Counsel

My older sister called me this morning, and we started talking about Young Women and their organization in our church.  I am currently serving as the First Counselor in our ward, which is over the Mia Maids (14-15 year old girls).  My sister has three girls in young women's right now, so we usually have a lot to talk about.  Well, yesterday, in my niece's class, her leader was asking them what they should tell their friend who wants to get married and have a family.  She wants to put her college education on hold and begin her family.  My niece said she should pray about her decision and follow what was right for her.  The leader, however, brushed over her comment and quickly moved on to the fact that she should not marry and begin her family right away.  She told these girls that they should do all they can to finish their education and nothing is more important than that.  I couldn't believe it.  I quickly found this quote from President Ezra Taft Benson and posted it to my niece's Facebook page.  He said, 
"Young mothers and fathers, with all my heart I counsel you not to postpone having your children, being co-creators with our Father in Heaven. Do not use the reasoning of the world, such as, “We will wait until we can better afford having children, until we are more secure, until John has completed his education, until he has a better paying job, until we have a larger home, until we have obtained a few of the material conveniences,” and on and on. This is the reasoning of the world and is not pleasing in the sight of God. Mothers who enjoy good health, have your children and have them early. And,husbands, always be considerate of your wives in the bearing of children. Do not curtail the number of children for personal or selfish reasons. Material possessions, social convenience, and so-called professional advantages are nothing compared to a righteous posterity. In the eternal perspective, children--not possessions, not position, not prestige--are our greatest jewels."  (emphasis added, quoted from an annual Fireside for Parents, February 22, 1987) 
  
I don't think it can get much clearer than that.  Family is central to God's plan of salvation for His children.  I know I have learned so much as a mother, and I'm not saying that formal education is not important.  I am currently taking two college courses.  I should be finished with my bachelor's degree in about a year and a half.  This is a wonderful goal and one I am very proud of.  But nothing compares to the joy I have in my life that comes from my five children. 

Motherhood

I came across a quote today that spoke to me as if it had been written from my own heart.  Elder Neil L. Anderson used it in the October 2011 General Conference.  He was quoting a blog called desiringgod.org.  I am looking forward to perusing that blog in the near future.  The title that this particular quote came from is called, "Motherhood Is a Calling (And Where Children Rank)."  If you'd like to read the whole blog post, click here.  I loved the whole thing, but this is the part that really touched me:

Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.

Parable

I came across this parable in my reading today, and I absolutely loved it.  It is so wonderful, with deep meaning.  It is from a talk by Elder Boyd K. Packer in October 1993.  If you'd like to read the whole talk, click here.

"Once a man received as his inheritance two keys. The first key, he was told, would open a vault which he must protect at all cost. The second key was to a safe within the vault which contained a priceless treasure. He was to open this safe and freely use the precious things which were stored therein. He was warned that many would seek to rob him of his inheritance. He was promised that if he used the treasure worthily, it would be replenished and never be diminished, not in all eternity. He would be tested. If he used it to benefit others, his own blessings and joy would increase.

The man went alone to the vault. His first key opened the door. He tried to unlock the treasure with the other key, but he could not, for there were two locks on the safe. His key alone would not open it. No matter how he tried, he could not open it. He was puzzled. He had been given the keys. He knew the treasure was rightfully his. He had obeyed instructions, but he could not open the safe.

In due time, there came a woman into the vault. She, too, held a key. It was noticeably different from the key he held. Her key fit the other lock. It humbled him to learn that he could not obtain his rightful inheritance without her.

They made a covenant that together they would open the treasure and, as instructed, he would watch over the vault and protect it; she would watch over the treasure. She was not concerned that, as guardian of the vault, he held two keys, for his full purpose was to see that she was safe as she watched over that which was most precious to them both. Together they opened the safe and partook of their inheritance. They rejoiced for, as promised, it replenished itself.

With great joy they found that they could pass the treasure on to their children; each could receive a full measure, undiminished to the last generation.

Perhaps some few of their posterity would not find a companion who possessed the complementary key, or one worthy and willing to keep the covenants relating to the treasure. Nevertheless, if they kept the commandments, they would not be denied even the smallest blessing.

Because some tempted them to misuse their treasure, they were careful to teach their children about keys and covenants.

There came, in due time, among their posterity some few who were deceived or jealous or selfish because one was given two keys and another only one. “Why,” the selfish ones reasoned, “cannot the treasure be mine alone to use as I desire?”

Some tried to reshape the key they had been given to resemble the other key. Perhaps, they thought, it would then fit both locks. And so it was that the safe was closed to them. Their reshaped keys were useless, and their inheritance was lost.

Those who received the treasure with gratitude and obeyed the laws concerning it knew joy without bounds through time and all eternity."

Woman

I have been thinking a lot lately about the roles of women and men.  I came across this quote in my religion class I am taking.  I absolutely loved the imagery it created.  One of the things I have been pondering on is how unique the roles of men and women are.  The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave a proclamation to the world on The Family on September 23, 1995.  They testify, "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness 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."  Men and women complement one another.  A man needs a woman to complete himself and to one day be perfected.  A woman also needs a man to complete and perfect herself.  We have been given divine characteristics to help us in this life.  We have certain responsibilities we must fill.  Yet, we help one another.  I don't know what I would do without my husband's help.  I recently read an article about another mother's epiphany.  She is a stay-at-home mother, much like myself.  As such, she often would feel as if she wasn't doing all she should and would sometimes feel as if she wasn't doing enough for the family.  Should she get a job and work out of the home?  Should she do something else to contribute to the family income?  These thoughts often come, but what she realized is how precious a gift of her being at home was to her husband.  She loves being at home with her children and running the household.  She realized that her husband loves it as well.  He is the provider for the family.  She takes care of the home and children.  He does not have to worry about who will take care of the laundry, the cooking, the cleaning, the carpooling, the school emergencies, or any number of other things that would have to be split between the two parents if both were working full time.  We need to embrace our gifts.  God knows what He is doing.  Family is the center of it all and when we gladly embrace the roles divinely given to men and women, we are doing His will.  

Potential

Marriage

I love this quote from General Conference of April 2013.  I found this poster on thisisnick.com.  If you'd like to download your own copy from his site, click here.

Quotes for Back to School

My kids started school today and it made me reflect on some quotes that helped me through high school.

"Powerful is not he who knocks the other down.  Indeed powerful is he who controls himself in a fit of anger."  --Muhammed

"I am only one; but still I am one.  I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; I will not refuse to do the something I can do."  --Helen Keller

"A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge." --Thomas Carlyle

"True education does not consist of merely in the acquiring of a few facts of science, history, literature, or art, but in the development of character." --David O. McKay

"Seek not to be well known; seek, instead, to be worth knowing."  --Anonymous

And this is one of my favorite poems:

Outwitted
"He drew a circle that shut me out--
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!"
--Edwin Markham