This past weekend we heard
from the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and what an
amazing weekend it was! I received so many answers and reminders from the
spirit that I ran out of ink, which is huge considering it was one of my new
pens, and I most importantly felt of my Savior's love. This year was especially
incredible because we were able to hear from our three new Apostles of the
Lord: Elder Rasband, Elder Stevenson, and Elder Renlund. While they were
sharing their testimonies I had the spirit witness to me that they truly are
called of God, and they are here to serve His children. A talk that truly
touched my heart this year was Elder Holland's. He always shares such a
powerful message and this year he gave the most beautiful tribute to mothers.
In his talk "Behold Thy Mother" Elder Holland so beautifully declared
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."
This is me and my mom, laughing and enjoying a huge check point
for me in my life.
How amazingly true is that?! My mother is basically super-woman to
me she gives so much of her time, effort, heart, and soul to all that is asked
of her. She is the reason I am able to be studying here at Brigham Young
University. Elder Holland continues to tell the congregation of a woman who
wrote to him asking, "How is it that a human being can love a child so
deeply that you willingly give up a major portion of your freedom for it? How
can mortal love be so strong that you voluntarily subject yourself to
responsibility, vulnerability, anxiety, and heartache and just keep coming back
for more of the same? What kind of mortal love can make you feel, once you have
a child, that your life is never, ever your own again? Maternal
love has to be divine. There is no other explanation for it. What
mothers do is an essential element of Christ’s work. Knowing that should be
enough to tell us the impact of such love will range between unbearable and
transcendent, over and over again, until with the safety and salvation of the
very last child on earth, we can [then] say with Jesus, ‘[Father!] I have
finished the work which thou gavest me to do.'" Becoming a mother is no
simple matter; nothing is your own anymore but isn't it amazing to know that
our Father in Heaven is aware and loves us?! Being a mother is something so
scared that it part of His highest orders. I want to be apart of that
sisterhood someday and with each challenge and choice I face in my life I keep
reminding myself that I'm not doing this for me, I'm doing this for my
children.
My mom is a babe and hasn't aged in years... I envy her.
But how can someone love another so much? How
can someone else's needs come so far above your own that they don't even seem
to matter anymore? Why does this happen? You see, when a mother bears her child
it doesn't end there she continues, "bearing with us". I have learned
this to be so true and that truth has been magnified as I've started this new
chapter in my life. I'm pretty sure that I cannot last more than 42 hours
without talking to my mom, I call to tell her about everything the good, bad,
happy, sad, and even awkward. She has become such a strength in my life and an
example of a true elect lady of God. She taught me to always care what I look
like because she knew the importance of teaching her children to always be
ready to stand as a witness of God wherever we may go, and I am forever
grateful for learning that so early as I prepare for my mission now.
This is my mom's
missionary picture!! Isn't she stunning?!
The love of a mother is completely personal and perfect. Now, I
know that not all children are blessed with a mother or has a mother and
doesn't feel the eternal love she has for them, but I do know that as we have a
Heavenly Father we also have a Heavenly Mother who is loving us as perfect as
we need to be loved. As we pray to the Father maybe we should speak with Mother
as well, she knows us just as well and she will always be there just as our
Heavenly Father is as well.
This is us on my senior
prom night, she made sure I felt like a queen.
I will be the first to say that I am not the perfect daughter, but
I strive to be better and I try to make sure that my mom knows that I love her
everyday. I cannot express in words what my mom and what she's done for me has
meant in my life. She is my strength and my song and I will love her forever
and ever. I can't think of a better way to end than to quote Elder Holland
final 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, and like
the Master you follow, your love ‘never faileth.' ” I can pay no
higher tribute to anyone. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen." And I add my
thanks my saying amen as well. Thank you dear mother for being the woman of God
that you are and for loving me unconditionally.
Just one more because I love her so much!
