I have a clear memory of a Mother's Day a few years ago (ok, I was a senior in high school, so more than just "a few years ago")-- As the sacrament service portion of church ended, the bishop asked all the women in the congregation to stand so that they could receive a flower as a Mother's Day gift. I felt super awkward because I wasn't a mother; I was only 17 or 18 and the thought of having kids wasn't really on my radar. So, I decided that I was going to stay seated. Then my dad turned to me and said, "Jenni, stand up! You're a future mother!" I reluctantly stood, took my flower, handed it directly to my mom, and then booked it to Sunday School. Talk about teen attitude, right?
Looking back on this day I'm embarrassed, and even a little bit ashamed! Although I have only been a mother a short time, my respect for this sacred calling and gift has grown immensely. Knowing what I know now as a mother, and what I have learned over the years from countless examples of women in my life, I should have jumped off the bench as an 18-year-old and accepted the flower and the opportunity to be recognized as a future mother with a grateful and happy heart.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, former president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said that "woman is God's supreme creation. Only after the earth had been formed, after the day had been separated from the night, after the waters had been divided from the land, after vegetation and animal life had been created, and after man had been placed on the earth, was woman created; and only then was the work pronounced complete and good" (Our Responsibility to Our Young Women).
In today's world, the sanctity of women is degraded and the importance of motherhood is undervalued. Righteous woman are needed now, more than ever before-- "women," Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles says, "who are not only faithful but filled with faith, women are optimistic and cheerful because they know who they are and where they are going, women who are striving to live and serve as women of God" (Women of Righteousness).
Margaret D. Nadauld tells us that "women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity" (The Joy of Womanhood).
Growing up I was a real "Susie Schoolwork." I loved school and could not wait to go to college and follow that with a successful career! I wanted to do something with my life that would "really make a difference in this world". Being a mother evoked thoughts of cooking, cleaning, quilting, and other things that I just wasn't too interested in. I wanted to wear pencil skirts and high heels, not stretchy pants and flip flops. But, over the years my attitude towards the subject slowly changed, thanks to the many examples of righteous women in my life--my mother, grandmothers, mother-in-law, teachers, leaders, and many more.
But mostly, I have learned about the sanctity of women and the importance of motherhood through the Savior's example. Elder James E. Talmage said in his book, Jesus the Christ, that "the world's greatest champion of woman and womanhood is Jesus the Christ."
There are many examples from the scriptures of Jesus Christ's gentle kindness and attention toward women. He, a Jew, approached a Samaritan woman at a well to teach her about living water and everlasting life. Jesus felt the faith of one woman by just a single touch. When he discovered her identity, he said to her, "Daughter be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole." A woman taken in adultery was brought before Jesus to be judged. He showed his sincere forgiveness when he told her, "Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more." Jesus healed a women on the Sabbath despite the harsh words and disapproval of those in the synagogue. We see his love extended to Martha when he tenderly tells her that what she was doing was important, but at the time, Mary chose the needful thing which was to put aside worldly cares and listen to Him.
"Then," Elder Talmage tells us, "during His greatest agony as He hung on the cross, the Savior reached out to one person--His mother."
"Jesus looking with tender compassion upon His weeping mother, as she stood with John at the foot of the cross, commended her to the care and protection of the beloved disciple, with the words, 'Woman, behold thy son!' and to John, 'Behold thy mother!' The disciple tenderly led the heart-stricken Mary away from her dying Son, and took her unto his own home." During the last minutes of his life, Jesus Christ made sure that his dear mother was cared for.
I am so grateful for all of the examples that I learned from that have helped me to be grateful to be a woman and daughter of God with a very important role to fill as a mother. It is humbling to know that our Father in Heaven entrusts us with the care of His precious children, to raise them in love and righteousness so that they may one day return to live with Him again.
I am so happy that this sweet boy has made me a mother and has changed my life completely.
I agree with the worlds of Elder M. Russell Ballard: "There is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood" (Daughters of God).
