Motherhood

When I think of mothers or motherhood, I think of many words but especially love, sacrifice, devotion and teaching.

Love and sacrifice go together for me because when you love completely then you will want to sacrifice.

One example to me is a mother who when she gave birth she had to hide her baby because Pharoah had instructed that every newborn Israelite male be killed. This mother lovingly laid her baby in a little ark made of bulrushes placed in the river, watched over by his sister, found by Pharoahs daughter, and cared for by his own mother as his nurse. The boy

was returned to Pharoahs daughter, who took him

as her son and called him Moses.(Neil L. Andersen Oct. 2011) That is an incredible sacrifice to give up your baby so he can live. Being mothers day, I must mention my own mothers sacrifice to our family. When I was 8 years old our house burned down. My mom was out walking with my 4 year old brother while her 6 week old baby was sleeping. When she discovered the house was on fire, she ran into the burning home to save her baby. She had to leave her 4 year old son and run in to save her daughter. I cant imagine running into a burning home, but this is what we do as mothers.

Sometimes sacrifices are made by mothers that are not ours. My father lost his mother when he was 16 to cancer. He had two younger sisters and his father was unfit to raise them. The lunchroom lady would give my dad lunch if he worked in the cafeteria by cleaning the trays after lunch. At the end of the day, she would gather

some left over food and send it home with him so he and his sisters had food that night. After my dad passed through a couple of different homes, he ended up living with this same lunchroom woman that he lovingly called ma. Ma took my dad in and one of his younger sisters when she was finally sending off her youngest child.

President Hinckley says you provide inspiration. You provide balance. You constitute a vast reservoir of faith and good works. You are an anchor of devotion and loyalty and accomplishment.

Mary Fielding Smith, wife of Hyrum Smith, mother and grandmother of two presidents of the Church. A convert to the church, originally from England and then from Canada, she came to Kirtland in her late 30s. There she met and married Hyrum Smith, who was left with 6 children after the death of his first wife. Marys boy Joseph was born at a time when her husband was snatched away by the mob militia then terrorizing Far West. Hyrum and the Prophet Joseph were taken to

Liberty, Missouri, where they were imprisoned. Under the compulsion of Governor Boggss extermination order, she left Missouri with the stepchildren for whom she had taken responsibility, as well as her own son. Her sister Mercy placed Mary, who was seriously ill, on a bed in a wagon box with her infant boy cradled at her side. In February 1839, when winter was still upon the land, they traveled east across the state and then across the Mississippi to Quincy, Illinois, bumping along in a springless wagon where every jolt brought pain.

When her husband and the Prophet escaped from Liberty Jail and came to Quincy, life again improved. The Saints moved to what became Nauvoo and established their beautiful city on the Mississippi. But their peace was short-lived. Her little boy was less than six years old when a knock came at night on her window and a man said, Sister Smith! Joseph F. never forgot his mothers weeping through the night.

Her world was shattered. She was on her own now with a large family to care for. In the summer of 1846, they bade their comfortable home good-bye and rode a flatboat across the Mississippi. Taking matters into her own hands, she was able to trade, borrow, and barter for ox teams and wagons. While living in Winter Quarters, she and her brother went down the Missouri river to purchase provisions and clothing. They had two wagons, each having two yoke of oxen. Camping for the night, they discovered in the morning that their two best oxen were gone. Young Joseph and his uncle spent the entire morning looking for the lost animals. They found nothing. Disheartened, he returned to tell his mother. Their situation was desperate, terribly so. As he approached, he saw her on her knees praying fervently, speaking with the Lord about their problem. When she arose to her feet, there was a smile on her face. She told her son and her brother to get their breakfast and she would look around. Following a little stream of water, and disregarding the words of a man who was in the area, she went directly along the bank of the river.

Pausing, she called to her son and brother. She pointed to their oxen, which had been tied to a clump of willows growing in the bottom of a deep gulch. The thief, who had tried to misdirect her, lost his prize and they were saved. Marys faith imprinted itself in her sons boyish heart. He never forgot it. He never doubted her closeness to the Lord.

This is what I hope forfor my children to know my love for them and my devotion to my Heavenly Father. Mothers teach President Hinckley says you have entered into a partnership with our Father in Heaven to give mortal experience to His sons and daughters. They are His children and they are your children, flesh of your flesh, for whom He will hold you responsibleTeach your children when they are very young and small, and never quit. My mother taught me to be healthy and active, to clean, to have candlelite dinners just because, to be kind to

others, but most importantly she taught me the gospel of Jesus Christ, to pray, and that mothers receive inspiration. One night I came home late and she was waiting up for me. Usually my parents were asleep and I was to wake them and report that I was home. I later asked my mom how she knew I was going to be late that night and she said, I just had a feeling. I have come to have those feelings too. I am grateful that I have my Heavenly Fathers help and that he warns me when things arent right.

President Hinckley specifically names some lessons to teach our children: 1- Teach them to seek for good friends. 2- Teach them to value education 3- Teach them to respect their bodies 4- Teach them to avoid drugs like the plague 5- Teach them to be honest 6- Teach them to be virtuous 7- Teach them to pray.

Bear Testimony.