Have You Expressed Love and Appreciation to Your Mother Recently?

Families are stronger when individuals recognize the good done by mothers, and strong families strengthen communities, states, and nations. In a luncheon for mothers in a celebration of Mother’s Day held in the Rose Garden at the White on Friday, President Donald Trump said, “I want to thank every single mother here this afternoon and across our nation for your work every single day. America’s moms are raising, really, raising the future of our country. In her article published in the Deseret News, Emily Walker reported that “Angel” and “Gold Star” moms were present at the luncheon. 

“Angel” moms are women who have lost children at the hands of people who entered the country illegally.

Trump addressed these women, saying, “Among those with us this afternoon are a number of the angel moms who saw their precious children stolen from them by the open border policies of the radical left,” then adding, “I call them stupid borders, not opened.”

After thanking the angel moms for coming, Trump said, “The angel moms have not been treated properly, but this president treats you properly. I can’t speak for others, but this one treats you properly.”

Trump then addressed “Gold Star” moms, women whose children were killed while serving in the U.S. military. “These mothers raised up children, so selfless, and so devoted that they volunteered to wear the uniform of our nation, and laid down their lives for all of us,” he said. Trump spoke to several mothers specifically, including Janice Chance, who lost her son Jesse Melton during his service as a Marine captain. “Janice, I want to say, America is a strong and free nation today because of people like your great son, and we want to thank you for being here,” he said. He also complimented her hat.

“This Mother’s Day, we’re thinking of all of those incredible moms, and we’re doing everything in our power to support them, and millions of other mothers all across America,” Trump said. He listed actions by his administration that he said support American families and mothers, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which expanded the child tax credit and school choice opportunities.

He specifically mentioned Trump Accounts, which gives every American born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, $1,000 from the U.S. Treasury.

Other initiatives mentioned include lowering the price of IVF and cutting drug prices.

Trump ended his address by expressing gratitude to Gold Star and Angel moms, both in attendance and throughout the nation.

“For those mothers that lost their child, many of whom are with us today, the Angel moms and others, Gold Star moms, we love you especially. We love you  maybe even the most,” he said.

Just as President Trump thanked the Gold Star and Angel moms and expressed gratitude for them, we should all thank our own mothers for their love, sacrifices, and teachings. Some of our moms are no longer living, but we can still express gratitude to them and to God for their mothering efforts.

Why Do We Honor Mothers and Motherhood?

My VIPs for this week are mothers – mothers of all ages but especially mothers with children between the ages of conception and 18-25 years of age. Once children are grown and starting families of their own, a mother’s work is mostly finished – other than a bit of advice or counsel here and there – and she is left to reap the results of her mothering. I hope that there are far more mothers who find joy in their posterity than those who find sorrow.

In an article published at The Deseret News, Jenet Jacob Erickson and Emily Ekins shared their thoughts about Mother’s Day, a day celebrated in the United States on the second Sunday of May. While searching for “the right Mother’s Day card,” one of the authors concluded that “No card could ever adequately capture the meaning and experience of motherhood.” The article continued with the following: 

From the moment of conception, the blood and bones of a mother’s body will build the blood, bones, heart, brain, and body of another life. When that soul emerges from her womb, he or she will look for her, knowing her smell, her voice, her heartbeat.

That mother will carry the cels of that infant in her body for, perhaps, the rest of her life, the living witness of a connection she cannot deny – as if part of her own heart is walking around outside of her.

But her motherhood involves far more than giving birth. This offspring will not independently trot off in a few hours, like other mammals. For nearly two decades, she will help this unbelievably dependent human being to survive, develop, and become.

This is no light thing. It’s no wonder it is hard to figure out how to talk about. It is, unquestioningly, the greatest power in the world – to create and enable another life. And it is also unquestioningly, an unparalleled commitment to sacrifice and devote one’s self to another.

My mother passed away one week prior to Mother’s Day in 1979, so I have not had an opportunity to give a physical gift or card to her. However, she continues to have an enormous influence in how I live my life. I strive always to make both my earthly parents and my Heavenly Parents pleased with my life.

