Here are some notes from the class I attended  at BYU Women’s Conference called “The World’s Greatest Champion of Woman and Womanhood is Jesus the Christ” by Cheryl Savage and Ann Marie Toone. Please forgive that I am not the most excellent note-taker in the world, but I tried to capture some points and thoughts and quotes that stood out to me as I listened, and hopefully you’ll find them enlightening as well.

From Cheryl Savage:

She opened up by describing her large, young, busy family, and then said, “This is my stage and my season. I am a warrior.”

She used one of my favorite President Packer quotes:

“True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.”

Womanhood comes with its own set of messy mortality.

Satan has done his best to destroy women, but Jesus Christ is stronger than Satan.

Don’t measure your worth or your day by society’s standard.

Elder Craig C. Cardon:

“After we do all we can do, His compassion and grace are the means whereby “in process of time” we overcome the world through the enabling power of the Atonement. As we humbly seek this precious gift, “weak things become strong unto [us],” and by His strength, we are made able to do that which we could never do alone.”

Remember the big picture. Allow the Savior to help you. Find your joy and never forget it.

Cheryl posted up the complete transcript of her talk on her own blog, so go check it out in all its glory. I’m sure you’ll feel uplifted. (Oh, and she quoted my book a few times, which was so nice of her, but I still feel a little sheepish about it.)

From Anne Marie Toone:

Jesus Christ demonstrated deep familiarity with women’s lives. He appreciated them and ennobled them.

1. Each woman is a beloved daughter of Heavenly Parents.
2. There is a plan.
3. The Holy Ghost will help us know our role.

The Lord accepts our righteous offerings. He needs His daughters to receive, accept and fulfill their role.

He created men to need women, and He created women to need men.

He gives righteous women more lasting influence than women of the world. (I love that. I believe it so much. This is our great power.)

Women are expected to lead and counsel together with men.

Heavenly Father expects his daughters to use their influence to change the world.

She referred to Luke 10 to show that the story of Mary and Martha demonstrates that women could also participate spiritually in Jesus Christ’s work.

Christ was the greatest champion for us in the preexistence.

Question to consider:

If the Savior is my greatest champion, am I His?

These were both great talks. I could feel the spirit and the cheerleading of my Heavenly Father. He wants us to know how loved and needed and powerful we are. I know women and their work is valued and honored in His plan.

How do you know personally that Jesus Christ is a champion of you?

[Go here to see some of the women's conference transcripts that are available as well as information about rebroadcasting on BYUTV.]

I recently finished reading a book called In His Hands: A Mother’s Journey through the Grief of Sudden Loss by Jenny Hess. She explains in great detail her experience with grief after the tragic death of her 4-year old son, Russell, just a few short years ago. I hurt for her, I admired her, in some ways I understood her, and I definitely learned a lot from her story. Here is a description:

With the sudden loss of a loved one comes an unavoidable fork in the road. Some succumb to anger and despair, while others seek strength in the healing power of Jesus Christ. When faced with paralyzing sorrow, how can one truly find peace and perspective? In His Hands offers a candid portrait of grief in which one family fights to find a way out of the black hole of grief and into the arms of the Savior. Author Jenny Hess invites readers on her journey from heartache to healing, from the shattering loss of her young son to her personal quest for hope. With grace and wisdom, the heavenly insights gained by one woman navigating through her darkest hours demonstrate that though grief is achingly painful, there are tender mercies to be found along the path.

I cried through most of the first three chapters. This book made me think deeply about two things– 1) Would I grieve the same way she did? I don’t think I would, but I’m sure there would be many similarities, and yet, I simply do not know. I can’t possibly understand what it’s really like unless I’ve experienced a related loss myself. And I don’t want to. Her experience confirmed that for me–it is a dark and ugly path that I hope to God to never have to tread. Her story taught me a lot about all of the many ways that a person and her relationships can be affected by grief. There were so many more emotional, spiritual, mental and even physical levels to it than I ever imagined. I hope that if I ever found myself facing the death of a child… well, I hope I could come through it like Jenny did, and still is. With faith and trust despite the hot pain.

