Mothers

 I am not a parent so my experience is somewhat limited. But I have been blessed with amazing parents. My mother stayed at home to raise us for almost as long as I can remember. I remember growing up, and to this day she gets up early to read her own scriptures, then wakes up everyone in the house to read the scriptures together and pray. Every time I go home, I don't leave without some snack or some other contribution to my welfare.

Abraham Lincoln once shared “All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” Looking at the good in my life I feel as if I could say the same. I have also been blessed by amazing grandparents who have also helped me to accomplish what good I have. Shortly after his wife died, Gordon B. Hinckley shared the following message:

On one occasion Thomas S. Monson shared this thought,

"One certain way each can demonstrate genuine love for mother is to live the truths mother so patiently taught. Such a lofty goal is not new to our present generation. On this continent, in times described in the Book of Mormon, we read of a brave, a good, and noble leader named Helaman who did march in righteous battle at the head of 2,000 young men. Helaman described the activities of these young men: “… never had I seen so great courage, … as … they said unto me: … behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; … Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; … 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. (Alma 56:45–48.)

At the end of the battle, Helaman continued his description: “… behold, to my great joy, there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power. …” (Alma 56:56.)

Miraculous strength, mighty power—mother’s love and love for mother had met and triumphed." ("Behold Thy Mother") 

I am grateful for my mother and the example that she sets. Thomas S. Monson also taught, "May each of us treasure this truth; one cannot forget mother and remember God. One cannot remember mother and forget God. Why? Because these two sacred persons, God and mother, partners in creation, in love, in sacrifice, in service, are as one." I am grateful for my mother and the person that she has helped me to become.

P.S. My reading today did not mention fathers so I did not spend much time on the subject. But my dad is pretty amazing. D. Todd Christopherson once shared the following story about his father. I love it because it is about the kind of man my father is, and the kind of person I want to be: