Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Sharing the Importance of Motherhood

"Picking Wildflowers" by De Scott Evans

I am so excited about the way the ideals of traditional femininity and motherhood have recently begun to grow and spread among LDS women! I attribute this awakening to our wonderful general Relief Society President, Sister Julie B. Beck.

 In the March 2011 Ensign magazine, there is an article by Sister Beck called "Teaching the Doctrine of the Family". The article has been such a breath of fresh air for me! I am excited to have these ideas to teach my children about how to defend the traditional family, gender roles, and the importance of bearing, nurturing, and teaching children.

Here's an excerpt from Sister Beck's wonderful article:

"As I meet with young single adults around the world, I ask them, 'Why does the First Presidency care so much about you and provide so many resources for you?' These are some of the answers I get: 'We are future Church leaders.' 'We need training so we can stay strong.' 'Our testimonies are strengthened in our seminary and institute classes.' 'We need to meet other great Latter-day Saint youth.' 'We are the hope of the future.' I have rarely heard, 'So I will someday be a better father or a better mother.' Their responses are generally about self, because this is the time of life they are in."
"Nevertheless, parents, teachers, and leaders of youth need to teach the rising generation the doctrine of the family. It is essential to help them achieve eternal life (see Moses 1:39). They need to know that the theology of the family is based on the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement. They need to understand the threats to the family so they will know what they are fighting against and can prepare. They need to understand clearly that the fullness of the gospel is realized in temple ordinances and covenants."
Relief Society General President, Sister Julie B. Beck

There are some other AMAZING talks from Sister Beck, as well. Here are a couple that especially have inspired me:

"Myths and misperceptions regarding the strength, purpose, and position of Latter-day Saint women abound. Prevailing myths imply that we are of lower importance than men, that we are generally sweet but uninformed, and that no matter what we do, we will never be enough to be accepted by our Heavenly Father. As the Apostle Peter said, there are “false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them.”
"The responsibility mothers have today has never required more vigilance. More than at any time in the history of the world, we need mothers who know. Children are being born into a world where they “wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). 1 However, mothers need not fear. When mothers know who they are and who God is and have made covenants with Him, they will have great power and influence for good on their children.
"A good woman must constantly resist alluring and deceptive messages from many sources telling her that she is entitled to more time away from her responsibilities and that she deserves a life of greater ease and independence. But with personal revelation, she can prioritize correctly and navigate this life confidently."

And in circles of LDS traditional women bloggers, there are also some WONDERFUL posts that have both inspired and strengthened me in my efforts to spread inspiration and encouragement to other women. The following is a list of favorites from great women I admire very much:

Inspiring posts by Deanna at Being a Mother Who Knows:

Insightful posts by Misty at The Misfit Cygnet:
Great posts by Cocoa at Chocolate on My Cranium:

And an encouraging post about dressing up by Courtney at Latter-Day Homeschooling:

I hope you are able to take some time to read Sister Beck's talks, and the posts by the dear ladies above. They have given me hope and encouragement in my efforts to become the wife, homemaker, and mother I know the Lord wants me to be. Enjoy!

10 comments:

  1. She is wonderful and inspired! Thank you for sharing this.

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  2. There HAVE been some amazing posts lately on this subject!

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  3. I loved reading Sis. Beck's talk when she gave it to seminary teachers and now to re-read it in the Ensign! She is definitely the right woman for the job she has right now.

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  4. It was so good! So much to teach- glad we have good leaders to help us.

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  5. Thank you for sharing this, Mama Rachel! I love sister Beck! I had never read the Daughters in My Kingdom article. Thank you!

    Thank you also for those links to other posts and blogs. I'm intrigued with The Misfit Cygnet - very inspiring, and eye/mind-opening posts.

    It's very sweet of you to put my blog on your sidebar, along with those other amazing young women. Thank you. :)

    f e l i c i t y ☂, at
    {s i m p l e · e l e g a n c e }

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  6. Wow, this was an awesome post. I love all of the talks by Sister Beck. Being a mother and grandmother are so important and I am always trying to improve myself in the roles I play.
    This is a great missionary blog also.
    Thanks for sharing the thoughts and blessings to you! LeAnn

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  7. gosh... I haven't been reading much lately. :O And to think of all that I have been missing out on; thanks for coming to the rescue with your great list of inspriational writings! :D THANK YOU!

    PS We are SO blessed to have such amazing people to learn from!!! :)

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  8. I love Sis. Beck's talks too! I am a follower of Montserrat (Chocolate on My Cranium) and I'll have to check these others out too.

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  9. Rachel, I am so glad I found this blog. I am a 24 year old mother of two. Lately I have been really struggling with my identity as a person and a mother. A great deal of my family works outside the home and I receive comments left and right about how "I am lazy and selfish and not contributing to my family enough Because I am "just a mom" and I stay at home.

    Sadly even my own mother has told me that she is not proud of me for not getting a career before I had children. I cry to myself a lot because I feel less than others. I constantly struggle to love myself and see my value. I remind myself daily that the work I am doing is the Lord's work and that I am of worth.

    Thank you Thank you Thank you for being a voice of hope for all the Homemakers out there. There is nothing I want more right now than to shut out the world and all the negative stigma that comes with moms who chose to stay home. I want to be strong like you. I have confidence that with time and patience one day I will feel that way.

    Anyway I just wanted to thank you for your blog. I love it!

    ~Jordyn

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Old Fashioned Motherhood will not approve any comments that are rude, negative, or disrespectful. Thanks for being civil! :-)

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