"No matter our marital status or age, the Lord needs each one of us to fulfill her unique part in building His kingdom in this final dispensation," Anne C. Pingree said during the General Relief Society Meeting Sept. 24.
Sister Pingree quoted the words of Elder Neal A. Maxwell: "The submission of one's will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God's altar."
Sister Pingree said, "I bear witness, my beloved sisters, that in order to truly be an instrument in the hands of God, in order to fully have that blessing bestowed upon us in 'the day of this life' in which we 'perform (our) labors,' we must, as Elder Maxwell says, 'finally submit ourselves' to the Lord."
Sister Pingree spoke of a "very personal journey." She recounted that, in her mid-30s, she received her patriarchal blessing, which spoke of missionary work. This greatly troubled her, as she was "unprepared to serve a mission," but she did begin a "serious regimen of scripture study as I focused on rearing my growing family."
The years passed, and her husband was called to preside over a mission 10,000 miles from home. "I felt inadequate on every level," she recalled. As the time approached for them to depart, she fasted, prayed and attended the temple. One morning shortly before leaving, two friends brought her a gift of a small hymnal.
"The answer to my months of prayerful pleadings came from that hymnal. . . . 'Fear not; I am with thee. Oh, be not dismayed.' Realizing in a most personal manner that the Lord would be with me and help me was just the beginning."
Continuing, Sister Pingree said: "My first lesson in the process of becoming an instrument in God's hand had been to search the scriptures, fast, pray, attend the temple and live faithful to the covenants I had made in the House of the Lord. My second lesson was that in order to 'boldly go forward,' I needed to rely completely on the Lord. . . .
"My last lesson was precisely as Elder Maxwell explained. In even the smallest details of each day, I submitted my will to the Lord's, for I so needed His help, guidance and His protection. As I did, gradually my relationship with my Father in Heaven changed — in profound ways — that continues to bless me and my family."