Women: Satan Distorts the Value and Role of Women

I was blessed to be raised in a home and then marry into a family where the role of women and mothers was greatly valued. I believe that men and women have God-given traits that compliment each other. I also think that Satan works hard to make women feel undervalued or convinces them they need to be more like a man to be equal. I love how the Gospel of Jesus Christ supports womanhood.

M. Russell Ballard, “Women of Righteousness,” Ensign, Apr. 2002

I am concerned about what I see happening with some of our young women. Satan would have you dress, talk, and behave in unnatural and destructive ways in your relationships with young men. The adversary is having a heyday distorting attitudes about gender and roles and about families and individual worth. He is the author of mass confusion about the value, the role, the contribution, and the unique nature of women.

Today’s popular culture, which is preached by every form of media from the silver screen to the Internet, celebrates the sexy, saucy, socially aggressive woman. These distortions are seeping into the thinking of some of our own women.

My dear sisters, we believe in you. We realize that you are the emotional (and sometimes spiritual) glue that holds families together. We believe that the Church simply will not accomplish what it must without your faith and faithfulness, your innate tendency to put the well-being of others ahead of your own, and your spiritual strength and tenacity. 

James E. Faust, “Womanhood: The Highest Place of Honor”

“I wonder if you sisters fully understand the greatness of your gifts and talents. One of your unique, precious, and sublime gifts is your femininity. Femininity is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos, and trendy clothes. It finds expression in your qualities of your capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each of you possesses it. Femininity is part of your inner beauty.

One of your particular gifts is your feminine intuition. Do not limit yourselves. As you seek to know the will of our Heavenly Father in your life and become more spiritual, you will be far more attractive, even irresistible. You can use your smiling loveliness to bless those you love and all you meet, and spread great joy. Femininity is part of the God-given divinity within each of you. Be proud of your womanhood.”  

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “The Moral Force of Women.” Oct. 2013

Certainly there are trends and forces at work that would weaken and even eliminate your influence, to the great detriment of individuals, families, and society at large. Let me mention three as a caution and a warning.

A pernicious philosophy that undermines women’s moral influence is the devaluation of marriage and of motherhood and homemaking as a career. Some view homemaking with outright contempt, arguing it demeans women and that the relentless demands of raising children are a form of exploitation.8 They ridicule what they call “the mommy track” as a career. This is not fair or right. We do not diminish the value of what women or men achieve in any worthy endeavor or career—we all benefit from those achievements—but we still recognize there is not a higher good than motherhood and fatherhood in marriage. There is no superior career, and no amount of money, authority, or public acclaim can exceed the ultimate rewards of family. Whatever else a woman may accomplish, her moral influence is no more optimally employed than here.

A third area of concern comes from those who, in the name of equality, want to erase all differences between the masculine and the feminine. Often this takes the form of pushing women to adopt more masculine traits—be more aggressive, tough, and confrontational. It is now common in movies and video games to see women in terribly violent roles, leaving dead bodies and mayhem in their wake. It is soul-numbing to see men in such roles and certainly no less so when women are the ones perpetrating and suffering the violence.

Understanding the Worldly Philosophies of Satan and Strengthening Testimonies

We need to create a safe place with lots of love for ourselves/children to ask questions

A. What are Satan’s Strategies? – usually truth mixed with falsehoods

1) Moral Relativism = Satan’s says the world is too judgmental or intolerant (true) so you shouldn’t say there is absolute truth (false). Satan’s message – you can have “your truth” and I can have “my truth.”

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “Free Forever, to Act for Themselves,” October 2014

“Relativism means each person is his or her own highest authority. In much of the world, relativist thinking has become a dominant philosophy. “By relativism I mean the view that ethical or moral truths are relative, that they depend on the attitudes and feelings of those who hold them, and that no one can judge the validity of someone else’s ‘truth,’” he said. “You hear a lot of talk these days about ‘my truth’ and ‘his truth’ or ‘her truth.’”

“I shouldn’t be forced to believe something is true that I don’t like.” But that does not change reality. Resenting the law of gravity won’t keep a person from falling if he steps off a cliff. The same is true for eternal law and justice. Freedom comes not from resisting it but from applying it.

See also Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “Now Is the Time to Defend Truth” Devotional 2018

2) Anger against that which is good

2 Nephi 28: 20 For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men and stir them up to anger against that which is good.

