I’m often asked, “Where did you serve your mission?” and I don’t know if I should feel flattered because many people think I served a full-time mission. But then I tell them I did not serve and they have sometimes responded with a shocked, “WHY NOT?” I then would relate why I did not serve. Some would give me a nod of understanding, and some would give me an icy, “you should have” response. I know that young single adult women in the church are encouraged to serve full-time missions, but not serving does not mean we are not committed enough to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. It also does not mean that we are not putting God first. Not serving a mission does not mean that our love for the Savior is any less.

Some of us also feel this pressure when it comes to dating and starting a family of our own. It is not surprising that Mormons start their own families at a young age. But to all of us who have not reached this goal yet, let’s continue in our efforts and diligence towards reaching this goal. Not starting a family at an age range when most people get married can be frustrating sometimes, and but let’s not despair. Let’s not beat ourselves up thinking that we are not doing enough or we are not good enough.

There will be times when we feel as though we do not fit in a church where family is the primary focus. But we must remember that the Plan of Salvation is in full effect for single adults as well, and that exaltation will not be withheld from us if we are worthy and endure faithfully.

Some expect us to make ourselves available to everyone ALWAYS, since we do not have little kids to care for at home. It is a great feeling to serve other people as much as we can, but we should not push ourselves so much that we forget to take care of ourselves. We must make sure that we are not running faster than we have strength. It is okay to take a break and take some time to breathe.

There will be moments when we feel we are not at our best— we might succumb to creeping negative feelings, cut our scripture study to a half hour, minister through a phone call instead of doing an actual visit, not join the ward choir for a season, or come to church late sometimes. These and many other things might make us feel that we do not fit the criteria of a perfect Mormon girl. We may sometimes feel a little short of what is expected of us. But aren’t we all falling, not only a little, short of perfection?

Perfect Mormon girls do not exist in this world. But Mormon girls who desire increased righteousness do. Let’s not beat ourselves up because of our shortcomings but focus instead on improving steadily towards perfection—perfection that we cannot earn on our own, but can only receive through the grace of God. Our faithful efforts, however small, will be sanctified by the Lord if we continue trying to become more like Him.

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Since the beginning of time, God has created men and women as equal beings and it remains so in terms of leading His church here on Earth. Men and women have different responsibilities, but equally important roles in the church. Their roles are equal but not the same.

LDS women serve in different positions of leadership in organizations such as Relief Society, Young Women, Primary and other local and worldwide organizations in the church. These organizations include and serve millions of women around the world. Some LDS women preside over these organizations and manage their affairs and administration. They take part in their organizational decisions and stand at the forefront of implementing the goals and plans set for these groups.

Women serve as teachers in classes and meetings, full-time missionaries or member missionaries spreading the gospel to others, organizers and ministers of philanthropic initiatives. They also deliver sermons in local and worldwide meetings amd lead congregational prayers and hymns.

While LDS women do not hold the priesthood, they can access the power and blessings of it through ordinances performed under priesthood authority. After all, men are given the sacred duty to use the priesthood to bless all of God’s children. Nothing is withheld from the women of the church.

Some may wonder why the highest leadership of the church, the First Presidency, is solely composed of men. The reason is simple: because it is a doctrine that only God can change. It has been written in the Doctrine and Covenants that the higher priesthood, the Melchizedek Priesthood, which priesthood the First Presidency has, “hold[s] the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church.” This explains why those at the highest level of authority must hold the priesthood.

However, this fact does not, in any way, demean the roles of women in the LDS church. Women stand at the core leadership of the church as they serve in auxiliary organizations. Simply put, without LDS women, the church could not stand. The roles that they play are equally significant as the roles of men in building the kingdom of God here on Earth. They stand beside the men of the church in leading and driving the cause of Zion.

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