“Two Women, One Choice That Changed History”

 Good Morning, Dear Reader,

Today I may have wandered a little while studying the book of Exodus. As I read about Pharaoh’s daughter and reflected on the role of women in history, I found myself thinking of Elizabeth of York in English history.

I offer this short reflection.

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At first glance, Elizabeth of York and the unnamed Pharaoh's Daughter seem to belong to entirely different worlds—one in royal England, the other in ancient Egypt. Yet both stand at turning points in history, where division gives way to the possibility of unity.

Elizabeth of York was born into the House of York, long in conflict with the House of Lancaster. Through her marriage to Henry VII, she became a living bridge that helped end the Wars of the Roses. From that union came a new line of kings, including Henry VIII, and eventually Elizabeth I—marking the rise of a unified and strengthened England.

Pharaoh’s daughter, though Egyptian royalty, chose compassion over fear and rescued a Hebrew child—Moses—at a time when the people of Israel were oppressed. Her act of courage not only saved a life, but preserved the one through whom God would later lead Israel toward deliverance.

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These women stood in places where they could have preserved division…
but instead became instruments of healing.

Their stories remind us that history is often shaped not by power alone,
but by quiet, courageous compassion.

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In the story of Moses, Pharaoh’s daughter becomes an unexpected vessel in God’s plan—someone outside the covenant who helps preserve it. This reflects a broader truth found throughout the Bible and the Book of Mormon:

God often works through unlikely people to bring about His purposes.

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A simple but searching question remains:

Where am I being asked to choose compassion over division?

We often think great change requires great strength.
But these stories suggest something different—

The turning points of history often begin with a single, quiet decision:
to protect, to unite, and to act in love.

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Some women unite a kingdom.
Some preserve a deliverer.

Both remind us that even in divided times, a single act aligned with goodness
can become part of a much greater redemption story.

Marriage: A School for the Soul

                                     
Dear Reader,  

Today I found myself drawn to the subject of marriage. From past scripture study—and from my present effort to draw closer to our Heavenly Father—I offer the following thoughts. 

Marriage, in its highest form, is not merely a union of two individuals—it is a divine covenant designed to transform the natural man into a spiritual being. 

The Lord’s pattern has always pointed toward unity—not just companionship, but a unity that elevates, refines, and sanctifies. As taught in Genesis 2:24, “they shall be one flesh.” In my understanding, this unity is not only physical or emotional—it is spiritual alignment with God. 

At its best, marriage becomes: 

• A protection against selfishness and isolation  

• A training ground for charity, patience, and forgiveness  

• A center where love is learned, tested, and deepened  

But scripture also teaches why marriage sometimes falls short of this divine purpose. 

The challenge is not in the institution itself, but in what the "Natural Man" brings into it. 

The Book of Mormon teaches plainly: 

• Mosiah 3:19 
  “The natural man is an enemy to God…”  

That same natural man does not disappear when we enter marriage—he comes with us. 

When marriage is built on the “natural man”—on pride, appearance, passion, or self-interest—it becomes unstable. What was meant to be a source of harmony becomes a place of misunderstanding and disappointment. 

Marriage has not failed—we are still learning what it is meant to become.. 

True marriage, in the Lord’s design, is part of the same journey described throughout scripture: 

• From self-centeredness → to selflessness  

• From temporary pleasure → to lasting joy  

• From natural affection → to Christlike love  

Jesus Christ Himself defined this higher law: 

• John 15:13 
  “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  

In marriage, this “laying down of life” rarely happens all at once. 
It happens daily: 

• In choosing patience over irritation 

• In choosing understanding over judgment 

• In choosing to give when it would be easier to withdraw 

This is why marriage is not simply about happiness—it is about becoming. 

And yet, the promise remains that true happiness is found—but not where the world often looks for it. 

The Book of Mormon reminds us: 

• 2 Nephi 2:25 
  “Men are, that they might have joy.”  

That joy is not found in outward things—appearance, status, or fleeting emotion—but in a life aligned with God. 

When a marriage is rooted in that alignment: 

• Love becomes deeper than feeling  

• Unity becomes stronger than disagreement  

• And joy becomes more secure than circumstance  

In this sense, marriage becomes something sacred: 

Not just a relationship, 
But a refining partnership— 

Where two imperfect people, 
learning to rely on God, 

help one another become something neither could become alone. 

Marriage is not meant to be perfect at the start. 
It is meant to be perfecting. 

And as we move—however slowly—from the natural man toward the spiritual life, 
marriage becomes less about what we receive and more about what we are becoming together— 
in the presence of God.