Learn about the importance of gaining knowledge by reading Proverbs 1:5; 4:7; 2 Nephi 28:30; and Doctrine and Covenants 88:78-80, 118; 90:15; 130:18-19; 131:6. Think about why you need to gain knowledge and understanding about how to apply gospel principles to your present and future home and family life. Write in your journal what you have learned about knowledge, and discuss it with a family member or Young Women leader.
It is important for us to gain knowledge. God wants us to. These scriptures make it very evident. As we gain knowledge, we do receive further knowledge that helps us to magnify the callings we have been given. The most important calling I will ever have on this earth is as a mother.
In order to prepare my children for life in this world, to be given the greatest advantages in this life, they need to feel successful in their schooling, so they can appreciate and enjoy learning. I know this doesn't mean that everyone excels and is the top of their class. It means feeling successful in their own personal learning, whatever level they may be at.
Most importantly, I believe my greatest calling with regards to my children, is that they have a testimony of who they are and where they came from. The truths that are held in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Whatever successes or disappointments they face, a deep and abiding testimony will guide them through it all.
Showing posts with label mothers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mothers. Show all posts
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Divine Nature Value Experience 2
As a young woman you are blessed with divine feminine qualities. Increase your understanding of and appreciation for womanhood. Read Proverbs 31:10-31 and two talks on womanhood from a conference issue of the Church magazines. Review what "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" says about being a wife and a mother. Then ask your mother or another mother you admire what she thinks are important attributes for being a mother. List the attributes in your journal. Then choose one of those attributes and strive to develop it. After two weeks report your success to a parent or leader.
I chose to read A "Mother Heart" by Julie B. Beck and Mothers and Daughters by M. Russell Ballard. I actually asked opinions of my Facebook friends what they thought were important attributes for a mother to have. I also asked my sisters (it's great having three of them) lessons they really learned from Mom. Friends listed the following attributes: patience, a sense of humor, unconditional love, organization, prioritizing (time, stuff, kids, activities), selflessness, multi-tasker, a strong testimony, and from our very funny RS President, children. My sisters talked about some I've mentioned before: If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all; If you don't like this stage, wait two weeks or a month, it will be something different; Everybody plays or nobody plays; I'm raising young ladies! and a few more timeless gems.
Although Robin's answer of "children" was funny to me, it made me pause and really think about how blessed I am to have four wonderful children. I have concentrated more on being grateful for each of their personalities and I have realized something in the last two weeks. In the stresses of life, I think I lost a lot of the sense of humor I, as a mother, need to have. Not that I'm a complete stick in the mud, but I think my children think I am a lot more stern sometimes than I really am and I've realized that it is probably because I don't laugh sometimes when I need to. A funny thing is happening as I remember to lighten up, I FEEL lighter too! Didn't realize loosing a sense of humor was a burden on my shoulders. Sometimes you don't realize what you had until it is almost gone ;)
Although there are many of the other important attributes for mothers I still need to work on, right now I am concentrating on loving my children for who they are and who they are becoming and laughing with them a lot more than they are used to. It feels great.
I love Elder Ballard's words, "Sisters, we, your brethren, cannot do what you were divinely designated to do from before the foundation of the world. We may try, but we cannot ever hope to replicate your unique gifts. There is nothing in this world as personal, as nurturing, or as life changing as the influence of a righteous woman." He also says, "As Ralph Waldo Emerson is believed to have said, 'What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say' (see Ralph Keyes, The Quote Verifier [2006], 56)."
I don't often get stressed about major events in our lives. I know the Lord will take care of it and everything will work out. But I realized my stress at home when life is crazy and there are a million things going on at once and everyone needs to talk to me about it at once was setting a poor example to my children. How will they ever learn to think about their future family life with joy if they can't see my joy in our family life? I'm pretty sure those stressful afternoons will often speak more loudly than a lot of the fun, stress-free experiences we also have. So. . .I work to change, and laugh a little more at the same time.
