[null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fm0gqqANokI/U4czDnVBGHI/AAAAAAAAHzA/4xkkZjk1vxo/s1600/webTryphenaAndTryphosa.jpg", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fm0gqqANokI/U4czDnVBGHI/AAAAAAAAHzA/4xkkZjk1vxo/s1600/webTryphenaAndTryphosa.jpg", "formatted_filename": "webTryphenaAndTryphosa", "rendered_width": 426, "rendered_height": 640}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2IVPua4k7HM/U3pq0DrndyI/AAAAAAAAHx8/RKN1hYzpYZ8/s1600/IMG_2660.JPG", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2IVPua4k7HM/U3pq0DrndyI/AAAAAAAAHx8/RKN1hYzpYZ8/s1600/IMG_2660.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 320, "rendered_height": 320}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W_vZe6T-BLM/U3pq7GsPePI/AAAAAAAAHyI/g1COqRwrLic/s1600/IMG_2743.JPG", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W_vZe6T-BLM/U3pq7GsPePI/AAAAAAAAHyI/g1COqRwrLic/s1600/IMG_2743.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 478}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zO2Z2xfQgTk/U3pq825JO0I/AAAAAAAAHyM/M9C1bYlKG1g/s1600/IMG_2745.JPG", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zO2Z2xfQgTk/U3pq825JO0I/AAAAAAAAHyM/M9C1bYlKG1g/s1600/IMG_2745.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 478}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zaPzpRa169w/U3prfqZMKSI/AAAAAAAAHyg/0KXYDW6LB1s/s1600/IMG_2809.JPG", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zaPzpRa169w/U3prfqZMKSI/AAAAAAAAHyg/0KXYDW6LB1s/s1600/IMG_2809.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 478}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6LiTomsj5GY/U3prr-ZxnCI/AAAAAAAAHyo/kqNV4mGXg_0/s1600/IMG_2744.JPG", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6LiTomsj5GY/U3prr-ZxnCI/AAAAAAAAHyo/kqNV4mGXg_0/s1600/IMG_2744.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 478}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EHwrD6ZnMQ8/U3LjQynCMNI/AAAAAAAAHwo/QRrPW6kxUXU/s1600/IMG_1821.JPG", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EHwrD6ZnMQ8/U3LjQynCMNI/AAAAAAAAHwo/QRrPW6kxUXU/s1600/IMG_1821.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 400, "rendered_height": 320}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E0Jz1JTqI5g/U3LjvscSWZI/AAAAAAAAHxA/Cq3FI_Fhatc/s1600/IMG_1831.JPG", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E0Jz1JTqI5g/U3LjvscSWZI/AAAAAAAAHxA/Cq3FI_Fhatc/s1600/IMG_1831.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 480}, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yYIfEFLDMjg/U3LjmHEOzyI/AAAAAAAAHw4/QMah_qEsvsw/s1600/IMG_1823.JPG", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yYIfEFLDMjg/U3LjmHEOzyI/AAAAAAAAHw4/QMah_qEsvsw/s1600/IMG_1823.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 480}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cQXG4S3gI4E/U3LjHcX7NQI/AAAAAAAAHwY/_7LCdYvJ2mI/s1600/IMG_1818.JPG", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cQXG4S3gI4E/U3LjHcX7NQI/AAAAAAAAHwY/_7LCdYvJ2mI/s1600/IMG_1818.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 476}, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QskRGY7LNYE/U3LkqG8PSdI/AAAAAAAAHxY/DFZUN1UwPA8/s1600/IMG_1839.JPG", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QskRGY7LNYE/U3LkqG8PSdI/AAAAAAAAHxY/DFZUN1UwPA8/s1600/IMG_1839.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 480}, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R4y8aWK5JQ0/U3LkqqZj8TI/AAAAAAAAHxk/V0Gx8Cp4OYI/s1600/IMG_1828.JPG", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R4y8aWK5JQ0/U3LkqqZj8TI/AAAAAAAAHxk/V0Gx8Cp4OYI/s1600/IMG_1828.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 480}, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4XzZujCwdRM/U3LjinDaFfI/AAAAAAAAHww/YAxzCJ_hmwM/s1600/IMG_1825.JPG", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4XzZujCwdRM/U3LjinDaFfI/AAAAAAAAHww/YAxzCJ_hmwM/s1600/IMG_1825.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 510}, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u54PjqcIs9g/U3Lj8LeMATI/AAAAAAAAHxQ/UAYqpOZ2PZw/s1600/IMG_1843.JPG", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u54PjqcIs9g/U3Lj8LeMATI/AAAAAAAAHxQ/UAYqpOZ2PZw/s1600/IMG_1843.