Behold Thy Mother!

                Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spoke on this topic in the October 2015 General Conference. I was completely immersed in his words because he sounded as though he had some personal experience with mothers who did not feel appreciated. I knew then I wanted to share them with my readers for Mother’s Day!

                “Bear, borne, carry, deliver.  These are powerful, heartening messianic words. They convey help and hope for safe movement from where we are to where we need to be – but cannot get without assistance. These words also connote burden, struggle, and fatigue – words most appropriate in describing the mission of Him who, at unspeakable cost, lifts us up when we have fallen, carries us forward when strength is gone, delivers us safely home when safety seems far beyond our reach.  `My Father sent me,’ He said, `that I might be lifted up upon the cross; … that as I have been lifted up … even so should men be lifted up … to … me’ [3 Nephi 27:14].

                “But can you hear in this language another arena of human endeavor in which we use words like bear and borne, carry and lift, labor and deliver? As Jesus said to John while in the very act of Atonement, so He says to us all, `Behold thy mother!’ [John 19:27].

                “Today I declare from this pulpit what has been said here before:  that no love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child.  When Isaiah, speaking messianically, wanted to convey Jehovah’s love, he invoked the image of a mother’s devotion. `Can a woman forget her sucking child?’ he asks.  How absurd, he implies, though not as absurd as thinking Christ will ever forget us. [See Isaiah 49:15.]

                “This kind of resolute love `suffereth long, and is kind, … seeketh not her own, … but … beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things’ [Moroni 7:45; see also 1 Corinthians 13:4-7]. Most encouraging of all, such fidelity `never faileth’ [Moroni 7:46; see also 1 Corinthians 13:8]. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed,’ Jehovah said, `but my kindness shall not depart form thee’ [3 Nephi 22:10; see also Isaiah 54:10]. So too say our mothers.

                “You see, it is not only that they bear us, but they continue bearing with us. It is not only the prenatal carrying but the lifelong carrying that makes mothering such a staggering feat. Of course, there are heartbreaking exceptions, but most mothers know intuitively, instinctively that this is a sacred trust of the highest order.  The weight of that realization, especially on your maternal shoulders, can be very daunting.”

                Elder Holland shared a letter from a young mother and “three experiences reflecting the majestic influence of mothers, witnessed in my ministry in just the past few weeks….” He concluded his talk with these words:

                “To all of our mothers everywhere, past, present, or future, I say, `Thank you. Thank you for giving birth, for shaping souls, for forming character, and for demonstrating the pure love of Christ.’ To Mother Eve, to Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel, to Mary of Nazareth, and to a Mother in Heaven, I say, `Thank you for your crucial role in fulfilling the purposes of eternity.’ 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. In fact, you are saviors on Mount Zion. [See Obadiah 1:21.] and like the Master you follow, your love “never faileth.” [See Moroni 7:46; see also 1 Corinthians 13:8.]’ I can pay no higher tribute to anyone.”

                Mother’s Day is often difficult for women. It is difficult for some women because they do not have any children. It is difficult for other women because they feel like failures – some even though their children are still young. The calling of motherhood is an eternal calling. Although the tasks of mothers are difficult and sometimes heartbreaking, there is so much more joy to being a mother. Mothers can find joy all along the journey as a mother, and they will find the most joy as they are surrounded by their children in this life and for all eternity.

                I wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all women, whether or not you have actually given birth or adopted a child. You act as a mother to people all around you, and you deserve honor.  Happy Mother’s Day!

Mothering

                Every family, community, and nation could be blessed by mothers who understand and fulfill their true purpose to the best of their abilities. Mothers have a divinely assigned mission to nurture and teach their children to love God and to become honest, loving, and responsible adults. Motherhood is a daunting but very important role.

                My sister in love gave me a copy of a story of just such a mother.  I like the story because it presents mothers in a good way but also shows the responsibility and duty that each mother carries.  I like the story so well that I sent it to the sisters on my visiting teaching route as well as to all six of my daughters. I do not know who the author is, but I applaud his/her work. The story is so true.  Each stage of motherhood is wonderful though difficult, and the later years are even better than the early ones. My mother left this life 37 years ago this week, and her influence and love are still with me. I miss my mom, but I know she is creating a mansion for me in the next life.

