Women of God

Women of God: "Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity." - Margaret D. Nadauld, "The Joy of Womanhood,"
 

Virtuous Life:  “Why is our being virtuous so important not just to our earthly parents but to our Heavenly Father as well? Virtue brings peace, strength of character, and happiness in this life. Our Heavenly Father knew that we would be faced with many choices and challenges, and virtuous living would prepare us to succeed.” - Mary N. Cook, “A Virtuous Life—Step by Step,”

Strengthening Families and Homes: "[Women are] to strengthen families and homes. Families worldwide are being assaulted and weakened by corrupt practices and false teachings. . . . "The First Presidency has counseled, 'However worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely-appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform' (First Presidency letter, Feb. 11, 1999). . . . "Relief Society should be organized, aligned, and mobilized to strengthen families and help our homes to be sacred sanctuaries from the world."  - Julie B. Beck, "Fulfilling the Purpose of Relief Society,"

Be Strong and of Good Courage: "Sisters, we love you. We pray for you. Be strong and of good courage. You are truly royal spirit daughters of Almighty God. You are princesses, destined to become queens. Your own wondrous story has already begun. Your 'once upon a time' is now." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Your Happily Ever After," 

The World Seeks to Undermine Womanhood and Motherhood: "Mothers and daughters play a critical role in helping each other explore their infinite possibilities, despite the undermining influences of a world in which womanhood and motherhood are being corrupted and manipulated."- M. Russell Ballard, "Mothers and Daughters," Ensign, May 2010, 18

Angels Cannot Be Restrained: "In the early days of the Restoration, the Lord spoke to Emma Smith through her husband, the Prophet Joseph Smith, giving her instructions and blessings: '[Be] faithful and walk in the paths of virtue before me. . . . Thou needest not fear. . . . Thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better. . . . Lift up thy heart and rejoice. . . . And a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive' (D&C 25:2, 9, 10, 13, 15).  "Of this revelation, the Lord declared, 'This is my voice unto all' (verse 16). "Later, the Prophet Joseph Smith told the sisters, 'If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates' (History of the Church, 4:605)."  - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Influence of Righteous Women,"

Priesthood Holders Should Honor the Women in Their Lives: "Of our wives, mothers, grandmothers, and sisters and other important women in our lives, President Hinckley declared: 'Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth' (Gordon B. Hinckley, "Our Responsibility to Our Young Women," Ensign, Sept. 1988, 11). . . . "I know the immense joy and happiness that come from loving, cherishing, and respecting my precious wife with all my heart and soul. May your use of the priesthood and treatment of the important women in your life bring you the same satisfaction."  - Richard G. Scott, "Honor the Priesthood and Use It Well," 

Women's Specific Assignments: "Just as the Savior invited Mary and Martha of New Testament times to participate in His work, women of this dispensation have an official commission to participate in the Lord's work. . . . The organization of Relief Society in 1842 mobilized the collective power of the women and their specific assignments to build the Lord's kingdom, just as the organization of priesthood quorums gave men specific responsibilities. . . .  "Through Relief Society, women have an official role in the Church with great responsibilities, 'including working in the temple and teaching the gospel' (Dallin H. Oaks, 'The Priesthood and the Auxiliaries,' Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, Jan. 10, 2004, 17). Further, Relief Society is to help women 'plant and make grow . . . a testimony of [Jesus] Christ and of the Gospel' (The First Presidency, 'Memorandum of Suggestions,' Mar. 29, 1940, 2), 'strengthen the family and the home' (Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, Jan. 10, 2004, 17), and 'attend to all family duties' (D&C 20:47)." - Julie B. Beck, "Fulfilling the Purpose of Relief Society,"

To the Women of the Church: "I want to express my appreciation for the wonderful women of the Church. We love the women of our Church. We love them as deeply as our own wives, our mothers, our grandmothers, our sisters, and our friends. Someday, when the whole story of this and previous dispensations is told, it will be filled with courageous stories of our women, of their wisdom and their devotion, their courage."  Spencer W. Kimball, "The True Way of Life and Salvation"

Husbands Should Honor Their Wives: "As fathers we should have love unbounded for the mothers of our children. We should accord to them the gratitude, respect, and praise that they deserve. Husbands, to keep alive the spirit of romance in your marriage, be considerate and kind in the tender intimacies of your married life. Let your thoughts and actions inspire confidence and trust. Let your words be wholesome and your time together be uplifting. Let nothing in life take priority over your wife--neither work, recreation, nor hobby." - Russell M. Nelson, "Our Sacred Duty to Honor Women


Following are quotes by Church leaders from Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society:

"The world's greatest champion of woman and womanhood is Jesus the Christ." — Elder James E. Talmage of the Quorum of the Twelve, p. 3

"The Church was never perfectly organized until the women were thus organized." — President Joseph Smith, p. 7

"This organization is divinely made, divinely authorized, divinely instituted, divinely ordained of God." — President Joseph F. Smith, p. 7

"[Relief Society] should be a select society, separate from all the evils of the world, choice, virtuous, and holy." — President Joseph Smith, p. 15

"If all the sisters will rally to the support of [Relief Society], it will accomplish a mighty work." — President Lorenzo Snow, p. 19

"Every sister who has made covenants ... has a divine mandate to help save souls ... and to lead the women of the world." — Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve, p. 25

"Be useful in [your] sphere and [do] not be discouraged because of difficulties in the way, but trust in God and look to Him, and His marvelous blessings." — President Lorenzo Snow, p. 43

"Let [us] seek for wisdom instead of power and [we] will have all the power [we] have wisdom to exercise." — Sister Eliza R. Snow, second Relief Society general president, p. 45

"It is for you to lead the world and to lead especially the women of the world. You are the head, not the tail." — President Joseph F. Smith, p. 66

"Our eternal happiness will be in proportion to the way that we devote ourselves to helping others." — President George Albert Smith, p. 77

"We are part of a grand whole. We need each other to make our sisterhood complete." — Sister Elaine L. Jack, twelfth Relief Society general president, p. 94

"Women of the Church are [to be] seen as distinct and different — in happy ways — from the women of the world." — President Spencer W. Kimball, p. 95

"We are the Lord's hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children." — President Thomas S. Monson, p. 103

"There is power in this organization [Relief Society] that has not yet been fully exercised ... nor will it until both the sisters and the priesthood catch the vision of Relief Society." — President Spencer W. Kimball, p. 142

"Let me say to you sisters that you do not hold a second place in our Father's plan. You are an absolutely essential part of that plan." — President Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 143

"There is nothing in this world as personal, as nurturing, or as life changing as the influence of a righteous woman." — Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve, p. 156

"There are those who would define the family in such a nontraditional way that they would define it out of existence." — President Spencer W. Kimball, p. 160

"To be a righteous woman is a glorious thing. To be a righteous woman during the winding up scenes on this earth ... is an especially noble calling." — President Spencer W. Kimball, p. 165