Relief Society Lesson: Women's Roles in the Restoration

This month's Relief Society post is about Sister Joy D. Jones' most recent general conference talk "An Especially Noble Calling."

In her opening statement Sister Jones lists several roles women can have throughout their lives: wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, teacher, leader, exemplar, and devout defender of the faith. She quotes President Nelson, "Take your rightful and needful place in your home, in your community, and in the kingdom of God." Did you catch that? Women have a rightful and needful place not just at home, but in the community, and most importantly in God's kingdom.

What roles do you fulfill in your home? What roles do you fulfill in your community?

What is a woman's role in the kingdom of God? According to Sister Jones, receiving our own revelation. She said, "I believe He (Heavenly Father) expects us to receive revelation from Him." How do we open up our hearts to receiving revelation?

• "We labor under difficulties.
• We turn to the scriptures to receive wisdom to act.
• We demonstrate our faith and trust in God.
• We exert our power to plead with God to help us thwart the adversary's influence.
• We offer up the desires of our hearts to God.
• We focus on His light guiding our life choices and resting upon us when we turn to Him.
• We realize He knows each of us by name and has individual roles for us to fulfill." 

In an interview with Sister Jones and some primary children, President Nelson said that "the Lord loves effort, because effort brings rewards." Fulfilling our roles, including receiving revelation, requires hard work and study. This allows us to progress, and we will never stop progressing; and because we are always progressing, Heavenly Father does not expect perfection. Sister Jones said that it is important to know that our pursuits are approved of God. How do you know that revelation you have received came from God?

Latter-day women are not the first to receive revelation from our Heavenly Father. He has been talking to His daughters since the beginning of time. Some are directly recorded in the scriptures, a few examples are: Eve, Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, King Lamoni's wife, and Emma Smith. Others are implied: Jochebed (Moses' mother), Ruth, Esther, and Sariah (from the Book of Mormon). I have been reading Saints Volume I, and there are so many women in the early history of the restored Church who received personal revelation.

Sister Jones brought up something that I think many of us can connect with: "general conference overwhelm." She said that we "leave so determined to do it all now. Women wear many hats, but it is impossible, and unnecessary, to wear them all at once. The Spirit helps us determine which work to focus on today.  The Lord's loving influence through the Holy Ghost helps us know His priority for our progression. Heeding personal revelation leads to personal progression... Our continuing role is to receive continuing revelation."

This part of her talk resonated so much with me because I definitely get overwhelmed with every aspect of my life trying to accomplish it all. I go to bed every night with several things undone, and sometimes it really brings me down. On days that I am able to keep the Spirit with me for most of the day, I focus on the necessities and go to bed feeling good.

Have you experienced this before? How did you prioritize? 

Doctrine and Covenants 42:61 says, "If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things - that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal."

And D&C 18:18 "Ask the Father in my name in faith, believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men."

Along with revelation, women also have access to the priesthood. Sister Jones said, "We access the power of the priesthood through covenants, made first in the waters of baptism and then within the walls of the holy temples. President Nelson taught us, "Every woman and every man who makes covenants with God and keeps those covenants, and who participates worthily in priesthood ordinances, has direct access to the power of God." 

This is also explained in Doctrine and Covenants 84:20-21 "Therefore in the ordinances thereof, and the power of the godliness is manifest. And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh."

Sister Jones concluded, "In the final analysis of women's continuing roles in the Restoration, and for us all, what role is preeminent? I testify that it is to hear Him, to follow Him, to trust Him, and to become an extension of His love."

Hearing Him is revelation. Following Him, trusting Him, and becoming an extension of His love are acting on revelation.

I believe Sister Jones' declaration that receiving personal revelation is a role that women can and should fulfill. I have experienced personal revelation for myself and revelation for my immediate family. God speaks to me, and he can speak to you as well.

For Personal Reflection: Am I actively seeking revelation? Do I know when thoughts and ideas come from God? How do I respond to revelation?