A Mother Heart May 2009 Teaching for Our Times

Sister Beck teaches us that one of our goals as women, not necessarily mothers, is to  nurture and and feed children spiritually.  To have a ”mother heart”, Sister Beck  instructs us that it is more about keeping our covenants ‐‐‐ that the role of  motherhood is divine. Let me start with a disclaimer – I am not qualified as many of  you wonderful mothers to teach about A Mother Heart. I *only* have 10 years  experience as a mother. I *only* have 3 children. And I *only* have girls. So, using  scriptures as my guide, just as Sister  she offers us important principles that we can  each apply to our lives as faithful women.   1 

She opens with the words: “I have often heard my father describe my mother as a  woman with a quot;mother heart,quot; and that is true. Her mothering influence has been felt  by many hundreds, perhaps thousands of people, and she has refined the role of  nurturer to an art form. Her testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and  strong sense of identity and purpose have guided her life.”  Read Proverbs 31: 10‐27.  So what is a mother heart? <discussion>  2 

Is it just the bearing and/or rearing of children? Or does it go beyond that?  It’s about nurturing, leading, teaching, and loving.  Covenant‐keeping, serving, and opening our hearts.   It’s about trusting in God and His individual plan for each of us.   Being trustworthy in caring for His children.  Helping Him do His work in whatever capacity may be ours.  Sister Beck says every girl and woman who makes and keeps sacred covenants can  have a mother heart.   3 

President David O. McKay said, Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either  for good or ill in human life.  Consider the angelic Lamanite mothers and their incredible faith. Their sons believed  in the faith of their mothers. Two thousand stripling warriors, with no battle  experience, but also with no fear of death, fought one of the most incredible battle  victories in recorded history.      Much of that good influence comes from simple words and acts that may at the time  seem small or even mundane. And yet out of small things proceedeth that which is  great. (D&C 64:33)   4 

Do you think there is an equivalent ‘father heart”? Why or why not?   Does the priesthood instill a ‘father heart’?  It could be said that a woman’s job is to  nurture the children, the man’s job is to hold the priesthood and provide for the  family. That’s what the proclamation says. But what about the relationship men have  to their children? Is it the same relationship to kids like “mother heart” represents for  women?   5 

Do you have to be a mother to have a Mother Heart? Of course not.  Women who are  not mothers also show qualities of spirituality, love, and faithfulness.   Mary (of Mary and Martha fame) left the chores of the moment to listen to her  Savior. With precious ointment, she knelt and washed Jesus' feet. Both Mary and her  sister Martha believed in Jesus before He raised Lazarus from the dead, stating, Yea,  Lord I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the  world.? (John 11:27). They represent the Mother Heart.   I thought this was an interesting perspective from a post on an archived forum: “I see  the vantage point of encouraging mothers to excel, and as soon as I heard the talk I  felt she was referring to the spiritual nurturing that moms do…yesterday for 6 hours, I  helped other people's kids to have fun at a community event. At that event, I was the  first responder to help a mom locate her missing child. I helped clean up garbage so  other people could go have fun with their families. This week I'll prepare for activity  days to do my part to help other people's kids…A long time ago, I spent Christmas eve  sitting with a young girl in the hospital‐ her own family wasn't able to be there at that  specific time.”   6 

Sister Beck’s counsel: “Female roles did not begin on earth, and they do not end here.  A woman who treasures motherhood on earth will treasure motherhood in the world  to come, and quot;where [her] treasure is, there will [her] heart be alsoquot; (Matthew 6:21).  By developing a mother heart, each girl and woman prepares for her divine, eternal  mission of motherhood. quot;Whatever principle of intelligence [she] attain[s] unto in this  life, it will rise with [her] in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge  and intelligence in this life through [her] diligence and obedience than another, [she]  will have so much the advantage in the world to comequot; (D&C 130:18–19).”  7 

Sister Beck shares a wonderful story where she met a group of young, covenant‐ keeping women with mother hearts  They were teaching two‐year‐olds to be kind to  one another. They were soothing babies, kissing bruised knees, and wiping tears.  “I asked one of those mothers how it came about that she could transfer her talents  so cheerfully into the role of motherhood. She replied, quot;I know who I am, and I know  what I am supposed to do. The rest just follows.quot; That young mother will build faith  and character in the next generation one family prayer at a time, one scripture study  session, one book read aloud, one song, one family meal after another. She is  involved in a great work. She knows that quot;children are an heritage of the Lordquot; and  quot;happy is the [woman] that hath [a] quiver full of themquot; (Psalm 127:3, 5). She knows  that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily mothering is far more  lasting, far more powerful, far more influential than any earthly position or institution  invented by man. She has the vision that, if worthy, she has the potential to be  blessed as Rebekah of old to be quot;the mother of thousands of millionsquot; (Genesis  24:60).”  8 

Sister Beck tells us, “In my experience I have seen that some of the truest mother  hearts beat in the breasts of women who will not rear their own children in this life,  but they know that quot;all things must come to pass in their timequot; and that they quot;are  laying the foundation of a great workquot; (D&C 64:32–33). As they keep their covenants,  they are investing in a grand, prestigious future because they know that quot;they who  keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and  everquot; (Abraham 3:26).  As someone who has struggled with infertility, Mother’s Day may be incredibly  difficult. Women who are unable to have children and single women can energize  their mother heart by working with children or giving of themselves in some way.  Women who do such work can find joy in it and bring happiness and wholesome  influence into the lives of children, especially those who have been denied a mother’s  love.  By developing a mother heart, each girl and woman prepares for her divine, eternal  mission of motherhood.  9 

Why did the Lord give us families? My mother heart extends to teenagers, even  though my eldest is not yet there. I think about our most recent nanny, who at the  tender age of 19 helped my family truly learn the meaning of mother heart. Young  men – teenagers – on their missions. Even Joseph Smith at the tender age of 14,  seeing the First Vision. Lucy Mack Smith absolutely had a mother heart.  Show clip from lds.org  10 

 If Mother’s Day is not special for you because you don’t yet have kids or you can’t or  your kids have all gone off the deep end or your own mother was crazy—or if your  children and/or husband just don’t get that you should be cherished and celebrated  just one Sunday a year—then change your focus.   Be happy for those who do have the blessings of children. Feel blessed for the great  kids of our ward you come in contact with and with whom you influence in your  callings or your work. Remember that you have a Mother in Heaven who loves you.   Look around the room.  Find someone worth celebrating and send your mother heart  her way.   And have a happy Mother’s Day.   11 

A Mother Heart May 2009 Teaching for Our Times

by Mormon Mom on May 10, 2009

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A Mother Heart May 2009 Teaching for Our Times — Document Transcript

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