Lesson Recap: Stand for Truth and Righteousness

December 6, 2009
Today's lesson was taught by Jill Fairchild.

The story of Esther illustrates a woman who stood for truth and righteousness in her time. It says in Esther 4:14:

Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

We are all made for this time. How will we stand? Have you or someone you know stood for truth?

Shellie remembers a time when President Kimball emphasized to the youth their importance and the work they had to do. She has since wondered what thing it is that she was to do and has come to the conclusion that raising her children to be good examples and missionaries is one important task. Our "standing" can be in quiet, unforeseen ways.

Shoba reminded us that there is a big difference between the women of the church and outside the church, that we give great gifts to our children by raising them in the gospel.

M. Russell Ballard in a 2001 BYU devotional titled Women of Righteousness said, 

My deep desire is to clarify how we in the presiding councils of the Church feel about the sisters of this Church, how our Heavenly Father feels about His daughters, and what He expects of them.

My dear sisters, we believe in you.

We believe in and are counting on your goodness and your strength, your propensity for virtue and valor, your kindness and courage, your strength and resilience.

We believe in your mission as women of God.

We realize that you are the emotional (and sometimes spiritual) glue that holds families and often ward families together.

We believe that the Church simply will not accomplish what it must without your faith and faithfulness, your innate tendency to put the well-being of others ahead of your own, and your spiritual strength and tenacity.

And we believe that God’s plan is for you to become queens and to receive the highest blessings any woman can receive in time or eternity.

On the other hand, Satan’s plan is to get you so preoccupied with the world’s glitzy lies about women that you completely miss what you have come here to do and to become. Remember, Satan wants us to “be miserable like unto himself” (2 Ne. 2:27). Never lose your precious identity by doing anything that would jeopardize the promised eternal future your Heavenly Father has provided for you.

  Our Savior stood up in the premortal councils in heaven and said "Here am I. Send me." We too can stand and say the same. We can raise righteous children, we can be modest, clean, honest, faithful and steadfast. That's our mission.

It's not always easy, though. Sometimes it's easier because we have testimonies that the gospel plan is true. How do you do it? How can we stand for truth and righteousness?

Devon told of a time when she was in school and involved in a book discussion with a class of mostly non-Mormon college students. The book was about timid brain-washed Mormon women and as the discussion went on she felt a need for another point of view to be presented. Though she doesn't like confrontation she spoke up and had words given to her through the Spirit.

Owenna thinks often of being the "leaven in the lump" by small comments and daily acts of living that show what we value.

Charity's son spoke up in school to a group of boys about dating and only found out later that there seemed to be a new respect among his friends. He had presented another option when the others in the crowd were silent.

Margie thinks of being the "handmaiden of the Lord". Another mother of her son's school mate pointed out that Margie was not the frazzled mother of four that this woman was struggling with. Let's show the joy we feel in motherhood and families and service.

Cheyl told of a delivery driver at the restaurant where she worked who had had foul language at first, but through a series of brief conversations, with his questions answered by her and her sister, he decided to get his life together, get active in the church again and eventually go to the temple to be sealed to his family.

We can stand for truth and righteousness in small and sometimes big ways, sometimes just in living with joy our daily lives, sometimes by being unafraid to speak up, and also through raising our children in the gospel.

What other ways can you think of? Please leave a comment.

Ellen