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Rise up in strength, Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, Young Women general president, told Latter-day Women across the globe Sept. 24.
“I testify that the Lord has blessed us, as women who live in these perilous times, with all the power, gifts, and strength that are needed in order to help prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ,” said Sister Oscarson. “I pray that we may all see our true potential and rise up to become the women of faith and courage our Father in Heaven needs us to be.”
Speaking during the general women’s session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference, Sister Oscarson referenced an Oct. 2006 talk by President Gordon B. Hinckley, “Rise Up, O Men of God.” It was a call to action for the men of the Church to rise up and improve themselves, she said.
“Sisters, I don’t believe that conditions are going to improve going forward,” said Sister Oscarson. “If current trends are an indication, we need to be prepared for the storms that lie ahead.”
Despite the conditions of the day, however, LDS women have many reasons to rejoice and be optimistic, she said. “I believe with all of my heart that we sisters do have the innate strength and the faith that will allow us to meet the challenges of living in these last days.”
It will take “concerted effort to be converted and to keep our covenants,” she added. “To do so, we need to be girls and women who study the essential doctrines of the gospel and have an unshakable testimony of their truthfulness,” she said.
Sister Oscarson said there are three areas that are “foundational to strong testimonies” and “essential to our understanding.”
First, women need to acknowledge the centrality of God and His Son Jesus Christ to their faith and salvation. “Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer,” she said. “We need to study and understand His Atonement and how to apply it daily.”
Second, women should understand the need for the restoration of the doctrine, organization, and keys of authority in these latter days. “We need to have a witness that the Prophet Joseph Smith was divinely chosen and appointed by the Lord to bring about this restoration, and recognize that he organized the women of the Church after the organization that existed in Christ’s Church anciently,” she said.
Third, women need to study and understand temple ordinances and covenants. “The temple holds a place at the very center of our most sacred beliefs, and the Lord asks that we attend, ponder, study, and find personal meaning and application individually,” said Sister Oscarson.
She said even the very youngest in the worldwide audience can rise up in faith and play a significant role in building the kingdom of God. “Children begin gaining their own testimonies by reading or listening to the scriptures, praying daily, and partaking of the sacrament in a meaningful way. All children and young women can encourage family home evenings and be full participants.”
Young women of the Church need to see themselves as “essential participants in the priesthood-directed work of salvation and not just as onlookers and supporters,” she said.
“You hold callings and are set apart by those holding priesthood keys to function as leaders with power and authority in this work. As you magnify your callings in class presidencies and prepare spiritually, counsel together, reach out to minister to your class members, and teach one another the gospel, you are taking your place in this work and both you and your peers will be blessed.”
All women need to see themselves as essential participants in the work of the priesthood, she continued. “Women in this Church are presidents, counselors, teachers, members of councils, sisters, and mothers, and the kingdom of God cannot function unless we rise up and fulfill our duties with faith. Sometimes we just need to have a greater vision of what is possible.”
Latter-day Saint youth are being exposed to difficult questions on a daily basis, Sister Oscarson said. “The good news is that there are answers to the questions being asked.”
Sister Oscarson said she worries that members live in such an atmosphere of avoiding offense that they sometimes avoid teaching correct principles. “We fail to teach our young women that preparing to be a mother is of utmost importance because we don’t want to offend those who aren’t married, those who can’t have children, or to be seen as stifling future choices,” she said.
“On the other hand, we may also fail to emphasize the importance of education because we don’t want to send the message that it is more important than marriage. We avoid declaring that our Heavenly Father defines marriage as being between a man and woman because we don’t want to offend those who experience same-sex attraction. And we may find it uncomfortable to discuss gender issues or healthy sexuality.”
Sister Oscarson asked women to use not only sensitivity but also common sense and their understanding of the plan of salvation to be bold and straightforward. “If we don’t teach our children and youth true doctrine — and teach it clearly — the world will teach them Satan’s lies.”
sarah@deseretnews.com @SJW_ChurchNews
