The 1991 Women's Conference, co-sponsored by Brigham Young University and the Relief Society, revealed once again the diversity of issues that Latter-day Saint women are confronting in their astonishingly varied lives. This collection of essays from the conference addresses those issues.
The thread running through the fabric of the conference is hope. General Relief Society President Elaine L. Jack said: "To me hope embodies happy feelings, anticipation of good things, the best of the gospel, and a zest for life. In this women's conference, we celebrate 'a perfect brightness of hope.'"
Other contributors spoke of adversity and described the ways they had discovered to cope:
"When our burdens are grievous to be borne, when we face a world in which it seems that there is only struggle and no rest, I hope we can remember the immense strength of our sisterhood, the reservoirs that we have within us, and the unfailing wellspring of the Savior's love for us, even in the midst of adversity." —Chieko N. Okazaki
"Peace and stillness helped me fill my bucket, as I will explain, but maybe your problem right now isn't burnout or the empty bucket so much as a confusion about the next step you are to take. Many aspects of women's lives are changing in this generation, and although the great truths and values remain constant, many of us are honestly, sincerely puzzled about how to make the practical choices that will implement those truths." —Elouise Bell
"The need to feel valued poses a great temptation for us to find an example to copy. We all need examples to guide us in our growth, but making ourselves over to fit an already existing model can be counterproductive. If we lose sight of who we are—our individuality and the unique strengths we have to offer in service—we may simply, in wholesale pursuit of our chosen model, become what we think others want us to be." —Donna Lee Bowen
"Infertility is hard for anyone, but for infertile Mormons, the pain of this adversity is often even more acute. Ideally, church is where our trials melt away for a while, where we can come for renewal and leave better able to face life's difficulties. But sadly, church meetings are where many infertile Mormons are most reminded of their loss." —Lisa Johnson Boswell
"There are important differences between the Savior and ourselves to be overcome during our mortal existence, but gender is not one of them. Being female is not something we have to repent of." —Kathryn H. Shirts
