mothers who know: week eight

"In the Book of Mormon we read about 2,000 exemplary young men who were exceedingly valiant, courageous, and strong. “Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him” (Alma 53:21). These faithful young men paid tribute to their mothers. They said, “Our mothers knew it” (Alma 56:48). I would suspect that the mothers of Captain Moroni, Mosiah, Mormon, and other great leaders also knew.

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." --Julie B. Beck

These last few weeks have been difficult ones--starting with the week when I began to work on "Mothers Who Know Stand Strong and Immovable." Perhaps this exercise was really meant to be written on my heart. Although I have not memorized every word--I do think that these principles have deeply impressed me and I feel that these words will influence how I mother and how I think about my relationship with my Heavenly Father. This last week I will focus on this last line: " 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 [and I would add--others they come in contact with]." I will continue on this week--striving to look forward and have the "spirit of power" rather than fear. I was impressed during conference with the number of talks that spoke about the importance of adversity, the importance of retaining hope and faith during those times, and looking toward the temple for power to overcome and strength to live through the refiner's fire.

mothers who know bear children

During our short trip to St. George a couple of months ago, I picked up a handful of fallen acorns--one for each member of our family. I liked idea of the acorn for this image--it looks somewhat like the tree it will become and within it contains the possibility of an unknown number of trees in the future.

mothers who know bear children: week seven

Mothers Who Know Bear Children

"Mothers who know desire to bear children. Whereas in many cultures in the world children are “becoming less valued,”2 in the culture of the gospel we still believe in having children. Prophets, seers, and revelators who were sustained at this conference have declared that “God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force.”3 President Ezra Taft Benson taught that young couples should not postpone having children and that “in the eternal perspective, children—not possessions, not position, not prestige—are our greatest jewels.”4

Faithful daughters of God desire children. In the scriptures we read of Eve (see Moses 4:26), Sarah (see Genesis 17:16), Rebekah (see Genesis 24:60), and Mary (see 1 Nephi 11:13–20), who were foreordained to be mothers before children were born to them. Some women are not given the responsibility of bearing children in mortality, but just as Hannah of the Old Testament prayed fervently for her child (see 1 Samuel 1:11), the value women place on motherhood in this life and the attributes of motherhood they attain here will rise with them in the Resurrection (see D&C 130:18). Women who desire and work toward that blessing in this life are promised they will receive it for all eternity, and eternity is much, much longer than mortality. There is eternal influence and power in motherhood." --Julie B. Beck

mothers who know are teachers

This week I have been making bread--using ground wheat milled by hand (that's um by my own hands--who knew it would take such muscle?). After reading about the benefits of freshly ground wheat vs. enriched white flour I was amazed at the difference--and amazed that I never knew about this information. It made me think not only about what I am feeding my children physically but what I am feeding them spiritually--whole grains or Wonder Bread?

mothers who know are teachers: week six

Mothers Who Know Are Teachers

"Mothers who know are always teachers. Since they are not babysitters, they are never off duty. A well-taught friend told me that he did not learn anything at church that he had not already learned at home. His parents used family scripture study, prayer, family home evening, mealtimes, and other gatherings to teach. Think of the power of our future missionary force if mothers considered their homes as a pre–missionary training center. Then the doctrines of the gospel taught in the MTC would be a review and not a revelation. That is influence; that is power." --Julie B. Beck

create

Watch this and be inspired to create.

mothers who know stand strong and immovable

This week's image is from the fairy tale, "The Wild Swans." In order to free her brothers, who have been changed into swans, the sister must make tunics from a terrible thistle--and she must complete her task in complete silence. It is a story of sacrifice and love. Often times we may even think that we know what things we have signed up for in our sacrifices. Just as this sister knew what was required to break the enchantment--but rarely do we see all that will truly be required of us. Yet, even in these trying times--when we may feel our fingers bleeding from the thistles, when we may be hurt, when our work is slow, when we are displaced, or see no end of our task in sight--we can stand strong and immovable BECAUSE of our testimony in Christ and our love for our family.

mothers who know stand strong and immovable: week five

Mothers Who Know Stand Strong and Immovable

"Who will prepare this righteous generation of sons and daughters? Latter-day Saint women will do this—women who know and love the Lord and bear testimony of Him, women who are strong and immovable and who do not give up during difficult and discouraging times. We are led by an inspired prophet of God who has called upon the women of the Church to “stand strong and immovable for that which is correct and proper under the plan of the Lord.”6 He has asked us to “begin in [our] own homes”7 to teach children the ways of truth. Latter-day Saint women should be the very best in the world at upholding, nurturing, and protecting families. I have every confidence that our women will do this and will come to be known as mothers who “knew” (Alma 56:48)." --Julie B. Beck

mothers who know honor sacred ordinances and covenants

"They know that if they are not pointing their children to the temple, they are not pointing them toward desired eternal goals." --Julie B. Beck