3) There is no devil, carnal security, or all is well in Zion

2 Nephi 28: 21-22 And others will he pacify and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell. Others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none.

4) God loves everyone, so He will save everyone

Alma 42:1, 30 For ye so try to suppose that it is injustice that the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten,” Ensign May 2011

Sadly, much of modern Christianity does not acknowledge that God makes any real demands on those who believe in Him, seeing Him rather as a butler “who meets their needs when summoned” or a therapist whose role is to help people “feel good about themselves.” It is a religious outlook that “makes no pretense at changing lives.”

Parents can and must correct, even chasten, if their children are not to be cast adrift at the mercy of a merciless adversary and his supporters. President Boyd K. Packer has observed that when a person in a position to correct another fails to do so, he is thinking of himself.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Love and Law.” October 2009

I begin with four examples which illustrate some mortal confusion between love and law...

These persons disbelieve eternal laws which they consider contrary to their concept of the effect of God’s love. Persons who take this position do not understand the nature of God’s love or the purpose of His laws and commandments. The love of God does not supersede His laws and His commandments, and the effect of God’s laws and commandments does not diminish the purpose and effect of His love. The same should be true of parental love and rules.

5) The devaluation of marriage and motherhood

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “The Moral Force of Women.” Oct. 2013

Certainly there are trends and forces at work that would weaken and even eliminate your influence, to the great detriment of individuals, families, and society at large. Let me mention three as a caution and a warning.

A pernicious philosophy that undermines women’s moral influence is the devaluation of marriage and of motherhood and homemaking as a career.

6) Seven strategies of Satan found in the Book of Mormon and how to counteract them.

See: Heritage of The Book of Mormon: A Shield against Evil, by Clyde Williams, Ensign Jan. 1996

B. Solutions to counter Satan’s strategies

1. Most powerful solution is daily reading the Book of Mormon

Pres. Russell M. Nelson, “The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?,” Oct. 2017

I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day.

Ensign, January 1996. President Ezra Taft Benson declared: “The Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. … It fortifies the humble followers of Christ against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrines of the devil in our day.”

President Thomas S. Monson, “The Power of the Book of Mormon,” April 2017 President Monson: I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His gospel will help see us through to safety. If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so.

Helaman 3:29 We see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked.

2. Increase our efforts to Understand the Doctrines

Pres. Nelson, “A Plea to my Sisters,” October 2015

President Packer declared: “We need women who can teach, women who can speak out. …We need women with the gift of discernment who can view the trends in the world and detect those that, however popular, are shallow or dangerous.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard, “Let Us Think Straight,” BYU Devotional, August 2013

 “We need now for you women of the Church to know the doctrine of Christ and to bear testimony of the Restoration in every way that you can. Never has there been a more complex time in the history of the earth,” he said. “Satan and his minions have been perfecting the weapons in their arsenal for millennia, and they are experienced at destroying faith and trust in God and the Lord Jesus Christ among the human family.”

Sisters, your sphere of influence is a unique sphere—one that cannot be duplicated by men. No one can defend our Savior with any more persuasion or power than you, the daughters of God, can—you who have such inner strength and conviction. The power of a converted woman’s voice is immeasurable, and the Church needs your voices now more than ever.

President Hinckley said: You cannot simply take for granted this cause, which is the cause of Christ. You cannot simply stand on the sidelines and watch the play between the forces of good and evil.

3. Discernment through the Gift of the Holy Ghost

President James E. Faust, The Great Imitator,” October 1987

I think we will witness increasing evidence of Satan’s power as the kingdom of God grows stronger. In the future the opposition will be both more subtle and more open. It will be masked in greater sophistication and cunning, but it will also be more blatant. We will need greater spirituality to perceive all of the forms of evil and greater strength to resist it. There is, however, an ample shield against the power of Lucifer and his hosts. This protection lies in the spirit of discernment through the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Elder David A. Bednar, “Receive the Holy Ghost,” October 2010

Consider the reasons we pray and study the scriptures. Please remember that these holy habits primarily ... are prerequisites to the ongoing companionship of the Holy Ghost. Reflect on the reasons we worship in the house of the Lord and in our Sabbath meetings. We primarily gather together in unity to seek the blessings of and instruction from the Holy Ghost.

