Proverbs 31, like paragraph 7 of “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” describe women in ways that seem outdated, maybe even offensive to some.
However, President Russell M Nelson has reminded us that “From the dawning of time, women have been blessed with a unique moral compass—the ability to distinguish right from wrong.”
The role of women can feel complicated if we view scriptures like Proverbs 31 and the Proclamation as though God is telling us what to do, rather than describing who we are; explaining the power and attributes that are ours to claim.
Attributes like faith, a reverence for marriage and motherhood, physical and spiritual health, service, wise stewardship, practicing the arts of homemaking, wisely using time and finding and creating beauty. Again, not a checklist, but gifts we can claim.
How that looks in each of our homes is likely to look a little different because of circumstances, but the virtues described are something the world needs desperately, wherever we are.
“My dear sisters, your ability to discern truth from error, to be society’s guardians of morality, is crucial in these latter days. And we depend upon you to teach others to do likewise. Let me be very clear about this: if the world loses the moral rectitude of its women, the world will never recover.” (Spiritual Treasures|Nelson, Oct 2019)
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” (Proverbs 31:10)
And oh, how the world needs them.