A Little Parable for Mothers

                The young mother set her foot on the path of life.  “Is the way long?” she asked. Her guide said:  “Yes, and the way is hard; you will be old before you reach the end of it, but the end will be better than the beginning.”

                The young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years.  So, she played with her children, gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed with them in the clear streams.  The sun shone on them, and life was good.  The young mother cried, “Nothing could ever be lovelier than this!”

                Then night came with the storm; the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold. The mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle. The children said, “Oh, mother, we are not afraid, for you are near and no harm can come.” The mother said, “This is better than the brightness of day, for I have taught my children courage.”

                Then the morning came, and there was a hill ahead.  The children climbed and grew weary, but the mother encouraged them at all times, saying “a little patience and we are there.”  So, the children climbed and grew more weary; the mother grew weary too, but at all times she said to the children “a little patience and we are there.”  So, the children climbed and reached the top; they said, “We could not have done it without you.” The mother, when she lay down that night, looked up at the stars and said, “This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness.  Yesterday I gave them courage.  Today I have given them strength.

                The next day came.  Dark clouds darkened the earth with clouds of war, hate, and evil.  The children groped and stumbled, and the mother said, “Look up; lift your eyes to the light.” The children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory; it guided them and brought them beyond the darkness.  That night the mother said, “This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God.”

                The days went on, and the weeks, and the months, and the years.  The mother grew old, but her children were tall, strong, and walked with courage.  When the way was hard, they helped their mother; when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was light as a feather. At last they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. The mother said, “I have reached the end of my journey, and now I know the end is better than the beginning.  My children can walk alone, and their children after them.” The children said, “You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.”

                They watched as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. They said, “We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory.  She is a living presence.”

Religious Freedom Worldwide

                The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday is the fact that we can all do something to preserve religious freedom.  Sandra Jolley, a former stake Relief Society president in Nevada, was appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).  This government organization is dedicated to protecting religious freedom worldwide. I believe it is fitting to commemorate Mother’s Day by sharing information about this woman.

                Sister Jolley “worked for decades” for Senator Harry Reid who gave her this compliment:  “No one cares more about protecting religious freedom than Sandy Jolley…. She has a proven record of bringing people of disparate backgrounds together to accomplish great things, and she will be an invaluable addition to the commission.” I do not respect Senator Reid’s politics, but this is a nice compliment!

                The article announcing Sister Jolley’s appointment contained this statement by Elder Dallin H. Oaks in an address he presented at the 2016 Mormon Studies Religious Freedom Conference at California’s Claremont Graduate University.  

                “I maintain that the teachings and free practice of religion are essential to a free and prosperous society…. I also maintain that religious values and political realities are so interlinked in the origin and perpetuation of this nation that we cannot lose the influence of religion and religious bodies in our public life without seriously jeopardizing our freedom and prosperity.”

Mother's Day Is Coming

                Mother’s Day is almost here once again. I know that my children will honor me in some way, but my thoughts are on my own dear mother, my husband’s sweet mother, and our daughters. All women are mothers whether or not they have borne children because the instinct to mother is part of being a mother.

                As Mother’s Day approaches, I thought I would share a message by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and his wife Patricia T. Holland,  adapted from their new book To Mothers:  Carrying the Torch of Family and Faith about the sacred influence of mothers today.

                There are comments by Elder Holland and a sweet story by Sister Holland about her great-grandmother.  The article closes with these words from Elder Holland:

                “I fear that virtually nothing—or at least not much—that the world says to you acknowledges your divine role as women. I am reminded that throughout the Creation sequence of Genesis, God viewed His work, including the creation of man, and called it “good.” But for the one and only time in that Creation story, He then said something was “not good.” He said it was not good that man should be alone. In short the Creation, even with Adam, was incomplete. Here I invoke President Gordon B. Hinckley’s language:

                “`As His final creation, the crowning of His glorious work, He created woman. I like to regard Eve as His masterpiece after all that had gone before, the final [great] work before He rested from His labors’ (Ensign, Nov. 1991, 97). I join my testimony to President Hinckley’s in that assessment. Surely it must have been at this point, with so much that was “good” having been done and having remedied the one thing that was “not good,” He could say after Eve’s arrival it was all “very good” (Genesis 1:31).

                “In this great, eternal work, mothers have carried the torch of faith and family from the beginning. The need for that torch to burn brightly and dispel darkness has never been greater than “in this time.” Little wonder that the Prophet Joseph said, “If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates” (History of the Church, 4:605). The scriptures speak of women being “elect.” What a powerful doctrinal and covenantal term! And who “elects” you? You do!—and so does God Himself, who has all the joy and delight of a father in you as His daughter, you who pass on light and hope, pass on life itself and a glorious gospel legacy until the work is finished.”

Is It Over?

                Tonight Senator Ted Cruz suspended his campaign for President of the United States of America.  What does that mean?  Is Donald Trump automatically the GOP nominee?  If so, heaven help us!

                How can there be so many fools in America?  Barack Obama had no experience or any credentials to be President of the United States, yet he was elected – not just once but twice!  Why? Fools elected him simply because he is black, and Americans could prove they were not racists by electing a black man.  Did it work?  No!  The racial divide in our nation is greater than it was eight years ago.  I will never understand how Americans could choose Obama over Mitt Romney.  Surely, the better man lost that election!

                This time we had the opportunity to elect Ted Cruz, another good man, as our President; however, the majority of Republicans are choosing Donald Trump.  Why? He does have better credentials than Barack Obama ever did but not much.  He has apparently been successful as a businessman even though we hear accounts of his failures.  At any rate, he totally fails the morals test.  He is in fact a total buffoon, a clown, and an ill-mannered bully.  I expect him to be a total embarrassment as a President.  Is this what we really want?

                Why are Republicans voting for Donald Trump?  The basic reason for supporting him seems to be anger at the establishment.  What kind of fool votes with their emotions, least of all anger?  No one should ever use anger as a reason to vote for a leader because “anger impacts judgment and decision making.” Trump does a great job of belittling other people and calling them names, but he will need a totally different set of “skills” to be presidential. 

                I am very disappointed in my fellow Republicans! I hoped we had learned our lesson during the last election, but apparently we did not. I hate to say it, but I will: We as a people are apparently too stupid to learn from our mistakes; therefore, we deserve whatever we get! May God bless America and keep us safe from our own stupidity!

Can He Do It?

                Can Senator Ted Cruz win in Indiana tomorrow? Donald Trump is boasting that he will win by a landslide, and the polls say he has a double digit lead.  What will happen if Cruz wins?  What will happen if Cruz loses?

                Things do not look good for a possible President Cruz even though he chose an outstanding candidate for his vice president.  President Cruz and Vice President Fiorina would be a terrific team for America if they can only win the race for the White House.  Please join me in praying for America because only God knows what we need.

Freedom of Speech

                The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday is the Freedom of Speech as found in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.  The First Amendment has been in the news – again/still – because swarms of protesters tried to stop Donald Trump from speaking at the California GOP Convention last Friday. Even as they each are campaigning for the office of President of the United States, Senator Ted Cruz showed his quality when he spoke in defense of Donald Trump, his main rival for the Republican nomination.  Senator Cruz stood in solidarity with his opponent, calling the people protesting against Trump “leftist agitators” had “crossed the line” when they tried “to silence a voice they don’t like.”

                Senator Cruz said, “The First Amendment protects everyone’s right to speak, but you don’t have a right to threaten violence, you don’t have a right to shout down others, and these protesters appear to be trying to use violence and threats…. These are the strategies of MoveOn.org, of the leftist agitators who try to silence a voice they don’t like.”

                “The first Amendment protects everyone’s right to speak, but you don’t have a right to threaten violence, you don’t have a right to shout down others, and these protesters appear to be trying to use violence and threats.  … These are the strategies of MoveOn.org, of the leftist agitators who try to silence a voice they don’t like.”  He called the California protests “not acceptable” and “inappropriate” because they attempt to “muzzle others.”