Sister Linda K. Burton, General Relief Society President spoke in the women's session of conference in April 2017. She speaks about the scriptures using the term "certain women" and says that the meaning of this term is to distinguish these women as certain in their knowledge of the Savior and His atonement.
She talks about need for us to sacrifice along our journey of discipleship. Sacrifice brings blessings to us that can't be obtained without our willingness to demonstrate our commitment to the Savior.
She shares an account of some women she met on a recent trip to Asia.
Sister Burton encourages us to remember the "certain women" in the scriptures when we are in need to encouragement and a lift on our journey of discipleship.
When life gets hard, we should remember the example of Martha from the scriptures.
She concludes with encouragement to continue through the struggles of life. She wants us to be "certain" in our testimonies of the Savior and His atonement. She encourages us to be people of faith who celebrate the wonderful gift the Savior has given to us.
This talk has stuck out to me as one of the best from this last general conference. Although I have read these term "certain woman" several times in my life, it never jumped out on the page to me as meaningful. Sister Burton changed that for me as she shared stories of women who are "certain" in the testimonies of the Savior and His atonement. I want to be "certain" in my testimony and Sister Burton gives us the encouragement to continue down the path of discipleship until the day comes that we can call ourselves "certain" in our own testimonies of the Savior and His atonement.
- I have read and passed over the seemingly unremarkable expression “certain women” numerous times before, but recently as I pondered more carefully, those words seemed to jump off the page. Consider these synonyms of one meaning of the word certain as connected to faithful, certain women: “convinced,” “positive,” “confident,” “firm,” “definite,” “assured,” and “dependable.”
- Certain women are disciples centered in the Savior Jesus Christ and have hope through the promise of His atoning sacrifice
She talks about need for us to sacrifice along our journey of discipleship. Sacrifice brings blessings to us that can't be obtained without our willingness to demonstrate our commitment to the Savior.
- Covenant-keeping discipleship requires our willingness to sacrifice.
She shares an account of some women she met on a recent trip to Asia.
- On my recent assignment to Asia, I was once again inspired by the many certain women I met. I was particularly impressed with first-generation members in India, Malaysia, and Indonesia who strive to live the gospel culture in their own homes, sometimes at great sacrifice, as gospel living often clashes with family and country cultures. The multigenerational certain women I met in Hong Kong and Taiwan continue to bless the lives of their families, Church members, and communities by remaining centered in the Savior and willingly sacrificing to keep covenants. Similar certain women are found throughout the Church.
Sister Burton encourages us to remember the "certain women" in the scriptures when we are in need to encouragement and a lift on our journey of discipleship.
- When we have become distracted, doubtful, discouraged, sinful, sorrowful, or soul-stretched, may we accept the Lord’s invitation to drink of His living water, as did the certain woman at the well, inviting others to do the same as we bear our own certain witness: “Is not this the Christ?”
When life gets hard, we should remember the example of Martha from the scriptures.
- When life seems unfair, as it must have seemed to Martha at the death of her brother—when we experience the heartaches of loneliness, infertility, loss of loved ones, missing opportunities for marriage and family, broken homes, debilitating depression, physical or mental illness, stifling stress, anxiety, addiction, financial hardship, or a plethora of other possibilities—may we remember Martha and declare our similar certain witness: “But I know … [and] I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God.”
She concludes with encouragement to continue through the struggles of life. She wants us to be "certain" in our testimonies of the Savior and His atonement. She encourages us to be people of faith who celebrate the wonderful gift the Savior has given to us.
- May we remember the many certain women who refused to abandon our precious Savior during the excruciating experience He suffered on the cross and yet hours later were privileged to be among the certain witnesses of His glorious Resurrection. Let us be found staying close to Him in prayer and scripture study. Let us draw ourselves near to Him by preparing for and partaking of the sacred emblems of His atoning sacrifice weekly during the ordinance of the sacrament and as we keep covenants by serving others in their times of need. Perhaps then we might be part of the certain women, disciples of Jesus Christ, who will celebrate His glorious return when He comes again.
This talk has stuck out to me as one of the best from this last general conference. Although I have read these term "certain woman" several times in my life, it never jumped out on the page to me as meaningful. Sister Burton changed that for me as she shared stories of women who are "certain" in the testimonies of the Savior and His atonement. I want to be "certain" in my testimony and Sister Burton gives us the encouragement to continue down the path of discipleship until the day comes that we can call ourselves "certain" in our own testimonies of the Savior and His atonement.
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