What Would A Holy Woman Do
Holiness to the Lord
Introduction
Doctrine and Covenants 46:33: "And ye must practice virtue and holiness before me continually."
Elder Russell M. Nelson's experience rededicating the Tonga Temple in 2007 highlighted the importance of the words "Holiness to the Lord."
Without those words, the temple could not be dedicated.
Reflection on holiness led to a personal inquiry about what changes were needed to embody "Holiness to the Lord" in one's life.
The concept of holiness initially seemed unattainable and lofty.
Exploring Holiness: The Three-Day Experiment
An email invitation was sent to six friends to explore holiness.
Challenge: For three days, choose one daily activity and perform it as a holy woman would.
Questions to consider:
How would a holy woman start her day and what would be on her to-do list?
How would she approach difficult tasks, read to children, exercise, or interact with friends?
How would she handle conflicts, betrayals, misunderstandings, or false accusations?
How would she respond to success or failure, both her own and others'?
How would she use her time, energy, and resources?
How would she prepare for the sacrament?
How would she treat her spouse or date as a single woman?
Six friends aged 26 to 65 participated in the experiment.
A Mother's Example: Sister Kathleen J. Eyring
An account from July 2008 Ensign illustrates a mother's "holy" actions.
Sister Eyring, wife of President Henry B. Eyring, took decisive action regarding the television programming her sons watched.
She cut the TV cord one night and later disabled the TV after her sons reconnected it.
This act demonstrated inspired, fearless assertiveness and changed the course of her children's lives.
The point: Consider what you might be prompted to do when viewing concerns through the lens of "what would a holy woman do?"
Results of the Three-Day Experiment
Helen: A Young Mother's Experience
Helen, a pregnant mother of two, experienced unexpected changes during the experiment.
Day 1: While contemplating holiness, her three-year-old son announced he was potty trained, a breakthrough she had given up on.
During a walk, she pondered how a holy woman would approach visiting teaching.
She felt compassion for a new, reportedly standoffish sister in the ward and was inspired by every quote in the visiting teaching message.
Day 2: While starting to read scriptures, she was interrupted by her children.
Deciding to fully engage with them, she played a new board game, carefully reading the directions.
Her five-year-old daughter expressed feeling truly connected with her that day, unlike other days when Helen was preoccupied.
Helen prayed three times daily about holiness: in the morning, during an activity, and at night.
Lessons Learned: Desiring to be holy brings positive changes, increased productivity and energy. Her husband noticed a positive difference in her.
She realized the need to spend focused time with her children and be kinder to her husband.
Julie: Focusing on Troublesome Tasks
Julie, a mother of four, applied the experiment to challenging motherhood tasks.
Day 1: Brushing her four-year-old daughter's teeth, usually a traumatic experience.
Imagining the Savior in the room, she had more patience and felt more in control.
She rationally assessed the situation and enjoyed the process with her daughter.
Day 2: Preventing arguments among her children.
She had more ability to solve problems and felt more capable and creative.
Shopping with her children was less stressful, and she felt more influential.
Day 3: Cleaning out the Young Women's closet at church.
Despite finding the task uninspiring, she was more patient and appreciated her fellow workers.
She felt energized by her increased capability.
Lessons Learned: Being holy is an attainable goal, allowing one to feel more capable and better. Focusing on one thing each day was helpful.
Carol: Integrating Holiness into a Tight Schedule
Carol, a mother of three, wondered how to improve her already tightly scheduled life.
She couldn't imagine adding more to her day, but sought to incorporate holiness.
She exercised while listening to inspirational talks, which she later used to comfort a friend.
She read the Ensign during breakfast and listened to the Book of Mormon while getting ready.
Her five-year-old daughter joined her with her own scriptures.
Lessons Learned: Thinking about being holy provides purpose. Holiness involves exercising faith and continually desiring it. It helped her prioritize and accomplish more.
Marilyn: Reassurance in Motherhood
Marilyn, a mother of young children and a nurse, often felt overwhelmed by the demands of mothering.
The question "what would a holy woman do" prompted her to be more careful in conversations and avoid gossip.
She received personal reassurance about the importance of her role as a mother.
She felt the Lord knew her heart and desire to focus on more spiritual things.
Key words that came to her mind: Perspective, Patience, Perseverance, and Plan.
She saw her children's needs in a new light, disciplined with patience, found holiness in repetitive tasks, and planned more effectively.
Lessons Learned: She didn't need to lose her temper. She noticed positive things about her children. Being holy doesn't mean being perfect.
Kate: Overcoming Negative Influences
Kate, a young wife and mother, focused on shopping and her reactions to her husband's church meetings.
At the checkout counter, she was distressed by the negative messages in magazines and realized how easily distracted she could be.
She and her husband created a plan to keep negative influences out of their home.
She realized she had been guilt-tripping her husband for attending evening meetings.
Remembering her mother's advice, she resolved to support him and avoid making him feel guilty.
Lessons Learned: She planned activities for herself and her son while her husband was away, leading to more patience and enjoyment.
She saw her baby as a child of God and found joy in comforting him. Her husband came home to a happier wife.
Additional Insights from Other Women
Barbara: Simple Acts of Holiness
Barbara, a 65-year-old woman, experienced positive changes in one day.