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 480}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BFcQYJdHSiE/U3LjLO__3dI/AAAAAAAAHwg/GQM1EEKNGIE/s1600/IMG_1820.JPG", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BFcQYJdHSiE/U3LjLO__3dI/AAAAAAAAHwg/GQM1EEKNGIE/s1600/IMG_1820.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 480, "rendered_height": 640}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TDuwqPTH0q8/U2qcshzF4SI/AAAAAAAAAgA/hANJd5I0J_U/s1600/blogsquare4.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TDuwqPTH0q8/U2qcshzF4SI/AAAAAAAAAgA/hANJd5I0J_U/s1600/blogsquare4.jpg", "formatted_filename": "blogsquare", "rendered_width": 196, "rendered_height": 200}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K5VOnBwSjFc/U2hXAhMqEwI/AAAAAAAAHvs/_MlIJx5HU6E/s1600/Jeopardy+anna.JPG", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K5VOnBwSjFc/U2hXAhMqEwI/AAAAAAAAHvs/_MlIJx5HU6E/s1600/Jeopardy+anna.JPG", "formatted_filename": "Jeopardy anna", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 476}, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lkHjzQ6gz6k/U2hXAsSFQmI/AAAAAAAAHvo/1Twcj-ojLEU/s1600/Jeopardy+Sariah.JPG", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lkHjzQ6gz6k/U2hXAsSFQmI/AAAAAAAAHvo/1Twcj-ojLEU/s1600/Jeopardy+Sariah.JPG", "formatted_filename": "Jeopardy Sariah", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 482}, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MpQKi0XpBD8/VPkIzcq9ooI/AAAAAAAAIXk/PmdlBuCC9TQ/s245/cutmypic.png", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MpQKi0XpBD8/VPkIzcq9ooI/AAAAAAAAIXk/PmdlBuCC9TQ/s245/cutmypic.png", "formatted_filename": "cutmypic", "alt_text": "Welcome!", "rendered_width": 248, "rendered_height": 255}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-unZN-gSbIO0/VA_AjlSPxhI/AAAAAAAAIC8/4hrA7go4kBs/s1600/Updated%2Bcover.png", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-unZN-gSbIO0/VA_AjlSPxhI/AAAAAAAAIC8/4hrA7go4kBs/s1600/Updated%2Bcover.png", "formatted_filename": "Updated Bcover", "alt_text": "Order my Book!", "rendered_width": 285, "rendered_height": 228}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W6pHYrSLm2s/Vplkkazqi1I/AAAAAAAAJAk/RwAIV9qGyDk/s1600-r/Women%2Bin%2BBOM%2Bcover.PNG", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W6pHYrSLm2s/Vplkkazqi1I/AAAAAAAAJAk/RwAIV9qGyDk/s1600-r/Women%2Bin%2BBOM%2Bcover.PNG", "formatted_filename": "Women Bin BBOM Bcover", "alt_text": "Book of Mormon Study Guide", "rendered_width": 285, "rendered_height": 354}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-APkPldaptcA/VF7gPXsglnI/AAAAAAAAIJ8/YBlJJioj4bo/s1600/BookCoverImage.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-APkPldaptcA/VF7gPXsglnI/AAAAAAAAIJ8/YBlJJioj4bo/s1600/BookCoverImage.jpg", "formatted_filename": "BookCoverImage", "alt_text": "Study Guide (Volume 1)", "rendered_width": 285, "rendered_height": 369}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OwDAsroK7vU/VF7enNFtDeI/AAAAAAAAIJw/x3q6hZ9ZVGc/s1600/BookCoverImage2.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OwDAsroK7vU/VF7enNFtDeI/AAAAAAAAIJw/x3q6hZ9ZVGc/s1600/BookCoverImage2.jpg", "formatted_filename": "BookCoverImage", "alt_text": "Study Guide (Volume 2)", "rendered_width": 245, "rendered_height": 317}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nXm7XyJHP9o/UyY55yMGOGI/AAAAAAAAHpI/dtbkNoYu56c/s1600/babyandhand_detail.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nXm7XyJHP9o/UyY55yMGOGI/AAAAAAAAHpI/dtbkNoYu56c/s1600/babyandhand_detail.jpg", "formatted_filename": "babyandhand detail", "alt_text": "My Other Book", "rendered_width": 285, "rendered_height": 427}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2014_05_01_archive.html", "unformatted_src": "http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s470/ofmimages/WomenintheScriptures/finalchallenge.png", "src": "http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s470/ofmimages/WomenintheScriptures/finalchallenge.png", "formatted_filename": "finalchallenge"}, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]

