Called to

Mother

By Dayna B. McKinnon

because she was the mother of all living. Genesis 3:20

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of

Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of

Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a

woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eter-

nal destiny of His children.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved

spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and des-

tiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal iden-

tity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eter-

nal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and

gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her di-

vine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relation-

ships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in

holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for fam-

ilies to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for

parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children

to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has com-

manded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and

woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm

the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for

their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sa-

The Family: A Proclamation

cred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and

spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments

of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers

and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eter-

nal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a

father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life

is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith,

prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recrea-

tional activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and right-

eousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their

families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred

responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.

Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended

families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring,

or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Fur-

ther, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities,

and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those

measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of socie-

ty.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

http://lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/gospel-library/magazine/en2006lp.nfo:o:117.jpg

Choosing to Mother

Ch 12—A Woman can

do and be anything now

days. Why choose to

mother?

The commandment to bear children was given to Adam and Eve

and has not been rescinded (The Family: A Proclamation).1 It then

becomes a matter of obedience as much as anything else. The

prophets declared:

Motherhood thus be-

comes a holy calling, a sacred

dedication for carrying out the

Lord’s plans, a consecration of

devotion to the uprearing and

fostering the nurturing in body,

mind, and spirit, of those who kept their first estate

and who come to this earth for the second estate “to

see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their

God shall command them” (Abraham 3:25). To lead

Before we came to this earth we

agreed to the plan set forth by a

loving Father in Heaven that would

allow all his spirit sons and daugh-

ters the opportunity to come to

this earth where they could obtain

a body and prove their worthiness

for eternal exaltation.

Ch 8 I want to be success-

ful and achieve something.

them to keep their second estate is the work of moth-

erhood, and they who keep their second estate shall

have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.

There are many great things women are capable of accomplishing,

but no matter how noble or worthy that may be, “No other success

can compensate for failure in the home.” (McKay3).

‎"The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for

one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career. "— C.S.

Lewis

2—A Daughter of God

(Ch 2) Can’t I be im-

portant as an individual?

Every woman is a daughter of God. By our very nature we are of

infinite worth. Our worth is part of our nature whether we are

good or bad, whether we do right or wrong, no matter what.

“All human beings…are created in the image of God. Each is a be-

loved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents…and…each has a

divine nature and destiny.” (proclamation para 2)

“You are a daughter of God. He knows you, He loves you, and He

has a plan for you.

Young women everywhere who know they and others are daugh-

ters of a loving Heavenly Father show their love for Him by living

virtuous, service-oriented, exemplary lives.

(Tanner)

“Daughters of God know that it is the nurturing nature of women

that can bring everlasting blessings, and they live to cultivate this

divine attribute...

“...you are and must be, all that you were prepared to be in royal

courts on high by God Himself. May we use with gratitude the price-

less gifts we have been given for the lifting of mankind to higher

thinking and nobler aspirations” (Nadauld)

Our worthiness is another matter to consider. It is based upon

our obedience to God and his commandments, our willingness to

do his will. (Dollahite p221).

There are many good things we can do with our life. But to find

salvation we must use our life to do what Our Father in Heaven

would have us do.

As we understand our divine nature it will influence our actions

and desires.

What about my personal

growth and development?

Ch 6

3—A Daughter of God

I believe that I am a child of God en-

dowed with a divine birthright. I

believe that there is something of

divinity within me and within each

of you. I believe that we have a

godly inheritance and that it is our

responsibility, our obligation , and

our opportunity to cultivate and

nurture the very best of these quali-

ties within each of us.—Gordon B.

Hinkley

As a woman, and daughter of God, you are expected to develop your

talents and skills, for your own benefit and that of others. It is part

of your divine heritage.

Each is a beloved spirit son

or daughter of heavenly

parents, and, as such, each

has a divine nature and

destiny.