She avoided criticizing her husband while driving and bit her tongue to prevent unnecessary comments.
When a button came off her husband's shirt, she immediately sewed it back on instead of procrastinating.
The question influenced her eating habits; she became more selective and prioritized health.
The constant mindfulness of the question influenced her actions throughout the day.
Carolyn: Discerning the Spirit's Guidance
Carolyn sought lasting changes and guidance on where to begin.
When her four-year-old became upset, she initially used active listening but sensed a different approach was needed.
She lovingly reassured and counseled with the Spirit on how to best reassure him and promised to help him find the lost items in the morning.
She discerned that active listening was not appropriate in this specific mothering moment.
The importance of seeking specific, personal spiritual guidance was emphasized.
Lessons from Russian Sisters
These sisters shared experiences after taking the challenge.
Galina: Serving her sister as a holy woman brought love and pleasure.
Sapalenta: Purifying thoughts and words, showing mercy and gratitude, and helping others.
Tatiana: Maintaining purity in actions, words, thoughts, and desires, keeping a clean home, and creating beauty.
Experiences from Canada
One woman initially used negative self-chastisement but shifted to positive wording.
She focused on solutions instead of complaints, admired her children, and played with them.
She limited computer use, enjoyed the Ensign, got more sleep, and prioritized prayer.
She liked herself more and appreciated moments more, even noticing the shade of grass on her fence.
Extending the Invitation to Family Members
A six-year-old boy, Joseph, asked if there was a CD about what a holy boy would do.
He applied the principles to his own life, resolving a quarrel with his siblings.
Experiences from Brazil
Gabriel, a young man, chose to be patient during a volleyball game and help friends.
He felt more holy and wished to continue practicing holiness daily.
What Awaits You?
What is the Lord willing to teach you about holiness??
What if for just three days you took the holy woman challenge?
How would your days unfold if in a difficult situation you ask yourself, what would a holy woman do?
The Lord's Command: Practice Holiness Continually
Doctrine and Covenants is clear about the need to seek holiness. 46:33: emphasizes the importance of continually practicing holiness. “Ye must practice virtue and holiness before me continually”.
It acknowledges the limitations of our individual effort and points towards the need of us receiving gifts of the Spirit.
Gifts of the Spirit: Tools for Becoming Holy
Verses 7-12 of Section 46 command us to ask God for gifts of the Spirit to become more holy.
Verses 13-26 list some gifts of the Spirit which can aid in seeking holiness.
Additional gifts are listed in Moroni 10 and 1 Corinthians 12-14.
The repetition of this truth in multiple scriptures emphasizes its importance.
The listed gifts are only suggestions; Elder Bruce R. McConkey taught that the gifts are "infinite in number and endless in their manifestation."
Doctrine and Covenants. 46:33 stresses about asking to God to seek these gifts.
The Lord's Promise: "I Am Able to Make You Holy"
Doctrine and Covenants 60:7 clearly states, "I am able to make you holy.”
We must show the Lord we are serious about becoming holy through earnest seeking.
Spiritual Gift Cards: Accessing Divine Traits
The Savior's Atonement provides access to spiritual gifts.
Upon confirmation, we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, granting access to gifts of the Holy Ghost.
These gifts are endowments of godly traits, like "spiritual gift cards" paid for by the Savior.
If unsure which gift to use, pray for guidance.
The gifts must be used, unlike unused gift cards.
Counteracting Weaknesses with Spiritual Gifts
Seek gifts that counteract personal weaknesses and turn them into strengths.
Examples:
For negativity: Ask for the gift of hope and optimism.
For losing temper: Ask for the gift of mildness and understanding.
For lack of self-discipline: Ask for the gift to be healed or self-discipline itself.
For a messy home: Ask for the gift of self-discipline or better time management.
For discouragement: Pray for persistence and endurance.
For shyness: Pray for gift of listening or discernment.
Additional Gifts to Seek
Gift of a cheerful countenance
Gift of true conversion
Gift of selflessness
Gift of forgiveness
Gift to be healed
Gift of wisdom
Wisdom of Angels
The Energy of Heart: Seeking Spiritual Gifts with Diligence
Elder Tad R. Callister, author of The Infinite Atonement, emphasized the intensity needed to obtain spiritual gifts.
Casual requests are insufficient; a burning desire, reaching out, and exhaustive exercise of spiritual, intellectual, and emotional energies are necessary.
Pure obedience and silent endurance, Elder Callister writes, are not enough.
Elder Russell M. Nelson taught that holiness is the product of enduring and persistent personal effort.
A Path to Holiness: One Gift at a Time
Start by praying for one specific gift to address one specific weakness.
Ask, plead, and fast for it.
Then seek another gift for another weakness, and so on.
Through this process, we can become more holy, seeking opportunities to apply, “What would a holy woman do?”
Conclusion
Pray to follow though on the teaching of the spirit and to have access gifts to the spirit that will increase holiness.
Through enduring and persistent personal effort, accessing needed gifts of the Spirit is possible through the Savannah's infinite atonement.
Each time we enter the temple and see the words "Holiness to the Lord," we will feel joy, knowing we are doing our part to bring holiness to the Lord.
In closing, reference the hymn Lord, make us a holy people by Victoria Wilcox.