The Stake asked that Chp. 24 of our Joseph Fielding Smith manual be taught, perhaps because of Mother's Day. Sis. Kay Bashford gave a wonderful lesson on The Work of Latter-day Saint Women: "Unselfish Devotion to This Glorious Cause".
To start the lesson, Sis. Bashford asked us all to take a few minutes and think of all the women who have been important to us. Women who have taught us, been examples to us, and loved us. She encouraged us to write these names down so these women wouldn't be forgotten.
Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith spent a lifetime serving alongside faithful Latter-day Saint women. This service began when he was young, about 10 years old. His mother, Julina L. Smith, followed the counsel of the church to gain an education in medicine and health care. She received training as a midwife and young Joseph would be the one to drive the horse-drawn carriage to homes where babies were about to be born. "Serving with his mother in this way, young Joseph Fielding Smith saw an example of the strength and compassion of the women of the Church." Sis. Bashford's own grandmother also received this kind of training. Money was earned in her behalf in her stake in Wyoming for her to travel to Salt Lake to be trained. She helped countless mother's when it was time for their babies be born.
The scriptures are full of amazing examples of women who have brought about good and taught us many things: Eve, Ruth and Naomi, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, the unnamed women who touched Jesus and had the faith to be healed, the mother's of the 2,000 stripling warriors, and many more.
Pres. Smith said, "Surely the Church of Jesus Christ would not have been completely organized had not this wonderful organization (Relief Society) come into existence...The Relief Society has grown to be a power in the Church. Absolutely necessary - we speak of it as an auxiliary, which means a help, but the Relief Society is more than that. It is needed." Sis. Bashford helped us understand that even though Visiting Teaching is not an easy job to do, it is so important to help build the kingdom of God. "I don't know what in the world our stake presidents and bishops in the wards would do if they didn't have these good sisters of the Relief Society upon whom to depend; whom they can call to their service, many times, to handle situations that would be very delicate, that is for our brethren, but which our sisters may perform to the very greatest advantage."
At the end of her lesson, Sis. Bashford asked us all to read a little part of section 4 of the lesson, The Lord expects women to seek for light and truth that they may be entitled to celestial glory. This section teaches us that the plan of salvation as well as saving ordinances such as baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost are for women just as much as they are for men. "The Lord expects the sisters to be qualified with a testimony of the truth to understand the doctrines of the Church just as he does those who hold the Priesthood." Pres. Smith also said, "Our sisters are entitled just as much to the inspiration for their needs of the Holy Spirit as are the men, every bit....When they pray they should pray earnestly, expecting to have an answer to their prayers."
Sometimes we as women do not give ourselves enough credit for the countless hours and time we give in service of our fellow men. As we work hard day after day to become as our Savior, we will feel of His love and know that the work we are doing is His work. Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith: "There is no limit to the good that our sisters can do."
See entire lesson HERE
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