Being Published- Sneak Preview

If you asked me at any point in my life if I would ever write something that would be published I would have laughed and said NEVER, I am not a writer. Most of my nevers in this life have been blasted to pieces and blown to the wind. This one is no different. Amazingly enough I am being published. It is not a big deal- a very short article for the Ensign I submitted a month or two ago. BUT... it is still a surreal , exciting moment to receive an acceptance letter to have your name in print.



Dear Author:
We are pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been accepted for possible publication in the Ensign. We ask that you sign the attached form. The purpose of the attached document is to define and protect your rights as the creator of the work, as well as our rights as the purchaser...


Here is a sneak preview of the article for all of my loyal readers!

Similarities and Differences

There is a particular Relief Society lesson given in a young single adult ward I will never forget. At the beginning of the lesson there was a T table on a white board with the first section labeled Similarities and the second labeled Differences. As the lesson proceeded, the teacher asked us to start by making a list of the similarities between a married Relief Society sister and a single Relief Society sister. There was an almost audible groan from the collective whole and a collective mind freeze at the onset of this activity- What could possibly be similar? One sister started us off with a hint of sarcasm stating, “Well we are all female”. And that seemed to neatly sum up how we felt on the subject. But the teacher persisted. Gradually hearts opened and the list began to grow: hopes, fears, strengths, weaknesses, responsibilities, talents, the gospel, covenants, faith, courage, potential, pain, sorrows, fatigue, personal need of the atonement… and the list continued. Finally, the teacher had to stop taking comments to move on with the lesson. The teacher now continued by asking us to list our differences. Everyone immediately called out, “Husband!” But then there was a stunned silence- there HAS to be more than that! The board ended up with a few attempts at finding our differences such as -may or may not have kids and different responsibilities/priorities. What we thought would be the short list ended up being the long list and what we thought would be the long list was actually the short list. I did not know how different I let myself believe I was from other sisters in the gospel simply because they are married and I am not. I felt this simple list instill a kindred bond of unity and I saw with new eyes.

This simple lesson not only built a bridge between married sisters and I- a single sister, but between all of God’s children and I. As children of God, our differences lie in the details and packaging of our lives. The similarities between God’s children are so great that if we choose to focus on them unity is bound to increase. Satan and his work thrive by enhancing our differences, teaching us that we cannot relate to one another. I hope and pray we will see each other with eyes focused on our similarities enabling us to come closer to Zion- being of one heart and one mind.