In this episode I briefly honor Sister Patricia T. Holland, who passed away on July 20, 2023, and share one of my favorite quotes from her about her honest hatred for sewing. (Isn’t that great?!) Then, I share some thoughts about the truly incredible gift we have to choose what we believe. After a recent trip to Eastern Europe, I have reflected often on the freedom we have today to choose our religion and our beliefs, and how billions of people before us never had that choice. We must not take this gift for granted! I challenge listeners to consider what they are doing with their freedom to choose what and how they believe, and offer encouragement to keep ourselves in a place where God can use us to further His work.
“For three-fourths of my life I felt threatened to the core because I hated to sew. Now, I can sew; if it is absolutely necessary, I will sew—but I hate it. Can you imagine my burden over the last twenty-five or thirty years, “faking it” in Relief Society sessions and trying to smile when six little girls walk into church all pinafored and laced and ribboned and petticoated—in identical, hand-sewn dresses, all trooping ahead of their mother, who has a similar outfit? I don’t necessarily consider my attitude virtuous, lovely, of good report or praiseworthy, but I’m honest in my antipathy toward sewing.”
-Sister Patricia T. Holland, “One Thing Is Needful” talk
"We can choose to believe. We can choose to righteously push as we are inspired to do. We can choose so many things. Yes, there are still limitations and things we must wrestle with and things that need to be changed, but we need to have our testimonies cemented in the Doctrine of Christ and His Gospel. This will make all of the difference in our lives. We must keep ourselves in a place where God can use us to further His work.”
-Dr. Susan R. Madsen
Challenge: My challenge to you this week is to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy wherever we live, particularly our freedom of religion. Let’s remember that this freedom is a gift that billions of people throughout time have not been able to enjoy. What are we doing to do with that gift? Make a few notes in your journal. Feel free to share your thoughts with me at unleashingsistersaints@gmail.com or on social media @UnleashingSisterSaints (see links below).
Resources:
Church News Release: Sister Patricia Terry Holland Passes Away
Sister Holland Talk: “One Needful Thing”
Official Church Statement on Religious Freedom
Learn More:
Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at www.susanrmadsen.com
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Contact Me:
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