Gender Is an Essential Characteristic of Eternal Identity and Purpose

We are beloved spirit daughters of heavenly parents! As such we each have a divine nature and destiny. (Proclamation to the World.) Our gender to large measure defines who we are and our role in this life. Sisters are different, unique and distinctive. (Elder David A. Bednar) We shouted for joy at the creation of earth because we knew we would have the opportunity to have a body! Our goal to work side by side with righteous men to accomplish eternal goals to please our Heavenly Parents. These goals can not be attained independently, but require both male and female. Our female roles did not begin in this life and will not end in this life. (Julie B. Beck)

In high school (1967) there was some debate about not our origin but our gender before this life. Many thought we made the choice. Others thought female now.... always a female. Clearly based on Sister Beck's inspired words we were female in the preexistence and happy to be so! We had much to learn there and here. The female role is essential to the foundations of the world and God's kingdom. It is not always easy, but we can find much joy in womanhood.

These thoughts made me think about what are our goals? To be a good wife? A good mother? A good friend? To be kind? To be thoughtful? Margret D. Nadauld stated, " Women of God can never be like women of the world." But, as I used trudged off to work each day, leaving my home duties behind, was I woman of God or a woman of the world? How can insure I am always a Woman of God? Again from Sister Nadauld, "...we need women who are tender.... we need women who are kind.... we need women of faith. " These are all attributes of Jesus.

This is our challenge to take upon ourselves Christlike attributes. First we need to identify those attributes. Christ was kind, caring, sensitive, He kept his promises, He loved His neighbor, He had a core belief in righteous justice, He healed the sick and sorrowful with his words and deeds, He listened to the pains and sorrows of others, His actions always supported His beliefs.... There are surely more! All of these Godly qualities are doable even for someone as imperfect as I. As we pray to develop and prefect Christlike attributes we become more like Him and truly become Women of God. This is our divine nature and goal.

So be kind, be tender and have faith, listen, keep promises.... It sounds so easy. The challenge: be consistent!