Besides leaving my children memories to laugh about...I want to also preserve the things that I hold most dear....my spiritual beliefs and testimony. In an effort to better do that, I will have a weekly Sunday night post, "Draw Nearer" - in which I will include something that is of special value or meaning to me....and some of my thoughts on it. It is my hope that one day our children will look back, not only with laughter, but with respect for and belief in the principles that serve as their parent's foundation. I pray that they will also found their lives upon these same, true principles - that they will find as much joy in living them as we have. So kiddos....this is for you....
A favorite talk of mine by Julie B. Beck, General Relief Society President. She gave this talk a year ago, and ever since, it has been a guiding influence in my life as I raise you. Following are her words - and some of my thoughts (in red).
MOTHERS WHO KNOW
In the Book of Mormon we read about 2,000 exemplary young men who were exceedingly valiant, courageous, and strong. “Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him” (Alma 53:21). These faithful young men paid tribute to their mothers. They said, “Our mothers knew it” (Alma 56:48). I would suspect that the mothers of Captain Moroni, Mosiah, Mormon, and other great leaders also knew.
The responsibility mothers have today has never required more vigilance. More than at any time in the history of the world, we need mothers who know. Children are being born into a world where they “wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). However, mothers need not fear. When mothers know who they are and who God is and have made covenants with Him, they will have great power and influence for good on their children.
Mothers Who Know Bear Children
Mothers who know desire to bear children. Whereas in many cultures in the world children are “becoming less valued,” in the culture of the gospel we still believe in having children. Prophets, seers, and revelators who were sustained at this conference have declared that “God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force.” President Ezra Taft Benson taught that young couples should not postpone having children and that “in the eternal perspective, children—not possessions, not position, not prestige—are our greatest jewels.” (I have always wanted you. I have wanted you since I was a little girl. Even before I met you, I knew that you would be MY greatest jewels - and change my life forever. I am so thankful that I was able to carry each of you - from feeling your first movements to hearing your cry for the first time - I knew that I had been give something of divinity. Your dad and I both knew when it was time for each of you to come into this world. I know that you each lived with our Father in Heaven before you came to us - and that we will one day return from whence you came - and dwell together as a family throughout eternity because of the covenants your father and I have made with Him. I wanted each of you then, I want you now, and I will continue wanting you throughout the eternities. You are more important to us than any possession, position, or prestige. You ARE our greatest jewels).
Faithful daughters of God desire children. In the scriptures we read of Eve (see Moses 4:26), Sarah (see Genesis 17:16), Rebekah (see Genesis 24:60), and Mary (see 1 Nephi 11:13–20), who were foreordained to be mothers before children were born to them. Some women are not given the responsibility of bearing children in mortality, but just as Hannah of the Old Testament prayed fervently for her child (see 1 Samuel 1:11), the value women place on motherhood in this life and the attributes of motherhood they attain here will rise with them in the Resurrection (see D&C 130:18). Women who desire and work toward that blessing in this life are promised they will receive it for all eternity, and eternity is much, much longer than mortality. There is eternal influence and power in motherhood.
Mothers Who Know Honor Sacred Ordinances and Covenants
Mothers who know honor sacred ordinances and covenants. I have visited sacrament meetings in some of the poorest places on the earth where mothers have dressed with great care in their Sunday best despite walking for miles on dusty streets and using worn-out public transportation. They bring daughters in clean and ironed dresses with hair brushed to perfection; their sons wear white shirts and ties and have missionary haircuts. These mothers know they are going to sacrament meeting, where covenants are renewed. These mothers have made and honor temple covenants. They know that if they are not pointing their children to the temple, they are not pointing them toward desired eternal goals. These mothers have influence and power. (Your father and I made covenants to each other and to Heavenly Father the day we were married - and have kept them and honored them. It is because of those covenants that you have been raised in a home where peace, love and forgiveness abound. Our greatest hope is that each of you will make it a goal to make and keep those same temple covenants - that you will enjoy the blessings and eternal bonds with your spouses and children.)
