Let's discuss: "Turn On Your Light" by Sharon Eubank

"Turn On Your Light"

by Sharon Eubank, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency
September 23, 2017 General Women's Session

I've gone back to the beginning of conference for this analysis.

I felt like her overall message was to link our arms in friendsips, and to recognize and step up to fulfill the prophecies about latter-day women.

Favorite quotes:

We aren’t always going to fit in with the world, but being different in positive ways can be a lifeline to others who are struggling.

And:

There is an energy that comes from happiness and optimism that doesn’t just bless us—it builds everyone around us.

Consider choosing one of those two quotes to put on the board for a discussion setting.  Consider bringing paper and pens/pencils for the class for point 3 below.

Her talk is split into 7 parts - intro, 5 things from President Kimball's quote, and a conclusion.  Great arrangement for a discussion (but pick the most important things for your setting if you are short on time - never be afraid to lead a discussion out of order to hit the important points first!)

Introduction

Sister Eubank opens her discussion mentioning a special link she has to President Monson.  Since she will talk about links later on, I thought it was interesting that she started with a link - a link to the prophet of God.

You might not know this, but President Monson and I are twins. On the very day I was born—in the very hour—in Northern California, the 36-year-old Thomas S. Monson was sustained as the newest Apostle. I love my special, personal link to the prophet of God, President Monson.

Do you have a special, personal link to President Monson?  If not, how can we develop our own links to him?

I remember one story that President Monson shared the conference after his wife, Frances, died that touched me deeply.  It was a year and a half after the death of my sweet baby son.  It struck me, because I recognized what he was expressing - he was speaking in parable!  He talked about a Brother Brems who had lost his sight and hearing, and told his loved ones he was going to die that week...  He asked for "Tommy Monson" to come, who came and gave him a blessing.  His message to Tommy Monson was, "My Heavenly Father has been so good to me."  I understand that.  Some people may see only his trials, but he sees the blessings.  I share that sentiment, and it is holy to me.  I have paid much closer attention to the stories and poems President Monson shares ever since!  He teaches in parable!  Much like our Lord.  This is my special, personal link with President Monson.

Now back to Sister Eubank.  She quickly brings up her subject - the subject of women:

The prophets are speaking about women. You will hear some of their words in this meeting. For my text I am going back almost 40 years to a remarkable prophecy written by President Spencer W. Kimball. September 1979 was only the second time the women of the global Church had met in their own general meeting. President Kimball had prepared his talk, but when the day of the conference came, he was in the hospital. So instead, he asked his wife, Camilla Eyring Kimball, to read his remarks on his behalf.

Sister Kimball read the prophet’s words, which emphasized the influence of LDS women on the good women of the world prior to the Second Coming of the Savior. Near the end, there was an electrifying charge to the women of the Church that we have been talking about ever since.

I find it interesting that Sister Kimball read the address - somehow appropriate, almost reverential to women in general.  I mean, I'm not happy that President Kimball was sick, but what a good example of partnership.

I also like that Sister Eubank called the following an electrifying charge to the women of the Church that we have been talking about ever since.

“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 … 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. …

“… It will be … female exemplars of the Church [who] will be a significant force in both the numerical and the spiritual growth of the Church in the last days.”

Can you think of some ways that this has been fulfilled already?  (Sister missionaries in abundance)  Can you think of some ways this has yet to be fulfilled?  If you are a woman, what are some ways you can improve your abilities to fulfill this prophecy?  If you are a man, what are some ways you can partner with the women in your lives to fulfill this prophecy?

What does it mean to you to place a higher value on integrity than visibility?  How does this relate to the way women are viewed (or view themselves) in the world?  If no one has answers, you could bring up the value some people put on getting "Likes," or the value of modesty in dress over literal visibility.

Back to Sister Eubank:

I have met so many of these good women as I do my work around the world. Their friendships are precious to me. You know them too among your friends and neighbors. They may or may not be members of the Church right now, but we connect in friendship that is very important. Well, how do we play our part? What should we do? President Kimball refers to five things:

The first is to be righteous.

Being righteous doesn’t mean being perfect or never making mistakes. It means developing an inner connection with God, repenting of our sins and mistakes, and freely helping others. 

Women who have repented change the course of history. I have a friend who was in a car accident when she was young, and from that, she became addicted to pain medication. Later on, her parents divorced. She became pregnant from a brief relationship, and her addictions continued. But one night, she looked at the chaos and mess of her life and thought, “Enough.” She cried out to the Savior Jesus Christ to help her. She said she learned that Jesus Christ was stronger than even her terrible circumstances and that she could rely on His strength as she walked the road of repentance. 

