While women today have achieved much in terms of education and contribution to society, they can also struggle with what is real, eternal and important, Sandra Rogers told a gathering of thousands for the opening session of the 2006 Women's Conference at BYU.

Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU

Participants at Women's Conference at BYU visit Sharing Stations where topics from the conference could be further discussed. Some 17,000 women attended the annual two-day event that included service projects.

"Satan has turned up the intensity and enmity of his attacks on the divine roles and contributions of women," said Sister Rogers, chairwoman of the annual conference, held this year May 4-5. "In response, we 'Sisters in Zion' (Hymn No. 309) have been given countless reassurances by prophets of God of the essentiality of our roles in the Lord's plan. There is no confusion for us." (Please see the May 13 issue of Church News for further reports on the 2006 Women's Conference at BYU.)

Continuing, Sister Rogers reminded members of the audience that the Prophet Joseph Smith told the women of Relief Society that if they lived up to their privileges, the angels could not be restrained from being their associates. During the October 2002 general conference, President Hinckley counseled, "I challenge every one of you who can hear me to rise to the divinity within you."

Sister Rogers said there are two truths concerning divine natures. "The first is that we are the spiritual offspring of God, the Father. President Hinckley has said to the women of the Church, 'Know that you are daughters of God, children with a divine birthright.' If we truly understand this inheritance of capacity and worth we would never succumb to the enticements of the world."

Continuing, Sister Rogers said: "As important and fundamental as our inherited divine nature is, we have a second source of divine strength and character. This enabling power comes to us through our acceptance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

She then quoted from Mosiah 5:7-8, including, "And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ . . . for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you. . . ."

Sister Rogers said, "Sisters, this incredible gift of being born of Christ and becoming His daughters is available to us because Christ paid a terrible and awesome price for us in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross of Calvary."

She explained: "We have been blessed with hope twice over because of the truths of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We know that we are children of God with inherited divine qualities. . . . And if we will love Him with all our 'might, mind and strength' then 'his grace shall be sufficient' (Moroni 10:30, 32). Through Christ's mediation, mercy, grace, and love for us, we can be sustained as we work in mortality to learn, acquire, develop and nurture divine, Christlike qualities."

Spiritual gifts, opportunities to make weaknesses strengths, chances to serve and bless are "not to reflect our own goodness, but the glory of our God, whom we love, worship and serve," Sister Rogers added.

She then shared to example of a woman, M'lissa Griffith, whose husband was killed, leaving her with four young children. With extraordinary faith in Christ's promises, Sister Griffith put herself into the hands of the Master and forgave the man who took her husband's life. She has also befriended and is helping the other man's wife.

"Sisters, in a time of unlimited options and voices, we can choose to hear the voice of God, through our beloved prophet, calling us to 'rise to the divinity within.' "