I have been a mother for 53 years and am the mother of six children. I am also a grandmother of 19 grandchildren and great-grandmother of one great-grandchild. My greatest joys come from my children and grandchildren. God sent wonderful children to me, and then He sent wonderful grandchildren into the homes of my children. 

Why Is Mother’s Day a Time to Celebrate All Women?

             Mother’s Day is the day that we honor our mother and other mother-figures in our lives, such as mother-in-law, stepmother, and grandmother. It is also a day when we honor motherhood, maternity, and the influence of mothers in our society. Mother’s Day is celebrated in many parts of the world on various days, most commonly in March or May.

            Mother’s Day is a modern holiday was first celebrated in 1907 in the United States when Anna Jarvis organized the first Mother’s Day service of worship and celebration at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church. Jarvis started her campaign to create a day to honor mothers in 1905, the year that her mother died. She wanted a day set apart to honor all mothers because she believed a mother is “the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world.”

            In 1908, the U.S. Congress rejected a proposal to make Mother’s Day an official holiday. However, all U.S. states observed the holiday by 1911 with some states declaring it a local holiday. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation stating that Mother’s Day would be the second Sunday in May and that it was a national holiday to honor mothers.

            Mother’s Day is a day that brings many different feelings to women. It is a day of rejoicing for most mothers, but it is a day of heart break for women who desire to have children but have none, for mothers who have lost children – either before birth or after, and for mothers who feel that they have failed as mothers.

            Religious and other leaders have discussed mothers and Mother’s Day. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints often speaks about mothering. This is one such statement: “To all mothers in every circumstance, including those who struggle – and all will – I say, ‘Be peaceful. Believe in God and yourself. You are doing better than you think you are.” 

            Then-Elder M. Russell Ballard spoke of the mothers in his family. He spoke of learning to appreciate the mothering struggles of his wife and of watching with awe as his daughters and granddaughters teach and guide their children. Then he made this statement: 

 There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be “full-time moms,” at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part-or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else.

            I, too, watch with awe as my daughters by blood and marriage teach and guide their children through the busyness and stresses of this world. They are much better mothers than I was, which proves a favorite saying of my father. He said that each generation should be better people than the previous generation because we should learn from our parents what works and what does not work. Nevertheless, I cannot say that I was a better mother than my own mother; I can just say that I was a different type of mother.

Sister Sheri Dew, former counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, taught that motherhood is a doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that this is the reason why the Brethren speak about it so often and so powerfully. In speaking of mothers and motherhood, Sister Dew made the following powerful statement. 

When we understand the magnitude of motherhood, it becomes clear why prophets have been so protective of woman’s most sacred role. While we tend to equate motherhood solely with maternity, in the Lord’s language, the word mother has layers of meaning. Of all the words they could have chosen to define her role and her essence, both God the Father and Adam called Eve “the mother of all living” [Moses 4:26] —and they did so before she ever bore a child.

Like Eve, our motherhood began before we were born. Just as worthy men were foreordained to hold the priesthood in mortality [Alma 13:2-4, 7-8], righteous women were endowed premortally with the privilege of motherhood. [See Spencer W. Kimball, “The Role of Righteous Women,” Ensign, Nov. 1979, 102.] Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that. It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits our Father gave us.

According to Sister Dew, all women and girls are mothers and have been from our premortal lives. As women, we mother all sorts of people who are not our children biologically or by adoption. We mother students, we mother the friends of our children and our friends’ children, and we mother the children of the neighborhood. I am grateful for all the women who mothered my children and helped them to develop into the men and women they are.

            Like most mothers, I have negative feelings about my abilities as a mother, but mostly I feel great gratitude. I am grateful for my own mother and for my husband’s mother. I feel unspeakable gratitude for the blessing of being a mother. My husband and I were unable to have children for several years before a doctor discovered my problem. Once the problem was fixed, we had no further difficulties and were blessed with six children – the first three within three years. I am grateful that those children were born with healthy bodies, bright minds, and sweet spirits. I am grateful that they grew up to be responsible members of society and good parents of their own children. I have learned much from my children.

