Mothers -

We've all done it!  We have all said something dumb.  What's most embarrassing is saying something dumb to a mother.  A woman who is already struggling with guilt, feeling like she's falling short of her family's expectations and someone who has already compared herself to the "perfect" mothers on Instagram.

1.  When is your baby due?

2.  Do you know what your child did?

3.  When are you going to have another baby?

4.  You look tired.

5.  And the worst of all, what do you do all day??

Thank goodness for The Family: A Proclamation to the World that states that women have a divine purpose as mothers and all is not as hopeless as it seems at the moment. We are joint-heirs with a loving God in bringing spirit children into the world and raising them to be able to return to Him one day.  

The Family:  A Proclamation to the World states:

IN THE PREMORTAL REALM, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal 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 their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave.

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” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and 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.

Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.  President David O. McKay gave this tribute to mothers in 1953:

"Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either for good or ill in human life. The mother’s image is the first that stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child’s mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security; her kiss, the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness, the first assurance that there is love in the world."

In her classic talk at General Conference in October 2007, Julie B. Beck taught never before has the role of motherhood required more vigilance and watchful care.  Children are being born into an era in the history of the world that is more and more dark but, she reminded us, that mother need not fear.  For mothers who know:

1.  Desire children
2.  Make and keep sacred covenants
3.  Nurture
4.  Lead
5.  Teach
6.  Do Less
7.  Stand strong and immovable

Julie B. Beck asks, "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. "    

The job of a good righteous mother is sacred.  It is a true partnership with God.  Society will have us feel that we will never be enough.  At times we will feel that driving a mini-van in a car pool is our true destiny.  Or that our time at church will forever be spent in the hall with a fiesty toddler.  

Yes, some days, weeks, months and even years will be hard. But as we align our will to God's will and make our homes Christ-centered, we will have the overwhelming blessing of knowing that we are doing enough.  As we align our priorities to put God first, all other things (usually the unimportant things) fall out of our lives.