Starfish Dreams

Mothers Who Know

I want to tlalk about a recent talk given by the leader of our church's women's auxilliary.  She spoke a month ago to all members of our church about motherhood.  Here is the first part of her talk.

There is eternal influence and power in motherhood.

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".  These faithful young men paid tribute to their mothers. They said, "Our mothers knew it". 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.

Faithful daughters of God desire children. In the scriptures we read of Eve, Sarah, Rebekah, and Mary, 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, the value women place on motherhood in this life and the attributes of motherhood they attain here will rise with them in the Resurrection. 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.

Perhaps the most "controversial" part of her talk, but one I agree with!  Sure there are exceptions - sometimes out of necessity, or circumstances beyond our control, but we women are meant to be mothers.  It's a role only we can fill - no man can "mother" like a woman can mother.  The only thing I would have changed is the word "bear" to "have".  I HAVE many children that I did not bear.

I was there when she gave this talk!

15:04, Monday, November 5, 2007 .. Posted by blessedmomof10

Holly~

I was blessed to be in the conference center when Sister Beck gave this talk........ it was amazing........ I wept, wept wept.........why? Because what she said everything I believe so deeply in..... after we left that session -- I was listening to what the crowd was saying about conference....... the men were all talking about the most powerful talk they have heard in a long time - Sister Becks and the women were complaining about what she had to say..... and why so????
Since this talk was given I have had various ladies share their feelings about this talk -- some like me love loved it and some are very defensive about the message........ reminds me of the talk that Pres. Benson gave years back: To Mothers in Zion...... Dru was at BYU and went to that fireside - the same thing happened -- the men thought it was awesome and the women complained...... he told me the ladies were up in arms about this talk ..... he was in the school of business and many of his peers who were ladies were very angry.... why???

The truth is always hard to hear for some...... for various reasons - perhaps pride or because they know they need to change........ but I am always amazed to know that the Lord continues to speak the same messages.......that women are to marry have children and keep their homes a place of peace and safety..........to me this message that Sister Beck gave is just the same message that was given in Proverbs 31......... thousands of years ago..... the message the Lord has for women is still the same.... why do we not rejoice in our roles as the bearers of children? The keepers of our homes and the wives of our husbands? Has satan lulled us into the state of pride that we no longer rejoice in our roles as women? I think so.......

Just some thoughts,

Blessings,
Gloria

Edited by blessedmomof10 on Monday, November 5, 2007 at 16:07