I was so inspired by Pres. Uchtdorf’s talk in the 2011 General Women’s Conference that I decided to do a painting based on it. The title is “Forget Me Not,” and he uses the little forget-me-not flower as a metaphor. The five petals represent five things we would be wise never to forget. First, forget not to be patient with yourself. Second, forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice. Third, forget not to be happy now. Fourth, forget not the “why” of the gospel. Fifth, forget not that the Lord loves you. If you haven’t seen or read it, you must!

In my painting, the girl represents all womanhood. She is on the path of life, and is focusing on the little forget-me-not flowers instead of the other large, vibrant flowers around her. We need to focus on Pres. Uchtdorf’s counsel. The roses in the painting start out red, and gradually become lighter along the path until they become white. This is symbolic of the purification process of life. There are five stones on the path of life before the gate, and these also remind us of the five “forget-me-nots.” The fence and the gate represent the veil, and beyond that the forget-me-nots and the path continue into a representation of “heaven.” Our ultimate goal is to make it to the light, and we can do it by focusing on the little forget-me-nots.