President Russell M. Nelson, Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives, April 2018

If we are to have any hope of sifting through the myriad of voices and the philosophies of men that attack truth, we must learn to receive revelation. In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.

“In reality, the best way to help those we love--the best way to love them--is to continue to put the Savior first.   If we cast ourselves adrift from the Lord out of sympathy for loved ones who are suffering or distressed, then we lose the means why which we might have helped them."  Elder Christofferson

How Can We Overcome Pride? and A Personal Checklist for Pride

Pride

See Also: Humility and Meekness

Pres. Benson, Chapter 18: Beware of Pride

https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-ezra-taft-benson/chapter-18-beware-of-pride?lang=eng

President Uchtdorf’s talk on pride – Oct. 2010:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/pride-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng

Pride a gateway sin that leads to a host of other human weaknesses. In fact, it could be said that every other sin is, in essence, a manifestation of pride. -Uchtdorf

Video clip of this quote 8:42 minutes – 10:19

We Must Not Inhale

When I was called as a General Authority, I was blessed to be tutored by many of the senior Brethren in the Church. One day I had the opportunity to drive President James E. Faust to a stake conference. During the hours we spent in the car, President Faust took the time to teach me some important principles about my assignment. He explained also how gracious the members of the Church are, especially to General Authorities. He said, “They will treat you very kindly. They will say nice things about you.” He laughed a little and then said, “Dieter, be thankful for this. But don’t you ever inhale it.”

That is a good lesson for us all, in any calling or life situation. We can be grateful for our health, wealth, possessions, or positions, but when we begin to inhale it—when we become obsessed with our status; when we focus on our own importance, power, or reputation; when we dwell upon our public image and believe our own press clippings—that’s when the trouble begins; that’s when pride begins to corrupt.

Uchtdorf on how do we Conquer pride?  

So how do we conquer this sin of pride that is so prevalent and so damaging? How do we become more humble?

It is almost impossible to be lifted up in pride when our hearts are filled with charity. “No one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love.” 22 When we see the world around us through the lens of the pure love of Christ, we begin to understand humility.

Some suppose that humility is about beating ourselves up. Humility does not mean convincing ourselves that we are worthless, meaningless, or of little value. Nor does it mean denying or withholding the talents God has given us. We don’t discover humility by thinking less of ourselves; we discover humility by thinking less about ourselves. It comes as we go about our work with an attitude of serving God and our fellowman.

Humility directs our attention and love toward others and to Heavenly Father’s purposes. Pride does the opposite. Pride draws its energy and strength from the deep wells of selfishness. The moment we stop obsessing with ourselves and lose ourselves in service, our pride diminishes and begins to die.

Elder Bednar:

We will only receive spiritual gifts and talents when we are in the right place at the right time so that the Lord can use us to bless somebody else.

I think in the culture of the Church we have a peculiar way of talking about talents like, “I have these talents” and sometimes there is an arrogance about that, like “Aren’t you so lucky that I am bringing my talent to bless you?”  In which case I think there is no talent, it has been removed.

So it is not just that you have one talent or a particular capacity, there is a wide range of talents and capacities with which the Lord can bless you with because you will be in the right place at the right time and that talent or gift will be used to bless someone else. We only have these so we can be the conduit through whom God can bless people.

So if you are striving not to get them as if they are trophies to display, but if the real intent of our heart is to be good, to be worthy, so that God if he needed me could use me.

How Do We Combat Pride?

1-      Uchtdorf - Charity Conquers pride:  

So how do we conquer this sin of pride that is so prevalent and so damaging? How do we become more humble?

It is almost impossible to be lifted up in pride when our hearts are filled with charity. “No one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love.” 22 When we see the world around us through the lens of the pure love of Christ, we begin to understand humility.

Some suppose that humility is about beating ourselves up. Humility does not mean convincing ourselves that we are worthless, meaningless, or of little value. Nor does it mean denying or withholding the talents God has given us. We don’t discover humility by thinking less of ourselves; we discover humility by thinking less about ourselves. It comes as we go about our work with an attitude of serving God and our fellowman.

Humility directs our attention and love toward others and to Heavenly Father’s purposes. Pride does the opposite. Pride draws its energy and strength from the deep wells of selfishness. The moment we stop obsessing with ourselves and lose ourselves in service, our pride diminishes and begins to die.

