Sunday, February 9, 2025, sisters from the Spokane Washington Stake gathered for a General Women’s Meeting. The meeting invited all women, including high school junior and senior young women, to gather to hear messages of faith and testimonies of “Why I Believe.”
The hour-long meeting featured six inspired speakers each focusing on their unique experiences connecting them to why they believe in Christ and why they each choose to stay in this gospel. Over 130 sisters from the stake gathered to hear the messages of faith, each briefly summarized below:
Opening the meeting, President Timothy Cobb shared his gratitude for the sisters of the stake and the profound lessons he has learned from them. President Cobb shared a tender story of his time serving as a bishop and enjoying listening to the primary children sing about their God. The primary gifted him a beautiful journal, in which he has transcribed experiences, impressions, lessons, quotes, and thoughts he’s gained from every church meeting he has attended since; then tenderly shared the last page of this journal will be filled at this meeting. President Cobb read words from women in the stake that he has learned from and his testimony of reflection and being connected to Jesus Christ.
Following President Cobb, Hillary Lyttle from the Glenrose ward shared testimony of “there is no fear in love, perfect love casteth out all fear.” Hillary described how the love of God had removed fear felt when she was a missionary and as a mother. Her experiences demonstrated that choosing to live with love is choosing to live without fear; sharing, “There is no room for fear when His love is with me.”
Cali Jones from the Lincoln Heights ward shared a tender and exuberant testimony of the Book of Mormon. She shared that reading from the Book of Mormon will help you make better choices in life, quoting: “I believe in Christ so come what may.” Illustrating her experience, Cali shared that her Book of Mormon study has become more sacred through prayer. Closing her testimony she bore “I feel love and joy, in caps, THE PLAN” of salvation.
Katelyn Hansen from the Lincoln Heights ward then shared her personal story of faith, questions, and turning to Christ. She shared how her patriarchal blessing has impacted her journey and guided her to coming “out on top” of her questions. Katelyn provided three pillars of her faith, including: (1) The gift of agency – we are “here to make mistakes and learn from them,” (2) Community in Christ – her “questions were received with love, embrace, and encouragement,” and (3) Prayer – having a personal connection with God, “He helps me feel that my questions are important.”
Laura Ramos from the Lincoln Heights ward began with a movie quote where the lead states: “You are with me” and gestures up “Or without me” while gesturing low. Laura shared scriptures that have been her “motto” in life citing: Proverbs 3: 5-6, Leviticus 26, and Doctrine and Covenants 97: 15-16. These scripture passages demonstrated that when you trust the Lord, “He will keep his promises if I do my part.” She testified that there is no trial that God is not aware of, no trial He will not help you. “We are God’s children, He will protect us.” She closed by gesturing upward and repeating God’s question: “Who’s with me?”
The meeting’s final speaker, Malerie Weed, the Stake Relief Society President, shared her gratitude for being about to “love with, learn with, and be lifted by” the sisters of the Spokane stake. Malerie cited scriptures in the New Testament highlighting stories of “certain women” and taught the examples of faith, hope, and witness each were. President Weed shared: “It is not easy to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, but it does mean we have access to Him.” She shared how “truly extraordinary” the sisters are and closed by encouraging each: “Do not lose hope, do not give up, seek Him and you will find Him.”
The meeting closed with a powerful spirit. With refreshments provided by the Stake Presidency, many sisters in attendance mingled and fellowshipped for some time after the close of the meeting. Truly the sisters of this stake are extraordinary beacons of light, what a joy to learn from, mingle with, and feel the spirit of these powerful sisters of Zion.
Report prepared by Hannah Brugger, Stake Relief Society Secretary