Normally, I have no problem with speaking, but a few nights ago, I had a public speaker’s nightmare about giving this talk, reasons include:

1. I decided to speak from a mediocre outline instead of a written talk.
2. The bishopric was absent for some reason (illness, etc.), so I had to raise and lower the podium on my own. After each attempt, the podium would always be way too high or way too low, so I gave up.
3. The sound eventually stopped working, so I couldn’t use the podium at all.
4. My phone’s flashlight kept turning on and the congregation kept telling me to turn it off as it was distracting.
5. My phone froze while trying to scroll to specific topics of my talk causing me to pause and stumble over my words.
6. Many members of the congregation ended up leaving.
7. And more…

To mitigate most of these issues, I am speaking from my computer instead of my phone and I have written out my whole talk. Additionally, I would say the fact you are still here, and the bishopric hasn’t abandoned me (yet) is a great start! My hope is that you can feel the spirit as I discuss those who I hold dear to my heart and that is mothers.

A former General RS President, Julie Beck, in 2007 gave a magnificent talk on mothers centered around the scripture in Alma 56:48 regarding the stripling warriors who declared “our mothers knew it.” The stripling warriors were 2000+ young men who fought tremendous battles where many Nephites and Lamanites all around them fell in battle. However, this group of young men came out alive, albeit some were seriously injured in battle. They were instrumental in defying huge odds, defeating large armies, and recapturing many lands. These young men found strength in their mothers “who knew it.” The power of their mothers was so strong that “they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them” (Alma 56:47). In fact, Helaman further recounts that, “they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them” (Alma 57:21). Sister Julie Beck highlights 7 keys aspects of mothers:

1. Mothers Who Know Bear Children
2. Mothers Who Know Honor Sacred Ordinances and Covenants
3. Mothers Who Know Are Nurturers
4. Mothers Who Know Are Leaders
5. Mothers Who Know Are Teachers
6. Mothers Who Know Do Less
7. Mothers Who Know Stand Strong and Immovable

I will discuss some of these keys points later in my talk, but I want to preface my remaining remarks by stating I know not everyone has a mother they look up to. I have even heard rumors questioning whether “I am a Child of God” should be included in next hymnbook because of the phrase “with parents kind and dear.” My kids might think a reasonable replacement for this phrase is “with parents kind of weird.”

Therefore, I have thought of several mothers that have positively impacted my life and may have positively impacted yours as well:

1. My earthly mother
2. My wife (mother to my children)
3. My mother-in-law
4. Mothers of other family (aunts, grandmothers)
5. Mothers of others (friends, ward members)
6. Heavenly Mother

Reflection on Mothers of the Past

I grew up in a home with a loving mother. I remember so many important things my mom taught me. She taught me:

1. How to treat others.
2. What it means to be present.
3. How to have a sense of humor but not at the expense of others.
4. Where to seek learning and to be skeptical.

I remember sitting in front of the TV watching countless hours of recordings my mom had made on VHS (you younger people in the audience might have no idea what I am talking about). Videos on financial advice, personal advice, safety advice, always something about learning. To be honest, I watched more Oprah and other talk show hosts than I may want to admit. I can’t imagine what knowledge my mother would have subjected me to if I grew up in the Internet era. Although my mom has concluded that the gospel is no longer for her, she has recognized that I have put a lot of effort into learning.

In my discussions with her, I have referred to sources that have been most influential have been podcasts like Church History Matters, Standard of Truth, and Follow Him. Specifically, the first two focus beyond the initial shock factor of new information and explore the context, content, consequences, and connections of prior events.

President (then Elder) Nelson in 2015 gave a talk called “The Tie Between Science and Religion at BYU” and stated, “There is no conflict between science and religion. Conflict only arises from an incomplete knowledge of either science or religion—or both.”  There is truth in both science and religion. As I get older and learn more, I realize more how they don’t compete, but rather they supplement each other.

Her inspiration to learn has helped me to developed strong arguments for the gospel to the extent that she has lovingly called me her “true adversary” and I am confirmation that all the reading she has done has not been in vain and has prepare her for our conversations. Although, I agree to disagree with her on many things related to the gospel, we have a respectful and loving relationship.

In addition to my mother inspiring me to learn, the following are truths about mothers I have known:

1. Good mothers care for our physical needs just as Hannah, who loaned Samuel to the Lord, by visiting him yearly because she “made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice” (1 Samuel 2:19).
2. Good mothers inspire learning just as my mom did and as Julie Beck states, “Nurturing mothers are knowledgeable…A well-taught friend told me that he did not learn anything at church that he had not already learned at home.”
3. Good mothers set a spiritual example of faith like that of Paul’s longtime protégé and ministry companion Timothy. Paul, writing to Timothy from a Roman dungeon, recognized the impact of the “unfeigned faith” of Timothy “which dwelt first in [his] grandmother Lois, and [his] mother Eunice” and then him (2 Timothy 1:5).
4. Good mothers proclaim a divine testimony in Christ like Martha who stated, “I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world” (John 11:27).
5. Good mothers may not be able to take away our trials, but they comfort us just as Mary when she “bear a child in her arms” (1 Nephi 11:20) and stood by her grown child at the cross (John 19:25).

Inspiration from Substitute Mothers

When I think of these good mothers, many names of people who aren’t directly related to me quickly come to mind (many which are in this room). Mothers like:

1. The women who treated us like their own son or daughter when we moved far away from home with no family within a day’s drive.
2. The women who willingly watched our kids when closing on our house even though they only knew us for a few minutes.
3. The women who dropped everything to arrive by my wife’s side faster than me when she was physically pale from the early stages of miscarriage. Similar experiences occurred with our other two miscarriages.
4. The women who dropped off countless treats or spent countless hours listening and comforting us when Amy’s dad passed.
5. The women who schedule a time to sit and visit with no ulterior reason other than to just be a friend.
6. The women who inspire us with their testimonies and faith despite extreme difficulty like children diagnosed with “failure to thrive” or children, spouses, and other family members with cancer or other severe illnesses.

These women emulate virtue as described in Psalm 31: “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her…a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised (Psalm 31:10, 25-28, 30).

Encouragement for Mothers

I know this list of things and examples of others might overwhelm us or make us feel like we are not doing enough. After watching the musical Suffs about the suffragist movement in the early 1900s, Amy made the comment wondering if she would be strong enough to make a stand like these woman. My response was, “You already are!” If you don’t feel capable or like you are enough or doing enough, then listen to my words, “You are enough!” If you still don’t feel that way, then believe Christ’s words when he says, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Maybe we need to take a step back and focus on doing less like Julie Beck states, “Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord’s kingdom for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power.”

This way mothers can “maximize their influence where it matters most” and “train up a child in the way he should go [so] when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

Leading up to the October 1918 general conference, Joseph F. Smith received divine communications part of which are in the revelation found in D&C 138: “Among the great and mighty ones who were assembled in this vast congregation of the righteous were Father Adam, the Ancient of Days and father of all, And our glorious Mother Eve, with many of her faithful daughters who had lived through the ages and worshiped the true and living God (D&C 138:38-39).

You mothers are the faithful daughters! You daughters are or may become faithful mothers! Regardless of the mothers in your life, this promise comes from Isaiah, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?” Clearly, the answer seems like a resounding “no”, however, the scripture continues, “yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee” (Isaiah 49:15).