Motherhood: A Divine Calling
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President David O. McKay taught, “This ability and willingness properly to rear children, the gift to love, and eagerness, yes, longing to express it in soul development, make motherhood the noblest office or calling in the world.” Motherhood truly is the most important role that you will ever have. It is such a privilege to be able to bring children into this world. It is in the home where children are nurtured and grow to become healthy, successful individuals. Bruce K. Satterfield taught, “Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels. To you mothers in Israel we say—God bless and protect you and give you the strength and courage, the faith and knowledge, the holy love and consecration to duty, that shall enable you to fill to the fullest measure the sacred calling which is yours. To you mothers and mothers-to-be, we say: Be chaste, keep pure, live righteously, that your posterity to the last generation may call you blessed.”
The Family is the Building Block of Society
Margaret Thatcher, when she was prime minister of Great Britain, expressed this profound philosophy: “The family is the building block of society. It is a nursery, a school, a hospital, a leisure center, a place of refuge and a place of rest. It encompasses the whole of the society. It fashions our beliefs; it is the preparation for the rest of our life.”
President N. Eldon Tanner taught, “The whole purpose of the creation of the earth was to provide a dwelling place where the spirit children of God might come and be clothed in mortal bodies and, by keeping their second estate, prepare themselves for salvation and exaltation. The whole purpose of the mission of Jesus Christ was to make possible the immortality and eternal life of man. The whole purpose of fathers and mothers should be to live worthy of this blessing and to assist God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ in their work. No greater honor could be given to (men and) women than to assist in this divine plan, and I wish to say without equivocation that a woman will find greater satisfaction and joy and make a greater contribution to mankind by being a wise and worthy mother raising good children than she could make in any other vocation.”
President N. Eldon Tanner taught, “The whole purpose of the creation of the earth was to provide a dwelling place where the spirit children of God might come and be clothed in mortal bodies and, by keeping their second estate, prepare themselves for salvation and exaltation. The whole purpose of the mission of Jesus Christ was to make possible the immortality and eternal life of man. The whole purpose of fathers and mothers should be to live worthy of this blessing and to assist God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ in their work. No greater honor could be given to (men and) women than to assist in this divine plan, and I wish to say without equivocation that a woman will find greater satisfaction and joy and make a greater contribution to mankind by being a wise and worthy mother raising good children than she could make in any other vocation.”
Three Guidelines to Ensure Homes are a haven of Happiness:
1. A pattern of prayer. As we pray with our families each day, we will help to provide the protection we all so desperately need in today’s world.
2. A Library of Learning. An essential part of our learning library will be good books. Reading is one of the true pleasures in life.
3. A Legacy of Love. May our families and homes be filled with love: love of each other, love of the gospel, love of our fellowman, and love of our Savior. As a result, heaven will be a little closer here on earth.
Mothers and fathers have different, yet equally important, roles in the family. The Family: A Proclamation to the World teaches, “Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.”
For a printable version of The Proclamation, see the following link:
For further reading on motherhood, please see the following links:
References:
https://postpartumprogression.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/motherhood.jpg
https://diapersanddivinity.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/mary-martha-jesus-mormon.jpg
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/53/9e/1a/539e1a4df93105c97651e987d36b6858.jpg
http://www.jeankeatonart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/familyPrayer.jpg
http://www.polishtranslation.net/wp-content/uploads/Mom-reading-with-child.jpg
https://diapersanddivinity.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/mary-martha-jesus-mormon.jpg
https://www.lds.org/manual/eternal-marriage-student-manual/womens-divine-roles-and-responsibilities?lang=eng&query=motherhood
http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/having-children-in-faith-2
Monson, T.S. (2008). A Sanctuary from the World. Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting: Building Up a Righteous Posterity. Salt Lake City, UT: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Satterfield, B.K. (2001, March 31). The Family Under Seige: The Role of Man and Woman. Ricks College Education Week. Rexburg, ID.
https://postpartumprogression.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/motherhood.jpg
https://diapersanddivinity.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/mary-martha-jesus-mormon.jpg
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/53/9e/1a/539e1a4df93105c97651e987d36b6858.jpg
http://www.jeankeatonart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/familyPrayer.jpg
http://www.polishtranslation.net/wp-content/uploads/Mom-reading-with-child.jpg
https://diapersanddivinity.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/mary-martha-jesus-mormon.jpg
https://www.lds.org/manual/eternal-marriage-student-manual/womens-divine-roles-and-responsibilities?lang=eng&query=motherhood
http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/having-children-in-faith-2
Monson, T.S. (2008). A Sanctuary from the World. Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting: Building Up a Righteous Posterity. Salt Lake City, UT: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Satterfield, B.K. (2001, March 31). The Family Under Seige: The Role of Man and Woman. Ricks College Education Week. Rexburg, ID.