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By Mary Richards, Church News
At times, women can feel overwhelmed — like they should always be doing more. But as Primary General President Susan H. Porter discussed this topic with her Second Counselor, Sister Tracy Y. Browning, they thought, “What if we don’t focus on doing less, but on receiving more.”
The Savior wants to give His people so much, Sister Browning said. Therefore, the true path to avoiding “spiritual overwhelm” is when women allow themselves to receive more of what the Lord has to offer them.
Speaking together on the stage of the Marriott Center during BYU Women’s Conference, President Porter and Sister Browning referred to John 10:10 — “I am come that they may have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
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Primary General President Susan H. Porter, right, and Sister Tracy Y. Browning, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, left, speak at BYU Women’s Conference in Provo, Utah, on Thursday, May 4, 2023. Photo by Laura Seitz, courtesy of Church News. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company.
“The Savior will help us replace ‘overwhelm’ with ‘abundancy,’” President Porter explained, and Sister Browning pointed out that the definition of abundance is “a plentifulness of good things of life.”
But having life more abundantly is not having more money, time, recognition or opportunities — it indicates a sense of fullness, purpose, direction and understanding.
And the vehicle for receiving that understanding, direction, purpose and fullness is through the Holy Spirit.
Sister Browning said, “Focusing on our relationship with Jesus Christ brings abundance. Finding time to prioritize that relationship through prayer, scripture study and regular temple attendance puts us in a position to receive more.”
President Porter and Sister Browning noted the absence of the third member of their presidency, First Counselor Sister Amy A. Wright, who was with her family for a college graduation and wedding. In the time before BYU Women’s Conference began, the presidency talked about three questions that have been on their minds:
- “How can listening to the Spirit lead me to the most needful things?”
- “How do I accept that I can’t do everything at once but, with patience, progress line upon line?”
- “How can I know that the Lord is pleased with my efforts and priorities?”
The Most Needful Things
When wondering how to determine which spiritual matters are the most needful, President Porter and Sister Browning discussed how sometimes women think they need to add extra items to their ministering, calling, mothering or other to-do lists.
2023-BYU-Women's-Conference
Sister Tracy Y. Browning, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, speaks at BYU Women’s Conference in Provo, Utah, on Thursday, May 4, 2023. Photo by Laura Seitz, courtesy of Church News.Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company.Sister Browning said women can spend time asking whether they are enough. “The principle is, if you are willing to do what the Savior asks you to do — nothing more, nothing taken away — your offering is enough,” she said.
President Porter said thinking of the Savior can bring peace and a knowledge of what things to discard that aren’t needful in different seasons of life.
Line Upon Line
President Porter read 2 Nephi 28:30: “For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom.”
She said the scripture includes a process of change. “So is it that when we receive the first line, the first bit of inspiration and we follow through on that, it’s actually to change us? The Lord is interested in the process. He’s interested in the fact that we are exhibiting enough faith to act on that first impression, and then He will give us the next one.”
Sister Browning shared an impression she received several years ago that it was time to expand her family. She thought that meant she was going to become pregnant with a baby; but instead, over the next two years, their son came to their family through adoption.
“An abundance of spiritual growth happened in those two years,” she said.President Porter spoke about when her husband, the late Elder Bruce D. Porter, suffered kidney failure and medical challenges. She received impressions “here a little and there a little” during that eight-year period of time that she could be joyful, even though the promised blessing of health was far off.
The Lord Is Pleased
“The hymn says, ‘Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side.’ He is on our side; He’s right there with us,” President Porter said.
2023-BYU-Women's-Conference
Primary General President Susan H. Porter, right, and Sister Tracy Y. Browning, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, left, speak at BYU Women’s Conference in Provo, Utah, on Thursday, May 4, 2023. Photo by Laura Seitz, courtesy of Church News.Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company.
Referencing President Nelson’s article “The Everlasting Covenant” in the October 2022 “Liahona,” President Porter reminded the women that if they have made covenants with God, He will never give up on trying to help them. “He will never give up on our loved ones.”
God loves His daughters, Sister Browning said in conclusion. “God loves His daughter who is overwhelmed or exhausted, who has questions, worries or concerns. He loves His daughter who is anxiously waiting upon the Lord for promised blessings … and He loves us, and He is willing to help us, grace for grace, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.”
Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company.