Prelude to Mother's Day - Part 1 - A "Mother Heart"

{Me and baby Dick - one day old}

In light of Mother's Day this upcoming Sunday, I wanted to do some reading about mothers, specifically from the leaders of my church.


For today's post, I chose a talk given by Julie B. Beck {then first counselor in the Young Women General Presidency and now Relief Society General President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints} entitled "A 'Mother Heart'".


But what does it mean to have a mother heart, you ask?


Here is what she says. {I've included my two favorite segments from her talk.}

...To paraphrase Proverbs: “Who can find a … woman [with a mother heart]? for her price is far above rubies. … She … worketh willingly with her hands. … With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. … She stretcheth out her hand to the poor. … Strength and honour are her clothing. … She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness” (Prov. 31:10, 13, 16, 20, 25–27). A woman with a mother heart has a testimony of the restored gospel, and she teaches the principles of the gospel without equivocation. She is keeping sacred covenants made in holy temples. Her talents and skills are shared unselfishly. She gains as much education as her circumstances will allow, improving her mind and spirit with the desire to teach what she learns to the generations who follow her.

What I love most about this segment is this: "A woman with a mother heart . . . teaches the principles of the gospel without equivocation." Or in other words, to a "T". No beating around the bush. The honest truth, coupled with testimony and experience, trusting in God and his prophets. I love this because I know it's the only thing that is going to get my kids to withstand evil in this brutal, harsh world. 


There are so many gray areas pertaining to life's "choices" right now. What's good is perceived to be bad and what's bad is flaunted as good.


Satan {also called the adversary} is ultimately to blame for this mix-up. And the only way to withstand temptation and make the right choice is to understand the difference between black and white. No more gray.


I must teach my children now or the world will. And before I can teach it, I have to know and live it for myself.


Ok, next favorite segment:

If she has children, she is a “goodly parent” (1 Ne. 1:1) who lives and teaches standards of behavior exactly in line with the teachings of living prophets. She teaches her “children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord” (D&C 68:28). Rather than listening to the voices and partial truths of the world, she knows that gospel standards are based on eternal, unchangeable truths. She believes that to be “primarily responsible for the nurture of [her] children” is a vital, dignified, and “sacred responsibilit[y]” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,”Liahona, Oct. 1998, 24; Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102). To nurture and feed them physically is as much an honor as to nurture and feed them spiritually. She is “not weary in well-doing” and delights to serve her family, because she knows that “out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33).

I adore this sentence: "To nurture and feed [her children] physically is as much an honor as to nurture and feed them spiritually." 


{So profoundly and beautifully said, right?}


1. Because it reminded me that it is indeed an honor to nurture and feed my children, physically, every day. Cheerios. Stories. Games. Talks. Yogurt. Milk. Playtime. Outside. Love.


2. Because it reminded me that it is indeed an honor to nuture and feed my children, spiritually, every day. Prayers. Lessons. Scriptures. Patience. Principles. Family Home Evening. Morals. Love.


The longer I am a mother, the more Heavenly Father opens my eyes to an understanding of the divine and sacred role it truly is.


Go here to read this talk.