2-      Recognize the enabling power of the atonement in our lives.

When we can recognize the enabling power of the atonement in our lives this solves the problem of pride. We realize how much the Lord is helping us to improve and do well which keeps us from getting puffed up about ourselves.

Read Jacob 4:6

 6 Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of ^aprophecy; and having all these ^bwitnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can ^ccommand in the ^dname of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.

Jacob 4:6-7, 8-10– notice that verse 7 begins with “Nevertheless” - “Nevertheless” is what they call a connecting word because it shows that the two sentences are a related thought.  

 7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our ^aweakness that we may know that it is by his ^bgrace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.

Ether 12:27 has a similar theme.

I think there are many times when Grace and the enabling power are operating in our lives and it is like when “as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.” In our pride, we think we are becoming something on our own.

Pride - A Personal Checklist (list taken from Pres. Benson’s talk)

·         Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance. In the scriptures there is no such thing as righteous pride. Therefore, we must understand how God uses the term so we can understand the language of holy writ and profit thereby. 

·         The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means “hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.” It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us.

·         Pride is a sin that can readily be seen in others but is rarely admitted in ourselves. 

General categories of pride:

   Disobedience is essentially a prideful power struggle 

   Selfishness is one of the more common faces of pride. 

§  self-conceit, self-seeking

§  self-gratification, worldly self-fulfillment

§  self-pity

Pride in not just those on the top looking down; far more common is pride from the bottom looking up, it is manifest in:

·         faultfinding, gossiping, backbiting

·         murmuring

·         living beyond our means

·         envying, coveting

·         withholding gratitude and praise that might lift another

·         being unforgiving and jealous

Another face of pride is contention:

·         arguments

·         fights

·         unrighteous dominion

·         generation gaps

·         divorces

·         spouse abuse

·         riots, disturbances

·         Contention in our families drives the Spirit of the Lord away. It also drives many of our family members away. 

Our enmity toward God takes on many labels:

·         rebellion

·         hard-heartedness

·         stiff-neckedness

·         unrepentant

·         puffed up

·         easily offended

·         sign seekers

·         wish God would agree with them

·         aren’t interested in changing opinion to agree with God’s

Enmity toward our fellowmen:

·         tempted daily to elevate ourselves above others 

·         desire to diminish others

·         pit their intellects, opinions & works against others

·         compare wealth, talents, or any other worldly measuring device against others

·         stand more in fear of men’s judgment than of God’s judgment

·         “What will men think of me?” weighs heavier than “What will God think of me?”

·         The proud love “the praise of men more than the praise of God.

·         Our motives for the things we do are where the sin is manifest. 

“Pride a gateway sin that leads to a host of other human weaknesses. In fact, it could be said that every other sin is, in essence, a manifestation of pride.”  –President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Pres. Uchtdorf – The Gift of Grace - Apr. 2015

What does the story of Simon teach us about pride?

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/the-gift-of-grace?lang=eng

 

In the Bible we read of Christ’s visit to the home of Simon the Pharisee.

Outwardly, Simon seemed to be a good and upright man. He regularly checked off his to-do list of religious obligations: he kept the law, paid his tithing, observed the Sabbath, prayed daily, and went to the synagogue.

But while Jesus was with Simon, a woman approached, washed the Savior’s feet with her tears, and anointed His feet with fine oil.

Simon was not pleased with this display of worship, for he knew that this woman was a sinner. Simon thought that if Jesus didn’t know this, He must not be a prophet or He would not have let the woman touch him.

Perceiving his thoughts, Jesus turned to Simon and asked a question. “There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: … one owed five hundred pence, … the other fifty.

“And when they [both] had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?”

Simon answered that it was the one who was forgiven the most.

Then Jesus taught a profound lesson: “Seest thou this woman? … Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”24

Which of these two people are we most like?

Are we like Simon? Are we confident and comfortable in our good deeds, trusting in our own righteousness? Are we perhaps a little impatient with those who are not living up to our standards? Are we on autopilot, going through the motions, attending our meetings, yawning through Gospel Doctrine class, and perhaps checking our cell phones during sacrament service?

Or are we like this woman, who thought she was completely and hopelessly lost because of sin?

Do we love much?

