YW

Today I feel so incredibly blessed to have a calling in the Young Women's program in my ward. I can't necessarily put into coherant sentences the things I learned from them today, but I'd like to share a few  things they put in my heart:

1st: This story by President Uchtdorf which touched me profoundly to hear again:

• A story is told that during the bombing of a city in World War II, a large statue of Jesus Christ was severely damaged. When the townspeople found the statue among the rubble, they mourned because it had been a beloved symbol of their faith and of God’s presence in their lives. Experts were able to repair most of the statue, but its hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be restored. Some suggested that they hire a sculptor to make new hands, but others wanted to leave it as it was—a permanent reminder of the tragedy of war. Ultimately, the statue remained without hands. However, the people of the city added on the base of the statue of Jesus Christ a sign with these words:

 “You are my hands.”

• There is a profound lesson in this story. When I think of the Savior, I often picture Him with hands outstretched, reaching out to comfort, heal, bless, and love. And He always talked with, never down to, people. He loved the humble and the meek and walked among them, ministering to them and offering hope and salvation.
• That is what He did during His mortal life; it is what He would be doing if He were living among us today; and it is what we should be doing as His disciples...As we emulate His perfect example, our hands can become His hands; our eyes, His eyes; our heart, His heart.

2nd:  This beautiful song sung in a fireside tonight that brought tears to my eyes:

I couldn't help but become emotional at the words "I didn't come to earth to compromise," because I feel that since my illness hit a year & 1/2 ago until just recently I have done just that. Not so anymore. Repentance is a gift that I intend to use.