The Remarkable Women of God

Neal A. Maxwell, “The Women of God,” Ensign, May 1978, 10

Divinely determined, in another place and time

Men were given the priesthood and leadership line

Paralleling, then, with an influence for good

The role of mothering was given to womanhood

Both foreordained before foundations of the world

Certain women were given tasks for history unfurled

Divine design brought Mary as the mother of Jesus;

And a woman to retrieve Moses hidden in the bullrush

Their's to demonstrate how a baby is a blessing

With love and promise in the purest form expressing

A mother, Lucy Mack influenced a whole dispensation

While Ruth's love for Naomi taught of loyalty's obligation

Verse 1] Divinely determined, in another place and time Men were given the priesthood and leadership line Paralleling, then, with an influence for good The role of mothering was given to womanhood Both foreordained before foundations of the world Certain women were given tasks for history unfurled [Pre-Chorus] Divine design brought Mary As the mother of Jesus And a woman to retrieve Moses Hidden in the bullrush Their's to demonstrate How a baby is a blessing With love and promise In the purest form expressing [Chorus] Foreordained before the world (before the world) A mother's call was given Foreordained before the world (to bless the living) Mary, Ruth, and every woman Held by heaven's hand (held by heaven's hand) Love and promise rising In the purest form we stand [Verse 2] A mother, Lucy Mack influenced a whole dispensation While Ruth's love for Naomi taught of loyalty's obligation Quiet faith can move a people through the hardest years And faithful hands can answer history with tears When you see a child, you see a gift from God A covenant of tenderness in the road we walk [Bridge] Not lesser, not later But chosen for the hour A hidden kind of power A patient, sacred power To gather, guard, and guide To lift the broken small (guide and lift and gather) And leave a light behind for all [Chorus] Foreordained before the world (before the world) A mother's call was given Foreordained before the world (to bless the living) Mary, Ruth, and every woman Held by heaven's hand (held by heaven's hand) Love and promise rising In the purest form we stand

God, with His perfect regard for women, insists that we give care
Unto the lonely widows who teach us of sacrifice and giving
One, with her last meal and oil, gave it all to Elijah, trusting there...
As, too, the widow's mite exemplifies the principle of  tithing

Imagine Elisabeth, with a babe within to carry
A promise to her fulfilled, though she was beyond in age
Then to know why as her fetus, leapt in recognition of Mary!
This, the greatest sign of anticipation recorded on any page!

Does it not tell us, too, of their intrinsic intelligence
When at the horrid crucifixion scene: the Lord at Calvary
Women suffered in sorrow, extending their love hence
And offered themselves in presence, their lingering... a litany

Keeping hope...filled with spiritual sensitivity
Too, they came to prepare the torn body of Christ
Mary Magdalena kept herself near, in proximity
And witnessed His resurrection, the risen hope of life

Is it no wonder God placed His trust in women
Known to forget their sorrows that comfort might be shown
Thus it is for women to bear and care for God's children
As... their compassionate service seems by instincts to be known

Verse 1] Rocking a child, gently She knows the world won't pass her by For she is holding tomorrow's future Tightly in her arms Throughout the world Comes the shaping sounds of lullabies And the soothing call for peacemaking That sweetly disarms [Pre-Chorus] As women of Zion They know their bodies are not their own So they guard what is sacred And they do not walk alone [Chorus] Women of Zion, rise Women of Zion, shine God has not left you behind Women of Zion, shine Beauty of the earth Blooming where you stand Heaven sees your hands Heaven knows your name [Verse 2] Thus, they refuse To make the sacred womb a dark fetal tomb Ever shaping society With hearts and hands at home Those without husbands or children Or even both Still know that God loves them They are noble and great [Pre-Chorus] That mortality Is but a season of trial, learning, and growth And in eternity Those special blessings await [Chorus] Women of Zion, rise Women of Zion, shine God has not left you behind Women of Zion, shine Beauty of the earth Blooming where you stand Heaven sees your hands Heaven knows your name [Bridge] Eternal partners, as equals Are supportive, sealed together In the temple, before the veil And the altar, the bond becomes clear Of our regal homecoming To our eternal Father and mother She, too, makes preparations Planning sights and sounds we'll hear [Chorus] Women of Zion, rise Women of Zion, shine God has not left you behind Women of Zion, shine Beauty of the earth Blooming where you stand Heaven sees your hands Heaven knows your name

