This is the first time I address motherhood directly, but you must know that indirectly all of my posts have centered around good mothering and all the responsibilities that rest on our shoulders as mothers.  You know the old joke that men don’t multi-task like women …  That’s exactly what we were born to do, isn’t it?

I just reread Julie Beck’s two talks on Motherhood from this past spring conference.  The flack she received for her inspired words astounds me.  How could women be offended, or maybe afraid, of what she states as “power in motherhood”?  Mothers clearly have more influence in the world than we care to admit, but can we admit that when women “discovered themselves” in the 60’s and left more and more children home alone, the world changed?  Children had to grow up a little faster and fend for themselves a little more; maybe not a terrible thing, but in excess, became a troublesome thing.

I have been happy with my choice to be a “stay-at-home mom”, and certainly blessed to be able to do so.  I was a “latchkey” kid growing up, because my mother always worked, and I have to be honest, I would have preferred having a mother more available to me.  Either way, a mother is asked to give up much of her life for a bunch of ungrateful kids, but there are golden payback days.

It should be every LDS woman’s desire, because we know and understand the plan of our Heavenly Father, to fulfill her role as mother and nurturer,  to the best of her ability, whether she has children or not.  Our abilities will vary, but our hearts should remain the same.  It is powerful to mother and nurture all children through example, love and guidance.  LDS women need to look, act, and above all, feel different from other women in the world; most definitely our countenance should be in the image of our Lord and Savior.  That is the power of a woman that all children of God can look upon and value.

And let me just say something to young newly married women who are a little afraid to have children in this obviously wicked world.   You’re concerns are valid:  How can we afford children?  How can we protect our children?  What if I’m not strong enough to do the job right?  What if I mess up?

In the news (May 2008) we have heard of the suffering that is going on in China after the earthquake.  Mothers, who were limited by their government leaders, have now lost their only child and find themselves alone.  My heart breaks at the site of these mothers who clearly put all they were into their children and are now left with nothing.

You, young women, let your sisters help you.  We will share with you all that we know.  We will help you budget your household so you can raise any number of children.  We will help you watch over and teach your children that which lasts forever.  We will strengthen you and help your confidence to grow.  And if you mess up, we will be at your side to lift you, and carry you if necessary, for we love you.  We need Heavenly Father’s children to get their chance on this earth, and the sooner the better, because at this point I think we’re all pretty anxious for the Millennium to get here.   And as members of the Relief Society it is our opportunity to usher in the Lord as a worldwide force, having done all that was asked of us.