Sister Beck

With Amy Harris in Camarillo

With Martha Macias & Karen Macias in Oxnard

I got to meet Sister Beck! I didn't get to take a picture with her {it kind of wasn't appropriate} but after the Women's Conference we had on Saturday I got to shake her hand and thank her for the inspirational talk she gave. She spoke in the Camarillo stake center and on Sunday Feb 1st she attended the Oxnard Spanish wards and gave her testimony in Spanish there.

Here's a synopsis on what she spoke on Saturday:

She came for the sole purpose of training the sisters in the Relief Society presidencies. So, on Saturday at 1 pm she had a training meeting {which Franco translated into Spanish for the Spanish-speaking sisters--lucky!} for four stakes--Camarillo, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, and Westlake {I think}. Franco shared a lot of what he heard with me. She had kind of a "question--answer" meeting.

After the training, all the sisters 18 & up met at the Camarillo stake center and she had another question--answer meeting from 4-5:15 pm. Here are some of the questions & answers:

* Q: What can I do as a young mother to feel edified when I go to church or participate in Relief Society when I have a rowdy young child to attend to? { Sugeyri actually asked this one--she's brave!}

* A: Basically, don't stop doing anything just because you have to be a mother. Ask for help. Continue going to the temple & studying the scriptures. Pray for help & guidance, and most of all, enjoy being a mother. The work never stops.

* Q: How can I help my friends/family/children who have left the church for some reason or other to come back?

* A: They have lost hope. They need that hope restored. They need to know that Jesus is the Christ and that He died for them; that He resurrected & He will come again. They need that support and that Holy Spirit of promise will testify to them that the church is true. Continue being their friend & never stop loving them.

She also gave a great example about Adam & Eve and how they rejoiced in their parenthood. They never regretted having to leave the garden of Eden, where life was so simple & happy. Their children weren't all stalwart & righteous. But they knew that no matter what, they had done their part.

* Q: What support can we give women/families who are bogged down by problems having to do with pornography?

* A: They are our sisters/friends. We can support them by visit teaching. By being examples.

They can see a counselor; they need to know they can be helped & that repentance is for everyone. {She said many more things, but I forgot to bring my journal where I wrote them down.}

Sister Beck has a spirit about her that enlightens us all. She's very wise & knows exactly what we as sisters and women of the world need to know at this difficult time. I'm grateful I got to hear her words and feel her spirit.