Verse 1] God, with His perfect regard for women, insists that we give care Unto the lonely widows who teach us of sacrifice and giving One, with her last meal and oil, gave it all to Elijah, trusting there... As, too, the widow's mite exemplifies the principle of tithing [Chorus] Known to forget their sorrows That comfort might be shown It is for women to bear and care It is for women to bear and care () [Verse 2] Imagine Elisabeth, with a babe within to carry A promise to her fulfilled, though she was beyond in age Then to know why as her fetus, leapt in recognition of Mary! This, the greatest sign of anticipation recorded on any page! [Pre-Chorus] Does it not tell us, too, of their intrinsic intelligence When at the horrid crucifixion scene: the Lord at Calvary Women suffered in sorrow, extending their love hence And offered themselves in presence, their lingering... a litany [Chorus] Known to forget their sorrows That comfort might be shown It is for women to bear and care It is for women to bear and care () [Bridge] Keeping hope...filled with spiritual sensitivity Too, they came to prepare the torn body of Christ Mary Magdalena kept herself near, in proximity And witnessed His resurrection, the risen hope of life [Final Chorus] Is it no wonder God placed His trust in women Known to forget their sorrows that comfort might be shown Thus it is for women to bear and care for God's children Thus it is for women to bear and care for God's children

Rocking a child...gently, she knows the world's won't pass her by

For she is holding tomorrow's future tightly in her arms

Throughout the world, comes the shaping sounds of lullabies

And the soothing call for peacemaking that sweetly disarms

As women of Zion, they know their bodies are not their own

Thus, they refuse to make the sacred womb a dark fetal tomb

Ever shaping society by having hearts and hands at home

Thus the beauty of the earth is truly theirs to bloom

Those without husbands or children, or even both

Still know that God loves them,  they are noble and great

That mortality is but a season of trial, learning, and growth,

And that in the eternity those special blessings await

Eternal partners, as equals are supportive...sealed  together

In the temple...before the veil and the altar, the bond becomes clear

Of our regal homecoming, to our eternal Father.... and mother

She, too, makes preparations... planning sights and sounds we'll hear

[Verse 1] Rocking a child, gently She knows the world won't pass her by For she is holding tomorrow's future Tightly in her arms Throughout the world Comes the shaping sounds of lullabies And the soothing call for peacemaking That sweetly disarms [Pre-Chorus] As women of Zion They know their bodies are not "their own" So they guard what is sacred And they do not walk alone [Chorus] Women of Zion, rise Women of Zion, shine God has not left you behind Women of Zion, shine Beauty of the earth Blooming where you stand Heaven sees your hands Heaven knows your name [Verse 2] Thus, they refuse To make the sacred womb a dark fetal tomb Ever shaping society With hearts and hands at home Those without husbands or children Or even both Still know that God loves them They are noble and great [Pre-Chorus] That mortality Is but a season of trial, learning, and growth And in eternity Those special blessings await [Chorus] Women of Zion, rise Women of Zion, shine God has not left you behind Women of Zion, shine Beauty of the earth Blooming where you stand Heaven sees your hands Heaven knows your name [Bridge] Eternal partners, as equals Are supportive, sealed together In the temple, before the veil And the altar, the bond becomes clear Of our regal homecoming To our eternal Father and mother She, too, makes preparations Planning sights and sounds we'll hear [Chorus] Women of Zion, rise Women of Zion, shine God has not left you behind Women of Zion, shine Beauty of the earth Blooming where you stand Heaven sees your hands Heaven knows your name

Thoughts from:

Neal A. Maxwell
The Women of God
Ensign, May 1978, 10