The second thing I thought about was this: 2) How can I help people who experience grief on any level? The scriptures teach us to mourn with those that mourn and to comfort those that need comfort. Her story taught me a great deal about things to do and say and not do and not say when someone is grieving a deep loss. I ate up her examples about things that were helpful and thoughtful to her. People brought meals, ran her errands, made and gave gifts reminiscent of her son, offered gifts and letters and encouragement to her living children, visited her, called her and checked on her, asked her how she was doing and really wanted to know, and were not afraid of her or afraid to talk about her son. People also did and said well-intentioned things that hurt her. I realized that there needs to be some balance between moving on with normal life and also acknowledging the loss and identity of the deceased. I know that people mourn differently, and things that were helpful to her may have been hard for someone else, so I see the value of listening the Spirit and acting and not being afraid to ask questions about what might really be the most helpful or what is hurting the most.

I hope that I will be a better comforter and succorer after reading Jenny and Russell’s story. I think she is incredibly brave. Having written a book myself, I know something of the vulnerability that comes with the territory, and she was very honest and raw with the things she experienced and felt. I know that–although cathartic–it must have been incredibly difficult to do and I’m sure there were fears about how it would be received.

I do not know if Jenny will see this review, but thank you, Jenny, for sharing your journey. It seems that one of your fears is that Russell will be forgotten, but having read your story, I now know Russell even though I never met him. I will remember him, and I think everyone that reads will think about him and continue to keep his memory alive. And thank you for your beautiful testimony of God’s love and plan for His children.

To any of you who have experienced loss or had a front row seat to the loss of a loved one, what are some things that people did or said that was helpful to you? Or meaningful? I would love to have an army of ideas to add to those that Jenny shared in her book because I learned that the healing process is a long and painful road. I want to be someone who makes it better any way I can.

Today for our morning devotional, we talked about baptism and watched this video about the baptism of Jesus Christ. Clark asked “Wasn’t Jesus related to John?,” and Grant answered that they were cousins. That led to a discussion about the rest of Jesus’ family. “Did he have brothers and sisters?” “Was he married?” I answered with what details we do know from the scriptures and explained that there are some details we don’t know.

Natalie asked, “Is there a Heavenly Mother?”

“Of course!,” I said. “We don’t know very much about her, but we definitely have a Heavenly Mother.”

She grinned and thought for a minute. “Do they have cookies in Heaven?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure we get hungry in heaven.”

“Well if they do, moms make the best cookies.”

“Oh, so you think Heavenly Mother would make the best cookies ever?”

She nodded. “You’re probably right,” I said.

Then they had a long discussion about all the delicious things that Heavenly Mother will probably make … a doughnut bigger than the Texas doughnuts…a hundred layer cake…

Sometimes I really love my kids.

Hang in there, toddler moms! You’re not alone.

I especially wish to praise and encourage young mothers. The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work. The young years are often those when either husband or wife—or both—may still be in school or in those earliest and leanest stages of developing the husband’s breadwinning capacities. Finances fluctuate daily between low and nonexistent. The apartment is usually decorated in one of two smart designs—Deseret Industries provincial or early Mother Hubbard. The car, if there is one, runs on smooth tires and an empty tank. But with night feedings and night teethings, often the greatest challenge of all for a young mother is simply fatigue. Through these years, mothers go longer on less sleep and give more to others with less personal renewal for themselves than any other group I know at any other time in life. It is not surprising when the shadows under their eyes sometimes vaguely resemble the state of Rhode Island. … Do the best you can through these years, but whatever else you do, cherish that role that is so uniquely yours and for which heaven itself sends angels to watch over you and your little ones.”  –Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

As promised, I will be sharing more of my notes from the BYU Women’s Conference over the next several weeks, but I wanted to make sure that you all know that many of the talks will be rebroadcast on KBYU and BYUTV this coming week. You won’t want to miss these talks. The ones I heard in person were wonderful, and I’m excited to see those I missed while attending other workshops.  Click on the link below to check the schedule, and move quickly to get them recorded:

BYU WOMEN’S CONFERENCE REBROADCAST SCHEDULE

(As far as I can tell, both of those channels’ websites give you the option of watching live online, so you’re not out of luck if you don’t have satellite TV.)

