Flipping the Switch between Spiritual / Inspirational and Humorous▣ New Beginnings
Here is a paraphrase of my brief remarks at our Young Women "New Beginnings" program this past week:
I recently read a book about women at the time of Christ. The Greeks, Romans, and Jews treated women as second class citizens (and that's the understatement of the world). Women had little or no rights. A man could divorce a wife (put her away) if he got tired of her, for no reason at all. Women were to be seen and not heard.
Strangely, to some of Jesus' male disciples, Jesus treated women differently than the social norm--he treated them kindly and with great respect. And some of Jesus' greatest, most loyal disciples were women.
Who stayed late at the crucifixion? Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the lesser, Salome, and many other women.
Who were first at the resurrection" The two Marys and Salome, again.
The two most influential people in my own life are women disciples of Jesus Christ. They are Gloria Rife (oh, and how I wish you could know her). And, the other one you know, Janet Rife.
Saturday morning, for my personal scripture study, I read the new Personal Progress book, cover to cover. And I can recommend it highly to you. It will help you become a true disciple of Jesus Christ, like the sisters I mentioned from the scriptures and the two sisters who have most deeply influenced my life.
Proverbs 31:10 says "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far about rubies." The two virtuous women disciples who have profoundly affected my life are worth far more to me than the price of rubies.
I bear my testimony, young women, of your divine and individualized mission here upon the earth. As you stay close to the Lord, as you become his disciple, your personalized mission will be unfolded to you, line upon line, precept upon precept, little by little. Part of that mission will be to influence for good your families, friends, ward members, and humanity beyond.
May God bless you, my dear young women. I know He lives and loves you.
Copyright © 2008-2009 Richard Rife. All Rights Reserved.
Cenia Parsons says:
Good thoughts to tell the YW on New Beginnings. The Personal Progress book is great. I bought one to send to Caitlin and glanced at it before I put it in the mail.
February 16th, 2010 at 11:13 AM