I was in a Sunday School class once, where the teacher was talking about the women heroes of the Bible. He said something to the effect of "If there were a book written about the women heroes of the Book of Mormon, it would be empty". While it's true that the women in the Book of Mormon are not prominently featured, the roles that women played, even if they were not the forefront of the story, are unmistakably important.
Take the wife of King Lamoni, for example.
And she said unto him (Ammon): The servants of my husband have made it known unto me that thou art a prophet of a Holy God, and that thou hast power to do many mighty works in his name; (Alma 19:4)
Her husband had lain unconscious for two days, and was being prepared for burial by those who thought he was dead. She did not believe he was dead, and called upon a man she had only heard stories about to see if he could raise him.
And he (Ammon) said unto the queen: He is not dead, but he sleepeth in God, and on the morrow he shall rise again; therefore bury him not.
And Ammon said unto her: Believest thou this? And she said unto him: I have had no witness save thy word, and the word of our servants; nevertheless I believe that it shall be according as thou hast said. (Alma 19:8-9)
This is a woman who did not even know who "God" was. She only knew of a Great Spirit. Yet, when Ammon told her that her husband "sleepeth in God", she did not question him. She only believed. She had no reason to believe, but she did.
And Ammon said unto her: Blessed art thou because of thy exceeding faith; I say unto thee, woman, there has not been such great faith among all the people of the Nephites. (Alma 19:10)
Because of her exceeding faith, her husband did rise the next day as Ammon had told her. I can only hope that I would have as much faith as she did.
In the same chapter, there is the story of Abish, "a Lamanitish woman", and one of the six women mentioned by name in the Book of Mormon. Abish had "been converted unto the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father" (Alma 19:16) . She had kept her conversion a secret until she saw the king and his wife and Ammon and all the servants in the tent overcome with the spirit. She knew immediately what had happened.
...and supposing that this opportunity, by making known unto the people what had happened among them, that by beholding this scene it would cause them to believe in the power of God, therefore she ran forth from house to house, making it know unto the people. (Alma 19:17)
She showed a lot of courage by doing this. She was so sure that this would convert people to the knowledge of the Lord that she didn't hesitate to tell everyone she could. When the people saw what had happened, instead of understanding that they were overcome by the spirit of the Lord, they assumed that it was an evil spirit. This made Abish very sorrowful, "even unto tears".
And it came to pass that she went and took the queen by the hand, that perhaps she might raise her from the ground; and as soon as she touched her hand she arose and stood upon her feet, and cried with a loud voice, saying: O blessed Jesus who has saved me from an awful hell! O blessed God, have mercy on this people!(Alma 19:29)
This was the beginning of much preaching and witnessing by the servants and Lamoni and Ammon himself. Some of the people that Abish had gathered chose not to listen and left, but the ones who stayed were converted to the Lord and their hearts changed, and "they had no more desire to do evil".(Alma 19:33)
Because of these two righteous and faithful women, many, many lives were changed forever and for the better. I believe that as a woman, I have the power to make a difference. I may not make that difference in grand and glorious ways, but by small and simple means. My name does not have to be shouted from the rooftops or etched in history for me to have changed someone's life. All I need is faith, like Lamoni's wife, and the courage of Abish to do what is right, all the time.
Abish is one of my heros. There were so many that contributed much (both men and women) and did not get prominently named or glorified. Guess it gives hope to me. I know that I will be known through eternity as "Heather's dad." or as 'the husband of Stephanie." That is ok with me. That is the way it should be. Good spellers shoulds alsays get the glorie.
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