Mothers

Seeing as it's Mother's Day I figured that mothers would be excellent people to blog about.  We'll start off with a quote by Elder Russel M. Nelson:

Many years ago the First Presidency issued a statement that has had a profound and lasting influence upon me. “Motherhood,” they wrote, “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."

Mothers are next to angels.  Now I don't have firsthand experience, but being a mother seems hard. Here's a quote by Elder M. Russel Ballard for those mothers who are feeling discouraged and inadequate:

There is no 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 family.  Many are able to be 'full-time moms,' at least during the more formative years of their children's lives, and many other 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.

Along with placing God and her husband and children above all else mothers have other responsibilities outlined in "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" given by the First Presidency and he Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.

Motherhood is one of the noblest professions in the world.  Many "independent" women would scoff at motherhood and look down on mothers as slaves to their husbands, children, and housework.  Those women are wrong.  They rob themselves of the blessings of the selfless service that is motherhood.  Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there.

Pray, He is listening.

"Don't worry about your clumsily expressed feelings.  Just talk to you compassionate, understanding Father.  You are His precious child whom he loves perfectly and wants to help.  As you pray, recognize that Father is Heaven is near and He is listening."

-Elder Richard G. Scott

Experience

"More testimonies are gained on the feet than on the knees."

-Brigham Young

Seek after it

"Pray for the Lord to inspire your hearts. Ask for wisdom and for knowledge. It is our duty to seek after it. Let us seek, and we shall find; but as for His coming down here to pour His Spirit upon you, while you are aiming after the vain and frivolous things of the world; indulging in all the vanity, nonsense, and foolery which surrounds you; drinking in all the filthy abominations which should be spurned from every community on the earth—so long as you continue this course, rest assured—he will not come near you."

-Brigham Young

We shall find rest

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

-Matthew 11:28-30

to know thee

"...if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day..."

-Alma 22:18

Stake Conference

"Thou has also made our words powerful and great, even that we cannot write them; wherefore when we write we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words."

-Ether 12:25

Stake Conference was amazing!  I love feeling the spirit and feeling God's love for me.  Here is what I wrote during the talks when we were asked how we would respond to the question: Who is Jesus Christ to you?

Love heals. Christ loves me and has healed my bruised and broken spirit and soothed my weeping heart.  I am eternally grateful for the atonement.  My Savior is my best friend.  He will not desert me.  He has plucked my out of my misery and made me whole.  The chains of my sin were lightened and my soul is free.  He is my Savior and friend.  He is my best friend.  He is my brother.  He loves me and died for me.  He suffered all of my pains, afflictions, and miseries because he loves me.  He has freed my soul from the prison I had created for myself.  I cried out to God seeking only his forgiveness and he granted it unto me.  I have been awakened to the spirit to which I was once numb. He comforts me when I am weak and afraid. Christ is my everything. I love my Savior.