The Book of Mormon is full of examples of faithful women, who stood strong in spite of opposing voices around them.
Can you imagine Sariah’s fear when men sought her husband’s life? And how he told her that they needed to leave all of their luxuries behind and travel to the sea, cross the sea into the unknown, and never return? Maybe he didn’t tell her that part right away…
But she went anyway. She, along with those other incredible women, helping birth one another’s babies. The Lord didn’t demand that they do a lot of cooking, thank goodness. He actually prepared the meat for them. What a kindness for those women! Nephi’s wife, seeing the murmuring actions of some of her sisters, still held fast and firm to her prophet-husband. From the very beginning, it was those faithful to God, and the unknown, who stood up to the complainers who kept trying to shirk their responsibilities and ultimately resorted to hatred and murder. (1 Nephi)
After King Benjamin’s speech, the people rose up and cried in one voice that they believed. At this motion, King Benjamin said, “…ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters…” (Mosiah 5:2-7) From that point they were filled with joy and became one.
Alma and Amulek helplessly watched men, women, and children thrown into a raging fire because they had testimonies of the gospel. “…Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire…”, but it was Alma who said, “…the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory…” (Alma 14:10-11)
When Lamoni fell to the ground, after asking forgiveness of the Lord, the Queen entered the room to see a Nephite standing over her prostrate husband. Ammon explained that the King “is not dead, but sleepeth in God. Believest thou this?” Her simple, but profound response was, “I have had no witness save thy word, and the word of our servants; nevertheless I believe…” Ammon proclaimed, “…there has not been such great faith among all the people of the Nephites.” (Alma 19:8-10) This was a Lamanite woman being compared to the Nephites.
Of course, we love the story of Abish, who stood alone in her belief, but was there to bear witness when the missionaries arrived. (Alma 19:16-17)
The People of Ammon were so converted to God they refused to look back at what they were, and only look forward. Faithful mothers who did not doubt themselves taught the Stripling Warriors to never doubt. (Alma 56: 47)
The people who survived the destruction, at the time of Jesus Christ’s visit to the Americas, were all converted. All were made free, all things were common, and there were no disputations. There never were a happier people. They were of one mind and heart. (4 Nephi 1:1-18)
We don’t have a record of very many women in the Book of Mormon, but the women we know about were strong, faithful women—Holy Women. These are the examples we should follow. We understand their hardships, but more importantly, we should strive to understand their testimonies, live the way they lived, teach the way they taught, believe the way they believed.
As well, let us heed a loving god who warns us against living a life of ease and carelessness (see Isaiah 32:9-11), or a mother that neglects, or worse refuses, to teach her child the gospel (see 4 Ne 1:38).
Instead, let her hearken to the ideal of a virtuous woman (see Proverbs 31:10-31). Let her words speak and teach of her love of the Lord, guiding her children toward the ordinances necessary for salvation (see Deut 6:5-7, D&C 68:25,28). Let her faith save her, as well as her children (see Luke 7:50, Matt 15:28).
Simply stated, this is what she should know and understand for herself first; then she can teach, and testify: (see Moses 6:55-60).
The Painting is Hannah by Elspeth Young