A thoughtful reader has asked me a question that I wanted to answer here because it occurred to me that there might be other women who feel as she did. I had written about Elder Uchtdorf's wonderful talk in the general Relief Society meeting, in which he identified creativity and compassion as the sources of Heavenly Father's happiness. She said she doesn't feel like a "creative person," and now she's wondering about her own happiness. 

Amy, I think the difficulty here comes in our definition of "creative." For many women, as you suggested, Elder Uchtdorf's remarks felt like a validation of their hobbies. I agree that it did help us recognize the worth of such things. But I remember feeling utterly inadequate from about age 10 on in this department, when knitting was the "required creative skill" we were being taught. The other girls in my Primary class were knitting vests and sweaters and I was plugging my way through a straight scarf that I had to unpick halfway in because I was accidentally adding a stitch every time I got to the end of a row. It ended up as a potholder for the event where we displayed our creative work. Same the next year with the crocheting. I got one edge of tea towel done. We folded it over so the other edge wasn't visible.

When I was a young mother, sewing was the creative activity deemed to be of most worth, and I couldn't do that either. I think we tend to equate creativity with the visible, tangible product that happens to be in vogue at the time, and although it's accurate to call those efforts creative, what's NOT fair is to limit the definition to that kind of activity.

So, here are a few questions to consider:

Are you good at having a clean house? If so, you are creating order. Joseph Smith even defined the Creation of the world as organizing.

You have children, you say. Creating them in the first place was an ultimate act of creativity, but the fact is that creativity is the order of the day when you have children. Problem-solving is just another name for creating solutions. And if you're teaching those children to love and serve one another and to be friends, you are creating connections that will last through eternity.

Do you hold a calling in your ward or branch? Whatever it is, chances are you're helping to create testimonies.

I have a friend who is always bringing others little treats or looking for ways to serve them. Another calls me from time to time just to say she was thinking of me. These friends create love in my heart.

If you're reading your scriptures and saying your prayers, you're creating a place where the Spirit can dwell. That may be the most important creation of all, and no proficiency with a glue gun is required!

I'll bet you are much more creative than you think you are. Accept the happiness you feel and build on it by working to learn what KIND of creativity Father in Heaven needs from you--and don't forget that other element of happiness mentioned by Elder Uchtdorf: compassion. Maybe more of your skills lie in that direction!