List of all the Women in the New Testament

While working on "Walking with the Women of the New Testament" I realized that nowhere on the web is a list of all the women in the New Testament. Can you believe that? I searched high and low and couldn't find one. So I thought that it was time one was posted. Here is a complete list of all the women in the New Testament that I know about (if I missed one PLEASE let me know!) I hope that this list will be helpful to you in your personal study and that it will prompt you to go open up your scriptures and read the story of at least ONE of the women listed that you haven't heard of before.

Also I hope it will get you excited about my new book because I have written on most of these women! I am also working on a study guide to go along with the book that will have questions and activities to help you do your own study of these women. It should be ready in the next few months, but I wanted to just give you a taste... because there really are so many incredible women in the New Testament and I bet that there are many you haven't ever heard of!

Also the photo above is a sneak peek at the beautiful art that Mandy Jane Williams has been working on for the book. This one is Tryphena and Tryphosa. Some day I will have to have Mandy write a guest post about her experiences putting these photographs together... it has definitely been a faith strengthening experience for many people. Me included.

It really is going to be an awesome book (with an awesome Study Guide) I am getting so excited to see it all put together!

New Testament Women

Mary (Matt 1:16, 18-25; 2-11, 13-14, 20-21; Matt 12:46-50; Matt 13:55; Mark 3: 31-35; Mark 6:3; Luke 1:26-56; 2:5-8, 16, 19, 22, 27, 34-35, 43-51; Luke 8: 19-20; John 2:1-5, 12; 6:42; John 19:25-27; Acts 1:14; Gal 4:4)

Peter’s Mother-in-law (Matt 8:14-15; Mark 1:30-31; Luke 4:38-39)

Daughter of Jarius (Matt 9: 18-19, 23-26; Mark 5: 22-24, 35-43; Luke 8:41, 49-56)

Wife of Jarius ( Mark 5:40-43; Luke 8:51-56)

Woman with Issue of Blood (Matt 9: 20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48)

Christ’s Sisters (Matt 13:56; Mark 6:3)

Herodias (Matt. 14: 1-11; Mark 6:17-28; Luke 3:19-20)

Herodias’ daughter (Matt 14:6-11; Mark: 6: 22-29; Luke 3:19-20)

Women and children among the 5,000 (Matt 14:21)

Women and children among the 4,000 (Matt 15:38)

Syrophenician woman (also called the Woman of Canaan) (Matt 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30)

Young daughter of the Syrophenician woman (Matt 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30)

The Mother of Zebedee’s Children (Matt 20:20-23; Matt 27:56)

Woman who Anointed Jesus (Matt 26: 6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8))

Damsel to whom Peter denied Christ (Matt 26:69; Mark 14:66- 68; John 18: 17)

Maid to whom Peter denied Christ (Matt 26:71: Mark 14: 69-70; Luke 22:56-57)

Wife of Pontius Pilate ( Matt 27:19)

Many women beholding a far off (Matt 27:55-56; mark 15: 40-41)

Mary Magdalene (Matt 27:57, 61; Matt 28:1-10; Mark 15: 40-41,47; 16: 1-8, 9-11; Luke 8:2-3; 24: 1-11, 22-24; John 19:25; 20: 1-3, 11-18)

Mary, the mother of James and Joses (also called "The other Mary") (Matt 27:56, 61; 28:1-10; Mark 15: 40-41,47; 16: 1-8; Luke 24: 1-11, 22-24)

The Widow who Gave Two Mites (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4)

Salome (Mark 15: 40-41; Mark 16: 1-8)

Many other woman which came up with Jesus from Galilee (Mark 15: 40-41)

Elisabeth (Luke 1:5-80)

Anna (Luke 2: 36-38)

Widow of Nain ( Luke 7: 11-17)

Sinner who washed Jesus Feet with her hair (Luke 7:36-50)

Certain women who had been healed (Luke 8:2-3)

Joanna, the wife of Chuza (Luke 8:2-3; Luke 24: 1-11, 22-24)

Susana (Luke 8:2-3)

Martha (Luke 10: 37-42; John 11: 1-6, 17-27, 34-45; 12:2 )

Mary of Bethany (Luke 10: 37-42; John 11: 1-5, 17-20, 28-34, 39-45; 12:3-9)

Certain woman of the company (Luke 11:27-28)

Woman with a Spirit of Infirmity ( Luke 13:11-16)

Women which bewailed and lamented ( Luke 23: 27-29)

Women that followed Jesus (Luke 23: 49, 55-56)

Other women at the empty tomb (Luke 24: 1-11, 22-24)

Samaritan Woman at the Well (John 4: 7-42)

Woman Taken in Adultery ( John 8:1-11)

The mother of the Man Born Blind (John 9:2-3, 18-23)

Mary, the wife of Cleophas (John 19:25)

His Mother’s sister (John 19:25)

Apostles gathered in Prayer and Supplication with the Women (Acts 1:14)

Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)

New Women Believers (Acts 5: 14)

Widows who were neglected (Acts 6:1)

Women committed to prison by Paul (Acts 8:3; Acts 22:4)

Samaritan women baptized by Philip  (Acts 8:12)

Candance, queen of Ethiopians (Acts 8:27)

Women Persecuted by Paul bring them bound (Acts 9:2)

Tabitha/Dorcus (Acts 9:36-42)

Mary, the Mother of John Mark (Acts 12:12; Col 4:10)

Rhoda (Acts 12:13-15)

Devout and Honorable Jewish Women (Acts 13:50)

Eunice (2 Tim 1:15; Acts 16:1—the son of a certain woman)

Lois (2 Tim 1:15)

Women at the Place of Prayer in Philippi (Acts 16:13)

Lydia (Acts 16: 11-15, 40)

Certain Damsel Possessed with a Spirit of Divination (Acts 16:16-19)

Chief and Honorable Women of the Greeks (Acts 17:4, 12)

Damaris (Acts 17:34)

Priscilla (Acts 18:2-3, 18-20, 24-26; Rom. 16: 3-5; 1 Cor. 16:19; 2 Tim 4:19)

Wives and children of Tyre (Acts 21:4-6)

Four Daughters of Philip (Acts 21:9)

Paul’s sister (Acts 23:16)

Drusilla (Acts 24:24)

Bernice ( Acts 25:13-14, 23; 26:30)

Phebe (Romans 16:1-2)

Mary of Rome (Rom. 16:6)

Junia (Rom. 16: 7)

Tryphena (Roman 16:12)

Tryphosa (Rom 16:12)

Persis (Rom. 16:12)

Mother of Rufus (Rom. 16: 13)

Sister of Nerus (Rom. 16: 15)

Julia (Rom. 16:15)

Chloe (1 Corinthians 1:11)

Euodia (Phillip 4: 2-3) -- she is called Euodias in the KJV (a male name) but it is possible she was female

Syntyche (Phillip 4:2-3)

Claudia (2 Tim 4:21)

Ye adulterers and adulteresses (James 4:4)

Apphia (Philemon 1:2)

The Elect Lady (2 John)

The Elect Lady’s Sister (2 John 1:13)

Nympha (Colossians 4:15) -- called Nymphas in KJV but is possibly female.

Old Testament Women in the New Testament

Tamar (Matt. 1:3)

Rahab (Matt 1:5; Heb 11:31; James 2:25)

Ruth (Matt. 1:5)

Bathsheba (Matt. 1:6)

Rachel (2:18)

The Queen of the South (Matt 12:42; Luke 11:31)

Widows in Israel (Luke 4:25)

Widow of Zarephath (Luke 4:25-26)

Wives who were destroyed by the flood (Luke 17:27)

Lot’s wife (Luke 17:32)

Sara (Rom, 4:19; 9:9; Gal 4:22-31; Heb 11:11; 1 Pet. 3:6)

Rebecca (Rom 9:10-12)

Eve (2 Cor. 11:3)

Hagar (Gal 4:22-31)

Jezebel and her children (Rev 2:20-23)

Pharoah’s daughter (Acts 7:21; Heb 11:24-26)

Moses’ parents (Heb 11:23)

Holy women  (1 Peter 3:5)

Women received their dead to life (Heb 11:35-36)

I'd love to hear which woman you are most interested to know more about!

Posted by Heather@Women in the Scriptures at 6:26 AM 11 comments Labels: New Testament Women, Walking with the Women of the New Testament


The Dark Days of Faith In March Iowa was covered in snow and the temperature was still in the single digits. I was despairing that spring would ever come and so, in a burst of optimism, I went to the garden store and filled my cart with seeds, potting soil, and containers. I came home and spent the afternoon  planting an exorbitant amount of tiny tomato, pepper, and flower seeds. When I was done I was proud. They looked so nice and  fresh set out in my front hall and they gave me a much needed jolt of optimism.

Yet not long after planting them I began to worry that they wouldn't grow. I'd never started seeds indoors before and several friends, after seeing mine, had told me they hadn't had much luck doing it that way. My spirits were also a bit low, as the long winter had taken a toll on me, and so every day for two weeks I walked past my seeds and worried that they wouldn't grow. I knew that seeds take time, and that some take quite awhile to germinate, but after a few days with no sign of growth I was convinced I had wasted my time and my energy.  My optimism had worn off and I was feeling despondent.

One morning as I was watering them I exclaimed out loud to Rose, my four-year-old, that these seeds probably weren't going to grow. In response she patted my hand with hers and told me "Mom, have faith that they will grow. Have hope." In fact, every day for a few week she reminded me that she had hope they would grow. Her words were sweet and reminded me that I just had to give them time and not give up on them, even though it seemed like nothing was happening.

Several weeks after planting I spied the first green shoot pushing out of the soil and I nearly did a back flip. I was so excited. I have seen things sprout before but this time, perhaps because I'd been so worried they wouldn't grow, I truly rejoiced. Rose, on hearing my happy exclamations, came over and smiled knowingly, "See mom, I told you to have faith." I have been nurturing and watching these little plants for the last few weeks and many of them are thriving. In fact, they are just about ready to be transplanted out into my garden. Even though they are doing well now and I can rejoice at how big and beautiful they are getting, I haven't forgotten how dark those first few weeks were when I thought they would not grow. How I had almost given up on them and how foolish and stupid I felt for even trying.

It was a simple experience but it taught me a lot about faith. I realized that faith is what you do when your life is dark, when you don't understand, when you don't believe, when you don't see. Faith is planting the seeds and then watering them, day after day, even when you see no growth. It is faith that gets you through those dark days, the days when it seems like nothing is changing, nothing is growing, and there is no prospect of success. It is faith that motivates you to move, to do, to try.

Faith is the dark time.

Yet, as Rose reminded me, faith's sister is hope. It is hope that reminds us that even though things look bleak and dead, that we never know what is going on below surface. It is hope that brings light, that promises us that there are things happening that we can not comprehend-- seeds  sprouting, moving, pushing and growing. New life just waiting to happen. Several Sundays ago Asher came home from Primary with news that his friend's Grandma was dying. He was distressed by it and we had a good talk about death and resurrection, and how after we die we will be buried in the ground but, through Christ's power, we will live again in our bodies. He seemed to understand and  I chalked it up as a "good mother" moment.