Do we understand our indebtedness to Heavenly Father and plead with all our souls for the grace of God?

When we kneel to pray, is it to replay the greatest hits of our own righteousness, or is it to confess our faults, plead for God’s mercy, and shed tears of gratitude for the amazing plan of redemption?25

Salvation cannot be bought with the currency of obedience; it is purchased by the blood of the Son of God.26 Thinking that we can trade our good works for salvation is like buying a plane ticket and then supposing we own the airline. Or thinking that after paying rent for our home, we now hold title to the entire planet earth.

The Trial of Wealth, Prosperity, and Ease and How to Counteract It

Helaman 12:2-3 Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold...; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God – yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity. And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with ... they will not remember him.

Elder David A. Bednar, “On the Lord’s Side: Lessons from Zion’s Camp,” July 2017 Ensign

The leaders of the Lord’s Church clearly have identified some of the collective or generational tests we can expect to encounter in our day and generation. As the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1977, President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) raised a prophetic voice of warning in a meeting of regional representatives. I now quote extensively from President Benson’s message and invite your focused attention on his timely counsel:

“Every generation has its tests and its chance to stand and prove itself. Would you like to know of one of our toughest tests? Hear the warning words of Brigham Young, ‘The worst fear I have about this people is that they will get rich in this country, forget God and His people, wax fat, and kick themselves out of the Church and go to hell. This people will stand mobbing, robbing, poverty, and all manner of persecution and be true. But my greatest fear is that they cannot stand wealth.’”

President Benson continues: “Ours then seems to be the toughest test of all, for the evils are more subtle, more clever. It all seems less menacing and it is harder to detect. While every test of righteousness represents a struggle, this particular test seems like no test at all, no struggle and so could be the most deceiving of all tests.

“Do you know what peace and prosperity can do to a people—It can put them to sleep. The Book of Mormon warned us of how Satan, in the last days, would lead us away carefully down to hell.

Elder Oaks – 2017 Mission President Seminar

“The most important thing I can say to you by way of introduction is that we are in an unusual and extremely important transition in our missionary work in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” he said.  This transition is due to several reasons:

1.      Convert baptisms have plateaued. “We must find new ways to do missionary work that will bring the increases in missionary baptisms of which we are capable.”

2.      Significant advancements in technology can accelerate the work, “but we haven’t yet learned to use them effectively.” These technological advances “are begging to be used in the work of the Lord and we are overdue in finding ways this can be done to advance the effectiveness of our missionary work.”

3.      There is a need to protect our youth from “the powerful worldly influences that detract from their spiritual preparation and from their missionary effectiveness.” The rising generation is subject to increasing temptations and distractions—including technological distractions, decreased opportunities for youth to learn how to work, and family disunity.

4.      The greatly increased diversity in mission circumstances is a final example of new complications in the supervising, calling, training, and oversight of missionaries, he said. The Church now has 422 missions that encompass more than 160 countries.

How to Counteract this Trial

Dale G. Renlund – Facebook June 27 at 11:39am · 

At the mission presidents’ seminar this week, the following quote was shared more than once.

President Boyd K. Packer famously said: “True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior” (Oct. 1986 general conference).

As you evaluate your own behavior, have you ever asked yourself, “What specific doctrine, correctly understood, would motivate me to accept and make necessary changes in my life?”

Once you have identified that doctrine, then you have a clear indicator of where your personal scripture study should effectively focus. Then your increased understanding can lead you to necessary behavior modifications.

For missionaries or any of us who want to see a loved one make necessary changes in their lives, the added step to this process is once you correctly understand the doctrine, then you carefully, clearly, and lovingly teach that doctrine.

Elder Robert D. Hales, “Coming to Ourselves: The Sacrament, the Temple, and Sacrifice in Service,” April 2012

As our spiritual desires increase, we become spiritually self-reliant. How, then, do we help others, ourselves, and our families increase our desires to follow the Savior and live His gospel? How do we strengthen our desires to repent, become worthy, and endure to the end? How do we help our youth and young adults let these desires work in them until they are converted and become true “saint[s] through the atonement of Christ”?3

We become converted and spiritually self-reliant as we prayerfully live our covenants—through worthily partaking of the sacrament, being worthy of a temple recommend, and sacrificing to serve others.

Helaman 3:29 We see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked.