Since it is Mother’s day I have been
asked to speak on mothers. Though it was recommended I draw my remarks from the
talk Mothers and Daughters given by M. Russell Ballard I decided to take a
somewhat different approach. Elder Ballard’s talk discussed the influence
mothers and daughters can have on one another. Since I didn’t want the
priesthood holders in the audience to spiritually kick up their feet and take a
fifteen minutes nap I have chosen to speak to you on the influence various
matriarchal figures have had on men and women of God throughout history and
what we can learn from their wonderful examples. In the talk that I previously mentioned M.
Russell Ballard said “Throughout the history of the world, women have always
been teachers of moral values. That instruction begins in the cradle and
continues throughout the lives of their children.” I intend to discuss with you today, six
exemplary women who taught the principles of God through their words and their
actions.
First I would like to talk about
Sarah, the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac. Sarah is a wonderful
example of patience and faith. As we all remember Sarah did not give birth to
Isaac until well into her later years. Not being a mother myself I can only
imagine the heart ache that waiting must have caused her. After all Abraham had
been promised that he would be “the father of many nations” I’m sure Sarah in
turn expected that she would be the mother of many nations. As the story goes,
the Lord did finally bless them with a son, Isaac. Sarah had waited years for this
blessing. I cannot fathom her feelings when Abraham came to her and related the
Lord’s admonishment to him to “take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, who thou
lovest and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt
offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” (Genesis 22:3).
Genesis 22, the chapter from which this verse is taken does not even mention
Sarah but I can imagine that she was not that enthusiastic about the idea. Yet
she let Abraham leave with their only son, certain that he wouldn’t return. To
me that brothers and sisters, is a true example of faith. As Latter Day Saints
we must have the conviction to trust that the Lord will guide us even when we
cannot see the road we have been called to travel. It is vital to our salvation
that we learn, as Sarah eventually did, to wait upon the Lord for all the
righteous desires of our hearts. I can personally testify that in our patience and
waiting we can find true happiness.
In an address given by Elder Russell
M. Nelson he quoted a statement from the First Presidency which expounds
““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.”
I would next like to draw our
attention to Hannah, the mother of Samuel. I’m sure we are all familiar with
her story. She was desperate to be a mother. Her demonstration of gratitude
towards and trust in, the Lord are the epitome of how each of us, men and women
alike need to be. The first book of Samuel records how “her adversary also
provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb”
(1 Samuel 1:6). As any of us would be there were times when she struggled with
what she felt the Lord was denying her. Verse 10 of the same chapter reads “and
she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore” (1 Samuel
1:10) I would like to bring to your attention that despite her bitterness,
despite her pain and her suffering, she went to the Lord. In verse 15 she tells
Eli the priest that she has “poured out [her] soul before the Lord.” When she
brings Samuel forth she claims in verse 20 that is because “I have asked him of
the Lord”. Not only did she trust the Lord and cultivate enough faith to
believe that if she asked she would receive but when she did receive she
credited the miracle to the Lord. Then as she had promised she gave Samuel to
the Lord. To be representatives of the Savior we must pattern our lives and
behavior after Hannah. When we are suffering it is essential that we pray to
the Lord in faith, fundamental that we praise him when that suffering is
relieved, and a requirement of the Celestial kingdom to be honest in all our
dealings with God and our fellow men.
Sheri Dew proclaimed “For mother is
the word that will define a righteous woman made perfect in the highest degree
of the celestial kingdom, a woman who has qualified for eternal increase in
posterity, wisdom, joy, and influence.”
Another woman I would like to recall
to your remembrance is of course Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was a teenager
when the angel Gabriel appeared to her and hailed her as “highly favored… and
blessed among women” [Luke 1:28]. When told that she would conceive and bring
forth a son, even the son of God she did not state the impossibility of it, she
did not argue that such a thing would not come to pass. Rather she demonstrated
humility in the meek but innocent reply of a young girl “how shall this be,
seeing I know not a man” (Luke 1:34). When explained the way and told of her
cousin Elizabeth’s own miracle Mary replied with a faithful answers that has
been praised for centuries “behold the handmaid of the lord; be it unto me
according to thy word” (Luke 1:38). Never mind that she would have to face her
family and her betrothed, knowing that it was likely they would not believe.
Never mind that the law said Joseph could have her stoned for being unfaithful.