Coming next week on Women’s Conference Weekly: Notes and thoughts from “The World’s Greatest Champion of Woman and Womanhood is Jesus the Christ” by Cheryl Savage and Ann Marie Toone

I am one of those moms that makes a crazy weekly schedule for summer. I thought I’d share it in case it’s helpful for anyone else or gives you ideas of how to tweak things your own way. Do NOT look at this and feel guilty if you never had any similar intention. *I* do this because it helps me know what to do with my children when they are out of school and suddenly back in my care 24/7. If I did not make a plan or a schedule, I would find myself fretting in bed in the morning while my children got a jump start on chaos. If you are the type of mom who likes to go with the flow and not be pressured by a schedule, then you probably won’t like these ideas, and that’s okay. We can still be friends.

Weekly schedule.  Here’s a link to my chart, but this is the general idea: chores* done by 10 am, then a brief devotional and “summer school” (30 minutes of workbooks, writing, etc.). Mid-day activities include:

Monday:  Money and Menu plan– Allowance and Bank, Plan lunches and dinners for week (this year I’m going to try having each child in charge of one day of lunch and dinner), Grocery shop

Tuesday: Temple, Treat, and Tech– Get a treat and visit a temple, Rent a movie or video game

Wednesday: Service and Play–Humanitarian or other Service, Fun ideas from Pinterest

Thursday: Travel– Day trip or hike

Friday: Library and lunch– go to library and meet daddy for lunch

(This schedule is way more flexible than it may appear. Times are approximate, and we also have swimming lessons and other random calendar commitments, so some days the schedule will get trumped with something else.)

Then we finish off the late afternoons with a “summer snack” (usually a Popsicle), 30 minutes of reading time** followed by some quiet play time, their 30 minutes of media time, then dinner and family time, and finally bedtime– except for Thursday nights when I’ll let them stay up a little later for neighborhood night games.

*Note on chores: I make a daily chart (you’re welcome to download and edit my document here) so that every morning, each person knows exactly what their jobs are that day. Each day as they pass off their work, I will give them some kind of voucher that they can collect and cash in toward their allowance on Mondays. It may be as simple as a labeled popsicle stick. If you have any questions about the chores we do around here, go ahead and ask in the comments.

**Note on reading: You know how a lot of schools have a take-home reading program? Well, I modify that plan and run a similar system at home during the summer. My children like to read and will often pick up books during down-time and definitely at bedtime, but what I love about take-home reading is the assigned content. Sometimes I’m a big fan of forcing things on my poor children, especially when I know it would be good for them to step out of their comfort zone a little and expand their minds by trying a new genre or subject matter. So I did a lot of research about good books for my kids to read, and I went and checked out a lot of them from the library. Then I created big gallon Ziploc bags with their names on them and made a form (here’s a blank one you can download) that lists their “assigned” books. During their reading time every day, they read the book in their bag for as many days as they need to until it’s done. Then I sign it off, and they move on to another book on their list. I love this part of the day because it makes me feel like a children’s librarian, one of those jobs I’m just sure I would love.

So there you have it. It’s kind of like comfort food for the psyche; it makes me feel better to have a summer strategy. Here’s wishing you the best in your own summer preparations. What are some of your favorite strategies?

Congratulations to Holly, who was the winner of the pre-screening tickets to see Ephraim’s Rescue. Yay, Holly!

And I have a question. Actually two. I’m working on a class for youth about recognizing the Spirit.

1. I’m compiling a list of the many ways that the Spirit speaks to us. For me it’s most often through a feeling of reassurance/certainty about something I’m learning and also promptings (which I like to refer to as an idea with teeth that kind of presses on your mind). Can you help me round out the list by adding some of the ways that you have received revelation in your life? I want to show that there are many, many ways that our Heavenly Father communicates with us, and it’s not the same for all people or even for the same person all the time.

2. How have you taught your children or youth to recognize the Spirit? I need a variety of ideas/thoughts/resources since there is such a variety in the ways God speaks to us through the Holy Ghost.

I love doctrine. Here are two recent reads I got from Deseret Book, both written by current apostles:

21 Principles: Divine Truths to Help you Live by the Spirit” by Elder Richard G. Scott. Elder Scott offers 21 principles distilled from his life experiences. These “concentrated truths” will help you understand more fully how to be guided by the Spirit. Elder Scott’s brief explanations open the way for your own discovery and exploration.  I really like this book. There are so many poignant quotes and thoughts and it’s a great, concentrated resource about what is and how to live a spirit-driven life.

“One Drop at a Time: A Message for Women” by Elder M. Russell Ballard.  Do you sometimes wonder if your little efforts could possibly make any difference at all? Consider a simple example from nature.

