Daughters in My Kingdom

One of the most powerful book I've ever read is "Daughters in My Kingdom." The first time I read it, I read it because Sis. Beck, who was at the time the General Relief Society President, was coming to speak to the girls in my stake and she asked us to read it. I did, but it didn't really do much for me. Then, last summer, our Relief Society decided to read it together. Because I wasn't distracted with homework assignments and huge to-do lists, I was able to really focus on it this time. It was absolutely amazing. I loved reading this book so much because it gave me real, strong, admirable role models to look up to. The following is part of a letter I sent my friend while I was in the middle of reading the book. I think it sums up my experience reading the book fairly well:

"I’ve had such an amazing experience reading DIMK. I think that Heavenly Father told me to have the Relief Society read the book mainly just because I needed to read it. I’ve only gotten through a third of it, but already it has better strengthened my testimony of Relief Society than any other talk, scripture, or manual ever has. Relief Society is awesome. And the women of the church are even awesomer. I used to always feel so disconnected from Relief Society because I felt like it was so old and stuffy. Reading this book, however, has helped me realize that, like I said earlier, the women of the early church weren't pushovers. I admire their courage and testimony and strength. This book has given me the right kind of role models to look up to. Not the skinny, worldly kinds we see in the movies and the magazines. No. These women knew God, and wanted to follow Him. They served and served and served and never stopped. They loved their families and let the God-given female desires they had lead and guide and motivate them. They weren’t ashamed to want to have kids and to nurture and love and…well, to be feminine.

Not going to lie—I’ve kinda grown up my whole life a little afraid? Embarrassed? Against the fact? that I’m a girl because girls can be annoying and obsessed with silly things like makeup and clothes. I like running around and getting dirty and doing ‘boy’ things. Also not going to lie—I’ve never liked the stereotype of the girl who comes to college just to get married. And for a while I felt like saying that I was—am—excited to have kids and a family made me feel like I was a part of that stereotype. This book, however, has taught me that being a girl isn’t about the hair and the makeup and the frills. It’s about taking care of a family. And it’s a good thing to want to take care of a family and that I shouldn’t be ashamed of the feminine qualities God has given me. These women weren’t, and as such, they had a greater capacity to love and serve those around them and to be just plain amazing. They weren’t ashamed to be who God made them to be. They were women—and happy and proud of it! I want to be like that, and reading this book is helping me to be more like that. I have not a doubt in my mind that it was inspired by God. I’m so grateful that we have leaders who are awesome enough to seek out Gods will and to follow it so that we can benefit from their efforts."