            In my studies about marriage and parenting, I came across a statement that should be of value to all parents. I could not find the statement to quote it exactly, but it was by an expert in the field and went something like this: Parents drive themselves crazy trying to parent perfectly. It is impossible to be perfect parents. Parents just need to be good-enough parents. The words “good enough parents” gave me great comfort. The Brethren tell us that we have not failed as long as we continue to love and to teach our children.

            Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers – those with children and those without children. As women, let us use our natural mothering skills and feeling to make the world a better place for all people, but particularly for those who desperately need our mothering influence[DD1] .  

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Mother's Day

                    What does Mother's Day mean to you?  I have been a mother for forty years this year, and yet when I think of Mother's Day I always think of my mother.  You see, my mother passed away on May 5, 1979, just one week before Mother's Day.  Mother's Day that year was especially difficult, and the next Mother's Day was not much easier.  I also think of my husband's mother who passed away three years ago and how much good she brought into my life.

                    I think of my daughters - both those born into our family and those who married into our family - and their journeys down into the valley of the shadow of death in order to bring fourteen beautiful grandchildren into my life.  I watched as my second daughter gave birth to my very first grandchild and marveled at the miracle of live; however, I have declined opportunities to watch the birth of any other grandchildren simply because I do not enjoy watching my daughters suffer or even hearing their cries of pain.

                    I think about Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  We read in Luke 2 about the journey of Joseph and a very pregnant Mary as they traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem in order to pay taxes.  Luke tells us of the birth of Jesus, the angel's announcement to the shepherds in the field, and the shepherds hastening to find the newborn Babe lying in the manger.  I love the entire Nativity Story, but I marvel at these words:  "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart" (verse 19).

                    I think of Mary once again as she stood at the foot of the cross where Jesus Christ - her Son - hung.  Her heart must have been breaking and many tears falling as she watched her Son suffer such great pain.  John the Beloved wrote, "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother….

                    "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

                    "Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!  And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home" (John 19:25-27).

                    I think of Lucy Mack Smith, the mother of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and marvel at her strength as she supported her son in his great mission of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I think particularly of the great pain she must have felt to have two of her sons - Joseph and Hyrum - murdered in cold blood and yet have strength to comfort her daughters-in-law.

Mothers and motherhood  are tender subjects.  Women who cannot have children ache to hold their own children.  Grown, and even hardened, men are known to become emotional at the mention of their mothers.  Children always want their mothers nearby, particularly when they are hurt or sick. Home is never quite the same place when mother is not there.  I remember a few times during my childhood and youth when I arrived home from school to find my mother not there.  The home was far from empty because my father was there and numerous siblings, but it felt empty because Mom was not there.

There have been many times since my mother's death that I have wished for just one more day with her or have gone to the telephone to call her.  My mother holds a very special place in my heart, which becomes even more special as I grow older.

Primary children often sing songs to their mothers in sacrament meeting on Mother's Day, and teenagers distribute potted plants or chocolates provided by the Bishopric.  I particularly remember Mother's Day one year after the death of my mother.  The Primary children were singing their songs, and I was in tears with memories of my own mother.  One Primary song that particularly reminds me of my mother is entitled "I Often Go Walking" written by Phyllis Luch with music by Jeanne P. Lawler.  My mother's favorite color was blue, and she really liked flowers and walking.

I often go walking in meadows of clover,

And I gather armfuls of blossoms of blue.

I gather the blossoms the whole meadow over;

Dear mother, all flowers remind me of you.

O mother, I give you my love with each flower

To give forth sweet fragrance a whole lifetime through;

For if I love blossoms and meadows and walking,

I learn how to love them, dear mother, from you.

                    President Thomas S. Monson stated, "It is in the home that we form our attitudes, our deeply held beliefs.  It is in the home that hope is fostered or destroyed.  Our homes are to be more than sanctuaries; they should also be places where God's Spirit can dwell, where the storm stops at the door, where love reigns and peace dwells."