The next day we were planting pea seeds in the garden. As I placed a tiny seed into the ground and covered it with soil it struck me how strange it was. How strange that in order for this seed to live I had to bury it, hide it from my view, and then wait patiently until it came alive and gave me peas. As I continued down the row planting peas my thoughts turned to my conversation with Asher about death and burial and how strange it is that we bury people in the ground too.

Then, in the middle of planting, I was struck with a powerful thought. What if the reason we bury people in the ground is because they are like seeds?  Could it be that burying someone in the earth is symbolic? That just like I was putting "dead" peas in the earth, hoping they would grow, that the process of burying a body in the ground  is also an act of faith? Perhaps it is not so much that we are not loosing our loves ones but rather "planting" them with the hope that one day the power of God will  "quicken" them and that they will arise.

I thought about the family in our ward who was facing the death of their loved one. I thought about how hard that must be for them and how sad their hearts must be. I thought about a friend who is struggling with depression and how her life often seems dark and hopeless. I thought about an email I had received from someone who was struggling with her testimony and felt she lacked understanding. Then I thought about my tiny seedlings and how I had planted in faith-- buried them in the darkness-- and then almost despaired that they would ever grow.

Yet the beautiful things is....my plants grew.  I had planted good seeds, in good soil and had watered them in faith. And out of the darkness came new life, new growth, and new understanding. I know there are times in our life when we have to do things on faith. When we have to bury, water, believe, and keep going through those dark days when we do not understand and when we can not see. Those times can be hard.

Faith can be hard.

Yet just remember that there are forces working in our lives that we can not see. That just below the surface there is power that causes seeds to sprout, questions to be answered, minds to heal, and people to arise from the dead. That power is hope and, while it doesn't necessarily mean that the dark days of faith will be any easier, it is the promise that new life, new joy, and new understanding are just centimeters away... pushing themselves towards the light.

So don't give up on it. Posted by Heather@Women in the Scriptures at 7:30 PM 20 comments 


Faith in God Study Journals {giveaway} Posted by Heather@Women in the Scriptures at 9:31 PM 18 comments 


Women of Faith and Our First Mother by Amber Richardson

For Mother's Day I am so excited to share this guest post by  Amber Richardson the producer of a powerful short film called Women of Faith. If you haven't seen the film yet, take a moment this Mother's Day to watch it. It is only a half hour long and has a powerful message. I know that it has caused me to think more deeply about my ability to choose and how that affects those around me. I especially related to the Elaine Dalton character in the film because if you swapped out the typewriter for a laptop, you would have my life! I hope that you will watch the film and take a moment this Mother's Day to reflect on your first mother-- EVE-- and the incredible example she is to all of women of the power we have to  choose.

I contacted Heather a month ago to share a short film with her that I’ve been working on. That film is called Women of Faith, and it tells the stories of five inspiring and unsung women from the history of the Church. It can be viewed for free at: www.iamawomanoffaith.org

Heather has been very supportive of our little film—sharing it on her Facebook wall, and even allowing me to guest post today. I am really grateful that she has loaned me this little piece of Internet firstly, to promote our film, which I really hope you watch and share. These women and their stories have touched my life so deeply, that I can only imagine how they might touch yours. But I might be more excited to share with you some of the things I’ve learned as I’ve worked so closely with the lives of these great ladies.

I mentioned that we portray five women from the Church’s history in the film. Women of Faith also portrays another woman; a woman who belongs more to the world than to the Church, yet a woman who seems understood only through the teachings of the restored Gospel. This woman is our first mother, Eve.

"You have her example to follow. By revelation, Eve recognized the way home to God. She knew that the Atonement of Jesus Christ made eternal life possible in families. She was sure, as you can be, that as she kept her covenants with her Heavenly Father that the Redeemer and the Holy Ghost would see her and her family through whatever sorrows and disappointments would come. She knew she could trust in them... I know that Eve faced sorrows and disappointments, but I also know that she found joy in the knowledge that she and her family could return to God... I leave you my blessing, that like Eve, you may feel the same joy that she felt as you journey back home."

