We have an annual tradition in our ward of holding "worth week" each year for our young women. I believe this is our 5th year in a row doing worth week. Each year we spend a week giving the young women small gifts and items that help them remember that they are beloved daughters of Heavenly Parents. Even though I know this is true, I find that it still brings such a special spirit to my life as I spend the week remembering who I am and pondering my identity and worth. Usually we do worth week right before school starts, but this year, we decided it would be beneficial to do it now as the last couple of months have been so challenging and weird and we can all use a boost to our spirits.
Today worth week began. Each young woman received a cookie that said Daughter of God. I also encouraged them to find a few minutes today to listen to the song, "I Am His Daughter" by Nicole Sheahan.
We began worth week with a beautiful meeting over zoom today. Michelle played "Walk Tall" on her violin. We stood and recited the young woman theme...and though it wasn't completely in sync, I felt something special as we united in reciting those words. Then I shared a message. I began with this quote from President Nelson: "Each daughter of God is of infinite worth because of her divine mission. Important lessons about her divine mission may be learned from women of the scriptures. Mother Eve was a great example. She labored beside her husband as a partner. They both knew the plan of salvation. They both heeded commandments of obedience to God. Likewise, she prayed for divine guidance. She bore children. She taught the gospel to them." Then we talked about several women from the scriptures and from church history and the lessons we can learn from them...I'd asked several young women to talk about a righteous woman and what we learn from them about our worth and being a daughter of God. Each young woman that shared did such a beautiful job. They discussed Emma Smith, Eliza R. Snow, Deborah, Esther, the mothers of the stripling warriors, and Mary (mother of our Savior). I talked about Mary and Martha and the woman taken in adultery. We discussed how having faith in the Savior can give us strength and power to overcome difficulties and challenges. The young women bore testimony that just as these women were strong and courageous and faithful, we can be too. That learning of their faith strengthens ours. That reading that the stripling warriors "did not doubt our mothers knew it" and hearing our own moms bear testimony and recognizing that they know it is true strengthens our commitment to live the gospel and do our best. Now I know the woman taken in adultery might seem an odd choice...but I felt strongly that we needed to talk about her for a few minutes. Because she made some mistakes--just as we all do and all will. She had need of repentance--just as we all do. But the Savior didn't condemn her...He treated her with compassion and love and value...Her sins did NOT change or limit her value or worth. Now, that doesn't mean she should continue in her sins...but I emphasized that our worth is different than our worthiness (you might enjoy reading Value Beyond Measure by Joy D. Jones to learn more about worth versus worthiness Value Beyond Measure). We are like these valiant women of old! Like Esther, we were born "for such a time as this." We have been given the gifts, talents, and attributes to fulfill our unique mission. I also talked a little about my mom. She is quiet and she will never be famous. She won't be written about in the scriptures or be famous on social media. Sometimes we think that if we live quiet lives, they are somehow of less value of those who are famous or in the public eye. But my mom is the most patient person I know. She taught us to value learning and to love the scriptures. She has had a quiet but profound impact on all who know her. Her life has such value and she has valiantly lived the gospel and worked to fulfill her unique mission. Then Bishop Carlson reminded each of us that we do more good in this world than we realize. Our kindness, love, compassion, service and example impact more lives than we know. He reminded us to not only pray to know who we are but then reach out to share with others their own worth. He said there are many around us that need to know who they are and that often we come to recognize our own value as we notice the worth of the souls around us. "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God." He also reminded us that each week as we partake of the sacrament, that emblem is one that should remind us of our worth. As we partake, we should remember that Christ suffered and died for each of us, because He loves us and we are of value!
I also issued two challenges to the young women...two challenges that will make a difference to any who take them. The first challenge was to kneel down each day and pray that you may know and feel that you are a beloved daughter of Heavenly Parents. Pray that the Holy Ghost can help you know that this is true--not just in general--but specifically for YOU. In Romans 8:16 we read, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" If you pray to know that you are a daughter of God and that you have an eternal destiny, the Spirit can bear witness that this is true. Second, I challenged them to take a few minutes each day to write down (in a journal or somewhere) the thoughts and feelings they have as they ponder their worth and the things they receive each day. I know that when we really, truly know who we are it changes everything. It gives us greater strength and purpose and power and faith. I'm so grateful for how worth week blesses my life!
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