"The shield of faith is not produced in a factory. . .[it] is made at home. . .Our Father's plan requires that, like the generation of life itself, the shield of faith is to be made and fitted in the family. No two can be exactly alike. Each must be handcrafted to individual specifications. The plan designed by the Father contemplates that man and woman, husband and wife, working together, fit each child individually with a shield of faith made to buckle on so firmly that it can neither be pulled off nor penetrated by those fiery darts. It takes the steady strength of a father to hammer out the metal of it and the tender hands of a mother to polish and fit it on. Sometimes one parent is left to do it alone. It is difficult, but it can be done. In the Church we can teach about the materials from which a shield of faith is made: reverence, courage, chastity, repentance, forgiveness, compassion. In church we can learn how to assemble and fit them together. But the actual making of and fitting on of the shield of faith belongs in the family circle. Otherwise it may loosen and come off in a crisis." (CR, April 1995, p. 8) --Boyd K. Packer

A "shield" is exactly what our temple membership is--a peace and a protection. The image also reminds me of a shield--but not the kind that grace my sons' toy box. A simple shield, filled with an image of true power. This image of my "in progress" temple handkerchief represents our efforts to teach and point our children toward the temple--at home, humble stitch by stitch.

mothers who know: community

For those of you who are working on the challenge--I would love provide a link to your blog or re-post any thoughts or images you have here. Email me or leave a comment!

Here are two great posts about this weeks' thoughts:

Rachel + Co

Perfectly Splendid

mothers who know honor sacred ordinances and covenants: week four

Mothers Who Know Honor Sacred Ordinances and Covenants

"Mothers who know honor sacred ordinances and covenants. I have visited sacrament meetings in some of the poorest places on the earth where mothers have dressed with great care in their Sunday best despite walking for miles on dusty streets and using worn-out public transportation. They bring daughters in clean and ironed dresses with hair brushed to perfection; their sons wear white shirts and ties and have missionary haircuts. These mothers know they are going to sacrament meeting, where covenants are renewed. These mothers have made and honor temple covenants. They know that if they are not pointing their children to the temple, they are not pointing them toward desired eternal goals. These mothers have influence and power."--Julie B. Beck

mothers who know are leaders

As I was contemplating what picture to take for this theme I was mindful of the line, "These wise mothers who know are selective about their own activities and involvement to conserve their limited strength in order to maximize their influence where it matters most." It reminded me of line from Anne Morrow Lindbergh's Gift from the Sea (a must-read for women).

"Eternally, woman spills herself away in driblets to the thirsty, seldom being allowed the time, the quiet, the peace to let the pitcher fill up to the brim. . . With our garnered free time, we are more apt to drain our creative springs than to refill them. With our pitchers, we attempt some times to water a field, not a garden. . .[italics added] Not knowing how to feed the spirit, we try to muffle its demands with distractions."

May we carefully conserve water for our backdoor gardens and take the time to refill our pitchers with Living Water.

mothers who know are leaders: week three

Mothers Who Know Are Leaders

"Mothers who know are leaders. In equal partnership with their husbands, they lead a great and eternal organization. These mothers plan for the future of their organization. They plan for missions, temple marriages, and education. They plan for prayer, scripture study, and family home evening. Mothers who know build children into future leaders and are the primary examples of what leaders look like. They do not abandon their plan by succumbing to social pressure and worldly models of parenting. These wise mothers who know are selective about their own activities and involvement to conserve their limited strength in order to maximize their influence where it matters most."

--Julie B. Beck

mothers who know are nurturers

"Family--the nest in which the soul is born, nurtured, and released into life." --Thomas MooreThis quote, found in Mitten Strings for God, stopped me in my tracks (or cozy chair). This quote inspired this week's' image of nurture. My three little eggs tucked in a robin's egg blue nest. A safe little place, lovingly made, string by string.

mothers who know are nurturers: week two

Mothers Who Know Are Nurturers

"Mothers who know are nurturers. This is their special assignment and role under the plan of happiness.5 To nurture means to cultivate, care for, and make grow. Therefore, mothers who know create a climate for spiritual and temporal growth in their homes. Another word for nurturing is homemaking. Homemaking includes cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and keeping an orderly home. Home is where women have the most power and influence; therefore, Latter-day Saint women should be the best homemakers in the world. Working beside children in homemaking tasks creates opportunities to teach and model qualities children should emulate. Nurturing mothers are knowledgeable, but all the education women attain will avail them nothing if they do not have the skill to make a home that creates a climate for spiritual growth. Growth happens best in a “house of order,” and women should pattern their homes after the Lord’s house (see D&C 109). Nurturing requires organization, patience, love, and work. Helping growth occur through nurturing is truly a powerful and influential role bestowed on women." --Julie B. Beck

mother who know do less: thoughts

At a Mother's Day dinner at my parents' last year, my dad said, "Oh, I have something for you from Hawaii."