I chose to read A "Mother Heart" by Julie B. Beck and Mothers and Daughters by M. Russell Ballard. I actually asked opinions of my Facebook friends what they thought were important attributes for a mother to have. I also asked my sisters (it's great having three of them) lessons they really learned from Mom. Friends listed the following attributes: patience, a sense of humor, unconditional love, organization, prioritizing (time, stuff, kids, activities), selflessness, multi-tasker, a strong testimony, and from our very funny RS President, children. My sisters talked about some I've mentioned before: If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all; If you don't like this stage, wait two weeks or a month, it will be something different; Everybody plays or nobody plays; I'm raising young ladies! and a few more timeless gems.
Although Robin's answer of "children" was funny to me, it made me pause and really think about how blessed I am to have four wonderful children. I have concentrated more on being grateful for each of their personalities and I have realized something in the last two weeks. In the stresses of life, I think I lost a lot of the sense of humor I, as a mother, need to have. Not that I'm a complete stick in the mud, but I think my children think I am a lot more stern sometimes than I really am and I've realized that it is probably because I don't laugh sometimes when I need to. A funny thing is happening as I remember to lighten up, I FEEL lighter too! Didn't realize loosing a sense of humor was a burden on my shoulders. Sometimes you don't realize what you had until it is almost gone ;)
Although there are many of the other important attributes for mothers I still need to work on, right now I am concentrating on loving my children for who they are and who they are becoming and laughing with them a lot more than they are used to. It feels great.
I love Elder Ballard's words, "Sisters, we, your brethren, cannot do what you were divinely designated to do from before the foundation of the world. We may try, but we cannot ever hope to replicate your unique gifts. There is nothing in this world as personal, as nurturing, or as life changing as the influence of a righteous woman." He also says, "As Ralph Waldo Emerson is believed to have said, 'What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say' (see Ralph Keyes, The Quote Verifier [2006], 56)."
I don't often get stressed about major events in our lives. I know the Lord will take care of it and everything will work out. But I realized my stress at home when life is crazy and there are a million things going on at once and everyone needs to talk to me about it at once was setting a poor example to my children. How will they ever learn to think about their future family life with joy if they can't see my joy in our family life? I'm pretty sure those stressful afternoons will often speak more loudly than a lot of the fun, stress-free experiences we also have. So. . .I work to change, and laugh a little more at the same time.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Faith Value Experience 2
Discover the principles of faith taught by the mothers of Helaman's stripling warriors. Read Alma 56:45-48 and Alma 57:21. Review what "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" says about a mother's role. With a mother, grandmother, or leader, discuss the qualities a woman needs in order to teach children to have faith and to base their decisions on gospel truths. How can these principles help you in your life today and help you prepare to be a faithful woman, wife, and mother? Record your thoughts and feelings in your journal.
This is what stuck out to me as I studied these references:
Alma 56:45-48 - The Stripling Warriors' mothers KNEW. They had testimonies.
Alma 57:21 - They taught their sons obedience, so they recognized the need to obey, but ALSO - their sons had FAITH to obey. That means they learned - probably by example - that when they obeyed, they were blessed, there were good consequences. Therefore, they obeyed & observed to perform "every word of command with exactness," - and because of their faith, it was "done unto them."
"The Family: A Proclamation to the World" - Happiness in family life is most likely achieved when founded on the teachings of Jesus. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. It is important to establish and maintain principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. These opportunities come up frequently in family life. I need to be more aware of these opportunities, I know they are important.
I remember times when my own mother would bear her testimony. These are not only memories when she has born her testimony in church, but in the ways she taught us to treat others.
My Mom has always worked outside the home, and I know at times she has felt she could do better as a mother. But let's face it - we can all sympathize with feeling like we could have, should have done more.
Here, not so much in a nutshell is what I've learned from her. Almost entirely by the example she has set.
Two "Mom" phrases - THE two that come to mind when I think, "Mom always used to say. . ."
-Everybody plays or nobody plays.
- If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. (That one might be borrowed from Thumper in Bambi. . .)
Always, growing up, when I wanted to vent about something that really upset me, inevitably I would vent to Mom, who would then, by just a word or two, point out another side to the story. Drove me CRAZY - and it never helped me feel better. Not only would she not just let me express frustration and leave it at that, she easily and always simply showed me there are two sides to every story. I still did not come to recognize the value in this until years later, after a poignant experience taught me not to judge - there are always two sides to every story, every opinion comes as a result of someone's experiences - people have traveled a path to get to their point in their story and it is not the same path filled with the same experiences I've had (another story for another time). Even so many years later, I am just now recognizing that the gift that came out of THAT experience was made possible by the seeds of love and respect Mom planted and spent years quietly cultivating.
