A sentence in Catherine KeddingtonArveseth’s Jan 30 Meridian Magazine article, “The Battle in Our Brains,” caught my eye and captured my thinking. In her excellent article on daily scripture reading, Catherine stated:
I can’t afford to neglect my time in the scriptures. I can’t risk being a voice to my children,my friends, or the Relief Society sisters I teach, if I am not partaking regularly of God’s word. Time with the word of the Lord is its own system of checks and balances for me. It’show the Lord rights me, keeps me on course.” (Click here for full article)
As a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and one who talks to many women, I have pondered those words ever since.How do I sound my voice? Do I keep my voice in tune with the Spirit through reading God’s word every day?
There are many voices out there. Is mine a clear contrast, a different sound from the degrading, confusing voices of the world? Is it a reassuring, peace-offering sound in an angry world? Is it one that speaks of truth and light? Does it reflect a woman of faith and testimony?Does it encourage and strengthen others in their pursuit of righteousness?
I felt a powerful witness of the purpose of my voice and the solemn obligation that is mine to keep it in tune when I read President Spencer W. Kimball’s words as quoted in Daughters in My Kingdom, p. 165. He declared:
To be a righteous woman is a glorious thing in any age. To be a righteous woman during the winding up scenes on this earth, before the second coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman’s strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times.” The Ensign, November 1980, p. 3-4
Not only can the influence of a righteous woman be tenfold what it might be in less challenging times, it needs to be tenfold more effective because life is becoming increasingly more difficult. It is imperative for the eternal well-being of our family that we as mothers teach and testify to our children at every opportunity.
President Kimball also stated:
The time will come when only those who believe deeply and actively in the family will be able to preserve their families in the midst of the gathering evil around us. The Ensign, November 1980. P. 4
A few weeks ago,two granddaughters, Anna, age 9, and Lucy, age 7, were riding in the car with me en route to a family bridal shower. As we rode along I asked them what time we should be home for their bedtime so they could be wide awake for school the next morning. Anna quickly responded, “Oh, Grandma, it’s not just school. Our mother wakes us up really early to read scriptures and have family prayer before school.” I asked what scriptures they were reading, and Lucy quickly answered, “The Book of Mormon.” Then Anna added, “We’re in Mosiah 22.” Then they explained how they all take turns reading.
Certainly Anna and Lucy will remember always the sound of their mother’s voice as she awakens them each morning. They will remember hearing her (as well as their father and older siblings) read the words of God in the scriptures and then join in prayer to supplicate the Lord for His protection and blessing. They will remember always the sweet spirit that prevails in their home because of scriptures and prayers.
Again, I ask myself, how do I use my voice? Can it be the well-tuned instrument through which grand and glorious blessings come to those I love?