                    To illustrate what he meant, President Monson then shared part of a letter written by a young mother:  "`Sometimes I wonder if I make a difference in my children's lives.  Especially as a single mother working two jobs to make ends meet, I sometimes come home to confusion, but I never give up hope.

                    "`My children and I were watching a television broadcast of general conference, and you were speaking about prayer.  My son made the statement, "Mother, you've already taught us that."  I said, "What do you mean?" And he replied, "Well, you've taught us to pray and showed us how, but the other night I came to your room to ask something and found you on your knees praying to Heavenly Father.  If He's important to you, He'll be important to me."'  The letter concluded, `I guess you never know what kind of influence you'll be until a child observes you doing yourself what you have tried to teach him to do.'  What a magnificent lesson a child learned from his mother" ("Becoming Our BestSelves," Liahona, Apr. 2006,2-6).    

As mothers, we are often too hard on ourselves.  Our children are so much a part of us that it is hard for us to allow them to use their agency and not pound on ourselves when they make mistakes.  We often expect perfection from ourselves and feel like failures when we don't have perfect results.  I know I have had my times of saying "if only I had …."  God had enough belief in us to entrust His children to us.  We can't be too bad!

                    I hope all mothers have a wonderful Mother's Day.  We all deserve it!               

Mothers

I have the opportunity to know many young and wonderful women who are accomplishing much good in the world by being exceptional mothers to their children. These young mothers impress me by the way they love and teach their children. Several of these young women have been chosen to represent Alaska in different years as either the Alaska Mother of the Year or as the Alaska Young Mother of the Year.

I have learned much from these young mothers, things that I wished I had understood when my own children were young. I have learned that the smallest of gestures leave great impressions. The following lines are attributed to Victor Hugo: "She broke the bread into two fragments and gave them to her children, who ate with eagerness. `She hath kept none for herself,' grumbled the sergeant. `Because she is not hungry,' said a soldier. `No,' said the sergeant, `because she is a mother.'"

I know that any of these young mothers of my acquaintance would react as did the mother in the following incidence in a concentration camp during World War II:
"One afternoon we had to stand in line to receive our food and water rations. Our mother could barely stand, let alone walk, but she … stood in line with us, in obvious pain, leaning heavily on a stick. Seeing my mother like that fueled the hatred in my heart for those responsible… When I passed one of the officers … I threw my cup … in his face and spat at him.
"Immediately a samurai sword was drawn toward me. Quickly my mother put her hands on the sword and pushed it away from me, cutting her hands…
"`Please pick up your cup, Kitty, and apologize,' she begged me softly….
"With great difficulty she bent and picked up the cup, then bowed deeply… She offered apologies in my name, telling him that I was only a child and had not acquired the discipline to master my emotions…. `If there must be a punishment,' she said, `I will take it for my child.'
"… The officer slowly put the sword back in its sheath, gently took the cup from my mother's hands, and filled it with water. `Woman, drink!' he said, and … my mother drank the water eagerly. He took the cup from her hands, filled it a second time, and offered it to my mother with both hands and a slight bow…
"`It is I who must apologize to you for not recognizing the majesty of your womanhood,' he said." (Kitty DeRuyter)

I think that mothers in general consider their efforts to be feeble when comparing themselves to others. I know that I usually feel that my works do not measure up to what they should be. For all those mothers who feel that they will never be chosen as "mother of the year," consider the following thoughts from prophets: "I have learned to place a high estimate upon the love of mother. I have often said, and will repeat it, that the love of a true mother comes nearer being like the love of God than any other kind of love" (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 315).

"Motherhood is the greatest potential influence, either for good or ill in human life. The mother's image is the first that stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child's mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security; her kiss, the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness, the first assurance that there is love in the world" (David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals, 452).

"She who can paint a masterpiece or write a book that will influence millions deserves the admiration and the plaudits of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters, whose influence will be felt through generations to come, whose immortal souls will exert an influence throughout the ages long after paintings shall have faded, and books and statues shall have decayed or shall have been destroyed, deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God" (David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals, 453-54).

