Motherhood: A Calling, a Commitment, and a Consecration President Gordon B. Hinckley warmed our hearts in the Relief Society general meeting in September 2003 when he paid tribute to women by saying, “My children are now all grown. Some are in their 60s. But when they call and I answer the phone, they say, ‘How are you?’ And before I can answer, they ask, ‘Is Mother there?'” Yes, it is to mother a child turns for comfort with a skinned knee. A youth rushes home to mother to share news and later an adult child calls home for advice about a household matter or just to talk. Mother is the heart of the home. And this is according to the grand plan. The Family Proclamation teaches that as divinely designed, the role of a father is to preside in the family, exemplifying love and righteousness; the father is also to be the provider and protector of his family. The mother is primarily responsible for nurturing and rearing the children. Parents must work together as husband and wife and as equals in fulfilling these sacred obligations. Exceptions may be necessitated by the disability or death of a spouse. (See the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “The Family-a Proclamation to the World,” 1995.) “Not all of us may belong to complete families. Some are single parents, some have not married yet, and others are widows. But we all belong to families in some important relationship and must struggle to make them as complete and as protected as possible. As Sheri Dew reminded us in a classic conference talk a few years ago, we are all mothers. Even fathers should be good at nurturing. All of God’s children on earth need mothering. . . . Our family, whatever type it may be is ‘our work and our glory’ and is part of God’s work and glory. . . . As we do this we become part of the greater work and glory of our Heavenly parents.” Eric B. Shumway A son-in-law, Mark Quinn, tells the following story about his mother:
One of the sweetest, most heartwarming and comforting tributes we can pay to women everywhere is to acknowledge that mother is the heart of the home. By this we mean that a mother is both a force for the life and also much of the energy in the home. She is the fountain of a lot of the love, tenderness, and sweet feeling in the home. It is mostly from her that the warmth and spirit of the home emanate. With just slightly different wording, we can pay further respect and appreciation to mothers and express our esteem for them by saying, blessed is the family whose mother’s heart is in the home. The terms “calling,” “commitment,” and “consecration” describe her. This mother recognizes the significance of her calling. She knows it to be a divinely appointed role, one from which she will never be released, because it is eternal in nature. She reveres the fact that she has been created to be a co-partner with God in bringing his spirit children to this earth and providing bodies for them. A mother whose heart is in the home feels a commitment to her sacred stewardship. She pledges to give her time and attention to her children. She is devoted to their care and well-being. A mother whose heart is in the home knows her service is one of consecration. She is willing to sacrifice everything-even her health or her life, if necessary-for her children. She sanctifies her efforts. She recognizes she is engaged in a holy work. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, in his April 1997 General Conference address entitled “Because She Is a Mother,” provided insightful explanations and examples pertaining to hearts and mothers. A Calling Elder Holland praised women for following the great traditions of Eve; of Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel; of Lois and of Eunice [see 2 Tim. 2:5; 3:25]; of the mothers of the stripling warriors; and even of Mary, mother of the Savior. He thanked mothers for their great work and emphasized the importance of “participating so directly in the work and glory of God, in bringing to pass the mortality and earthly life of His daughters and sons.” This enables them to later gain celestial glory and eternal life. Elder Holland continued by promising those who long for motherhood, but have not had that opportunity, that God will yet in some future day reward them and that no blessing will be withheld from faithful women. He reminded women that the call to nurture can be fulfilled by nurturing all those around them. A Commitment Regarding the commitment of mothers everywhere, Elder Holland said, “The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work.” He talked about a couple’s earliest years, with financial concerns, schooling to finish, lean earnings, and too little sleep. He urged young mothers “to do the best you can through these years, but whatever else you do, cherish that role that is so uniquely yours and for which heaven itself sends angels to watch over you and your little ones.” A Consecration Elder Holland went on to say, “There are some lines attributed to Victor Hugo which read: ‘She broke the bread into two fragments and gave them to her children, who ate with eagerness. ‘She hath kept none for herself,’ grumbled the sergeant. ‘Because she is not hungry,’ said the soldier. ‘No,’ said the sergeant, ‘because she is a mother.’ ” In concluding this topic, we quote a profound statement by President James E. Faust: “I do not believe that God’s purposes on earth will ever be achieved without the influence, strength, love, support, and special gifts of the elect women of God. They are entitled to our deepest veneration, our fullest appreciation, and our most profound respect. I believe angels attend them in their motherly ministry.” Blessed is the woman to whom her work is a pleasure, Anonymous Daryl will be participating at BYU Education Week, August 18-21. Details will follow as to her room and time.
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April 18, 2024
April 18, 2024