Henry B. Eyring (General Women's Meeting, March 29, 2014)

Although I kept myself from falling off of the couch when President Eyring started teaching about Eve at Women’s Conference, there was a lot of fist pumping and victory hollering from my spot by the window. I was so happy. Through my work on Women of Faith I have come to love this great lady so fully that I cannot help but testify of her place in the Plan of our Heavenly Parents. The more I have done this, the more I have seen that unfortunately, even within the structure of the Church, many of us still do not understand or comprehend the foreordination of Eve’s calling, the magnitude of her decision, and the wisdom in her choice.

How can we follow Eve’s example if we do not fully understand her righteous use of agency?

Do we remember that she was “among the noble and great in the pre-existence [and that] she ranked in spiritual stature, in faith, and devotion, in conformity to eternal law with Michael”? (Bruce R. McConkie, “Eve and the Fall”, Woman)

Do we understand that initiating the Fall was Eve’s choice to make? Her calling, which was given to her by God in the name He chose for her—Eve, which means the mother of all living—made her the conduit through which life for the entire human family would begin. When Joseph Smith was retranslating the Bible, he made an important comment about the Hebrew word ruach. Ruach translates to “life” in English. Joseph said that “the 7th verse of the 2nd chapter of Genesis ought to read—God breathed into Adam his spirit or breath of life; but when the word ruach applies to Eve, it should be translated lives. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 301.)

The breath of lives! Adam could not make this choice. He wasn’t called to do it. He could not represent the entire human family in this way for he did not have the breath of lives breathed into him. But Eve, she could.


Joseph Fielding Smith taught that “she partook of that fruit for one good reason, and that was to open the door to bring you and me and everyone else into this world, for Adam and Eve could have remained in the Garden of Eden; they could have been there to this day, if Eve hadn’t done something.” (In Conference Report, October 1967, italics added.)

Do we realize that without the Fall there would be no need for an Atonement? (See Bruce R. McConkie’s address, "The Three Pillars of Eternity" or more on this.)

Do we comprehend how wise she was?

I’d like to share a bit of what I’ve come to understand about her wisdom as I’ve studied her story.

There was a period in my life when I was very preoccupied with the tale of Abraham and the almost-sacrifice of his son, Isaac. I was taken by Abraham’s story of devotion and strength. And I was baffled by the way that he navigated two contradicting commandments. How on Earth did he manage that? How did he know what to do, how to move forward? I thought that I would be paralyzed if such a trial came in to my life. And then I found these verses of scripture:

“…Concerning your brethren who have been afflicted, and persecuted, and cast out from the land of their inheritance—I, the Lord, have suffered the affliction to come upon them… Yet I will own them, and they shall be mine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels. Therefore they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son.” (D&C 101:1-4)

Joseph Smith repeated this doctrine elsewhere. “You will have all kinds of trials to pass through. And it is quite as necessary for you to be tried as it was for Abraham and other men of God… God will feel after you, and he will take hold of you and wrench your very heart strings, and if you cannot stand it you will not be fit for an inheritance in the Celestial Kingdom of God.” (Joseph Smith, as reported by John Taylor in Journal of Discourses, 24:197)

I wondered, why is Abraham the standard? There were many men who were considerably tried. Job comes to mind. So do Abinadi and Joseph of Egypt. But if we combine the two references to Abraham in the above quotations, we see that there is something of special significance in the test crafted for Abraham that asked him to sacrifice Isaac.

I pondered that test and I discovered that there seemed to be three parts to it. First, there was a promise—that through Isaac, Abraham would be made the Father of so many, his posterity would compare to the number of sands on the seashore. Next, there was a conflicting commandment—in Abraham’s case this was the commandment that he should sacrifice his son.  And finally, there was the ram in the thicket—a symbol for the Atonement of Christ, and the thing that makes it all possible.

