What makes us holy women? We follow the Lord and His commandments that lead toward salvation. Holy women DO NOT follow the world, Satan, and his minions. It is a choice each member of the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ has to make.
I wish I’d been alive to hear Eliza R. Snow speak personally. In our message, there is a quote from an address she gave in Ogden, Utah. This is the original report, which was printed in the Woman’s Exponent here. It’s hard to read, so read the transcription here. If this talk doesn’t fire you up, you just might be dead.
We have been taught from the very beginning to be a peculiar people; to align ourselves with God, not with the world. The following scripture references, taken from our message this month, and quotes from our leaders, should be our guide as we all continually strive to live this covenant we have previously made.
Exodus 19:5 says, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:”
George Q. Cannon gave this example, “You can no more cause these Latter-day Saints, while they remain such, to mingle with the world and be one with them, than you can cause oil and water to mingle. There is no affinity between the two. You may shake oil and water together in a bottle, and while you are shaking it, you imagine that the water and the oil have mingled; but the moment you let the bottle stand, the water sinks to the bottom and the oil rises to the top. The two elements do not comingle, they are entirely distinct, and you may shake them, and boil them, or do anything of that character, and you cannot cause them to become one fluid. So it is with this people called the Latter-day Saints and the world. There is a difference. God has created the difference. God has called us out from the world for the express purpose of making us His people, and placing upon us His name, that we may be known as His peculiar people in the midst of the nations of the earth.” (Discourse by Pres. George Q. Cannon, Aug 26, 1883)
D&C 87:8 “Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen.”
“This is a magnificent time to be on the earth and to be a young woman. Our vision remains the same. It is to be worthy to make and keep sacred covenants, and receive the ordinances of the temple. This is our superlative goal! And so we will continue to lead the world in a return to virtue—a return to chastity and moral purity. We will continue to do all we can to help each other “stand..in holy places” and receive, recognize, and rely on the Holy Ghost.” (Elaine S. Dalton, Remember Who You Are!, Ensign, May 2010)
“A commitment to remain virtuous will give you strength to withstand peer pressure. As we’re advised in For the Strength of Youth: ‘Have the courage to walk out of a movie or video party, turn off a computer or television, change a radio station, or put down a magazine if what is being presented does not meet Heavenly Father’s standards…We should avoid inappropriate material on the Internet and on cell phones, as well as offensive music and suggestive dancing…please have the courage to withstand these temptations.” (Mary N. Cook, “A Virtuous Life—Step by Step,” Ensign, May 2009)
“Standing in holy places helps us to become holy, but that is an acquired virtue that takes practice. Practice listening to the Spirit and being obedient. Practice being morally pure. Practice being reverent about sacred things. The Lord has told us to come unto Him and He can make us holy. Let Him envelop you in love and forgiveness and peace. Regardless of what is going on around you, you can practice creating an environment of your own, filled with the Spirit of the Lord.” (Sharon G. Larsen, “Standing in Holy Places,” Ensign, May 2002)
Moses 7:18 “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.”
“President Hinckley has said that if we ‘will be united and speak with one voice, [our] strength will be incalculable.’ (“Standing Strong and Immovable”, Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, Jan 2004). As sisters in Zion, how do we become one? The same way we belong to a spouse or to a family: we share who we are—our feelings, our thoughts, our hearts.” (Bonnie D. Parkin, “Belonging is Our Sacred Birthright”, Ensign, Nov 2004)