I had an incredible experience yesterday.
I got to meet Sister Julie Beck.
It was amazing. She is one of the most incredible women I’ve ever met. She just radiates love from her… pure and genuine.
For those of you who aren’t LDS Julie Beck is the General President of the Relief Society, the women’s organization of the LDS church. She has been the General President for a good portion of my adult life and she has been such an influential person in my life. It seems like every time she opens her mouth to speak she says something that heals a hole in my heart.
I went to go talk to her about the book, The Gift of Giving Life:Rediscovering the Divine Nature of Pregnancy and Birth, that I am working on. The other authors all live out of State and so it was just me who went. We’d been feeling prompted for months to contact Sister Beck and let her know about our project but kept brushing the thought away because it seemed ridiculous. I mean really you don’t just call up and invite yourself to talk with Sister Beck! But when a another highly respectable person suggested that Sister Beck might really like to know about it… we figured it wouldn’t hurt to just try.
I was really surprised when her secretary contacted me a week or so ago and told me that Sister Beck had read my email and really wanted to connect with us. So yesterday I went to the Relief Society building on Temple Square which, for all of you who haven’t been inside it before, feels like a palace. It really is stunning inside. I had to wait for her for awhile because the RS Presidency was in another meeting. When they came out I got to meet them all and shake their hands! Then Sister Beck took me aside and I got to go talk with her for about 20 minutes about the project and what we are trying hoping do. She was so kind and gave me a lot of really wonderful stories, ideas and, suggestions for the book. She told me to keep doing what we are doing and to go forward with inspiration… and to keep loving my babies.
Then she gave me a hug.
Wow. I could have floated away right then.
She truly in my hero. I don’t think there would be anyone else on this earth I’d rather have met (okay the prophet would have been pretty good too). This morning I was thinking about the scripture in Alma 48:17 about how if all men were like Captain Moroni the very powers of hell would been shaken forever. I think that it would be fair to re-write that scripture and say, ” Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all [WOMEN] had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto [SISTER BECK] behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.”
Really what an amazing woman. When I look at the picture it just feels surreal that I was even there. I feel so incredibly humble that she took time out of her busy schedule to talk with little ole unimportant me. God works in mysterious ways.
Yay. You looked fabulous, by the way!
What a wonderful opportunity for you! You looked perfect and I am sure that it was an amazing event. I actually got to meet the Prophet once, (Spencer W Kimball, so I am aging myself) It is one of the most amazing moments of my life and something I will always treasure.
Wow, Heather, that is so, I don't know the word. I am so happy for you, that you got to meet your hero. What an opportunity!
You look beautiful. And your neck is not red. 🙂
What a fabulous experience! A memory to treasure. I admire Sister Beck so much. Once during a daytime temple shift (Timpanogos), a Friday or a Wednesday, she walked by me at my assignment on her way to a session. That's as close as I've been.
Having Sister Beck's approval and support is awesome. After your book is published, I bet you incredible girls will be team-teaching a class or a series at BYU Education Week! It will be very popular I think (mom of Buscando la Luz, she sent me the link to this post).
Oh yeah, probably some Firesides too.
That is so wonderful! What an amazing opportunity and I am so glad that she was interested in your book.
So cool, Heather! I'm so glad that Sister Beck knows about this amazing project.
Yay! I'm so glad that it went so well–it sounds like such a neat experience! And, by the way, I LOVE your hair!
Awesome Heather,
What a great day you must've had. I love Sister Beck and I have been really blessed by her committment to the women of this church. I have been reading two of her talks lately,"And upon My handmaidens Will I pour out my Spirit" and her talk in April 2010 BYU Womens Conference."They are awesome.She is truely an example of the women of God you profile in your blog.
Congradulations on your book.
RGG
Wow, what a beautiful experience!!! That is so exciting. And, I have to ask, what did she say about birth???? Aw, you are probably going to write about it in your book, I am sure. Thanks for posting this.
I am a at-home birthing Mormon Mom and I just happened upon your blog. Fun to look around!
-CK