We read in the Book of Mormon about the two thousand stripling warriors, the young men who did not fear death because of the deep faith they had in the Lord and His sovereign power. These are the boys called the Sons of Helaman, who told their leader that they knew the love of the Lord because their mothers had taught them. They were willing to serve and to be obedient, even unto death, because of the faith their mothers demonstrated to them.
My daughter attended Girls’ Camp for the first time this year, and her leaders chose a theme that was so brilliant, it took my breath away with its simplicity and brought me an “a-ha” moment. They chose to call themselves “The Daughters of Helaman.”
While those two thousand young men were being taught at their mothers’ knees, their sisters were there too, hearing the same lessons, believing on the same words. In my mind’s eye, I picture the mother and daughters working together to grind corn while the boys lift the big grindstones for them, and they discuss the gospel while they work. Just as those boys were instructed in the ways of the Lord, so were the daughters, and what amazing young women they must have been. They weren’t asked to go off and fight a war, but just imagine how their influence must have been felt on the home front. They must have shared those stories of faith with their younger brothers and sisters. They must have used the spirit in their hearts to serve those around them, see to the needs of those that were suffering, and helped their mothers care for those who were left alone when their sons went to battle. And, when those young men came home, strengthened not only physically but spiritually, who would they marry but those strong, stalwart young women who believed as they believed and would help them raise up another generation in righteousness?
The camp leaders made a special point to teach the girls of the importance of a strong woman in today’s society. We’ve been taught that a woman’s influence is more powerful than we even realize, and that a righteous woman’s influence can make all the difference in this time of chaos and evil. If we can teach all our children the gospel, just as the mothers of the stripling warriors did, so that our sons and our daughters can say with conviction that they do not doubt because their mothers know it, imagine the incredible force for good we can send out into the world. Not just two thousand, not just two hundred thousand, but hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of brave, spiritual warriors in the fight against evil.
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