Because you see, without that ram in the thicket, Abraham would have gone on, existing in a God-created paradox. And a very uncomfortable, wrench-your-very-heart-strings sort of paradox at that. How can such a promise be fulfilled after his son is dead? And murdered at Abraham’s own hands?

As I examined this process, the Abrahamic test, I began to see places in my own life where these sorts of trials functioned, although with much less intensity. And I began to see the pattern in the scriptures everywhere.

1. A promise.
2. A conflicting
3. The Atonement.

And I realized that the very first Abrahamic test is embedded into the Plan itself.

1. The Creation.
2. The Fall.

With the creation, a promise was given to God’s children; we were shown and helped create a celestial world. We knew and saw what eternal life would be like. But then, a conflicting condition was applied: we must leave Them, we must fall from Their presence. It is only through a magnificent faith in and understanding of the Atonement that one could choose the Fall.

1. “Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth” (Moses
2. “The tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not
eat of it” (Moses 3:17)
3. “Were it not for our transgression we never should have
had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our
redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.” (Eve,
in Moses 5:11)

Eve had her own Abrahamic test. She was put in that Garden to choose the Fall. And would God have selected someone below the task? No, of course not.  What a tremendous decision. What faith she must have had. She wasn’t making this choice for herself exclusively, but for the entire human family. And somehow, through it all, she learned how to feel joy. That’s remarkable.

That is why we, as women, can follow her example. As disciples, we bear the name of Christ. But as women, we bear the name of Eve. While we pattern our characters after Christ, we serve a function more like Eve’s. Like her, we are mothers. And as mothers, we do what she did, but on a smaller scale. We bring our children, one by one, into the Fall.

We can gain strength from her wisdom, and from her choice, in all of the decisions we make in this life. Because when we remember the power of the Atonement, when we exert faith that it really will be active in our lives, we are like Eve.

It is my prayer that as we continue to learn about Eve, and all of her noble daughters who have walked behind her, that we will continue to be empowered as women to choose faith in spite of fear, righteousness instead of reality, and agency instead of apathy.

Really, my hope is that we will all just choose. Amber somewhat begrudgingly blogs at A Bright Particular Star. But don’t click that link. What she really wants you to do is watch Women of Faith. To view production photos and to engage with the film’s fans and cast check out www.facebook.com/WomenofFaithFilm .
If you’re looking for more information about the women highlighted in the film, the creators behind the project, or to view the film please visit www.iamawomanoffaith.org.

And don't forget to come back here after you have watched it and share your thoughts about it!
Posted by Heather@Women in the Scriptures at 7:36 AM 3 comments Labels: Eve, Film, Guest Post, Mother's Day, Women of Faith


Women in the Scriptures Jeopardy

Recently I had a reader email me and ask me for this presentation I gave at a conference several years ago. I'd forgotten all about it and was glad she reminded me.

It is Women in the Scripture Jeopardy!

I know you can hardly contain the excitement right? This is really a fun presentation and is perfect for introducing a group to the known (and little known) women of the scriptures. It includes women from the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. When I gave the presentation I had people keep track of how many points they earned and then gave out prizes to those who got the most. I think it worked really well. I also talked a little about each woman after she was "revealed" and it opened up some great topics for discussions.

The reader who requested it is going to use it for her Mother's Day Relief Society lesson, which I thought was brilliant. You are welcome to use this game in anyway you see fit, and I hope it gets used! I would just appreciate it if you give me credit for my work and mention where you got it from. The formatting didn't transfer over very well when I uploaded it to the web, so if you want to play around with the font and formatting to make it look fancier that is just fine with me.

Also, it is is really fun to just play by yourself. Grab your spouse, a child, or friend and see how many you get right. Long time readers of my blog should do pretty well...I hope!

Posted by Heather@Women in the Scriptures at 8:36 PM 4 comments Labels: Jeopardy
 Order my Book! Book of Mormon Study Guide Study Guide (Volume 1) Study Guide (Volume 2) My Other Book I Dare You 
heatherlady {at} gmail.com My Favorite Posts... at the moment Inspirational People with Interesting Things to Say
