Palin made her remarks at the Women of Joy Christian women’s conference held at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. The event, sponsored by Phil Waldrep Ministries based in Trinity, Ala., drew more than 9,000 women to the Jim Norick State Fair Arena.

Waldrep, an evangelist, is host of the syndicated “Living With Joy” radio show. At the beginning of Friday’s session, Waldrep welcomed Gov. Mary Fallin to the stage by saying she was the first sitting governor to attend one of his conferences.

Fallin received a standing ovation as she gave a short welcome to conference participants and expressed her excitement about Palin’s coming presentation.

“You talk about a woman who knows how to plant her feet firmly in the Word of God and to keep standing no matter what happens,” Fallin said of Palin.

Palin, in turn, expressed her appreciation for Fallin, a fellow Republican, by congratulating her on her election as Oklahoma governor.

“She’s a mama grizzly looking out for future generations,” Palin said.

Palin spoke for about 40 minutes, her speech often laced with humor that drew laughter from the crowd.

She took the stage to cheers and a standing ovation from the audience and left it with the same rousing appreciation from conference attendees.

The former governor told those gathered that being a woman of joy is “seeking and living out your purpose to be in service to our Creator, to God” even though there may be inconveniences, struggles and people — “haters” and critics — in their path.

She urged attendees to reject lives of selfishness and self-absorption for a life of seeking God’s will.

Palin said the Lord has been her strength throughout difficult times in her life, particularly when she learned her son Trig would be born with Down syndrome.

“I can’t even tell you what a blessing Trig has been to us. To us, he is perfect.”

She said Christ has been her internal compass and she encouraged conference participants to allow Him to guide them as well.

“Thank God His outstretched hand is there.”

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