Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were counseled by former General Relief Society President Mary Ellen Smoot to find inner strength through service and unity.

"Over the past five years I have met with sisters from Africa to Spain," President Smoot said. "I have marveled at their inner strength, and I have been inspired by the depth of their testimonies."

President Smoot counseled women of the church to develop inner strength by giving service.

"When we are truly converted, our focus shifts from self to others," President Smoot said. "We can find inner strength through service."

She advised women of the church to "find ways to build spiritual strength, develop personal skills, strengthen the home and family and provide gospel service."

"By so doing," she continued, "we will become less preoccupied with our problems and more dependent on God."

Inner strength can also be found in unity, President Smoot said.

"Unity of purpose, thought and feeling are exalting qualities," President Smoot said. "When we can put aside our differences and value each others' strengths, great things happen."

She said greater unity will be achieved as women follow the format of the visiting teaching messages and invite other women to read from the scriptures and to share insights and experiences about gospel principles.

"Sisters, if you will follow this format, you will feel more unity with your companion and with those you teach," President Smoot said. "You will be strengthened spiritually."

President Smoot told the story of Susanna Lloyd, who crossed the plains with the Willie Handcart Company in 1856 when she was 26 years old.

"Over the course of rocky ridges and extreme hardship came a deep conviction," President Smoot said. "Her faith had been tried, and her conversion was concrete. She had been refined in ways that the very best mirror could not reflect. Susanna had prayed for strength and found it-deep within her soul."

During the difficult trek, Lloyd had sold her mirror for a piece of buffalo meat, President Smoot said.

"Like Susanna, we may have to sell our looking glass in order to cross the plains of pain, sorrow, and discouragement," she said. "But as we do, we will discover God-given strengths that we may not have otherwise known."

Copyright Brigham Young University 6 Apr 2002