He left the room and came back holding a green glass ball.

I gasped. "I have been looking for one of those!"

My dad, obviously surprised at my reaction said, "You know what this is?"

I nodded, "It's a glass fishing float. An antique."

Several weeks ago my mom had told me of an analogy that someone had shared with her. We often use the image of "juggling" to describe the many different tasks/jobs we have. In this analogy some of the balls that are being juggled are glass--those are the balls that have to stay up in the air. Some of the other balls may fall, or even be put down for a time, in order to keep those glass balls up in the air. BUT those glass balls. . .they cannot fall and break.

That rang true for me as I can feel frustrated at the fact I can't always return my library books on time, or I feel I can't refine my photography skills the way I dream. . .or a million other small or big things in my life. But those are the balls that can fall or be put aside--in order to keep the most important breakable balls from falling--my family, my testimony and my friends.

Since my mom had shared that I had this vision of a bowl full of balls--some breakable and some not--as a visual reminder of my most important work. I had seen a picture somewhere of these glass fishing floats--and knew that was the ball I wanted to purchase. Visually I love the color and the shape. I also love the idea of an object, made of breakable glass, has floated in the ocean for over 60 years. An object that has weathered every type of storm--and has come through in tact.

I also love the raffia balls--because they don't look like they will be hurt when they fall (our pocketbook can cover those overdue library fines), in fact they won't even bounce away. They can wait. There will be a time to pick them up later. But the green glass sea float can't wait.

mothers who know do less: week one

Mothers Who Know Do Less

"Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord’s kingdom for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power." --Julie B. Beck

mothers who know challenge

If there was one "anthem" for my life at this time, it would be "Mothers Who Know" by Julie B. Beck.

I thought how lovely it would be to hang a poster that read, "Mothers Who Know" in my laundry room. It is while scooping dirty clothes into the washer, that I most often need that reminder. But, I am not a graphic designer. So, I then I decided to create a picture that captured motherhood. But I couldn't limit it to one thing. This morning I thought of creating one picture for each paragraph from "Mothers Who Know." I wanted to have these words as part of me--in images and in words. Perhaps it has been reading the Sevenwaters trilogy, where the tradition and art of storytelling is key to their beliefs, family and culture. I read books to my children, but I don't often tell them a story. I don't have many things memorized. I love the idea of learning some key stories, scriptures, poem, and talks by heart.

I thought of Sister Tanner's talk "Learning by Heart:"

"I have learned that there are many benefits to memorizing. For me, personally, it deepens my understanding of the passage and fixes it in my heart. As you go over and over a passage in your mind, you think about it again and again. The richness of the words, the way they are put together, the possible symbolisms, the clever use of literary devices, and new meanings that you may never have noticed or understood before—all become apparent in the process of memorizing. Memorizing can put words in our hearts as well as in our minds. Learning by heart—which may be somewhat of a dying tradition—means to learn something so deeply that it becomes part of our core: it fills us; it changes us. Often my heart has been filled during early morning runs as I have gone over in my mind the words from “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (Ensign, November 1995, 102), “The Living Christ” (Ensign, April 2000, 2–3), or some scripture or poem I was memorizing.

I had read the family proclamation many times and felt love and appreciation for it. But as I memorized each word and sentence, I began to see how it spoke in detail to each of the cultural ills that plague our society. I felt hope that the eternal truths taught in the proclamation could arm me as I faced current and difficult moral issues. I began to feel greater personal affirmation from apostles and prophets and from the Lord for the family choices I had made over a lifetime. I felt strongly the knowledge that we have a Father in Heaven who has an unfailing plan for us. I felt His matchless love and goodness. I felt, as it explains in Proverbs, that “the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” and “wisdom entereth into thine heart” (Proverbs 2:6,10). My heart was filled with knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and love. This knowledge encouraged gratitude, personal improvement, and the desire to strengthen others."

I knew that I wanted to learn "Mothers Who Know" by heart.

Would you like to join me? Each week I will focus on one paragraph from this talk. One paragraph to memorize, ponder, and apply. I will also take a photograph to represent each paragraph (I intend to do this in a series--so they will all look very similar). I think that this could easily be expressed in any creative medium (remember President Uchtdorf's talk--we are ALL creative).