The Pearl Girls: An Invitation to Join

Many people have noticed, commented, and asked about them. And depending who I am traveling with, you might think I am part of a clique, club, or group of some sort because within my associates and friend group there are a small bunch of us who wear them. So as a non jewelry wearing person, many wonder how I have gotten into this habit of wearing a pearl necklace.

Twenty one years ago, as I dated Travis, I saw his mom wearing a pearl necklace.  It was beautiful and I commented on it.  Even then I was not a jewelry wearer, but I think there is something simplistically beautiful and classic about pearls.  She told me the history of her necklace which had been bought for her from a family member while he was traveling in Japan, I believe.  When Travis and I got engaged, his mom had asked if I wanted to use any of her jewelry for the wedding, it could be my "something borrowed".  Immediately I thought of the necklace.  Travis let her know I would feel super delighted and honored to borrow the pearl necklace and so she brought it along with pearl earrings to Washington DC with her for the wedding day.  I wore them and felt like a princess, sure that this would probably be one of the few times - I'm not a girly girl you see.

Then on our first Mother's Day together, Travis surprised me with pearl earrings.  He knew I wasn't a big jewelry wearer, but he also remembered my delight on our wedding day.  Although we couldn't afford a necklace yet, he had happily splurged on the earrings.  Then just a couple years later and right after Isabella was born, on Mother's Day, he got me a pearl necklace.  As the jeweler lovingly wrapped them, he gave me care instructions.  There is a special cloth to wipe them down with and a list of do's and don'ts stressing the fragility of them.  With this investment and these instructions, I reserved those pieces for special occasions and didn't wear them with any kind of regularity.

Fast forward to June of 2019, it was the first day of camp, we were a fairly new Presidency volunteering our time and energy to serve the young women age 12-18 in the San Antonio area.  That evening, Amanda, unknown to me prior to our calling, gave each of us a gift.  We all unwrapped simultaneously to open our boxes of pearls.  She explained that they represented a right of passage and that we were in this together for better or worse.  We were floored at her generosity.  But felt the impact of her words.  In the four months we had been serving together, we felt like we had known each other for years.  Already we had experienced adversity and were bonded through weathering it together.  I felt nervous, but she assured me she wore them everyday, they were very durable and improved with wear.  We all wore them every day that week and continued to for the duration of our service together.

As I wore them though something magical happened, people did notice them, and more often than not they told me a story regarding the pearls, either their own, their symbolism, or why they thought I wore them everyday.  Including the symbolism of making something beautiful through adversity, as the oyster turns sand, an irritant, into the pearl or how Heavenly Father seeks to bless us when we are faithful like the story below illustrates.

But for me, what I learned is that pearls represent wisdom, most often wisdom gained through experience.  They are known for strengthening relationships and relay a sense of safety as well as symbolize purity and integrity.  And due to the experiences of my life that had brought me to Texas, into this calling, and through a series of well timed and seemingly small, but powerfully tender mercies, my life started a bit of a transformation, maybe not noticeable to anyone else, but it was to me.

And so now I wear them daily to remember those things.  It reminds me of my strengthened relationship with my Heavenly Father and my strengthened relationships to others as I serve them.  It reminds me why I am here in this life, learning wisdom through experience.  It calms me when I am worried, and it reminds me that all of these wonderful blessings come as a result of my constant companionship to the Holy Ghost because of my choice to live a life of purity and integrity.  

So as you see me wearing them, twirling them, nervously rubbing them, know that I want to invite each one of you, not to get a set of pearls - although I totally support that too, but find something that daily reminds you of your relationship to your Heavenly Father and your purpose here on Earth, to gain wisdom through experience in partnership with God.