Daughters of Christ

After King Benjamin taught his people about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, they fell to the ground and pleaded with the Lord to forgive their sins. In response, they received an assurance from the Holy Ghost that their sins were remitted, and they were filled with peace and joy (Mosiah 4:2-3). They subsequently turned their minds from the past to the future, covenanting to serve God until the end of their lives (Mosiah 5:5). King Benjamin explained that they had now entered a new relationship with their Savior:

Because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.

Mosiah 5:7

We are all children of God, and He loves us with a parental affection. Additionally, when we receive the grace offered by our Savior, Jesus Christ, we experience a spiritual rebirth. He changes our hearts and becomes the Father of our new selves.

Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters.

Ether 3:14

It was for this reason that the Savior called Emma Smith His daughter in the summer of 1830. Here is the beginning of a revelation directed to her:

Hearken unto the voice of the Lord your God, while I speak unto you, Emma Smith, my daughter; for verily I say unto you, all those who receive my gospel are sons and daughters in my kingdom.

Doctrine and Covenants 25:1

In all three of these passages, the Savior specifically recognizes men and women as His children. The fact that He mentions both sons and daughters is significant to me, not only because of the inclusiveness of the language, but also because it suggests that sons and daughters can each make unique contributions as His disciples.

Speaking to the women of the Church, President Henry B. Eyring said:

You are daughters of a loving Heavenly Father, who sent you into the world with unique gifts that you promised to use to bless others. I promise you that the Lord will lead you by the hand, through the Holy Ghost. He will go before your face as you help Him prepare His people to become His promised Zion.

“Sisters in Zion,” General Conference, October 2020

And President Russell M. Nelson has highlighted the fact that the work of the Lord cannot be fulfilled without the contributions of women:

My dear sisters, whatever your calling, whatever your circumstances, we need your impressions, your insights, and your inspiration. We need you to speak up and speak out in ward and stake councils. We need each married sister to speak as “a contributing and full partner” as you unite with your husband in governing your family. Married or single, you sisters possess distinctive capabilities and special intuition you have received as gifts from God. We brethren cannot duplicate your unique influence.

“A Plea to My Sisters,” General Conference, October 2015, italics in original

Today, I will be grateful for the influence of women in my life, in my family, in the church, and in the world. I will remember that my wife, my mother, my daughters, and other good women have skills and perspectives which I cannot replicate but which are essential for the work we do together.