Remember: For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whoso-

ever will blose his life for my sake shall cfind it. Matthew 16:25

no paying job will ever be as difficult or reward-

ing as motherhood. No job will ever require and

develop such a diversity of job skills: creativity,

endurance, patience, fortitude, knowledge, intui-

tion, and the ability to make snap decisions. ~

Crum

Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop our-

selves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands

and mold it into something of beauty .

You participate with God in His work of crea-

tion—not only by providing physical bodies

for your children but also by teaching and

nurturing them. If you are not a mother now,

the creative talents you develop will prepare

you for that day, in this life or the next.

The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit,

the greater your capacity to create. That is

your opportunity in this life and your desti-

ny in the life to come. - Uchtdorf

Motherhood develops many desirable and marketable skills.

4—Celestial Partnership

After Adam and Eve were created they were

commanded to cleave to one another. We

were created to be together as husband and

wife.

Through the covenant of marriage we become partners with God in

his great work and by so doing come to know him better. (Dollahite

p9)

Marriage carries with it many temporal blessings as well. Those who

are married in general enjoy greater health and financial prosperity

than their non-married counterparts.

Married people tend to enjoy greater economic benefits, physical

health, mental health, not to mention sexual benefits. They live long-

er and tend to be healthier. The same trend is not found in those

who are unmarried or co-habitate. (Dollahite pp16-26)

Why do I have to be

married to be some-

one? Ch 3

The lord has warned that those who do not follow his command-

ments will find themselves cut off from his people. Those who are

sealed will be what Joseph Smith called a, “whole and complete and

perfect union.” (Dollahite p13)

God, in His divine plan, ordained marriage to bring about His basic

organizational unit—the family.

“There must be the proper approach toward marriage, which con-

templates the selection of a spouse who reaches as nearly as possi-

ble the pinnacle of perfection in all the matters that are of im-

portance to the individuals. Then those two parties must come to

the altar in the temple realizing that they must work hard toward

this successful joint living” (Perry para 28).

5—An Help Meet

Why do I have to live under

the authority of a hus-

band? Ch 4

By divine design, fathers are

to preside over their families

in love and righteousness.

(The Family: A Proclamation

to the World, ¶7)

While God’s plan for families is one of orderliness, it is also a plan of

equality and interdependence. Eve was created as “an help meet”

for Adam. This is often mistaken as a ‘help-mate’, one to serve under

Adam; but a closer study of the original Hebrew language and revela-

tion reveals that “help meet” means a help equal to Adam, one wor-

thy of him and equal to the task he has been given, to provide for the

children of God.

Although husband and wife are

equal, they have each been endowed

with unique abilities that make them

ideally suited for one task over an-

other. By divine nature fathers are to

provide and protect. Mother’s have

been given an extra measure of spirit-

uality, suiting them for the special

task of nurturing the spirit children of

Heavenly father.

God never intended that His children should stand alone. We have

the gospel, the scriptures, living prophets and apostles, and the Holy

Ghost to help us. This is not man’s work nor woman’s work; it is God’s

work, which is centered on the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

May God bless us all to find inspired consensus and unity as we coun-sel together in our families. Only in so doing can our families begin to approach their full potential.—Ballard

Spouses need not perform the same func-

tions to be equal. The woman’s innate spir-

itual instincts are like a moral magnet,

pointing toward spiritual north—except

when that magnet’s particles are scrambled

out of order. The man’s presiding gift is the

priesthood—except when he is not living the

principles of righteousness. If the husband

and the wife are wise, their counseling will

be reciprocal: he will listen to the promptings of her inner spiritual

compass just as she will listen to his righteous counsel. - Hafen

6—An Eternal Marriage

So many marriages are mis-

erable and end in divorce,

what’s the point? Ch 5

While there will always be trials and growth, much heartache can be

avoided by making careful preparations and selections for marriage.

While there are no mythical “soul mates”, there are individuals who

are more suited for you than another. It is important to look for one

who is similar to you in spirituality, cultural background, and long

term goals. Paying attention to these details will greatly increase your

prospects for a successful marriage.

