By Kristi Steidley

Something I often tell my husband and kids is, “You get what you give.” Just a few days ago, we brought a new dog into our family. My husband and I had been searching for the right puppy for a while but hadn’t found the one. Then my daughter suggested we look again—and there he was. We instantly fell in love. It felt like he was meant to be part of our family. When we arrived at the house, I handed over cash for our new four-legged friend—who, fittingly, was named Cash by his previous owners. I smiled as we drove away and told my kids, “We gave cash and got Cash.” We all agree that the Cash we received is worth so much more than the cash we gave.

Teaching is another perfect example of cause and effect. The best way to truly learn something is to teach it. I learned this firsthand as a Young Women leader. I loved being with the young women but felt intimidated by them. Teaching them made me nervous—I hated being in the spotlight, worried I might say the wrong thing or look foolish. Over time, I shifted my focus away from my fears and onto the incredible value I saw in each of those young women. I wanted them to truly know how much God loved them.

I prayed for help to become an instrument in God’s hands to help these women feel that love. I poured thought and prayer into preparing my lessons, centering myself on Heavenly Father’s love for each girl. Even though I still felt nervous sometimes, I was able to teach with genuine love. By pushing past my fears and discomforts, I was able to bless their lives.

Through this experience, I not only deepened my understanding and appreciation of the gospel, but I also felt Heavenly Father’s immense love for me. I was humbled to be in the presence of such spiritual giants. The positive feedback from the young women and other leaders felt like a blessing from God. Every time I prepared a lesson with the goal of strengthening these young women, I was given additional strength myself.