The following story illustrates that motherhood is the noblest of all careers and the most important career for women. "Kristen was finishing a graduate degree and had recently given birth to her second child. She felt the other graduates had accomplished so much more and was reluctant to attend the graduation dinner. Her fears were confirmed when, at the dinner, the students were asked to list their professional accomplishments.
"Kristen recalled, `I suddenly felt embarrassed and ashamed. I had nothing to call myself, no lofty position, no impressive job title.' To make matters worse, the professor read the lists as he presented a diploma to each student. The woman ahead of Kristen had many accomplishments: she already had a PhD, was receiving a second master's degree, and she'd even been a mayor! The woman received grand applause.
"Then it was Kristen's turn. She handed the professor her blank sheet, trying to hold back the tears. The professor had been one of her teachers and had praised her performance. He looked at her blank paper. Without missing a beat he announced, `Kristen holds the most critical role in all of society.' He was quiet for a few seconds, then declared in a powerful voice, `She is the mother of her children.' Instead of a few courteous claps, people rose to their feet. There was just one standing ovation that night; it was for the mother in the room" (Bonnie D. Parkin, "Sweet Moments," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 107).

Fools may deride the women who choose to become mothers and spend their most productive years in nurturing their children. People with wisdom understand that mothers hold the most critical position in the world. The work done by mothers with their children will determine the type of society we have so never underestimate the importance of being a mother. Consider the words of the following poem:
The holiest words my tongue can frame,
The noblest thoughts my soul can claim,
Unworthy are to praise the name
More precious than all other.
An infant, when her love first came,
A man, I find it still the same,
Reverently I breathe her name,
The blessed name of mother.
George Griffith Fether, "The Name of Mother," in Best-Loved Poems of the LDS People, ed. Jack M. Lyon and others (1996), 218.

I wish a Happy Mother's Day to every woman. To those women who happen to have children, enjoy the attention given to you today because you deserve it. To those women who do not have children of their own yet, rejoice because you are a woman and are a mother in your heart. Every woman has a part to play in helping the children and youth of today to become the healthy, well-balanced adults of tomorrow.

Motherhood

Families are strengthened when mothers recognize that the calling of motherhood holds great power in righting the wrongs in the world. Mothers must understand that they hold a key position as they influence their children for good or ill.

"A mother has far greater influence on her children than anyone else, and she must realize that every word she speaks, every act, every response, her attitude, even her appearance and manner of dress affect the lives of her children and the whole family.
It is while the child is in the home that he gains from his mother the attitudes, hopes, and beliefs that will determine the kind of life he will live and the contribution he will make to society" (N. Eldon Tanner, "No Greater Honor: The Woman's Role," New Era, Jan. 1977, 31).

If you doubt the influence that mothers have in the lives of their children, pay attention to these words spoken by some stripling warriors going off to war for the first time. These young men had been taught by their mothers to put their trust in God and to never doubt His power to protect them, and they had great courage. Their commander wrote the following concerning a discussion about whether or not to join an ongoing battle: The young men said, "… our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus.
"Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, 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 our mothers knew it" (Alma 56:45-48). The faith of these 2060 young men kept them alive when men were dying all around them. There is real power in motherhood!

Much of the great good in the world today as well as much of the terrible evil is the result of the way that the children of yesterday were reared. We are surrounded by millions of young men and women who are doing tremendous things to help society. They obtain the proper education needed to help their fellow men and to provide for their families. They love, teach, and train their children to be good influences in the world. They show good examples to all who know them or observe them. There are also many young men and young women in the world who are taught by their mothers to hate people of other faiths. They are taught that they have a responsibility to kill anyone who is of a different religion. They strap bombs to their bodies and commit suicide with the hope that they will kill many infidels.

There is great power involved in motherhood! This nation and the world will follow where the next generation leads, and mothers control the direction of the rising generation. Neal A. Maxwell asked the following questions: "When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses?" (See "The Women of God," Ensign, May 1978, 10-11.)

This same principle is enshrined in a poem written by William Ross Wallace and published in 1865. He wrote, "For the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world." Motherhood is the preeminent force for change in the world because any changes that we want in the world must first take place in the home.