Never mind that she was but a child who was bear and raise the boy that would
grow to be the prophesied Messiah and Redeemer of all mankind. Forget all of
that and consider the courage it would take to bring forth and raise a son,
knowing full well that he would atone for the sins of the world; that he would
be the Savior of all dispensations and peoples. I know I for one would feel
extremely inadequate, afraid, and unworthy. I pray that we like Mary, humbly
and faithfully accepting the Lord’s will, that we do all that he commands with
courage, and that we say unto the Lord no matter the circumstances “be it unto
me according to thy word”
Russell M. Nelson said “Because
mothers are essential to God’s great plan of happiness, their sacred work is
opposed by Satan, who would destroy the family and demean the worth of women.”
There are many more examples of
great mothers in the Bible but because I am short on time I cannot discuss them
further. I encourage each of you to personally ponder many of these other great
women. Study them and draw lessons of character and obedience from their
righteous ways. The next woman, or rather women, that I would like to speak on
are the wives and mothers of those faithful Anti-Nephi Lehis. You will recall
the account in Alma 24 when the Lamanites came against the people. The men
walked forward to meet them; prostrating themselves on the ground they allowed
their Lamanite brethren to slaughter them without mercy. Their faith and reward
is praised in verse 22, “we know that they are blessed, for they have gone to
dwell with their God” (Alma 24:22). What we are not privy to are those wives
and mothers that did not go out to meet the Lamanites. Who bid their husbands
and sons farewell in the full knowledge that they would not see them again in
this life. Their faith in the teachings of the Savior, their steadfastness to
their belief, and their testimonies in the wisdoms of God are unequivocal and
unparalleled. These women let their sons and husbands leave their embrace that
day, believing that the Gospel they had so recently accepted was true. To stand
strong against this world of moral decay it is requisite that we develop a
testimony strong enough to withstand the cunning temptations of the adversary;
a testimony that will provide us with strength to face the spiritual massacres
that we will encounter. We, as members of the Lord’s church in these Latter
Days, may never have to face such a difficult decision. But, when the time
comes when we must choose between God and the world, we must decide now to stand
with these faithful women and not falter in our fight for all that is good, encouraging
those around us to do likewise.
Regarding women and motherhood Elder
Matthew Cowley said “You are born with an inherent right, an inherent
authority, to be the saviors of human souls. You are co-creators with God of
his children. Therefore, it is expected of you by a right divine that you will
be the saviors and the regenerating force in the lives of God's children here
upon the earth.”
Perhaps one of the most well-known groups
of mothers in the Book of Mormon is the mothers of the stripling warriors. These women of the Anti-Nephi Lehis had to
have the faith to send their sons to be under Helaman’s command. These very
same women watched their fathers, husbands, and elder sons be slain before the Lamanites
just a generation before. Now, when the need called for it, they were willing
to give their beloved boys to the cause of their God and their freedom yet
again. Perhaps the most miraculous, and then again not so miraculous, facet of
these women was their examples to their mighty sons. Helaman relates to Moroni
regarding his stripling warriors “they had been taught by their mothers, that
if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the
words of their mothers, saying: we do not doubt that our mothers knew it” (Alma
56:47-48) he goes on to say “they obey and observe to perform every word of
command with exactness; yea and even according to their faith it was done unto
them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers
had taught them…” (Alma 57:21). Let us all be like these mothers; faithful,
strong, and courageous. One of my favorite sayings goes like this “live in such
a way that those who know you, but don’t know God, will come to know God
because they know you.” It is my hope that each of us live in a way that will
bring others to Christ; that when others speak of us “they do no doubt that we
knew it.”
In that same talk entitled Mothers
and Daughters M. Russell Ballard stressed “In these last days it is
essential—even critical—that parents and children listen to and learn from one
another.”
The last remarkable mother that I
would like to speak of is not written about in the scriptures. In fact she has
not been recorded in any history book. Multitudes of people do not know her
name. When she was nine years old she tried to join the church but was told to
wait till she was old enough to be sure it was the choice she wanted to make. At
twelve she was the pioneer of her family and continues to set the example today.
She is a woman familiar with sorrows and has been a frequent companion to
adversity. She has suffered many of the trials and abuses of this world. Yet
she has remained steadfast and faithful, endeavoring to teach her children that
with the Lord all things are possible. She has been an example of faith, long
suffering, courage, and love to her children. I am honored to be counted among
them. My mother stands as all the other women previously mentioned; as one who
loves God and those around her. I bear my witness of the value of motherhood; of
the divinity of that sacred calling. I can testify that from our mothers we can
learn all that we need in order to live a faithful righteous life. I pray that
each of us remember our mothers today, the examples that they have been and all
that they have done for us. May we emulate their goodness and their
righteousness. I say these things in the name our Beloved Lord and Savior, even
Jesus Christ, Amen.