The best way to avoid divorce from an

unfaithful, abusive, or unsupportive

spouse is to avoid marriage to such a

person. If you wish to marry well, in-

quire well. Associations through

“hanging out” or exchanging infor-

mation on the Internet are not a suffi-

cient basis for marriage. There should

be dating, followed by careful and

thoughtful and thorough courtship. There should be ample opportu-

nities to experience the prospective spouse’s behavior in a variety

of circumstances. Fiancés should learn everything they can about

the families with whom they will soon be joined in marriage. In all

of this, we should realize that a good marriage does not require a

perfect man or a perfect woman. It only requires a man and a wom-

an committed to strive together toward perfection.

President Spencer W. Kimball taught: “Two individuals approaching

the marriage altar must realize that to attain the happy marriage

which they hope for they must know that marriage … means sacri-

fice, sharing, and even a reduction of some personal liberties. It

means long, hard economizing. It means children who bring with

them financial burdens, service burdens, care and worry burdens;

but also it means the deepest and sweetest emotions of all.” - Oaks

Children are entitled to birth within the

bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a

father and a mother who honor marital

vows with complete fidelity.

Do I have to have

children? 6 & 9

7—A Righteous Posterity

Prophets, seers, and revelators who were sustained at this confer-

ence 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 posses-

sions, not position, not prestige—are our greatest jewels.” ~Beck,

The value women place on moth-

erhood in this life and the attrib-

utes of motherhood they attain

here will rise with them in

the Resurrection (see D&C 130:18).

Women who desire and work to-

ward 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. ~ Beck

Successful marriages and families are

established and maintained on

principles of faith, prayer, re-

pentance, forgiveness, respect,

love, compassion, work, and

wholesome recreational activities.

If I am an at-home-mom

what will I do all day? Ch

11 &7

It is the daily, little interactions that carve the character of a child.

Elder Perry stated, “If we will build righteous traditions in our fami-

lies, the light of the gospel can grow ever brighter in the lives of our

children from generation to generation. Our family activities and tra-

ditions can be a beacon to the rest of the world as an example of how

we should live to merit His choice blessings and live in peace and har-

mony until the day that He returns to rule and reign over us. (May

1990 “Traditions” Ensign, 19-20)

In our society of wealth and excess the values of work and service are

being lost. Mothers are in the prime position to teach their children

how to work and serve, and the benefits derived from such activity.

What if I never have the oppor-

tunity to be a mother? Ch 10

8—Mother of all Living

Martin Luther penned a meaningful statement regarding woman’s

place when he wrote, “When Eve was brought unto Adam, he be-

came filled with the Holy Spirit, and gave her the most sanctified, the

most glorious of appellations. He called her Eva—that is to say, the

Mother of All. He did not style her wife, but simply mother—mother

of all living creatures. In this consists the glory and the most precious

ornament of woman.” (lee para 1)

Lorenzo Snow said: “There is no

Latter-day Saint who dies after

having lived a faithful life who

will lose anything be-

cause ...opportunities were not

furnished him or her.”

Not all women will have the opportuni-

ty to bear children in this life, or their

situation may take them out of the

home to work, but that does not mean

they are not called to be mothers.

See what Sister Julie B. Beck has to say

about women and the call for women

to develop a “mother heart”.

What is a mother heart and how is one acquired? We learn

about some of those qualities in the scriptures. . .A woman

with a mother heart has a testimony of the restored gospel,

and she teaches the principles of the gospel without equivoca-

tion. She is keeping sacred covenants made in holy temples.

Her talents and skills are shared unselfishly. She gains as much

education as her circumstances will allow, improving her mind

and spirit with the desire to teach what she learns to the gen-

erations who follow her.

By developing a mother heart, each girl and woman prepares

for her divine, eternal mission of motherhood. “Whatever prin-

ciple 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 ad-

vantage in the world to come” (D&C 130:18–19).

