Prophets Speak: Elder Richard G. Scott and President James E. Faust

One of the conference talks that I read this week that caught my eye was the talk by Elder Scott entitled, “The Sanctity of Womanhood.” This talk was delivered in the Priesthood Session on April 1, 2000.

Some of the quotes that stood out were:

“So many of our sisters are disheartened, even discouraged, and disillusioned.  Others are in serious trouble because of the choices they make.  Satan has unleashed a seductive campaign to undermine the sanctity of womanhood, to deceive the daughters of God and divert them from their divine destiny.  He well knows women are the compassionate, self-sacrificing, loving power that binds together the human family.  He would focus their interest solely on their physical attributes and rob them of their exalting roles as wives and mothers.  He has convinced many of the lie that they are third-class citizens in the kingdom of God.  That false hood has led some to trade their divinely given femininity for male coarseness…

Because it is their nature to give and please others, many women do not realize their intrinsic worth. That loss makes them vulnerable to those who would convince them that their major role is to be physically appealing.

“So many of our own young women sacrifice their God-given endowment of femininity, deep spirituality, and a caring interest in others on the altar of popular, worldly opinion.”

Satan is so loud in trying to get us distracted, turn us into males, and/or destroy our belief in our inherent individual worth.  I am grateful for Elder Scott reminding us of our worth and our importance in God’s plan.

In the Young Women’s meeting given the week before President Faust taught along the same theme,

“I wonder if you sisters fully understand the greatness of your gifts and talents and how all of you can achieve the “highest place of honor” in the Church and in the world.  One of your unique, precious, and sublime gifts is your femininity, with its natural grace, goodness, and divinity.  Femininity is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos, and trendy clothes.  It is the divine adornment of humanity.  It finds expression in your qualities of your capacity to love, you spirituality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength.  It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each of you possesses it.  Femininity is part of your inner beauty.”