Dear Lorali
Tonight I stood in line on Temple Square for over 2 hours to ask to be admitted into the Priesthood Session of General Conference. It was rainy and windy and hailing and cold and worth every second. I walked ahead of the group as a line leader and saw the Temple and the gates that they had closed on us. As the entire group passed by me I was overwhelmed with hope and strength, I could feel the arms of the women that went before wrapped around me, keeping me warm and protecting my heart, I joined the back of the line, sweeping the group and standing between them and the protesters as we walked onto Temple Square and into the standby line for priesthood session. I stood in that line for over 2 hours, patiently and reverently thinking and pondering and praying. I see my religion and my faith as one of the greatest gifts that I can give you. I can teach you to have faith in things not seen, I can lead by example when I tell you of your divine nature. I can teach you to open the lines of communication between you, your Heavenly Father AND Heavenly Mother. These are things that I can do to show you MY faith, my religion. It is who I am and I want you to understand that part of me. My Heart belongs to them. While I do theach and show you these things now, I also see our church and I see the inequality, I see that you aren't taught the same things as the boys. I see that you aren't given the same opportunity as them and I see that the church isn't teaching about the amazing, faithful female prophets, and role models that have gone before. They aren't teaching you about YOU, they're theaching you about men. I stood in that line for you, my amazing, divine daughter. It was you who were on my heart and in my mind. I have faith that things will be different for you and for YOUR daughter. You will learn about your mother in heaven and nurture that relationship just as you do with your Savior. You will be able to teach your daughter and her peers about women prophets and priestesses. Someday, you will be able to serve along side your male counterparts as equals. You will be welcome here and there will be a place for YOU. When I got to the front of the line, an incredibly nice woman told me that no, this session was just for the men and boys, regardless of priesthood but tonight I am filled with peace and an amazing overwhelming feeling of peace. It will come The Lord knows our pleas and He is preparing a way.
I love you and miss you and wish you could have been here with me tonight.
Love for eternity,
Mommy
