Motherhood: My Greatest Joy...and Headache!

I'd like to introduce you to someone...

 Isn't she beautiful? Her name is Arlene, and she is my mom! She was my idol as a child. She worked hard to make our home beautiful, inside and out. She was musically talented, with a beautiful voice. She made sure all of her children were exposed to good music and made sure we all learned an instrument. She was an wonderful cook, using her skills to make sure we had plenty to eat, even when money was tight. She taught me how to sew, an activity I still love today. She was very industrious, and worked hard to keep our family going in the right direction every day. Most of all, she was a spiritual giant. When I think of my mother, I always have an image of her on her knees beside her bed in prayer. Her scriptures were always open, with a red pencil stuck inside for marking, and the sacrament hymns always brought her to tears. I know she loved the Savior.

As a child, I really wanted to be just like her. I wanted more than anything to be a mom. I couldn't think of anything better to be. Then I grew up, and became part of a world where being a mother wasn't such a commendable thing. In modern day society, it's much better to be more than "just a mom." Women should have a career, and make a mark on the world. Women should be free of the oppression and sacrifice that motherhood brings. 

You know what? I really didn't listen to the voices of the world. To this day, even with all my education and understanding of the modern woman, I feel the greatest role I will ever have is that of a mother. I can think of no better way to leave my mark on the world than to raise the children the Lord has blessed me with. 

I prefer to heed the words that come from those the Lord has chosen to speak for Him, when it comes to my attitude about motherhood. The Family Proclamation teaches us that "'Children are an heritage of the Lord'(Psalms 127:3)" and that "parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness..." (¶ 6). It also states that "Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children." (¶ 7) I think it is pretty clear that raising children and being a mother is a very important role in the eyes of the Lord.

What have the prophets, apostles and other general authorities of the Church taught about motherhood?

The following quotes come from Jenet J. Erickson's essay "Mothers as Nurturers". (Hawkins, et al., pp. 128-139)

President Spence W. Kimball states, "Mothers have a sacred role. They are partners with God, as well as with their won hsbands first in giving birth to the Lord's spirit children and then in rearing those children so they will serve the Lord and keep his commandments." (Hawkins, pg. 131)

This quote from Elder and Sister Hafen likens a mother's sacrifice to that of the Saviors. "Just as a mother's body may be permanently marked with the signs of pregnancy and childbirth, [the Savior] said, 'I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands' (1 Nephi 21:15-16). For both a mother and the Savior, those marks memorialize a wrenching sacrifice - the sacrifice of begetting life - for her, physical birth; for him, spiritual rebirth." (Hawkins, pg. 131)

I was really moved by these word. Being a mom can be a rather mundane existence at times. Diapers, dishes, dirty clothes, and sleepless nights. When I think of it in the perspective that the Hafen's have, it changes all of the mundane into a sacrifice of the greatest worth. The thought came to mind that there is another way that choosing to be a mother can be likened to the Savior. When we are willing to sacrifice our bodies so that a baby can develop inside us, we are providing the means for another spirit to receive a physical body. We are doing something for them that they cannot do for themselves, just as in performing the Atonement and overcoming physical death, the Savior did something for all of us that we cannot do for ourselves. For me, this puts mothering higher than any other role available to women.

I'm going to end this post with a link to wonderful video about mothers. I tried to embed it in the post, but it didn't work. Sorry. Anyway, click {here} to watch the video. You made need to quickly download it to your device to see it.