A modern-day prophet of God stated, "There is no need in any land for conflict between diverse groups of any kind. Let there be taught in the homes of people that we are all children of God, our Eternal Father, and that as surely as there is fatherhood, there can and must be brotherhood….
"Good homes are not easily created or maintained. They require discipline, not so much of children as of self. They require respect for others, that respect which comes best from acceptance of the revealed word of the Lord concerning the purpose of life, of the importance and sacred nature of the family, and recognition of each member of the family as a child of God" (Gordon B. Hinckley, Stand A Little Taller, 117, 131).

We have the words of two other prophets of God that emphasize the need for parents to teach their children correct principles. David O. McKay said, "No other success can compensate for failure in the home." Harold B. Lee said, "The most important work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home."

There are numerous good reasons why God sent us to earth as babies to live in families. One of those reasons included the need for the babies to be taught properly. E. T. Sullivan explained that God changes the world in small ways: "We fancy that God can only manage His world with battalions, when all the while He is doing it by beautiful babies. When a wrong wants righting, or a truth wants preaching, or a continent wants opening, God sends a baby into the world. When God wants a great work done in the world or a great wrong righted, he goes about it in a very unusual way. He doesn't stir up his earthquakes or send forth his thunderbolts. Instead, he has a helpless baby born, perhaps in a simple home and of some obscure mother. And then God puts the idea into the mother's heart, and she puts it into the baby's mind. And then God waits. The greatest forces in the world are not the earthquakes and the thunderbolts. The greatest forces in the world are babies" ("God's Way," The Treasure Chest [1965], p 53).

Babies soon grow into youth, and youth quickly matures into adulthood. Those babies will be forces for good or evil, depending in large measure on how they are reared. The wise writer of Proverbs declared, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).

A mother's example will do more than anything else to impress a pattern of life on the minds of her children. A story is told about a group of women in ancient Rome who were showing their beautiful jewels to each other with great pride and vanity. Cornelia, the mother of two boys, was among the group. One of the women asked Cornelia, "And where are your jewels?" Cornelia answered by pointing to her sons and saying, "These are my jewels." She taught her sons by her good example and virtuous life. The two sons were Gaius and Tiberius Gracchus - the Gracchi, as they were called. They became two of the most persuasive and effective reformers in Roman history. Those who remember and speak of them also remember and praise the mother who reared them after the manner of her own virtuous life.

I do not wish to ignore the effect of fathers on children because the influence of fathers is great also, but I understand that the roles of fathers and mothers are different. Motherhood is so powerful because the bond between mother and child is there long before the birth of the child. After birth, it is often the mother who spends long hours with children because mothers are usually in the home more than fathers are. If you listen carefully to the way that great men talk about their mothers, you will understand that mothers have a powerful influence on their children. It is mother who has the greatest ability to bring comfort and security to a frightened or unhappy child. For all these reasons, mothers carry much power in the lives of their children.

Thomas S. Monson made the following statement: "Men turn from evil and yield to their better natures when mother is remembered. A famed officer from the Civil War period, Colonel Higginson, when asked to name the incident of the Civil War that he considered the most remarkable for bravery, said that there was in his regiment a man whom everybody liked, a man who was brave and noble, who was pure in his daily life, absolutely free from dissipations in which most of the other men indulged.
"One night at a champagne supper, when many were becoming intoxicated, someone in jest called for a toast from this young man. Colonel Higginson said that he arose, pale but with perfect self-control, and declared: `Gentlemen, I will give you a toast which you may drink as you will, but which I will drink in water. The toast that I have to give is, "Our mothers."'
"Instantly a strange spell seemed to come over all the tipsy men. They drank the toast in silence. There was no more laughter, no more song, and one by one they left the room. The lamp of memory had begun to burn, and the name of Mother touched every man's heart.
"As a boy, I well remember Sunday School on Mother's Day. We would hand to each mother present a small potted plant and sit in silent reverie as Melvin Watson, a blind member, would stand by the piano and sing `That Wonderful Mother of Mine.' This was the first time I saw a blind man cry. Even today, in memory, I can see the moist tears move from those sightless eyes, then form tiny rivulets and course down his cheeks, falling finally upon the lapel of the suit he had never seen. In boyhood puzzlement I wondered why all the grown men were silent, why so many handkerchiefs came forth. Now I know: mother was remembered. Each boy, each girl, all fathers and husbands seemed to make a silent pledge, `I will remember that wonderful mother of mine.'" (See "`Behold Thy Mother,'" Ensign, Apr 1998, 2.)