By coming back to the Lord and His ways, she changed the course of her history and her little boy’s history and her new husband’s. She is righteous; she has a wide-open heart for others who have made mistakes and want to change. And just like all of us, she isn’t perfect, but she knows how to repent and to keep trying. [emphasis added]

When I started analyzing this talk, I noticed it was given a tag of "repentance," which I thought odd, because I didn't remember her giving much counsel about repentance.  Then, as I reread the above section, I found it!  My takeaway is that righteousness IS repentance!  Righteousness is knowing how to repent and keep trying.  This is not to say we need to live a shame-faced life, ...but to develop our inner connection with God - to rely on the strength of Jesus Christ as we go.  We are not alone, and we shouldn't pretend to be.

The second is to be articulate.

Being articulate means to clearly express how you feel about something and why. Earlier this year, there was a post on my Facebook news feed that disparaged Christianity. I read it and I was a little annoyed, but I shrugged it off. But an acquaintance who is not a member of our faith responded with a comment of her own. She wrote: “[This is] the exact opposite of what Jesus stood for—he was … radical [in] his time because he … equalized the world. … He [spoke to] prostitute[s], [he ate] with … tax collector[s] … , befriended powerless women and children … , [and] gave us the story of the Good Samaritan. … It follows that … true Christians would be striving to be the MOST loving people in the world.” When I read that, I thought to myself, “Why didn’t I write that?” 

Each of us needs to be better at articulating the reasons for our faith. How do you feel about Jesus Christ? Why do you stay in the Church? Why do you believe the Book of Mormon is scripture? Where do you get your peace? Why does it matter that the prophet has something to say in 2017? How do you know he is a real prophet? Use your voice and your power to articulate what you know and feel—on social media, in quiet conversations with your friends, when you’re chatting with your grandchildren. Tell them why you believe, what it feels like, if you ever doubted, how you got through it, and what Jesus Christ means to you. As the Apostle Peter said, “Be not afraid … ; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.” [emphasis added]

I love that in 1979, President Kimball was advising us to be more articulate - something clearly useful in the digital/information age!  Take some time to personally answer the questions she lists above.  As we write down our testimonies, it reinforces them and articulates them - it gives us words and truth we can draw on, both in our own lives and in encouraging others.

The third is to be different.

Here Sister Eubank relates a story that was in the news July 2017, about some people caught in a riptide at a beach in Florida.  In her words:

...Late in the afternoon, Roberta Ursrey saw her two young sons screaming for help from 100 yards (90 m) out into the ocean. They had become caught in a strong current and were being carried out to sea. A nearby couple tried to rescue the boys, but they also got caught in the current. So members of the Ursrey family dove in to rescue the struggling swimmers, and quickly nine people were caught in the rip current. 

There were no ropes. There was no lifeguard. The police sent for a rescue boat, but the people had been out in the ocean struggling for 20 minutes, and they were exhausted and their heads were slipping under the water. Among the onlookers on the beach was Jessica Mae Simmons. Her husband had the idea to form a human chain. They shouted at people on the beach to help them, and dozens of people linked arms and marched into the ocean. Jessica wrote, “To see people from different races and genders come into action to help TOTAL strangers [was] absolutely amazing to see!!” An 80-person chain stretched toward the swimmers. Look at this picture of that incredible moment.

Everyone on the beach could think only of traditional solutions, and they were paralyzed. But one couple, in a split second, thought of a different solution. Innovation and creation are spiritual gifts. When we keep our covenants, it may make us different from others in our culture and society, but it gives us access to inspiration so we can think of different solutions, different approaches, different applications. We aren’t always going to fit in with the world, but being different in positive ways can be a lifeline to others who are struggling.  [emphasis added]

I remember this news story, as many of you probably do as well.  But I love how Sister Eubank applies it here.  "Innovation and creation are spiritual gifts."  Have you innovated or created recently?  Can you think of a time you were inspired with a different approach or solution or application to alleviate struggling?  I am a mom of young children, and have experienced frustration when my mothering tactics seem to fall short.  But as I've sought it, I have also obtained inspiration on helping and blessing my family.  For example, I have a child who gets angry easily.  I received very clear inspiration about limiting said child's electronic usage.  I have another child who did not start talking until he was almost 4, and I received very clear inspiration about using flashcards with him and spending structured one-on-one time with him.  I love for the price of covenant-keeping, we have access to the inspiration we need.  I also love that Sister Eubank points out that these gifts are not just for ourselves and our families - we "can be a lifeline to others who are struggling."

I also think that she chose this story because the solution involved people linking together.  Solutions to many of our problems simply involve people linking arms figuratively.  The linking creates oneness and/or vision.  What couldn't we accomplish?!

The fourth is to be distinct.

