{Fortune Cookie}

"Rarely do great beauty and great virtue dwell together as they do in you."

This is what my fortune cookie said after we ate at a Chinese buffet. One of my friends in High School always said to add to the end of your fortune the phrase "in bed". Mind you my friend was a bit twisted and loved to turn anything dirty. And don't be fooled I always did add the phrase and laugh at how the meaning would change.

But as I read my fortune I was touched and reminded of the lesson in Relief Society this past Sunday. I don't recall what the teachers name was only that she normally taught the Young women. Her lesson was Sheri Dew's talk entitled "Awake, Arise, and Come Unto Christ".

The teacher gave this talk so well that I almost forgot it was Sister Dew's words and not her own. It was powerful and really touched my heart and reminded me of why I am here and how I need to progress and the many things I need to work on. It reminded me that even though I sometimes think I am perfect, I AM NOT! (shocker, right?)

Here is a quick excerpt from her talk:

"There are five principles about influence we need to understand: FIRST, we all have more influence than we think; SECOND, righteous influence is a spiritual gift; THIRD, having influence is not elevating self but about lifting others; FOURTH, it isn't possible NOT to have influence; and FIFTH, women of God have influence that has no limit and no end. With these principles in mind consider what President Joseph F. Smith said to the Relief Society in 1914: "It is not for you to be led by the women of the world; it is for you to...lead the women of the world in everything that is praiseworthy, everything that is God-like, everything that is uplifting...and purifying to the children of me" (Relief Society General Board Minutes, 1914)"


Sister Dew's talk is about how strong and wonderful women are and how we can be a good influence and that we are successful even if we don't hold a high power job. Being a good mother makes us successful. We need to not fall into the worlds lies about what makes a successful woman and be content and happy being who we are as long as we are doing what we are supposed to be doing.

If you would like to download a copy of Sheri Dew's talk CLICK HERE and her talk will be in the top section entitled Sheri Dew "Awake, Arise and come unto Christ" (it's about 1/2 down the first section). It really is a good read and a powerful message.

I went online so I could get my copy that same day and re-read the talk over and over. It is quite powerful and reminded me where I need to work and has focused me more on doing what I need to be doing.