Yeah, it seems like I would link this.... but I like it a lot and want it all on my blog.

The Women of God Neal A. Maxwell

Of the Presidency of the Seventy

We know so little, brothers and sisters, about the reasons for the division of duties between womanhood and manhood as well as between motherhood and priesthood. These were divinely determined in another time and another place. We are accustomed to focusing on the men of God because theirs is the priesthood and leadership line. But paralleling that authority line is a stream of righteous influence reflecting the remarkable women of God who have existed in all ages and dispensations, including our own. Greatness is not measured by coverage in column inches, either in newspapers or in the scriptures. The story of the women of God, therefore, is, for now, an untold drama within a drama.
We men know the women of God as wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, associates, and friends. You seem to tame us and to gentle us, and, yes, to teach us and to inspire us. For you, we have admiration as well as affection, because righteousness is not a matter of role, nor goodness a matter of gender. In the work of the Kingdom, men and women are not without each other, but do not envy each other, lest by reversals and renunciations of role we make a wasteland of both womanhood and manhood.

Just as certain men were foreordained from before the foundations of the world, so were certain women appointed to certain tasks. Divine design—not chance—brought Mary forward to be the mother of Jesus. The boy prophet, Joseph Smith, was blessed not only with a great father but also with a superb mother, Lucy Mack, who influenced a whole dispensation.

When we would measure loving loyalty in a human relationship, do we not speak of Ruth and Naomi even more than David and Jonathan? And no wonder God with His perfect regard for women is so insistent about our obligations to widows.

A widow with her mite taught us how to tithe. An impoverished and starving widow with her hungry son taught us how to share, as she gave her meal and oil to Elijah. The divine maternal instincts of an Egyptian woman retrieved Moses from the bullrushes, thereby shaping history and demonstrating how a baby is a blessing—not a burden.

What greater conversation of anticipation has there been than that of Elisabeth and Mary when also the babe in Elisabeth leaped in recognition of Mary? (Luke 1:41).

Does it not tell us much about the intrinsic intelligence of women to read of the crucifixion scene at Calvary, “And many women were there beholding afar off.” (Matt. 27:55.) Their presence was a prayer; their lingering was like a litany.

And who came first to the empty tomb of the risen Christ? Two women.

Who was the first mortal to see the resurrected Savior? Mary of Magdala. Special spiritual sensitivity keeps the women of God hoping long after many others have ceased.

The charity of good women is such that their “love makes no parade”; they are not glad “when others go wrong”; they are too busy serving to sit statusfully about, waiting to be offended. Like Mary, they ponder trustingly those puzzlements that disable others. God trusts women so much that He lets them bear and care for His spirit children.

In our modern kingdom, it is no accident that women were, through the Relief Society, assigned compassionate service. So often the service of women seems instinctive, while that of some men seems more labored. It is precisely because the daughters of Zion are so uncommon that the adversary will not leave them alone.

We salute you, sisters, for the joy that is yours as you rejoice in a baby’s first smile and as you listen with eager ear to a child’s first day at school which bespeaks a special selflessness. Women, more quickly than others, will understand the possible dangers when the word self is militantly placed before other words like fulfillment. You rock a sobbing child without wondering if today’s world is passing you by, because you know you hold tomorrow tightly in your arms.

So often our sisters comfort others when their own needs are greater than those being comforted. That quality is like the generosity of Jesus on the cross. Empathy during agony is a portion of divinity!

I thank the Father that His Only Begotten Son did not say in defiant protest at Calvary, “My body is my own!” I stand in admiration of women today who resist the fashion of abortion, by refusing to make the sacred womb a tomb!

When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses? When the surf of the centuries has made the great pyramids so much sand, the everlasting family will still be standing, because it is a celestial institution, formed outside telestial time. The women of God know this.

No wonder the men of God support and sustain you sisters in your unique roles, for the act of deserting home in order to shape society is like thoughtlessly removing crucial fingers from an imperiled dike in order to teach people to swim.

We men love you for meeting inconsiderateness with consideration and selfishness with selflessness. We are touched by the eloquence of your example. We are deeply grateful for your enduring us as men when we are not at our best because—like God—you love us not only for what we are, but for what we have the power to become.

We have special admiration for the unsung but unsullied single women among whom are some of the noblest daughters of God. These sisters know that God loves them, individually and distinctly. They make wise career choices even though they cannot now have the most choice career. Though in their second estate they do not have their first desire, they still overcome the world. These sisters who cannot now enrich the institution of their own marriage so often enrich other institutions in society. They do not withhold their blessings simply because some blessings are now withheld from them. Their trust in God is like that of the wives who are childless, but not by choice, but who in the justice of God will receive special blessings one day.

I, along with my brethren of the priesthood, express undying gratitude to our eternal partners. We know that we can go no place that matters without you, nor would we have it otherwise. When we kneel to pray, we kneel together. When we kneel at the altar of the holy temple, we kneel together. When we approach the final gate where Jesus Himself is the gatekeeper, we will, if faithful, pass through that gate together.

The prophet who sits with us today could tell us of such togetherness, when at the time of his overwhelming apostolic calling he was consoled by his Camilla, who met his anguished, sobbing sense of inadequacy and, running her fingers through his hair, said, “You can do it, you can do it.” He surely has done it, but with her at his side.

Notice, brethren, how all the prophets treat their wives and honor women, and let us do likewise!

Finally, remember: When we return to our real home, it will be with the “mutual approbation” of those who reign in the “royal courts on high.” There we will find beauty such as mortal “eye hath not seen”; we will hear sounds of surpassing music which mortal “ear hath not heard.” Could such a regal homecoming be possible without the anticipatory arrangements of a Heavenly Mother?

Meanwhile, there are no separate paths back to that heavenly home. Just one straight and narrow way, at the end of which, though we arrive trailing tears, we shall at once be “drenched in joy.” I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I love this little girl.

We had a "sleepover" this weekend. She started a pillow fight. It was adorable, especially since the pillow was considerably larger than her. She laughed and laughed every time she hit me. We looked at the moon, and she told me that Heavenly Father made it for her.

Also every time she didn't know the answer to a question I asked her she started to whisper and would say "Shhhh we have to be quiet. We don't want to wake up *Emmie."

ps. Karalee thanks for taking this photo. Usually I am opposed to sleeping pictures. Not this time.

*her little sister who was sleeping downstairs

Observations

I am seriously addicted to Mentos. I had someone try to stage an intervention last week.

I want to live in a place with fireflies.

Gmail only occasionally works on my work computer. All other Google products seem to work. I can’t explain it. It mostly just irritates me.

I brought a box of cereal to work today. Yeah, pretty sure I will continue that practice.

For some reason Ronnie Dunn does my heart good from time to time. I realize he has a killer twang (even more than I usually like.)

you know that day?

What do you do when you realize things just aren't going to roll your way? You order take-out. That's what you do. "Well I know now..." (in your best Brian Regan voice)

I promised the Handsome Man I would make him dinner last night. We do dinner at my house from time to time. Most of the time it works out, a few times he has had some weird food--but mostly because I get so distracted with him there I forget what I am doing. They have all turned out fine though. Last night... not so much. I made an AWESOME alfredo pizza. I had crispy bacon, moist chicken, the best dang alfredo sauce I have ever made and a new pizza crust recipe.

Yep. That was the downfall. (You would think it would have come earlier when I set off the smoke alarm... but no. It was the crust.)

The crust didn't cook correctly so it was super doughy in the middle so we put it back in and it ended up still doughy but now crunchy top and bottom. It wasn't one of those things that you make someone eat. Especially not someone you want to see again. We were under a tight time crunch so that we wouldn't be late for the Jazz game. There was no time to do something else.

So I fed him cheesecake and mentos for dinner...

(ps. He was a ridiculously good sport.)

The bright side is we had a lot of fun at the game. We went with my coworkers. It was a party and pretty awesome for free seats. The down side is I woke up this morning embarrassed. I can only think of a couple times I have still been embarrassed the next day. I think most of them involve him.

Life is good in the KGB. I have been running around like a crazy person this week. I think I need to sit down and unplug my phone and shut the door to my office...oh wait...I have a cubicle... moving on. I have a lot to do. Some.day.I.will.catch.up.

Last week Handsome Man and I went to Brian Regan. It was a really funny show. Since I forgot to take a photo of us, I will share with you the audio of a clip we laughed at pretty hard. Maybe because we like to go on motorcycle rides...? click click click click... (that is so me...)