This year, BYU Women’s Conference was a combination of live-streamed and pre-recorded addresses and musical numbers featuring several BYU administrators, faculty and staff. Centered around the theme of "I Am a Child of God: His Promises Are Sure," speakers shared thoughts on compassionate service during difficulty, inclusion, and our divine heritage. Beginning with a musical performance where the words "For it means everything to me to be His child" were sung, examples of peace, faith and divinity were powerfully shared in each session. While it's impossible to cover every speech from Women's Conference, here's a collection of quotes from several sessions.
1. Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
“For years, you have sung those words 'I am a child of God.' You have spoken them in your homes and at church, in Primary, Young Women and Relief Society. But do you believe it? The doctrine of divinity within us is clear. If, as the first article of faith states, we believe in God the Eternal Father, then it follows that we are His children.”
2. Liz Darger, BYU
"Bridges, Not Barricades: Fostering Understanding and Unity in a Divisive World"
“With a faith-informed plan utilizing personally cultivated bridge-building tools, we can learn the healer’s art of dialoguing across difference and truly build bridges of understanding.”
3. Spencer Fluhman, BYU
"Relationships with Loved Ones during Faith Transitions"
“When we begin to see ourselves as the prodigal in that famed biblical parable, we are better able to minister to that prodigal daughter or that prodigal father. When we see them as in process and recognize the same in ourselves, we can forgive their wandering because we know we must.”
4. Michelle D. Craig, Young Women General Presidency
Sister-to-Sister Event
“There is not one way to be a covenant-keeping woman of God. We need to give each other grace. We need to give grace to each other and ourselves and assume that everybody is doing the best they can!”
5. Michalyn Steele, BYU
"If thou Knewest the Gift of God"
“Just as the Lord stands ready to bind up our broken hearts, he asks that we too be clothed with the bonds of charity or perfect love in our relationships with one another.”
6. Sharon Eubank, Relief Society General Presidency
"The Promise of Belonging"
"No matter where we live, all of us have had times of anxiety during the pandemic. But because of those experiences, it can actually be unifying. Our hearts are more tender toward one another, and we understand every heart has a hidden sorrow. Everyone is isolated in some way, and we all need reassurance that we’re cared about and that we’re valued, and that we belong.”
7. Chelom Leavitt, BYU
"Conversations about Marital Intimacy — A Gospel Perspective"
“Differences in our relationships have the potential to lead to greater emotional and relational intimacy or connection.”
8. Carl Hernandez, BYU
"Cultivating a Deeper Faith in Jesus Christ"
“We must trust God and have the full assurance that He has planted us where we will best be tried and tested and where we will best grow and bear good fruit.”
9. Camille N. Johnson, Primary General Presidency
“We are practicing perfection to return to our heavenly home. And the Savior, whose grace makes eternal perfection possible, gives us opportunities to practice.”
10. Clark Gilbert, President of BYU–Pathway Worldwide and General Authority Seventy
"Opening Doors for Education: BYU–Pathway Blessing Women around the World"
“Education, formal higher education that is spiritually based and Heaven directed, can play an increasing role in preparing the sisters of the Church to realize their prophetic destiny.”
