A few months ago I decided I wanted and needed to start
attending a local gym. I got ready to go and felt like I was going to Junior
High for the first time. I felt all self conscious and wondered what all the
other stronger women would be like. I have never cared much about style so I
didn't really care so much about what I was wearing but did wonder if I would be
subjected to a bunch of sports bras and bare mid-drifts. Much to my relief when
I arrived I met a group of wonderful women led by one of the most beautiful and
strong women I have ever met. Amy sets an immediate tone of non-judgement and
acceptance. I am not sure she is even aware that she is doing it but once you
walk into one of her classes all your insecurities and fears seem to just
disappear. Suddenly you can really do anything you set your mind to. There are
no expectations of special fancy gym clothes or cheesy fake cliques. You are
you and you start where you are and before you even realize it you are doing
things you never thought possible. My first class I was introduced to "the
prowler".
I had seen something like it on TV with these big huge football players pushing it. I looked at that thing and was sure Amy was joking about us pushing that thing across the room. I stood in awe as the other ladies pushed it like it was a chair on an ice skating rink. They looked liked ordinary women not body builders and yet they were ridiculously strong. My turn came and I tried to push the sled with 90 pounds added to it. I literally walked out of my shoes trying to push against the weight. I tightened my laces and tried again. I eventually got it all the way down to one end and turned around to push it back. It took me four times as long as the others but I did it. Amy then came over and said, "Don't worry. That thing probably weighs more than you do. Let's get the weight off for the last two sets." She let me struggle and succeed then helped me be able to keep succeeding. After several weeks of her class we did "the prowler" again. This time I pushed it with ease with the 90 pounds and was SO excited and proud. Amy just smiled and said, "It's those little victories that keep you going. It's all about consistency."
Who knew that my weights for women class would teach me so many profound things about the Atonement and help me understand Isaiah!?!?
As I thought about the physical strength I was gaining and the way it was coming I had a verse of Isaiah come into my mind. It is found in 2 Nephi 13 where Isaiah's prophecy about the curse that will come upon the daughters of Zion is recorded. These verses have often bothered me. The Lord tells us through Isaiah that He "will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments, and cauls, and round tires like the moon; The chains and the bracelets, and the mufflers; The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the ear-rings; The rings, and nose jewels; The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping-pins; The glasses, and the fine linen, and hoods, and the veils." The Lord then says, "And it shall come to pass, instead of sweet smell
there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle, a rent; and instead of well set
hair, baldness; and instead of a stomacher, a girding of sackcloth; burning instead
of beauty." The heading to the chapter says that the curse on the daughters of Zions comes because of their worldliness. As I pondered on this curse I came to realize that like most consequences given by the Lord the punishment is really going to be mostly self-inflicted.
If our self-esteem and confidence before the world depends on feedback from the world about our worth and value we are going to be left feeling awfully uncomfortable when all of that goes away....and it will ALL go away. When the Lord returns He is not going to look at our Pintrest account and praise us for all the cute craft projects we shared. He is not going to compliment us on the shade of our lipstick or the perfect coordination of our shoes and our purse. He is not going to care how many clubs, committees or popular circles we frequented. He is not going to care how many trophies or medals we hold. He is not going to care about any of the outward appearances at all. He is going to expect us to have been like the people during the time of Alma the younger. In Alma 1 we read that the people lived the Gospel as we have been taught to live it: "And they did impart of their substance, every man
according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick,
and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were
neat and comely."
We ought to be developing our talents in ways that will impart the blessings of peace and comfort to others. The best way to avoid the curse of worldliness is to gain confidence before the Lord not the world. As we develop spiritual, physical, mental and emotional strength we will feel more confident before our God and then will be able to heed the call of the prophet to STAND UP AND STAND OUT. We will be totally okay with being different because we will be basking in the love, blessing and approval of our Lord. We will have our own solid and sure testimonies and will not falter when the world calls out to us with its tantalizing lies and mocking. We will be like Sariah and after clinging to the rod of iron and struggling through trials (physical, emotional, mental and spiritual, she had them all) we will partake of the fruit and then stand as beacons to others as the tidal waves of criticism, mocking, scoffing and finger pointing of the world rage around us. It will not be easy to escape the curse and throw off the world but as we consistently make course corrections and build up our spiritual, physical, mental and emotional strength we will be stronger than we ever thought possible and will abide the day of His coming and stand with Him on Mount Zion.
