Starfish Dreams

Mothers Who Know, part 3

Here is more of Julie Beck's talk.  We talked about it in our Sunday women's meeting and again in our family night lesson.  The kids had some good insights, as did other women in our church.  I wonder if the "controversy" comes from people who know they should make a different choice, have some guilt over their decision and then lash out when people point out what we have been counseled to do.  I was already married and pregnant when Ezra Taft Benson gave his talk "To The Mothers In Zion" 20 years ago.  The reaction was similar then, too.  I do NOT feel our church denigrates women.  On the contrary - our leaders love, honor and support women - and want them to fulfill the measure of their creation, which is to do that which women are uniquely suited to do.  That, and to stand strong and immoveable.

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 little section brings to mind another talk from Conference - Good, Better, Best by Dallin H. Oaks.  There are GOOD things that we can pursue (from my own life - political activism, being room mom, soccer mom, etc), there are BETTER things we can spend our time on (midwifery, etc) and then there are the BEST things (taking one-on-one time with a child, even when it's "inconvenient", truly TEACHING our children the way of the straight and narrow path, honoring our own covenants, etc).  Sometimes, I feel like the only parent left who still expects their children to work, who will NOT purchase cars for their 16th birthdays, who won't let them see just any movie, even if their friends are and who have modesty standards that I actually enforce.  I know I'm not, but it sure does feel lonely sometimes.  Even then, I will still stand. :)

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.

Amen. I am writing to my missionary son and asking him if he learned anything new in the MTC.  I'm thinkin' he did not.  And if he did, well, we'll know how to rectify that before the next missionary goes out.  Thanks for leaving some comments - this is an important clarion call in an ever-darkening, depressing world.

Update:  I did ask him and - bless his heart - he said the MTC WAS a review for him.  He said the one thing that stood out was how to pull it all together and actually get out and TEACH it and he learned most of that "in the field".  Phew!

you are not alone

17:53, Monday, November 5, 2007 .. Posted by blessedmomof10

I also agree that when children are instructed at home -- the things they learn at church are just "icing on the cake" meaning they have had those teachings in the home for years and Church just adds cushion....... that is what we have seen with our kids - with 2 kids in youth programs -- there is nothing really "new" they are learning ......

I also I wanted you to know that you are not alone in your quest to teach your children to be industrious, work hard and not to indulge them in every whim and fancy! Oh boy do I hear you on this one...... even in the church today we struggle with fellow members who have completely different standards....

have you read the talk by Elder Packer -- Lehi's dream and you? BYU devotional from FEB 2007 -- so good! He shares how our challenge will be to hold firm to the rod while most members are in the great and spacious building...... boy can I relate! That happens to us often enough...... but as you shared..... we will continue to stand....... even if that means alone......... how important it is to have the holy Spirit as our guides so we don't become decieved by the world and it's enticings........we need to sell our summer homes in Babylon as Elder Stone stated in conference a few years back.........

Great talk!

Gloria

Thanks!

08:17, Tuesday, November 6, 2007 .. Posted by starfishmama

I am glad you posted. I know there are others out there, truly I do, but they seem so few and far between. :) I have NOT read that talk - thanks for pointing it out to me. I'll have to go track it down. I'm hopeful we don't have a summer home in Babylon. We are sure trying to be fully on the Lord's side.
Hugs