Mothers Who Know Are Nurturers
Mothers who know are nurturers. This is their special assignment and role under the plan of happiness. To nurture means to cultivate, care for, and make grow. Therefore, mothers who know create a climate for spiritual and temporal growth in their homes. Another word for nurturing is homemaking. Homemaking includes cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and keeping an orderly home. Home is where women have the most power and influence; therefore, Latter-day Saint women should be the best homemakers in the world. Working beside children in homemaking tasks creates opportunities to teach and model qualities children should emulate. Nurturing mothers are knowledgeable, but all the education women attain will avail them nothing if they do not have the skill to make a home that creates a climate for spiritual growth. Growth happens best in a “house of order,” and women should pattern their homes after the Lord’s house (see D&C 109). Nurturing requires organization, patience, love, and work. Helping growth occur through nurturing is truly a powerful and influential role bestowed on women. (This has always been an important principle to me. And you thought I just LOVED to do laundry and clean????Nay. I have always felt it was my responsibility to create a beautiful environment for each of you. It's our nest....and worth every bit of headache it takes to maintain. Nope - Don't love laundry - just love the peace that clean laundry brings. lol)
Mothers Who Know Are Leaders
Mothers who know are leaders. In equal partnership with their husbands, they lead a great and eternal organization. These mothers plan for the future of their organization. They plan for missions, temple marriages, and education. They plan for prayer, scripture study, and family home evening. Mothers who know build children into future leaders and are the primary examples of what leaders look like. They do not abandon their plan by succumbing to social pressure and worldly models of parenting. These wise mothers who know are selective about their own activities and involvement to conserve their limited strength in order to maximize their influence where it matters most. (This is one area that I have made a goal to do better at.....MAXIMIZING MY INFLUENCE WHERE IT MATTERS MOST. As a result, I have been saying "No" a lot more - realizing that when I say "No" to something ...I am really saying"Yes" to more precious time with you. I continue to try to re-evaluate my priorities and keep them where they need to be. It's so easy to let things get carried away.)
Mothers Who Know Are Teachers
Mothers who know are always teachers. Since they are not babysitters, they are never off duty. A well-taught friend told me that he did not learn anything at church that he had not already learned at home. His parents used family scripture study, prayer, family home evening, mealtimes, and other gatherings to teach. Think of the power of our future missionary force if mothers considered their homes as a pre–missionary training center. Then the doctrines of the gospel taught in the MTC would be a review and not a revelation. That is influence; that is power. (I love the time that we have set aside to teach each other. I don't only consider myself your teacher, but your student. You have each already taught me so much about myself - and what I should be.)
Mothers Who Know Do Less
Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord’s kingdom for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power. (I hope this explains why we haven't enrolled you in every available sport and recreational activity :) Through the years we will counsel with you on this - guiding you as you choose the way that you will spend your time.)
Mothers Who Know Stand Strong and Immovable
Who will prepare this righteous generation of sons and daughters? Latter-day Saint women will do this—women who know and love the Lord and bear testimony of Him, women who are strong and immovable and who do not give up during difficult and discouraging times. We are led by an inspired prophet of God who has called upon the women of the Church to “stand strong and immovable for that which is correct and proper under the plan of the Lord.” He has asked us to “begin in [our] own homes” to teach children the ways of truth. Latter-day Saint women should be the very best in the world at upholding, nurturing, and protecting families. I have every confidence that our women will do this and will come to be known as mothers who “knew” (Alma 56:48).
I pray you are patient with me as I figure this mothering thing out. It is definitely a process and a refiners fire. When iron is refined, it is heated to incredible temperatures and as it is liquefied, the impurities rise to the top and are cast off. This is the same process I am going through as your mom. I am pushed and stretched and challenged as I try to figure all of this out and keep my life in balance. As I struggle - those impurities within myself are rising to the top and our Savior is casting them off as dross. All I want is to be the kind of mom you deserve. To be good to you. To be patient with you. To build you. To listen to you. To teach you and shape you. To love you. It is through Him that I will be able to give you what you deserve....and be forgiven when I fall short. I'm trying the best I can......please be patient with me through the process.
So glad you are mine....for always,
Momma
Sarah, what an inspiring post. I love it. It will mean so much to your children. They will love the reminder of how much you treasure them. They will love knowing that you don't really LOVE laundry... that was funny...You are so good at what you do. Such a sweet momma and the best homemaker. I always feel like I'm coming home at your house. Love you!
ReplyDeleteSooooo well said Sarah. You have such a way with words. What a powerful message of how great and challenging it is to be a momma.
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