Sunday Lesson: Sun 27th

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland talk from our last general conference, Behold Thy Mother, is so powerful and thought provoking. Elder Holland said, "No love in morality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child."

When we read in the scriptures about our Savior and his atonement, we hear words like 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 same words are used to describe the way we all entered into this world, through our own mothers. 

A young mother wrote to Elder Holland and describes her view on maternal love: "What kind of mortal love can make you feel, once you have a child, that your life is never, ever your own again? Maternal love has to be divine. There is no other explanation for it. What mothers do is an essential element of Christ's work."

Our teacher invited a few sisters to share their thought about the teaching of their own mothers. The experiences shared were powerful and emotional. One sister was so grateful for the example of love and dedication her mother showed when a terrible accident happened to her father. Another sister shared about the important role of grandmother her mother has given to her own children. 

Elder Holland teaches, ..."it is not only that they bear us, but they continue bearing with us. It is not only the prenatal carrying but the lifelong carrying that makes mothering such a staggering feat. Of course, there are heartbreaking exceptions, but most mothers know intuitively, instinctively that this is a sacred trust of the highest order."

There are most definitely challenges in motherhood. Our Savior knows about them and wants to help you through them. Elder Holland has said in a previous talk, "Rely on Him. Rely on Him heavily. Rely on Him forever. And 'press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope.' You are doing God's work. You are doing it wonderfully well. He is blessing you and He will bless you, even - no, especially - when your days and your nights may be the most challenging. Like the woman who anonymously, meekly, perhaps even with hesitation and some embarrassment, fought her way through the crowd just to touch the hem of the Master's garment, so Christ will say to the women who worry and wonder and sometimes weep over their responsibility as mothers, "Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole." And it will make your children whole as well."

Elder Holland concludes with these powerful words: "To all mothers in every circumstance, including those who struggle I say, 'Be peaceful. Believe in God and yourself. You are doing better than you think you are. In fact, you are saviors on Mount Zion, and like the Master you follow, your love never faileth."