9—Inspired Direction

But everyone says I can

have what I want, I don’t

have to choose. (ch 1)

There are many philosophies and ways to

gain knowledge. Some of them are used

by Satan and his angels to confuse the

children of God. You must recognize

sources of true information to find true

happiness in this life and the next.

Secularism and rationalism gain answers by evidence seen in and

around the world. If this is all you rely on then you miss that which

may be gained by faith, by belief in that which is true but cannot be

seen. (Alma 32:21)

Individualism focuses on the needs of the individual over the needs

of the many. It will always take a selfish approach to life and ignores

the truth that “exaltation is a family matter” (Nelson, para 37).6

A Hedonistic approach to life is de-

scribed in 2 Nephi 28:7-8. It is driven

purely by pleasure without regard to

standards and guides set by God. It is the

exact opposite of the course prescribed

in Matt. 10:39, that “he that loseth his life for

my sake shall find it”

I want to be able to

enjoy my life. Ch 1

Materialism is an distraction of the adversary that leads us to pursue

“where moth and rust corrupt” and neglect the plan as outlined by

our father in heaven. It sends us on a fruitless treasure hunt that will

leave us empty in the end. The proclamation declares ¨‘happiness in

family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teach-

ings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation is the means by which we can find our path toward true

happiness. There are many voices calling to us, calling like the sirens

of the deep which drew the sailors from a safe course to their de-

struction. Additionally, “... circumstances may necessitate individual

adaptation” (proclamation Para 7).

When considering information it is

always important to ‘consider the

source’. Is the information based on

popular culture or extreme ideas?

Does your Authority have recognized

credentials giving them authority?

Even when considering what the

brethren have said you need to look

at the context of their words and

their authority when the direction

was given.

“Let us earnestly seek the light of personal inspiration. Let us plead

with the Lord to endow our mind and soul with the spark of faith that

will enable us to receive and recognize the divine ministering of the

Holy Spirit for our specific life situations and for our challeng-

es…” (Uchtdorf para 21)4

Citations

1The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." lds.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Oct. 2007. Web. 11 Jun 2011.

2The First Presidency (1942, October), The message of the

First Presidency, in Conference report, 759, 761. 3 Teachings of the President of the Church: David O. McKay.

“Chapter 16: The Noble Calling of Parents”. Lds.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Web. 11 Jun 2011.

4 Uchtdorf, Dieter F. “Your Potential, Your Priviledge”. General conference. Apr 2011. LDS.Org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Web. 27 Jun 2011.

5 Lee, Harold B. “Maintain Your Place as a Woman”. Ensign. Feb 1972. Web. 29 Jun 2011.

6 Nelson, Russell M. “Salvation and Exhaltation”. General con-ference 2008. LDS.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Web 11 Jun 2011.

Nadauld, Margaret D. “The Joy of Womanhood”. General Con-ference. April 2011. LDS.Org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Web. 29 Jun 2011.

Tanner, Susan W. “Daughter’s of Heavenly Father”. General Conference. April 2007. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Web. 29 Jun 2011.

Dollahite Beck, Julie B. “A Mother Heart”. General Conference. Apr 2004.

LDS.ORG. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Web.27 Jun 2011

Beck, Julie B. “Mothers Who Know”. General Conference. Oct 2007. LDS.ORG. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Web.27 Jun 2011

M. Russell Ballard, "Family Councils: A Conversation with

Elder and Sister Ballard", Liahona, June 2003, 12 Hafen, Bruce C. “Crossing Thresholds and Becoming Equal

Partners”. Liahona. Aug 2007. 26-31 Oaks, Dallin H. “Divorce”. General Conference. April 2011.

LDS.Org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Web. 11 July, 2011.

Crum, K. G. (2005, May). A mother’s place. Today’s Woman, p. 40.

4 Uchtdorf, Dieter F. “Happiness Your Heritage”. General conference. October 2008. LDS.Org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Web. 27 Jun 2011.

Images at LDS.ORG 13 July 2011.