years down the road, when this meeting is a normal part of Conference, I can look back and read what I wrote about the first one!  President Eyring talked about how his mother helped him prepare for his baptism.  And it made me think back to how my mom helped me to prepare for my baptism (for the full story you can read my first post titled “ChelseyOrtega: LDS, Woman, Dancer, Book Worm, Student Wife Mother”)

To me, President Eyring wrapped up what the first three speakers talked about, and he ended with discussing Eve and her important role in the Plan of Salvation.  Here are some quotes that were important to me:

·      “Each of you is a daughter in the covenant.”

·      “You have been blessed…to find the way… and to be surrounded by others who can help.”

·      “You are more alike as daughters of God, than you are different.”

·      “Sister missionaries have become ever more powerful proselytizers and nurturing leaders.”

·      He also talked a lot about Eve as someone who helped her family press forward and live faithfully.  He said that we can and should be like her and use her as an example.  I loved it.

This was such a special meeting to me.  I could feel the spirit when I walked into the chapel, and I can feel it again now as I am typing this.  This truly was a historic meeting.  I felt like the theme of the entire meeting was to bring us women together in unity; which is why all of us were brought into one meeting instead of our separate ones like in the past.  We were told that we are sisters; that we can teach one another and we can learn from one another.  I feel like the women of the Church are so strong and so loved.  I am looking forward to attending this meeting every six months, and I can’t wait to hear the other talks in General Conference next week.

Obviously there was a lot more said than what I put into this post.  What I highlighted was simply what stuck out to me upon hearing it and reflecting on it.  I can’t wait to read these talks in next month’s issue of the Ensign, and I am looking forward to learning more and gaining a new or different understanding when I read them.  

If you want to point out something from this meeting that was important to you, feel free to put your thoughts in the comments.  If you don’t want to share them, then at least write them in your journal so that you can always remember your feelings about this day.  If you didn’t attend, then I invite you to listen to or read the talks on lds.org or when the Ensign comes out next month.  I believe that those who spoke in this meeting were inspired by God to say the things that they said.  The spirit was with them and I could feel it with me.  Whether you listened to the talks, or read them, I hope you can feel the spirit too; and know that God loves you.