I had the opportunity in my much younger years to work in the same hospital that my mother was a director of one of the departments in. I had the unique opportunity to see Mom's work ethic on an almost daily basis OUTSIDE our home - away from family who we share, let's face it - our best AND worst with.
Guess what I learned? All of those "two sides to every story" moments I'd had growing up? She wasn't just blowing smoke, she really lives that way.
Indeed, I was in my late twenties before I ever heard her make a snide remark about another person. Ever. I remember being so surprised because it was so out of character for her and she knew it was out of character for her because she immediately apologized for saying it. Not because I had heard it, but because she knew it was wrong.
I could go on - my Mom is a great example in so many ways, but for today's purposes I'll just say (in a nutshell) that:
-Everybody plays or nobody plays; and
-If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
I learned these things because my Mom lives these things. She knew it and taught me by example to live this way.
Teaching children to live by faith and make decisions based on gospel truths means we have to live by faith and make decisions based on gospel truths.
Live by example. The kids'll get it, eventually.
This is what stuck out to me as I studied these references:
Alma 56:45-48 - The Stripling Warriors' mothers KNEW. They had testimonies.
Alma 57:21 - They taught their sons obedience, so they recognized the need to obey, but ALSO - their sons had FAITH to obey. That means they learned - probably by example - that when they obeyed, they were blessed, there were good consequences. Therefore, they obeyed & observed to perform "every word of command with exactness," - and because of their faith, it was "done unto them."
"The Family: A Proclamation to the World" - Happiness in family life is most likely achieved when founded on the teachings of Jesus. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. It is important to establish and maintain principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. These opportunities come up frequently in family life. I need to be more aware of these opportunities, I know they are important.
I remember times when my own mother would bear her testimony. These are not only memories when she has born her testimony in church, but in the ways she taught us to treat others.
My Mom has always worked outside the home, and I know at times she has felt she could do better as a mother. But let's face it - we can all sympathize with feeling like we could have, should have done more.
Here, not so much in a nutshell is what I've learned from her. Almost entirely by the example she has set.
Two "Mom" phrases - THE two that come to mind when I think, "Mom always used to say. . ."
-Everybody plays or nobody plays.
- If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. (That one might be borrowed from Thumper in Bambi. . .)
Always, growing up, when I wanted to vent about something that really upset me, inevitably I would vent to Mom, who would then, by just a word or two, point out another side to the story. Drove me CRAZY - and it never helped me feel better. Not only would she not just let me express frustration and leave it at that, she easily and always simply showed me there are two sides to every story. I still did not come to recognize the value in this until years later, after a poignant experience taught me not to judge - there are always two sides to every story, every opinion comes as a result of someone's experiences - people have traveled a path to get to their point in their story and it is not the same path filled with the same experiences I've had (another story for another time). Even so many years later, I am just now recognizing that the gift that came out of THAT experience was made possible by the seeds of love and respect Mom planted and spent years quietly cultivating.
I had the opportunity in my much younger years to work in the same hospital that my mother was a director of one of the departments in. I had the unique opportunity to see Mom's work ethic on an almost daily basis OUTSIDE our home - away from family who we share, let's face it - our best AND worst with.
Guess what I learned? All of those "two sides to every story" moments I'd had growing up? She wasn't just blowing smoke, she really lives that way.
Indeed, I was in my late twenties before I ever heard her make a snide remark about another person. Ever. I remember being so surprised because it was so out of character for her and she knew it was out of character for her because she immediately apologized for saying it. Not because I had heard it, but because she knew it was wrong.
I could go on - my Mom is a great example in so many ways, but for today's purposes I'll just say (in a nutshell) that:
-Everybody plays or nobody plays; and
-If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
I learned these things because my Mom lives these things. She knew it and taught me by example to live this way.
Teaching children to live by faith and make decisions based on gospel truths means we have to live by faith and make decisions based on gospel truths.
Live by example. The kids'll get it, eventually.
Mom with our two youngest.
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