Today I have just come in from being at a “Super Saturday” 4 hour event, where about 10 women created a gathering for well over 100 women and their daughters to share in creativity and build home-making skills that will bless their families for generations! Cutting, painting, gluing, and sewing, were only the physical part of what was actually taking place.
As a member of a worldwide Sisterhood, (the largest organization for women in the world) I feel so honored and blessed to be in the presence of such great women of all ages that love and share a gospel framework.
Coming together and women-izing (in the very best way) is a joy and a lift to my soul.
We shared a simple lunch, laughs, conversations, hearts and heritage. Simultaneously crafting with our hands, while knitting our bonds.
As a member of “The Relief Society”, I have been in leadership roles where women from 6 to 600 have been taught, inspired and lifted. With a male priesthood counterpart in awe nearby, sanctioning our efforts with broad and generous approval.
Did we feel their love and supportive guidance? Absolutely. Just as a school principal has “a leadership role with his team of employees”, so likewise is the support from “the priesthood” in the largest sense. It is an inspired and check/balance system. And to have such a gratifying compliment seems practically perfect in my experience.
Women and men need the freedom to soar, create and explore fields of dreams and what they may become.
This important synergy in practice is a marvel that continues to astound me as it is brilliantly set forth. I find myself saddened that some of our gender will for reasons they feel so passionate about, fight and claw, sometimes by tooth and nail, to obtain ‘a pinnacle’ that they are all ready granted or have more than exceeded.
Does a women want huge responsibilities? Does she want Leadership and decision-making power? Does she want to have underlings to have stewardship over? Does she want power to allocate life-shaping resources? Does she want great men to rise up and call her blessed? Does she want men to seek her out and value her opinion regularly? Does she want to BE IN CHARGE??
If this is what a women wants, I can’t imagine this happening anywhere more than it happens in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints when actively engaged. The other place would be this: being a grand “Mother of many Children”–this too will give you all of the above beyond your wildest dreams!
I love the Priesthood, I believe in its power given by The Almighty God whom I worship and adore; and thank regularly for the extreme blessing it lends my life, and all of the fellow members of my Faith. I am in no way diminished without it. And I am blessed to carry on its work as a card-carrying member of His God Squad.
The Relief Society, though less known in media accounts, has allowed me all the take charge moments I may have or may not have wanted. I have been blessed to pursue grand and glorious purposes for the people of this earth. We are skilled in conducting meetings, giving seminars, workshops, and training. Giving compassion, empathy and watch-care to those around us are declared in our mission statement and are inherent strengths.
I ‘ve loved filling boxcars, semi-truckloads, and airplanes with humanitarian relief. “See a need and fill it”, is our watch-cry. Another focus is helping lift and aid victims everywhere, in every way. A central theme is bringing others smiles, education and uplift wherever we go and are.
The argument from the disenchanted, “well that’s fine for you, but it isn’t fine for me” is on its face a bit like the pouting-spoiled girl in the original version of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, stomping her feet and exclaiming loudly, “I want a golden ticket now Daddy!”
We have the Golden tickets already. Want some? WE Share. Honestly, give The Relief Society a try….check us out!
Susan Ackerman, South Jordan, Utah