We Are Daughters of our Heavenly Father

I loved all of the talks given at General Conference this year, but every once in a while there was a talk that really touched me and made me feel incredibly empowered and helped me see areas for improvement, and even allowed me some vision as to where I'm at currently in a positive light ( as opposed to the "I've got a lot of work to do"). This is one of those talks!

I will include many of my personal notes below, but I want to capture a few things that Sister Elaine S. Dalton said directly in her talk on Saturday morning (seriously, I keep rereading this talk and just want to copy and paste the entire thing here...how will I ever choose??).

"No matter the language, each time I hear these words, "We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him," the Spirit affirms to my soul that they are true. It is not only an affirmation of our identity -  who we are - but also an acknowledgement of whose we are. We are daughters of an exalted being!"

"As daughters of God we are each unique and different in our circumstances and experiences. And yet our part matters - because we matter. Our daily contributions of nurturing, teaching, and caring for others may seem mundane, diminished, difficult, and demeaning at times, and yet as we remember that first line in the Young Women theme - "We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us" - it will make all the difference in our relationships and our responses."

"Of women and mothers, President Gordon B. Hinckley once said: "We must never lose sight of the strength of the women...It is mothers who most directly affect the lives of their children....It is mothers who nurture them and bring them up in the ways of the Lord. Their influence is paramount....They are the creators of life. They are the nurturers of children. They are the teachers of young women. They are our indispensable companions. They are our wo-workers in building the kingdom of God. How great is their role, how marvelous their contribution."

I just LOVE that quote by President Hinckley! The older I get, the more I belive so strongly in the power and strength of women. I am frustrated by people who belittle women and their capacity, especially other women. We've been fed a bunch of lies about who we are and what society thinks we should be. But did you hear (or read) what she said?  We are daughters of our Heavenly Father! We are indeed daughters of an exalted being!! We need EVERY woman EVERYWHERE to know and understand that!! Okay, to my notes.

1. We know WHO we are, and WHOSE we are!
2. "Whate'er thou art, act well thy part."
     a. Be motivated to do MY part in His kingdom!
     b. Whatever our "part", they each matter! Act accordingly!
     c. When we internalize our identity, we can do ANYTHING!
3. We must never lose sight of the importance of women and mothers - their influence is PARAMOUNT!
4. Be a mentor of rightous and virtuous womanhood.
5. Women must hone and respect the priesthood.
6. Return to VIRTUE!
7. Stand as a witness of God at ALL times, in ALL things, and in ALL places!!

Please read, watch, or listen to this message here.