Called to Serve: The Impact of Mothers

This week has been awfully strange. A ton of just random, odd things have happened to Sister Richins and I. But the highlight of the week definitely has to be face-timing with my lovely family. I am so blessed to have such an amazing family who love and support me on this once in a lifetime experience.

I am most grateful for my mother. As I contemplated all of the wonderful and important things my mother has taught me in my lifetime, I couldn't help but think about the story of the 2000 stripling warriors who were strong and courageous, but also obedient to the commandments of the Lord because their mothers had taught them those things from their youth.

I too have a mother who taught me from my youth to keep the commandments of the Lord, and strive to be obedient in all that I do. I am who I am because of my mother.

I also found my thoughts wandering back to the beautiful words Elder Jeffery R. Holland spoke in last October General Conference about the similarity between mothers and the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ.

"Bear, borne, carry, deliver. These are powerful, heartening messianic words. They convey help and hope for safe movement from where we are to where we need to be—but cannot get without assistance. These words also connote burden, struggle, and fatigue—words most appropriate in describing the mission of Him who, at unspeakable cost, lifts us up when we have fallen, carries us forward when strength is gone, delivers us safely home when safety seems far beyond our reach. “My Father sent me,” He said, “that I might be lifted up upon the cross; … that as I have been lifted up … even so should men be lifted up … to … me.”

But can you hear in this language another arena of human endeavor in which we use words like bear and borne, carry and lift, labor and deliver? As Jesus said to John while in the very act of Atonement, so He says to us all, “Behold thy mother!”

Today I declare from this pulpit what has been said here before: that no love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child. When Isaiah, speaking messianically, wanted to convey Jehovah’s love, he invoked the image of a mother’s devotion. “Can a woman forget her sucking child?” he asks. How absurd, he implies, though not as absurd as thinking Christ will ever forget us."

I think we can all look back on a moment in our lives where we have either been lifted when we have fallen, carried when our strength is gone, and brought safely home by our dearest mother, who loves us more that words can describe. As I have thought about the impact my mother has had on me, I realize that she has taught me a very important eternal truth. The Love she shows to her family is the same type of infinite love the savior has for each one of us. He too, lifts, carries, encourages, and bois us up when we are in a time of need, or desperation. He is our advocate with the father. The one person that makes it possible for us to repent daily, and be forgiven;To pray for strength to get through a rough patch in life. He is on our right hand and on our left. He will always be there for us, just like our mothers.
I am so grateful to have the knowledge of the Savior and his atonement. I am even more grateful that I am able to experience just a small portion of the love he has for us as I compare it to the love that our mothers have for their children.
Thank you to all the wonderful women in my life who have made the choice to be mothers. The impact you have on the lives of your children are immense. You make all the difference in the world. "Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it."
I know that we can overcome anything when we have the Lord and our mothers on our side. From the wise words of my own mother to you:
" YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS."
Sure love y'all! Have a blessed week :)
Love,
Sister Melissa Jean Wood

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