Resistance

The other morning, I listened to President Joy D. Jones's conference talk, "A Sin-Resistant Generation." She was the only woman who spoke during the general sessions, so I paid particular attention to her unique insight. The title and topic of her talk comes from President Nelson's "A Plea to My Sisters" from October 2015, in which he pleaded for women of the Church to, among other things, "speak up and speak out." President Jones did just that as she explained how we can become, and help others to become, sin-resistant.

"Being sin-resistant," she says, "doesn't mean being sinless, but it does imply being continually repentant, vigilant, and valiant." Doesn't that definition make sin-resistance seem all the more attainable? I like that sin-resistance allows for failure, so long as we repent. We should shed our former selves every day and ask for the Savior to make us new, to make us better than before. He'll ask us to work a little in return, but He will certainly answer that prayer.

Of course, I can't use the words "resist," "resistant," and "resistance" without thinking of Star Wars. 

Indeed, Star Wars supports the ideal that a woman's place is in the resistance. First, there was Princess Leia. Then, came Queen/Senator Amidala. The marvelous Clone Wars show brought Ahsoka Tano, Duchess Satine Kryze, and others. The new movies spotlight my sheroes Rey and Jyn Erso. 

President Jones says that our place, whether woman or man, is in the sin-resistance. Still, I can't help but notice that an emphasis has been placed on the women of the Church to lead out in this resistance. I mean, a woman said it in conference and was quoting a talk specifically directed to women. Perhaps we have been called out because we have so many influential roles in God's kingdom on Earth: as sisters, daughters, descendants, ancestors, mothers, teachers, presidents, counselors, advisers, mentors, speakers, healers, missionaries, writers, scriptorians, community members, council members, committee chairs, and so on. Perhaps it is God's plan for His daughters to lead the resistance against sin. We don't do it alone, but we have particular assignments that only we can fulfill. Didn't the first Relief Society president (at least of this dispensation) tell us that we would be an important part of "something extraordinary"?

Truly, a woman's place is in the sin-resistance. Can we rely on you?