Distinct means to be recognizably well defined. Let me go back to the story about Jessica Mae Simmons on the beach. Once that human chain was stretching toward the swimmers, she knew she could help. Jessica Mae said, “I can hold my breath … and go around an Olympic pool with ease! [I knew how to get out of a rip current.] I knew I could get [each swimmer] to the human chain.”7 She and her husband grabbed boogie boards and swam down the chain until they and another rescuer reached the swimmers, and then they ferried them one by one back to the chain, who passed them to the safety of the beach. Jessica had a distinct skill: she knew how to swim against a rip current. 

The restored gospel is recognizably well defined. But we have to be distinct about how we follow it. Just as Jessica practiced swimming, we need to practice living the gospel before the emergency so that, unafraid, we will be strong enough to help when others are being swept away by the current. [emphasis added]

First, I have to say it is interesting that she splits different and distinct into two categories.  But as I read on, I felt I understood why she did this.  Being different in positive ways is a general thing for us as covenant-keeping, LDS women of faith.  Being distinct is recognizing our personal gifts and using them to bless others.  For example, musical talent could be a distinction - a distinct gift to offer.  Or budgeting, or making a bulletin board aesthetically-pleasing.  We are not meant to be cookie-cutter Mormons.  Just like people express humor in different ways, people express the gospel of Jesus Christ different ways.

I like her statement about practicing "living the gospel before the emergency," too.  God knows our gifts and orchestrates our lives so that we can help where we are needed.  What are some ways we practice living the gospel before the emergency?  Why are the "basics" so important?  (If we are praying, scripture-studying, FHE-ing, etc. faithfully, we will have the inspiration in the moment.)

And finally, the fifth is to do one through four in happy ways.

Being happy doesn’t mean to slap a plastic smile on your face no matter what is going on. But it does mean keeping the laws of God and building and lifting others. When we build, when we lift the burden of others, it blesses our lives in ways our trials cannot take away. I have a quote by President Gordon B. Hinckley placed where I see it every day. He said: “You don’t … build out of pessimism or cynicism. You look with optimism, work with faith, and things happen.” ...  [emphasis added]

I almost laughed at the "plastic smile" imagery.  She has a footnote with several scripture references about happiness meaning "keeping the laws of God and building and lifting others."  I looked them all up, because I like that she says happiness is found in doing these things.  I'm including links here, and a short synopsis of each reference:
Alma 41:10  wickedness never was happiness
Alma 34:28  prayer is vain without helping the needy
Doctrine & Covenants 38:27  if ye are not one ye are not mine
Luke 16:19-25  the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (the beggar)
There is a definite lesson or charge in these references for us to help others.  I don't want to live with regrets.

There is an energy that comes from happiness and optimism that doesn’t just bless us—it builds everyone around us. Any small thing you do to light real happiness in others shows that you are already carrying the torch that President Kimball lit. [emphasis added]

Can you think of a time when someone else's happiness and/or optimism built you up?  I am sure we don't realize how far even a smile or a kindly word goes.

Conclusion

I was 15 years old at the time President Kimball’s talk was given. We who are older than 40 have been carrying this charge from President Kimball ever since that day. Now I look out at the 8-year-olds, the 15-year-olds, the 20-year-olds, and the 35-year-olds, and I’m going to pass this torch to you. You are the future leaders in this Church, and it will be up to you to carry this light forward and be the fulfillment of this prophecy. We who are older than 40 link our arms through yours and feel your strength and energy. We need you.

All the ages she lists here were born after President Kimball's address was given.  I love that she is bringing it back to "belong" to the next generation, too, if that makes sense.  I also see that here she brings back the arm-linking imagery from the rescue at the beach.

Listen to this scripture found in Doctrine and Covenants 49:26–28. It may have been written under different circumstances, but tonight by the Holy Spirit, I hope you will take it as your personal call to this sacred work. 

“Behold, I say unto you, go forth as I have commanded you; repent of all your sins; ask and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you. 

“Behold, I will go before you and be your rearward; and I will be in your midst, and you shall not be confounded.

“Behold, I am Jesus Christ, and I come quickly.” 

I appeal to each of you to put yourself in a place where you can feel the generous love God has for you. You cannot put yourself beyond the reach of that love. When you feel His love, when you love Him, you will repent and keep His commandments. When you keep His commandments, He can use you in His work. His work and glory is the exaltation and eternal life of women and men.

What does she mean to put ourselves in a place where we can feel the generous love God has for us?  How can we do this?  How do YOU do this?  Have you felt this love?  I have felt this love.  I long to feel more of it.  I want to be a part of His work.

The prophets are calling on us, my sisters. Will you be righteous? Will you articulate your faith? Can you bear being distinct and different? Will your happiness in spite of your trials draw others who are good and noble and who need your friendship? Will you turn on your light? I testify the Lord Jesus Christ will go before us and be in our midst. 

I conclude with the words of our well-loved prophet, Thomas S. Monson: “My dear sisters, this is your day, this is your time.”