“Of this you may be certain: the Lord especially loves righteous women — women who are not only faithful but filled with faith, women who are striving to live and serve as women of God.” — M. Russell Ballard

If you’ve ever wondered how women fit into God’s plan, how He feels about them, and what He needs them to do and to be, this book has answers.

“While women live in homes under many different circumstances — married, single, widowed, or divorced, some with children and some without — all are beloved of God, and He has a plan for His righteous daughters to receive the highest blessings of eternity,” writes Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve.

Elder Ballard’s respect and love for women are evident in the way he speaks about them, which he has done in several landmark addresses in recent years. Daughters of God presents three of those classic messages to and about women, accented with inspirational images. A perfect gift, this meaningful book will lift and encourage women in all of life’s circumstances.

The women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may have no more enthusiastic fan- on earth, that is- than Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve. This is at least partly because of his wife, Barbara, who is the joy of his life and who, by his own admission, has taught him a thing or two during their fifty-seven years of marriage. Anything she might have missed, his five daughters, twenty-four granddaughters and nine great-granddaughters have filled in- again by his own admission. Which is why he has suggested, on several occasions, that his practical, on-the-job training has made him an expert on women.

I might state just a bit differently. From my experience, Elder Ballard is without question an expert on not only understanding but also appreciating the strength, the resilience, the vision, and the influence of righteous, latter-day women of God. He expressed the scope of his admiration in an address at the 2003 BYU Women’s Conference where he stated, “We are now thirteen million strong in this Church, but we have so much more work to do. Let us never, ever forget that this work is all about people. It is about boys and girls, young men and young women, men and women, and families. And- dare I say it? –no one has more influence over boys and girls, young men and young women, men and women, and the families of the Church and even of the world then do you, my sisters, whose influence because of your mothering and mentoring nature is unparalleled. Never, ever make the mistake of underestimating the influence of women. There are few things as powerful, as nurturing, or as life-changing as the influence of a righteous women” (emphasis added).

As affirming as those words are- and Elder Ballard has spoken similarly in countless settings through the years- from both observation and personal experience, I can say that Elder Ballard not only talks the talk, but he walks the walk.

For twenty-five years or so, I have had the privilege of learning from Elder Ballard in a variety of settings. He served as chairman of the board of Deseret Book Company for a season when I worked as an officer of that company. Some years ago he was serving as executive director of the Missionary Department when I was called upon to help with a project there. He presided over the Priesthood Executive Committee while I served as a counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, which fell under PEC direction. And there have been numerous other projects through the years when I have worked under his direction and benefited from his leadership, his savvy, and his sage counsel. Again and again, I have both experienced and observed the seemingly natural but profound respect he has for us as women- for our judgment, our insight, our ability to contribute to councils in meaningful and important ways, our propensity for working past the point of exhaustion in the service of others, and our unique gifts and the expression of them.

Elder Ballard has spoken again and again, including in general conference, on the importance of councils- in both the Church and the family- and the strength that comes when righteous men and righteous women combine their efforts in the service of the Lord. More than once, as I reported back to Elder Ballard on one assignment or another, and particularly those that called deliberation, I found myself wondering if I wasn’t experiencing an ideal pattern. He welcomes candid expression, listens, considers what he hears, then counsels. Never while serving or working under his direction have I heard so much as a patronizing syllable, never a hint of dismissiveness, never anything other than an almost effortless inclusiveness that acknowledges how unique and necessary our voices are and how vital our ability to love and nurture is to boys and girls, young men and young women, husbands and loved ones, and without sounding unduly hyperbolic, all mankind.

It is for this reason that the publishing division of Deseret Book approached Elder Ballard about compiling in this small gift book three of his classic messages- “Daughters of God,” “Teach the Children,” and “As Women of God” – That reinforce his deep feelings about the importance of mothers, motherhood and womanhood itself. These teachings from a prophet, seer and revelator who has such obvious regard for the divine nature of women are reassuring, encouraging, motivating, and filled with meaning for every woman. They bear reading and pondering again and again.

“I hope all of you dear sisters, married or single, never wonder if you have worth in the sight of the Lord and to the leaders of the Church,” he said at the conclusion of “Daughters of God.” “We love you. We respect you and appreciate your influence in preserving the family and assisting with the growth and the spiritual vitality of the Church….I pray that God will continually bless the women of the Church to find joy and happiness in their sacred roles as daughters of God.”

May every woman who reads, studies, and ponders Elder Ballard’s words come to know for herself that what he teaches about all of us is true for every one of us.

-Sheri Dew