September 2014 General Women’s Meeting – Linda K. Burton

Linda K. Burton

Linda K. Burton, General President of the Relief Society, opened this Women’s Meeting as the first speaker – and set the theme of “Temples” which continued throughout the meeting.

She discussed being prepared for the temple – starting with Jesus’ parable of the Ten Virgins: five of whom were prepared for Christ’s coming with oil in their lamps and five of whom did not prepare and were not ready to welcome Christ, the bridegroom. President Burton noted (and I agree with her) that gaining symbolic “oil” is a slow and consistent, life-long process.

She continues with the suggestion that the home is one place where we can prepare to enter the temple: creating a home environment that is peaceful and full of the spirit (like the temple) acclimates us to “things of the spirit”.  We, therefore, will feel comfortable  in the temple, allowing our spirit to receive revelation from heaven.  She emphasizes the importance of saving ordinances.

President Burton focuses most of her examples and her quotes on the Savior, which I appreciate.  Throughout her Presidency she has focused on Christ and that has impressed me.

While I found her personal stories in this particular talk were simplistic and her language overly “flowery”, I thought her message came across and was positive: prepare now and each day to know the Savior and to be ready to partake in the saving ordinances of the temple.