The world and our nation would be much more beautiful if every mother regarded her children as the jewels of her life and took proper and loving care of her children. By their teachings, mothers will determine to a large extent what our nation will be like for the next generation. This is why I state that there is great power for good or evil in motherhood!

Mothers

The Alaska Young Mother of the Year is a woman who is related to some members of my family. She well deserves the honor because she does an outstanding job of mothering her large family. I suspect that the honor given to her makes other young mothers feel less competent. I want to assure all the mothers of young children of my acquaintance that you are doing well. I have developed the habit of watching the mothering skills of women around me, and I must say that I am more and more impressed as time goes by. I am learning much from young mothers that I wish I had known while my children were young. The smallest of gestures are impressive as shown by the following lines attributed to Victor Hugo: "She broke the bread into two fragments and gave them to her children, who ate with eagerness. `She hath kept none for herself,' grumbled the sergeant. `Because she is not hungry,' said a soldier. `No,' said the sergeant, `because she is a mother.'" I think that mothers in general think that they are failing in their responsibilities. I know that I usually feel that I don't measure up to what I should be. A dear friend told me many years ago that we will not know how good of mothers we are until we see how our grandchildren turn out. While you are pondering that thought, remember that numerous religious leaders have told us that some children would turn out great no matter whom their parents were and other children would challenge the best of parents. Please don't be too hard on yourselves. I know for sure that we never fail until we fail to keep trying. For all those mothers who feel that they will never be chosen as "mother of the year," consider the following thoughts from prophets: "I have learned to place a high estimate upon the love of mother. I have often said, and will repeat it, that the love of a true mother comes nearer being like the love of God than any other kind of love" (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 315). "Motherhood is the greatest potential influence, either for good or ill in human life. The mother's image is the first that stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child's mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security; her kiss, the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness, the first assurance that there is love in the world" (David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals, 452). "She who can paint a masterpiece or write a book that will influence millions deserves the admiration and the plaudits of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters, whose influence will be felt through generations to come, whose immortal souls will exert an influence throughout the ages long after paintings shall have faded, and books and statues shall have decayed or shall have been destroyed, deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God" (David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals, 453-54). Motherhood is the noblest of all careers because it is the most important career for women. The following story illustrates the important role filled by mothers. "Kristen was finishing a graduate degree and had recently given birth to her second child. She felt the other graduates had accomplished so much more and was reluctant to attend the graduation dinner. Her fears were confirmed when, at the dinner, the students were asked to list their professional accomplishments. "Kristen recalled, `I suddenly felt embarrassed and ashamed. I had nothing to call myself, no lofty position, no impressive job title.' To make matters worse, the professor read the lists as he presented a diploma to each student. The woman ahead of Kristen had many accomplishments: she already had a PhD, was receiving a second master's degree, and she'd even been a mayor! The woman received grand applause. "Then it was Kristen's turn. She handed the professor her blank sheet, trying to hold back the tears. The professor had been one of her teachers and had praised her performance. He looked at her blank paper. Without missing a beat he announced, `Kristen holds the most critical role in all of society.' He was quiet for a few seconds, then declared in a powerful voice, `She is the mother of her children.' Instead of a few courteous claps, people rose to their feet. There was just one standing ovation that night; it was for the mother in the room" (Bonnie D. Parkin, "Sweet Moments," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 107). Fools may deride the women who choose to become mothers and spend their most productive years in nurturing their children. People with wisdom understand that mothers hold the most critical position in the world. The work done by mothers with their children will determine the type of society we have. Never underestimate the importance of being a mother. I wish a Happy Mother's Day to every woman. To those women who happen to have children, enjoy the attention given to you today because you deserve it. To those women who do not have children of their own yet, rejoice because you are a woman and are a mother in your heart.. Every woman has a part to play in helping the children and youth of today to become the healthy, well-balanced adults of tomorrow.

