We Believe

I very much admire Sheri Dew, former counselor in the general presidency of the Relief Society. She is a true leader and a great example. I love her straightforwardness and her ability to lift and inspire others. The following are just a few of my favorite quotes from what she has said. I enjoy pondering them, because her insights are a help to me. There are more "Sheri Dew" quotes that I would like to share in the coming weeks. Do any of you have a favorite Sheri Dew quote, or quote from any other person who is an inspiration to you, that you would like to share?

SHERI DEW:

"When we label one another, we make judgments that divide us from each other and inevitably alienate us from the Lord...We gain nothing by segregating ourselves based on superficial differences. What we have in common - particularly our commitment to the same glorious cause - is so much more significant than any distinctions in our individual lives."

"It is simply not for us to judge each other. The Lord has reserved that right for Himself, because only He knows our hearts and understands the varying circumstances and complexities of our lives."

"There is nothing more vital to our success and our happiness here than learning to hear the voice of the Spirit. It is the Spirit who reveals to us our identity, which isn't just who we are but who we have always been. And when we know that, our lives take on a sense of purpose so compelling that we can never be the same again."

"The gift of the Holy Ghost is a gift of power. The Holy Ghost inspires and heals, guides and warns, enhances our natural capacities, inspires charity and humility, makes us smarter than we are, strengthens us during trials, testifies of the Father and the Son, and shows us 'all things' that we should do. He helps us do more and become more than we could ever do or become on our own."

"No amount of time in front of the mirror will make us as attractive as does having the Holy Ghost with us."

"The gift of charity is the greatest of all the gifts of the Spirit. But it may be the most underestimated. We tend to define charity as something we do or feel. But in our Father's vernacular, charity means much more. It is the word He uses to describe the character, nature and very essence of His Son. Charity is who the Savior is. So when we plead for the gift of charity, we aren't asking for lovely feelings toward someone who bugs us or has injured us. We are actually pleading for our natures to be changed and for our character to become more and more like the Savior's."

"While life is meant to test, challenge, and strengthen us, if we are attempting to negotiate the twists and turns and ups and downs of mortality alone, we're doing it all wrong. Mortality is a test, but it is an open book test. We have access not only to the divine text but to Him who authored it."

"We believe in progression, and progression is by design difficult. Though our knees buckle at times under life's pressures, none of us want to stay just like we are. Embedded within our spirits is the need to become more and more like our Father."

My love to all the family,
Jeanne