In October of 2007 Sister Julie B. Beck, at the time president of the General Relief Society, gave an amazing talk to the women of the church, specifically the mothers. "In the Book of Mormon," she starts out, "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, and the 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."
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."
Mother's who know are willing to choose God's way over their own because they know that "two people can do anything, just as long as one of them is God...."
In Sister Beck's talk she goes over the seven things that a mother does when she knows......
SHE BEARS CHILDREN- there is eternal influence and power in motherhood.....
"...... 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." In a Best of EFY I once attended one of the speakers talked about the importance of motherhood. He jokingly said "Without mother's we wouldn't be here." But as he went through his talk he got more serious and talked about how God hand picks each mother for her children. I thought that was so beautiful, but what really struck me was when he talked about the birth of a child. Now I cant really explain this as well as he did, but I will give it a try. He talked about how when a mother is giving birth to a child she is closest to being like Christ than anyone ever could be on this earth. Christ delivered us through blood, water, sacrifice and a lot of pain but an overwhelming amount of love. That is exactly what a mother does when she brings a child into this life. She delivers that little child of Heaven through a lot of blood and water, she is sacrificing so much in her own life.... in some case the mother actually does give up her own life for the life of her child. There is a lot of pain in the process of delivery but in the end that pain doesn't matter because she has more love than anyone could possibly understand for that little child.
SHE BEARS CHILDREN- there is eternal influence and power in motherhood.....
"...... 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." In a Best of EFY I once attended one of the speakers talked about the importance of motherhood. He jokingly said "Without mother's we wouldn't be here." But as he went through his talk he got more serious and talked about how God hand picks each mother for her children. I thought that was so beautiful, but what really struck me was when he talked about the birth of a child. Now I cant really explain this as well as he did, but I will give it a try. He talked about how when a mother is giving birth to a child she is closest to being like Christ than anyone ever could be on this earth. Christ delivered us through blood, water, sacrifice and a lot of pain but an overwhelming amount of love. That is exactly what a mother does when she brings a child into this life. She delivers that little child of Heaven through a lot of blood and water, she is sacrificing so much in her own life.... in some case the mother actually does give up her own life for the life of her child. There is a lot of pain in the process of delivery but in the end that pain doesn't matter because she has more love than anyone could possibly understand for that little child.
HONOR COVENANTS- these mothers have made and honor temple 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."
"...... 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."
ARE NURTURERS- they 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"
"..... 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"
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....."
I remember when growing up going to the temple grounds on sunny Sunday afternoons with my family. I mostly remember running around and playing with the statues of families.... but I also remember my parents talking about the day I would someday enter the temple. Every time I walk through the Seattle Temple garden's and go in to do baptism's I remember those moments and I am so grateful that my mother made that effort to talk about the temple and bring me there when I was younger. I look forward to the day when we can go through together for more than just baptisms. I also remember having FHE lessons on missionary work and having the missionaries over all the time, now as I am starting to look into serving a mission I am getting so much support from my mom. I know that these steps towards heaven in my life are because my mom took the time to talk to me when I was younger and she made the effort to make these things such a great importance in my life.
(click on pictures)
".....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....."
I remember when growing up going to the temple grounds on sunny Sunday afternoons with my family. I mostly remember running around and playing with the statues of families.... but I also remember my parents talking about the day I would someday enter the temple. Every time I walk through the Seattle Temple garden's and go in to do baptism's I remember those moments and I am so grateful that my mother made that effort to talk about the temple and bring me there when I was younger. I look forward to the day when we can go through together for more than just baptisms. I also remember having FHE lessons on missionary work and having the missionaries over all the time, now as I am starting to look into serving a mission I am getting so much support from my mom. I know that these steps towards heaven in my life are because my mom took the time to talk to me when I was younger and she made the effort to make these things such a great importance in my life.
(click on pictures)
TEACHERS- they use scripture study, prayer, family home evening (FHE), and mealtimes to teach...."..... 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....."
DO LESS- these mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all.....
"...... 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...."
STAND STRONG AND BE IMMOVABLE- they do not give up during difficult and discouraging times.....
"..... 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......"
DO LESS- these mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all.....
"...... 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...."
STAND STRONG AND BE IMMOVABLE- they do not give up during difficult and discouraging times.....
"..... 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......"
are you a mother who knows?
