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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.