The White Ribbon

A few years ago while serving as Young Women President, we did an activity for the girls called the White Ribbon.  Before we left for camp, we had all the Moms of the girls write a letter to their daughters telling them how much they loved and missed them, and how they couldn't wait for them to come home.  These letters were presented to the girls on the last night at camp, along with a simple white ribbon.  Also, we gave each of the Moms a roll of white ribbon to cut up and tie in bows all over their house and their daughter's bedroom - just anywhere.  The lesson taught to the girls was that white represents faith and purity.  Heavenly Father wants each and every one of us to return home to him.  Keeping that white ribbon close to us is a reminder to stay true to our covenants and to obey the commandments so that we are worthy to stand in His presence and "return home" someday.

Today my daughter left for the MTC to begin her mission.  When she was a Young Woman receiving the lesson about the white ribbon, she was only 14 years old.  Those white ribbons have been hanging in her room all this time.  Before we took her suitcases out to the car, I ran into her room and snagged two of the white ribbons and quickly tied them to the handles of each of her suitcases.  She looked at me and smiled, and without saying a word, nodded her head as if to say, "NOW, I'm all packed."

As I was thinking about this today, along with all the work I've been doing for my ancestors, the thought came to me that each one of my ancestors could possibly be holding onto a white ribbon so that they too, can remember the covenants that are needed to return home to Heavenly Father, and for them to continue their journey.  However, I received the strongest impression that unlike my daughter whose connection with the white ribbon was between her and Heavenly Father, my ancestors' connection with the white ribbon is between them and me.  And I promise to make sure all of those white ribbons that I feel surrounding me will be taken care of.