Starfish Dreams

Mothers Who Know, part 2

A continuation from yesterday.

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.

I must admit to some heart pricks here.  I don't think she's saying we have to iron all our kids' clothes, but it should be expected that we will take care in preparing for and attending church.  My daughter, age 17, came with me to Africa earlier this year.  They may have only one Sunday outfit, but by golly, they are NICE clothes.  Sunday is an important day to them and it shows.  Our family is blessed with a multitude of clothing, yet sometimes the first try leads to mom telling them to change, as the shirt is ripped, stained, clothes are too casual, etc.  But, there are also times when I just don't get to the final "once-over" before we head out the door.  I need to do better at Sabbath dress.  I also take my religious covenants very seriously and hope that my kids know that.  I'll do better at making sure they know.

Mothers Who Know Are Nurturers

Mothers who know are nurturers. This is their special assignment and role under the plan of happiness.⁵ 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. Nurturing requires organization, patience, love, and work. Helping growth occur through nurturing is truly a powerful and influential role bestowed on women.

Here's another little ouchie for me - my home is well lived-in.  Ha.  It's a mess.  I like order - I just can't seem to maintain any!  I do cook and clean and wash clothes and teach my kids to do the same but the clutter!  I can't stand the clutter and can't seem to "fix" it either.  Another reminder that it really DOES matter.

Untitled Comment

11:36, Monday, November 5, 2007 .. Posted by morningsunshine

this was a great talk! I was only surprised that we had a new RS presidency! when did that happen?!?!? guess I haven't been going to the women's session for a while - I read it online later.

Untitled Comment

17:46, Monday, November 5, 2007 .. Posted by blessedmomof10

Holly ~

Clutter gets to me too!!! So hard to work thru and deal with when there are many little bodies! :)
I am not a saver or a keeper by nature -- so we do have a standard where if we have not used something within a year it is given away to friends, DI. etc. that helps with the clutter.
The hardest thing for me to deal with right now is the clutter from construction! Oh it gets to me! I try to keep up and keep things at least stacked....... but I must admit that I have "lost it" from time to time as I have stepped over a pile of nails or dru's hammer or power tools. :)
I do best in an orginized environment........ but it's tough with a large family and very small home ( 2,400 sq feet ) -- so I am thankful or the extra 300 sq feet the school room provided! Yeah!

This talk was awesome -- I love how you are breaking it down into sections. Good idea. :)

Blessings,
gloria