Desiring to Articulate!!! I WANT that!!!!!

When we joined the Church we didn't own a Bible.  Thus we didn't read the scriptures, much less carry them to Church.  We weren't out of place because it seemed no one else did either.  Returned Missionaries carried them.  Every woman I knew would refer to her husband or father for scripture meaning.  As recent converts, the man in my life, didn't have scriptures in his heart or our home.  I really did want to learn though.  I found books to read that helped me to learn.  They were great!  Eventually, I again looked at the scriptures and found them overwhelming, confusing and frustrating.  They had a little narrow strip of references down the page center that were so complex, at least to me, that I never enjoyed reading them at all. 

Then 2 things happened, in 1979,  that impacted my life FOREVER!!!  (envision fireworks, confetti, bells and whistles, midst my cheers of excitement!!!) 

#1) The LDS King James Bible was printed, in 1979, with everything a person could want, for personal study and understanding, of the Scriptures.  Footnotes, Topical Guide, Bible Dictionary, Maps and on and on it seemed.  It was so amazing to have such a miraculous accomplishment as that publication available!!!! 

#2) In September 1979, the second Women's Fireside was held and broadcast to 1500 locations.  President Kimball was ill and in the LDS Hospital.  His wife, Sister Camilla E. Kimball, read his address.  He made a request, I'd never thought of or heard of, but it just went right straight to my heart and has stayed there for 32 years!  Here are snippets of what he said at that Fireside.... 

From "The Role of Righteous Women"   (emphasis added) 

.....much to be done by way of parallel personal development—for both men and women. In this connection, I stress again the deep need each woman has to study the scriptures. We want our homes to be blessed with sister scriptorians—whether you are single or married, young or old, widowed or living in a family.....

Regardless of your particular circumstances, as you become more and more familiar with the truths of the scriptures, you will be more and more effective in keeping the second great commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself. Become scholars of the scriptures—not to put others down, but to lift them up!....

Finally, my dear sisters, may I suggest to you something that has not been said before or at least in quite this way. Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality) will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world....Among the real heroines in the world who will come into the Church are women who are more concerned with being righteous than with being selfish. These real heroines have true humility, which places a higher value on integrity than on visibility....Thus it will be that female exemplars of the Church will be a significant force in both the numerical and the spiritual growth of the Church in the last days.

Definition of Articulate:  adj. 1. spoken clearly, in words

                                                             2.  able to express ideas clearly

                                                           

                                                      v.  1. to say distinctly

Relief Society:A Call to Minister

by Julie Beck-

Sister Beck asked the women to become articulate in sharing their testimonies by studying the scriptures. She encouraged them to develop their talents to be used to build up the Lord’s kingdom. She urged them to seek revelation by asking questions and to share what they know. She challenged them to get over the excuses they have allowed to keep them from doing the Lord’s work.

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Did you know that President Kimball's granddaughter served her mission in Alaska and was in our Branch? She and our daughter became close friends. She and her missionary companion were in our home a lot.  One time we were watching a General Conference, that was transmitted to us, and they sustained someone to a position, Counselor in Presiding Bishopric?, and she excitedly said...Uncle Hal!...   What on earth was that outburst all about?!   Turns out our current, President Henry B. Eyring, is her Uncle. President Kimball's wife, Camilla Eyring Kimball, is sister to the famous scientist, Henry Eyring, who is also President Henry B. Eyring's father. Did you get all that straight? It was fun to get to know the namesake of Sister Kimball.