I would say this book is mostly a “gift book” because it’s short, decorative, and as far as I can tell, basically a lovely reprint of his recent talk “Be Anxiously Engaged.”

Other books: These are kind of random shares I wanted to pass along. When I was doing my own book signing for Covenant Motherhood at the BYU Bookstore during Women’s Conference, I got to share a table with Elyse of SixSistersStuff.com, who was selling their new cookbook. She was really nice and it was fun to get to know her a little, but I didn’t pick up the book because it was a cookbook and they scare me.

Well just a week or two later, I won a copy of their cookbook as a door prize at an event I went to, and I have to confess, I’m pleasantly surprised. The recipes look like great family meals and the ingredient lists and instructions seem really simple. So I’ve decided I’m going to incorporate it into our summer plans by working with one child a night to make dinner. I think the recipes will be simple enough that they can join in and feel like they’re really being chefs.

Because my calendar has been so busy over the last month or so, I’ve done quite a bit of reading for pleasure just as an escape. I love Jane Austen. That’s no shock to anyone who’s read my blog before. I’ve read some Austenesque knock-offs before, and I’ve enjoyed some of them. (Most just can’t measure up to the originals in that genre.) I had heard good things about Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson, so I picked it up and read it recently. In a day. I loved it. It’s probably the best modern-written, Regency-set one I’ve read. So if you’re like me and you’ve heard of it, but haven’t picked it up, you should. Oh, and it just won the best Romance novel of the year at the Whitney Awards last week.  (My friend, Melanie Jacobson, had two books that were finalists in that category because she’s crazy talented. If you like more contemporary, sassy romances, you need to check her stuff out, too.)

Okay, moving on to movies.

Do you like movies that make you weep and thank your lucky stars that you were not a pioneer? Well, I was recently invited to meet the director and lead actor for the new film, Ephraim’s Rescue.

I’m ashamed to say that I was almost wholly unfamiliar with the incredible story of Ephraim Hanks. I think this movie is going to be super powerful, so you know, bring your tissues. It opens in several Utah theaters on May 31.

And finally, prizes. At that movie preview/launch event, Deseret Book offered to let me give away to my own little blog-reading friends two tickets to see a pre-screening of Ephraim’s Rescue. How cool is that? There will be special screenings in St. George (5/25), Ogden (5/28), Logan (5/29), and Orem (5/29). If you’d like to win tickets to that very cool, exclusive event, leave a comment below. Update: I’ll do a drawing for this winner first thing this Saturday morning.  Make sure you leave a valid email address when you sign-in so that I can contact you right away and get you in touch with your tickets on time.

For the win: In the comments, tell me your favorite movie that makes you cry every time. (Please just don’t say “The Notebook.” I’ve never seen it, but people are always saying how it makes them cry, and for some reason, I have an aversion to sobbing while cheesy people are kissing in the rain.)  Ready? Go!

“Do the best you can through these years, but whatever else you do, cherish that role that is so uniquely yours and for which heaven itself sends angels to watch over you and your little ones. …

“Yours is the work of salvation, and therefore you will be magnified, compensated, made more than you are and better than you have ever been as you try to make honest effort, however feeble you may sometimes feel that to be.”  –Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Because She Is a Mother”

Then today, I have a piece up over at LDS Living that highlights some of the reasons why moms should give themselves permission to be celebrated.  It’s called “Hey, Moms: George Washington Wasn’t Perfect Either.” Go check it out and then pat yourself on the back for a minute.

LDS Living is also offering a free e-book for moms that you can download right here.

So do me (and yourself) a favor, and tell me in the comments one thing you do well as a mom, or one good thing you think your children will remember about you. (If it’s really that hard, just ask them. You might be surprised.) I’ll celebrate that with you this Mother’s Day.

In November 2009, I had three small children, ages 6, 5, and 3. I had spent about a year in an intense personal journey to gain a better testimony of my role as a mother. One early morning at the gym, my friend and I had a discussion about the pressures of womanhood and motherhood as we huffed and puffed on the treadmill. My mind sifted through scriptures and I began to put together some thoughts that would later become important ingredients in the book I would eventually write. Many experiences like this one polished my understanding of my divine role. Here is what I learned on the treadmill that day.

…. Read the rest over at Real Intent, where I’m guest posting today.

1. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 4h

   Amen! I bear my testimony that God LOVES His daughters. #holyghostsaysso #byuwc #finaltweet
2. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 4h

   Blessing from Pres. Eyring: You will feel by the Spirit his appreciation for your faithful service as His friend. #byuwc
3. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 4h

   Can I leave “a glorious spiritual heritage” like John Taylor did? Am I a defender of the prophet? #thoughtsinspiredbyEyring #byuwc
4. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 4h

   The gift if the HolyGhost in action= the gift he gives all His friends who are offering sanctification. #Eyring #byuwc
5. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 4h

   The Lord’s power is greater than all the forces that that oppose His faithful servants. #Eyring #byuwc
6. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 4h

   The Lord protects, guides, and watches over those who are His trusted friends. #Eyring #byuwc
7. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 4h

   The friend of God is one for whom the Savior died. #Eyring #bookofjohn #byuwc
8. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 4h

   He’s here! He’s here! #welcomepresidenteyring #byuwc pic.twitter.com/vRgw07nmJB
9. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 4h

   There are physical and spiritual dangers for us and those we love. We will need divine protection. #presEyring #byuwc
10. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 5h

    Gathering at the feet of a living prophet, seer, revelator. Waiting to hear Pres. Eyring. #thegospelisrestored #byuwc pic.twitter.com/hy4ybSO3Hy    View photo

11. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 5h

    Singing all the longest hymns we know while Pres. Eyring is stuck in traffic. #waitingontheLord #byuwc pic.twitter.com/W6Krv1W55H   View photo

12. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 5h

    Just because I can’t do it today doesn’t mean I can’t do it someday. #carlahansen #byuwc
13. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 5h

    The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The 2nd best time to plant a tree is today. # chineseproverb # carlahansen #byuwc
14. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 6h

    The Lord needs healthy servants. He needs us to run and not be weary. #carlahansen #byuwc
15. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 6h

    Count your blessings, not your blemishes. #katiedavis #byuwc
16. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 6h

    You are worth more than a number on a scale. Your weight is not what defines you. #katiedavis #byuwc
17. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 6h

    If you have a relationship you want to improve, try taking them for a walk. #katiedavis #byuwc
18. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 6h

    D&C 59:19 Food enlivens the soul. Food is not the enemy. #katiedavis #byuwc
19. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 7h

    Men can learn. Men can be taught. They don’t learn from criticism. They learn from a constant, elevating vision. #brosandberg #byuwc
20. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 7h

    Making love begins in the kitchen. (Do the dishes.) #sandbergs #byuwc
21. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 7h

    When we nurture love and friendship and marriage, we create a safe haven and a secure base. #sandbergs #byuwc
22. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 7h

    “Pray for the love which allows you to see the good in your companion.” #eldernelson #sandbergs #byuwc
23. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 7h

    When we love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, it’s manifest in the choices we make. #michelleking #byuwc
24. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 8h

    In marriage, we have to avoid negativity just like we avoid pornography. #paraphrased #sandbergs #byuwc
25. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 8h

    Charity is a state of becoming. It is a way of life that takes a lifetime to achieve. #michelleking #byuwc
26. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 8h

    Choose Joy. #michelleking #byuwc
27. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 8h

    We become better and not bitter as we humble ourselves. #michelleking #byuwc
28. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 8h

    “The most common problem in marriage is DRIFT. Life will do that to you if you are not intentional.” #sandbergs #byuwc
29. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 8h

    “If you want something to last forever, you treat it different.” #elderhoward #sandbergs #byuwc

    NEXT WEEK, I’LL TRY TO TAKE THE TIME TO WRITE UP MY NOTES MORE THOROUGHLY AND SHARE THE MESSAGES FROM THE CLASSES I ATTENDED.  SO, HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND, BUT STAY TUNED….

     

(If you click on the links, it will take you to photos, etc.)

1. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 1h

   Hilary Weeks is the goods. Her love song “I Found Me” made me want to go home and kiss my husband on the lips. #byuwc #deseretbookconcert

    
2. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 2h

   Standing ovation for Les Mis medley. #sandraturley #byuwc #deseretbookconcert

    
3. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 2h

   At Deseret Book concert with Sandra Turley singing “For Good” from Wicked #byuwc #deseretbook #wickedthemusical pic.twitter.com/xVd1CSCFFM

    

   View photo

4. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 3h

   When all these groups of women walk across campus, I think to myself, “THIS is God’s Army.” #weareallenlisted #byuwc pic.twitter.com/DRw8UegGbZ

    

   View photo

5. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 6h

   Because God loves us, He labors to make us loveable. #kevinworthen #byuwc

    
6. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 6h

   Eternal love is so much a characteristic of what makes God God that the apostle Paul taught, “God IS love.” #kevinworthen #byuwc

    
7. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 7h

   Sometimes when we are stretched by our children, we find that we are capable of doing more than we thought we could. #peggyworthen #byuwc

    
8. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 7h

   Sometimes we don’t have time to fast and pray; sometimes we only have time to pray fast. #paraphrased #peggyworthen #byuwc

    
9. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 7h

   Family is ordained of God. It is the most important unit in time and in eternity. #churchhandbook #peggyworthen #byuwc

    
10. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 7h

    Beautiful piano/cello duet, “Lead kindly light.” Wish you could hear it. #ldshymns #byuwc

     
11. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 8h

    A loving Heavenly Father listens to our prayers and inspires us what to do to reach a particular child. #sisCallister #pHicken #byuwc

     
12. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 8h

    Keep in mind that children don’t need perfect mothers; children need human mothers that can manage their humanness #motherstylesbook #byuwc

     
13. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 9h

    Teenagers speak another language. Like the brother of Jared, pray to the Lord to not confound their language. #juliegowans #byuwc

     
14. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 9h

    One of the best ways to develop patterns of communication with our children is to build relationships with them. #juliegowans #byuwc

     
15. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 10h

    If the Savior is my greatest champion, am I His? #AMtoone #byuwc

     
16. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 10h

    Heavenly Father expects his daughters to use their influence to change the world, one individual and one family at a time. #AMtoone #byuwc

     
17. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 10h

    Christ gives righteous women more lasting influence than women of the world, especially at the individual and family level. #AMtoone #byuwc

     
18. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 10h

    Christ demonstrated deep familiarity with women’s lives. He appreciated them and ennobled them. #DMK #annemarietoone #byuwc

     
19. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 10h

    Don’t measure your worth or your day by society’s standards. #cherylsavage #byuwc

     
20. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 10h

    This is my stage and my season. I am a warrior. #cherylsavage #byuwc

     
21. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 11h

    You can’t make children behave better by making them feel worse #heatherstephenson #byuwc

     
22. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 11h

    “Grant me the patience to deal with my little blessings” #heatherstephenson #byuwc

     
23. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 11h

    Sometimes your kids don’t need you in their face; they just need you by their side. #aprilmoody #byuwc

     
24. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 12h

    When we live a righteous life, our presence becomes a powerful influence. #aprilmoody #byuwc

     
25. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 12h

    I can control what my presence brings to my family.”If you want peace, yours is the responsibility to obtain it.” -McKay #aprilmoody #byuwc

     
26. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 12h

    Who we are is more important than what we do. Our presence matters. #aprilmoody #byuwc

     
27. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 12h

    Apparently there are alot of us who need a class about controlling our temper. #byuwc pic.twitter.com/jAAxuOjIJ7

     
28. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 13h

    Embrace and own the lives we are given. Find ways to make them useful. #elainemarshall #byuwc

     
29. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 13h

    You cannot live your life in Gethsemane. Jesus was already there. #elainemarshall #byuwc

     
30. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 13h

    The grace is already there; we might as well show up. #elainemarshall #byuwc

     
31. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 13h

    Elaine S. Marshall: All we have to do is press forward with joy to have the only promise we really need: the Lord is with us. #byuwc

     
32. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 13h

    I will be live-tweeting from BYU Women’s conference today. Feel free to follow along. It will almost be as good… http://fb.me/25moXRL6K 

     
33. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 14h

    Sister Linda K Burton: The Lord will be with us even unto the end as we do our part as daughters in the kingdom. #byuwc

     

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34. Stephanie Sorensen ‏@SD_Sorensen 14h

    Let’s get this party started. Loving crowds of good women. #byuwc pic.twitter.com/vYJQpM1TX0

     

    SEE YOU TOMORROW, FRIENDS.

This week is Women’s Conference at BYU. It is two days of great classes, great speakers, and just an overall great opportunity to get away and feast on the word.

I think you should come. Click here to learn more about it.