Power in Motherhood

Never underestimate the power in motherhood for righting the wrongs in the world. Mothers hold a key position because of their influence in the lives of their children. "A mother has far greater influence on her children than anyone else, and she must realize that every word she speaks, every act, every response, her attitude, even her appearance and manner of dress affect the lives of her children and the whole family. It is while the child is in the home that he gains from his mother the attitudes, hopes, and beliefs that will determine the kind of life he will live and the contribution he will make to society" (N. Eldon Tanner, "No Greater Honor: The Woman's Role," New Era, Jan. 1977, 31). If you doubt the effect of mothers in the lives of their children, here are some words spoken by young men who were going off to fight in their first war. These young men had been taught by their mothers to put their trust in God and not doubt His power. They told their commander, "We do not doubt our mothers knew it" (Alma 56:48). The faith of these 2060 young men kept them alive when men were dying all around them. There is real power in motherhood! The great good in the world today as well as the terrible evils are the results of the way that the children of yesterday were reared. The nation and the world will follow where the next generation leads, and mothers control the direction of the rising generation. We must never forget the principle enshrined in a poem written by William Ross Wallace and published in 1865. He wrote, "For the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world." Motherhood is the preeminent force for change in the world because any changes that we want in the world must first take place in the home. We have the words of two different prophets of God that emphasize the need for parents to teach their children correct principles. President David O. McKay said, "No other success can compensate for failure in the home." President Harold B. Lee said, "The most important work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home." There are numerous good reasons why God sent us as babies to families on earth. One of those reasons included the desire for the babies to be taught properly. E. T. Sullivan explained the way God works to change the world with these words, "We fancy that God can only manage His world with battalions, when all the while He is doing it by beautiful babies. When a wrong wants righting, or a truth wants preaching, or a continent wants opening, God sends a baby into the world. When God wants a great work done in the world or a great wrong righted, he goes about it in a very unusual way. He doesn't stir up his earthquakes or send forth his thunderbolts. Instead, he has a helpless baby born, perhaps in a simple home and of some obscure mother. And then God puts the idea into the mother's heart, and she puts it into the baby's mind. And then God waits. The greatest forces in the world are not the earthquakes and the thunderbolts. The greatest forces in the world are babies" ("God's Way," The Treasure Chest [1965], p 53). Babies soon grow into youth, and youth quickly matures into adulthood. Those babies will be forces for good or evil, depending in large measure on how they were reared. The wise writer of Proverbs declared, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). A mother's example will do more than anything else to impress a pattern of life on the minds of her children. A story is told about a group of women in ancient Rome who were showing their beautiful jewels to each other with great pride and vanity. Cornelia, the mother of two boys, was among the group. One of the women asked Cornelia, "And where are your jewels?" Cornelia answered by pointing to her sons and saying, "These are my jewels." She taught her sons by her good example and virtuous life. The two sons were Gaius and Tiberius Gracchus - the Gracchi, as they were called. They became two of the most persuasive and effective reformers in Roman history. Those who remember and speak of them also remember and praise the mother who reared them after the manner of her own virtuous life. I do not wish to ignore the effect of fathers on children because the influence of fathers is great also. Motherhood is so powerful because the bond between mother and child is there long before the birth of the child. It is usually the mother who spends the most time with children because mothers are usually in the home more than fathers are. If you listen carefully to the way that great men talk about their mothers, you will understand that mothers have a powerful influence on their children. It is mother who has the greatest ability to bring comfort and security to a frightened or unhappy child. For all these reasons, mothers carry much power in the lives of their children. "When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling that what happened in congresses?" (Neal A. Maxwell, "The Women of God," Ensign, May 1978, 10-11). The world and our nation would be much more beautiful if every mother regarded her children as the jewels of her life. Mothers will determine to a large extent what our nation will be like for the next generation by what they put into the minds of their children. This is why I state that there is great power for good or evil in motherhood!