Women of the Scriptures & What We Can Learn From Them (Divine Nature of Women Series 7 of 7)

Dear Reader,

To wrap up the Divine Nature of Women series, we thought it would be great to get some thoughts on Women of the Scriptures from other women than just me. Haha! 

We contacted a few women and here’s what they had to say about different women from the scriptures and what they’ve learned from them:

"I've always admired the way that Esther went against the social norm and did what she needed to do to stand firm in her faith. She showed me growing up what it means to choose God over all worldly things and I'm grateful for her example of discipleship and faithfulness!" 

          -Kennedy Stroud (recent return missionary from the Italy, Milan Mission)

"When Sarah is told that she will have a son in her old age, she is surprised and asks, 'Shall I [which am old] of a surety bear a child?' (Genesis 18:13). Heaven answered her silent question, with, 'Is any thing too hard for the Lord?' (Genesis 18:14).

This question 'Is anything too hard for the Lord,' gives me courage.

It gives me the courage to ask the Lord for miracles. 

It gives me the courage to see them when they happen and give the glory to God. 

Sarah taught me not to limit God in my life because of my own shortcomings. She believed in the Lord and became a mother of nations.

Through her example, I’m learning to move forward with the faith that nothing is impossible for the Lord. He can do anything and everything, and if I listen to the Holy Ghost's promptings and act on them, even when I feel unprepared, I will be a part of His work and see His miracles unfold."

          -Christina Dymock (USA Today Bestselling Author) You can check out her mouthwatering cookbooks here. 

"But they feared God and did not as the King of Egypt commanded them..."

"Shiprah and Puah rank high on my list of favorite women in the Bible. These two Hebrew midwives defied Pharaoh's order to kill male babies. Their courage and cunning saved lives, including Moses's, but think of the pressures that they had to face in order to stop this bloodshed.

Despite being slaves in a society that devalued them, they feared God more than Pharaoh.

Like them, we face pressures to conform to societal norms that contradict God's will. We must resist these challenges, knowing that God's love surpasses worldly validation. Standing firm in our faith, we become courageous and empowered, just like Shiprah and Puah. When we stand up against the power of Pharaoh, we understand that we are not slaves, but sons and daughters of God."

          -Stephanie Fowers (USA Today Bestselling Author) Read her Clean Romantic Suspense fiction here. 

"Esther from the Bible exemplifies the divine nature of women through her courage and wisdom, as she risked her life to save her people. Her unwavering faith and determination showcase the strength and resilience inherent in women, echoing the divine qualities bestowed upon them. Esther's story serves as a powerful reminder of the profound impact women can have when they embrace the strength of Christ through their covenants."

          -Loren Landers (recent graduate from Brigham Young University)

“The world’s greatest champion of woman and womanhood is Jesus the Christ.“

"I’ve been seeing a lot of people lately expressing that they feel women are not appreciated in the church and should be given the same responsibilities as men in order to feel equal.

While I would never invalidate the feelings of those women sharing their experiences, I’d like to add my thoughts:)

Never have I personally felt more empowered to be a woman than I have being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That empowerment comes from my Savior, Jesus Christ. I have found confidence in myself knowing my divine femininity comes from my Heavenly Parents and Their plan for me. As a Their daughter I strive to keep the covenants that bind me to Them so I can return home to Them someday.

How exciting to know that as a woman I have roles and responsibilities here on earth that are needed to push the Lord’s work forward. Those roles may not always be the same as men’s, and what a blessing that is! Men and women working together we can do so much good.

My fellow ladies, your worth does not come from being able to do what men do. It comes from being YOU. Whatever you bring to the Lord’s table is enough for Him. He has a place for you and needs who you are right in this moment.

It’s taken me time to grow my testimony in this but now I know God loves all the sassy, gentle, girl-boss, and faithful parts of me even when I think He might not. I adore being a girl! But more than that I LOVE being a woman in the church

'In partnership with God, her divine mission is to help spirits live and souls be lifted. This is the measure of her creation.' - President Nelson"

          -Mckell Singley (student at Utah Valley University)

Thank you to the amazing women who offered their input for this email! I was so happy to read their marvelous insights. 

And a big thank you to you for coming along with me on this journey as we’ve explored the Divine Nature of Women. I hope there was something in at least one of my emails that you needed to hear or that these emails were in some way able to help lift your burden just a little. 

This was definitely a learning experience for me, one that helped boost my confidence, and even more so because of the lovely encouragement so many of you, women and men alike, sent my way. 

Stay tuned! We have a new series coming up—no spoilers, sorry, folks!—and we just know you’re going to love it. I’m so excited to jump in. 

Best, 

Emily Clark - Marketing Specialist with The Cedar Fort Family

P.S. If you missed last week’s email, Famous LDS Women, you can read that post here. 

P.P.S. Full Divine Nature of Women Series

1. The Struggle with Feeling Worthy
2. God Comes to Women
3. The Power of a Converted Woman
4. The Blessings of Being a Woman in the Latter-days
5. Women and Education 
6. Famous LDS Women
7. Women of the Scriptures and What We Can Learn from Them
8. Motherhood