I can still see my mom's face as she sang this song with her beloved sisters of the Relief Society.
"As sisters in Zion we'll work work together; the blessings of God on our labors we'll seek. We'll build up his kingdom with earnest endeavor; We'll comfort the weary and strengthen weak."
My mother always loved singing the hymn "As Sisters in Zion. As I listened to the words and felt her love for beloved Relief Society sisters., I found myself wondering who my "Sisters in Zion would be." I have never felt as comfortable in Relief Society as my mom did. I tend to be more of a one on one sister.
I consider my friends my sisters and verse two seems an appropriate description of our little sisterhood:
"The errand of angels is given to women; and this is a gift that, as sisters we claim: To do whatsoever is gentle and human, To cheer and to bless humanity's name."
Since my cancer diagnosis in 2020 I have truly felt another sisterhood with those I have met at Huntsman who were in various journey's of their cancer journey. As we visited and shared stories of our cancers I felt an immediate sister hood. I was just at Huntsman for my second anniversary check up and met some new sisters whom I instantly connected with. We each shared a common thread of fear, the unknown and hope of being cancer free.
Verse three seems appropriate for all my new sisters I have met and will meet over the next few years:
"How vast is our purpose, how broad is our mission, if we but fulfill it in spirit and deed. Oh naught but the Spirit's divinest tuition. Can give us the wisdom to truly succeed."
I have truly felt the "Spirit's divine tuition" as I have visited with each new sister.
This time if year is bitter sweet for me. I won the battle against my cancer but a close friend who I had been journeying with lost her battle to cancer the same day I was told I was cancer free. My new sisters have had the same story of losing a loved one or a special friend to cancer.
How grateful I am for our yearly interactions as we waited for our treatments or our scheduled mammograms. Offering words of encouragement and cheering each other on. That to me is what "Sisters in Zion" are all about.
I will close with the whole hymn and scripture passages that inspired Sister Perry to pen these inspired words that speak to oh so many in different ways
As sisters in Zion
31243, Hymns, As Sisters in Zion, no. 309
1. As sisters in Zion, we'll all work together;
The blessings of God on our labors we'll seek.
We'll build up his kingdom with earnest endeavor;
We'll comfort the weary and strengthen the weak.
2. The errand of angels is given to women;
And this is a gift that, as sisters, we claim:
To do whatsoever is gentle and human,
To cheer and to bless in humanity's name.
3. How vast is our purpose, how broad is our mission,
If we but fulfill it in spirit and deed.
Oh, naught but the Spirit's divinest tuition
Can give us the wisdom to truly succeed.
Text: Emily H. Woodmansee, 1836-1906
Music: Janice Kapp Perry, b. 1938. © 1985 IRI
Galatians 6:2
"Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ."
9-10:
"And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all (woman) especially unto them who are of the household of faith."
D&C 11: 12-14
"And now verily, verily I say unto thee, put your trust in that spirit which leadeth to do good--yea to do justly to walk humbly to judge righteously, and this my spirit.
Verily, verily I say unto you I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind which shall fill your soul with joy.
And them shall ye know, or by this shall you know all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining to things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive."
No comments:
Post a Comment