Sister Hi McNaughtan was the guest speaker. I always enjoy hearing her speak. She is so funny and so inspiring. She began her talk by showing us her own purse. She removed the contents and placed them on a tray. Some of the items in her purse were pretty common, and some were a little humorous. Next she passed the tray around and asked each sister to take one item and try to find a spiritual application for that item. It was easy to do this for some items, but others were more difficult. Those of us sitting at the end of the back row had to pick last. (I think next time we'll sit up front.) Next Sister McNaughtan discussed some other "purse" words that we can each be carrying in our spiritual purses.
"Purse"-erverance - She shared a story of a woman who had been disowned by her family, yet she still continued to write them a letter every week for 11 years. Do we persevere even when things are not easy?
"Purse"-spective - Are we too busy with the things of this world? Are we keeping an eternal perspective?
"Purse"-piration - Are we working hard to serve those around us? Are we serving in our callings? She especially encouraged us to serve others anonymously. When someone receives an anonymous act of service, they wonder who could have done it. Suddenly everyone around them is "guilty" of doing the act of service. The result is always an increased love for others.
"Purse"-sue - What things are we pursing in this life? Are we living worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost? Are we pursuing a testimony of the gospel and the scriptures? Are we pursuing courage to share the gospel and our testimonies?
"Purse"-onal - Do we have a personal testimony of the Savior? The gospel is personal to all of us. God knows each of us and loves each of us. We are all good people. Satan's most powerful lie is to tell us that we aren't good enough, and that we are not worthy of the Celestial Kingdom.
Sister McNaughtan shared a quote by Bruce R. McConkie at the end of her talk. Several sisters in our ward mentioned they were interested in having a copy. We made some copies of the quote and set them on our RS table, but I thought I'd share the quote here too.
STAYING ON THE PATH
"We don't have to get a complex or get a feeling that you have to be perfect to be saved. You don't. There's only been one perfect person, and that is the Lord Jesus. But in order to be saved in the Kingdom of God and in order to pass the test of mortality, what you have to do is get on the straight and narrow path--thus charting a course leading to eternal life--and then, being on that path, pass out of this life in full fellowship...If you're on that path and pressing forward, and you die, you'll never get off the path. There is no such thing as falling off the straight and narrow path in the life to come, and the reason is that life is the time that is given to men to prepare for eternity...You don't have to live a life that is truer than true. You don't have to have an excessive zeal that becomes fanatical and becomes unbalancing. What you have to do is stay in the mainstream of the Church and live as upright and decent people live in the Church--keeping the commandments, paying your tithing, serving in the organizations of the Church, loving the Lord, staying on the straight and narrow path. If you're on that path and death comes--because this is the time and day appointed, this is the probationary estate--you'll never fall off from it, and, for all practical purposes, your calling and election is made sure."
Bruce R. McConkie, "The Probationary Test of Mortality," Address given at U of Utah Institute, 10 January 1982, p11
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