The other day at church an opinion was stated that as members of the Church, we want to appear like everyone else so that others will see we are normal and therefore want to be apart of us. It was in reference to appealing to non-members. I understand what was meant by this statement, but still, I didn't really agree. I believe we need to be different from the world in powerful ways, to stand apart from the crowd, not because we are haughty but because we are distinct, because we have a great sense of purpose (or we should, if we don't). We should not only appear different but BE different because we possess the greatest gift on earth: the Holy Ghost, which, if activated, gives us great power and vision and understanding.
When I heard this comment, I thought of a quote by President Spencer W. Kimball that we have been quoting for thirty years: "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."
Quoting Sheri Dew from here on out: "Are we all that different from the other good women of the world? Are we ever going to do more than just quote President Kimball? We have the gift of the Holy Ghost, a living prophet, spiritual gifts that magnify us, access to priesthood power, ordinances that endow us with knowledge and power, unique leadership training, and the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness. We should be far more distinctive than even the very finest women in the world. But are we? In our every day lives, do we 'talk of Christ,' 'rejoice in Christ,' 'preach of Christ,' and testify of Him (2 Nephi 25:26)? Are we women on a mission to build His kingdom?
"Now, I am not saying we're not doing lots of good in the world. No women anywhere have done so much for so many so often. But I think we need to ask ourselves, 'Are we the women God needs us to be in the latter part of the latter days?'
"If it's any consolation, we're not the first generation to struggle with this. In 1873, Eliza R. Snow said to the Relief Society: 'We are privileged above all other women-kind on the face of the earth. . . . I have thought . . . how necessary for the Saints of the living God to be more of a distinct people than what they are . . . to be as different from the rest of the world as our privileges are more exalted--we should be a shining light to the nations of the earth. But I often say to myself, are we what we should be?'
"We may not be the first generation of sisters to be influenced by the world, but we need to be the last. We've just got to be the last. The Apostle Paul said it best: "It is high time to awake out of sleep. . . . The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light' (Romans 13:11-12; emphasis added).
"Sisters, it is high time for us to arise and have the influence God intended us to have. It is high time for us to lead the women of the world. It is high time for us to model the distinctiveness and happiness that sets true followers of Jesus Christ apart" (Awake, Arise, and Come unto Christ, 2008 BYU Women's Conference).
Let's dare to be different. Let's not be ashamed of our uniqueness. Let's set ourselves apart from the world, for that's really HOW we follow the Savior and become like Him, by choosing Him above trends or popularity. True seekers will see that distinctness with refreshment and follow. I've seen it.
