The lesson on "Becoming Women of Strength" was given by Sue Spencer.
Sue started the lesson by having two sisters dramatize individuals who felt inferior because they were comparing their weaknesses to someone else's strengths.
Suggestions from the Sisters on some of the ways the world and the culture we live in seem to plot together to make us feel inferior:
1. Commercials on TV and in Magazines - Unrealistic expectations
2. Pinterest - the Martha Stewart of the Internet
3. Over-committing ourselves - trying to do too much
4. Neglecting our spiritual growth
5. Quest for perfection... never satisfied
Sue suggested that we see all the things that other people are doing and it makes us feel inadequate, but we never see all of the things that they are NOT doing. Then Sue and Valorie Forester performed a "Rap Song" of the Overwhelming List of "Shoulds" that we all think we "should" be doing. (This rap song was really fun and you "should" ask Sue and Valorie to sing it for you if you missed it!)
Sue went on to explain that each of us have done a lot of things right already. We know that in Heaven, we were on the right side and we fought on the side of truth. We kept our First Estate and we have been blessed with the task of strengthening the next generation who will need our help to meet the challenges that they will face. Mother's touch the heart and soul of their children.
Suggestions from Sue and the Sisters in answer to the question "How can we be more Valiant in our callings?" were:
1. Read the scriptures. Don't just read, but ponder their message and consider the challenges of the people who wrote those verses. How do the scriptures relate to us and our challenges?
2. Guard your thoughts. Change negative thoughts to positive as soon as you notice them.
3. Focus on your blessings and the good things in your life.
4. Use the Spirit to choose between good/better/best options in your life. Prioritize and let some of the unnecessary activities go.
5. Satan uses distractions to keep us from doing those things that are the most important in our lives.
6. Focus on one thing at a time and do it the best that you can. No one can do everything!
7. PRAY!
Listening to the Spirit and following its promptings can simplify our lives, bringing peace, calm and patience. It will help us make better decisions and to follow through on those things that have the most Eternal value.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path."
Sue closed with the story of the canary and the vacuum. Sue's Aunt had a pet canary that she dearly loved. The canary loved the vacuum cleaner and would sing whenever the vacuum cleaner was turned on. One day, while her Aunt was vacuuming, she did not notice that the bird cage had been left open and as she cleaned the top of the drapes, the canary was sucked into he vacuum cleaner. She quickly shut off the machine and she could hear the bird, still singing as she quickly opened the dust bag and pulled the bird from the thick dirt. The bird continued to sing quite happily as he rescued, even though she found that the bird had been entirely stripped of his feather!
Sue asked us to each sing our own song, loudly and clearly and not let daily challenges stop us! The Lord will help you make the right choices. You don't have to do it all!
