sisters.

I have to admit something. 

I love The Relief Society. I know, who would have thought. I used to absolutely hate that class (and to be perfectly honest I was not a fan of the whole "let's wear flowery clothes and be the Stepford Wives!" image). I would find any reason to not go. But the older I get (I like to think that I am becoming more mature), the more I have come to understand just what an amazing society it is.  The women are all so different.  Our ages range from eighteen to knocking on death's door years old.  Each woman is so unique, but there is such a sense of welcoming and love there. 

This week in particular we delved into quite the discussion about the pressures of being the perfect woman.  As a psychology major, this is something that has always stuck out to me.  Did you know that UT has the highest rate of depression and abuse of anti anxiety/depression medications amongst females??  And yes, there is a direct correlation between that and the pressures that we feel to become the perfect Mormon wife (mind you, this is NOT the Gospel's way... it is definitely a social stigma that we all try to live up to). But it was such a great discussion and relieving to learn how many girls feel the same way that I do.  We also have our bishoprics' wives that come and give us their input. So hearing from these seemingly perfect mormon mothers and wives talk about when their burnouts and hectic lives and just saying no to too much, was so comforting.
I have come to find that as long as I have my life centered on Christ and do everything that I can to be better, then those pressures melt away.  And then I read this:

"So many of our sisters are disheartened, even discouraged, and disillusioned. Others are in serious trouble because of the choices they make. Satan has unleashed a seductive campaign to undermine the sanctity of womanhood, to deceive the daughters of God and divert them from their divine destiny. He well knows women are the compassionate, self-sacrificing, loving power that binds together the human family. He would focus their interests solely on their physical attributes and rob them of their exalting roles as wives and mothers."

Richard G. Scott, "The Sanctity of Womanhood," New Era, Nov. 2008, 3

I tend to be very outspoken ( you never would have guessed) and say things in defense of the prideful feminist in me, but I am coming to terms with the fact that I can be my boyish, independent, headstrong, smart, liberal, self and still embrace the tenderness of being a woman and daughter of my Heavenly Father. I owe a lot of that to the Relief Society.  The collaboration of so many personalities, opinion and testimonies has really helped me to gain an appreciation of the Lord's society for women and I am so grateful to be a part of it.