If you’re not local or just can’t come, never fear! (“Never fear” makes me feel very superhero-ish.) I will be attending lots of great classes and I plan to blog about what I learn. You can go here to see posts I’ve written about women’s conference classes in the past. Also, this time around, I’m going to try to do something wild and crazy and use Twitter to send out some great quotes and fun experiences. I only created my Twitter account a few weeks ago and I don’t even really know how to use it well, but I’m going to try. My handle (which I think is Twitter-talk for username) is @SD_Sorensen and the hashtag (which is also Twitter-talk for something I totally don’t understand) for women’s conference is #byuwc. So there’s that. Over there ——-> (on my sidebar) there’s a place you can subscribe to follow my Twitter account if  you want to.

If you are going to Women’s Conference, I would love to meet you. I’ll be doing a book signing in the BYU Bookstore from 10:30-12:30 on Friday, so come by and say hello!  Since Mother’s Day is kind of the prime marketing time for my book I have several book signings scheduled over the next two weeks starting tomorrow.  Here’s a schedule in case you’d like to come visit or pick up books for gifts or whatever. If you do come, please introduce yourself.

UPCOMING BOOK SIGNING EVENTS for COVENANT MOTHERHOOD:
Wed. 5/1, 11-1, Lehi Costco
Fri. 5/3, 10:30-12:30, Women’s Conference, BYU Bookstore
Sat. 5/4, 2-5, Sandy Costco
Fri. 5/10, 5-7, Lindon Seagull Book
Sat. 5/11, 2-4, Redwood Road Seagull Book, SLC

After that, I’m going to lay in bed for a few days and let my children bring me chocolate bon bons on a silver platter. I’ll probably actually do lots of laundry and surf Facebook for hours with my eyes glazed over. Either way, I’ll recover.

So, in summary: Come. And if you can’t, stay tuned here on the blog or Twitter, and I’ll try to keep you posted. And if you can’t do that, then just send bon bons. I think that about covers it.

p.s. Special thanks to my husband who takes some time off every year so I can go to Women’s Conference. It’s my Mother’s Day gift.

Nick Galieti, who interviewed me about my book a while back (you can listen to that here), wrote me this morning to let me know that he had written an article about it in the Deseret News.

That was a fun surprise.

There were also a couple other surprises.

The title of the article was “LDS author Stephanie Dibb Sorensen invigorates motherhood with practical doctrine”. I love that he used the words motherhood and doctrine together because that’s really what I hope makes the book different. I tried hard to steer away from fluff and to just show through scripture and personal experiences how our daily mothering is really the doctrine of Jesus Christ in action. The word “invigorates” made me laugh a little because, although it’s a great word and it felt like a compliment, the idea that I “invigorate motherhood” just humors me. I spent several hours this week doing yard work. This made me feel old and sore. Ever since I got home from church today, I’ve been fantasizing about taking a nap. I fantasize about naps on most days. So I don’t consider myself a very invigorating specimen of motherhood, but I’m so glad Nick thinks I am.

The other surprise from the article was the discovery that I apparently speak out loud in very long run-on sentences. I should really learn to punctuate a little bit when I speak. I am a fast talker, especially when I’m nervous, but now I know that I also craft paragraph-sized sentences effortlessly.

Warning: subject change….

I’ve been blogging for a long time, and one thing I’ve learned is how thoughtful and smart my readers are. There are many times that your comments have encouraged me or helped to me to gain insight into circumstances and principles. Some of you may have read a recent post I wrote called “An open letter to two real moms.” Among lots of other run-on sentences, I whined a little about book signings and I shared a few lessons I learned from general conference, including this one:

President Packer testified of the power of mothers’ prayers. Sure that means prayers for our children, but I also think it means prayers when we need help being a parent. God will honor those prayers.

Well, this morning I got a comment on that post that is still in my moderation queue, and I’ve been thinking about it most of the day. I have a variety of ideas, but I’m not sure I know how to answer her. I decided that I’m going to open it up to you to help answer her question.

Where is the help, I need it now! I have been poring out prayers to heaven. They say we have this power as a mother to get help from heaven. Well, where is it. I need it, and have been asking for it for years.

I will allow her to remain anonymous and I will email her and let her know that many wise mothers will be sharing some thoughts with her. Be kind to her and answer as if she were your own daughter, because I think she could use a little “invigorating.” Just share your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks, friends.