Mothers, Called and Elected

Before the world was created, in Heavenly councils, the pattern was set and the role of women was prescribed. Called by God, to be wives and mothers in Zion, the blessing of exaltation was to be the reward, only predicated on the faithfulness to that calling. Each woman who is on this earth today chose, or elected, to follow this plan and were rewarded with the tools to make it possible, a body of flesh and blood.

As a woman, ours is the grand tradition of Eve, the mother of all living, the one who understood that she had a calling to fulfill and elected, by choice, to do so. Her choice made it possible that “man might be” so that there would be a fullness of joy.

Ours is the grand tradition of Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel, without whom there would have been no magnificent patriarchal promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which bless all of us today.

Ours is the grand tradition of the mothers of the 2,000 Stripling Warriors from the Book of Mormon, who taught their sons to have great faith.

Ours is the grand tradition of Mary, chosen and foreordained from before this world was, to conceive, carry, and bear the Son of God Himself. We have been called and have elected to help with the divine work of the Lord in “bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”

Elder Matthew Cowley taught, “Men have to have something given to them in mortality to make them saviors of men, but not mothers, not women. They are born with an inherent right, an inherent authority, to be saviors of human souls… and the regenerating force in the lives of God’s children.”

President Gordon B. Hinckley stated, “God planted within women something divine”. That something is the gift and the gifts of motherhood.

This eternal calling extends far beyond this life, but is one from which no official release is given. Obedience to the plan that the Lord has set forth in His gospel instruction of discipleship as one who “receiveth His law and does it” makes the promises of Eternal Life sure. Mothers in Zion therefore have received their calling, have elected to fulfill it, and by obedience have made the blessings or promises for doing so sure.

It is such a privilege to be a Mother in Zion.

The picture is of my dear friend Annie, she is to me, a beautiful example of a woman who understands her role as a wife and mother. Thank you Annie for the great example you are for me.

"This Is My Voice Unto All" Section 25

Section 25 of the Doctrine and Covenants is most commonly thought of as the section where Emma Smith is given the commandment to organize the hymns of the Church into a book for "the songs of the righteous are a prayer unto" the Lord, but this section contains much more by way of counsel to the saints in all areas of life. Although the revelation may be thought to be specifically geared to Emma Smith the Lord adds a broader application when he states in verse 16, “And verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my voice unto all.”

An overview of the Section can be divided into four areas of counsel to gain greater insights and instruction, as pointed out by Carol Cornwall Madsen in a Sperry Symposium Classic. They may be studied as follows:

Actions and Desires

Vs.2- Be faithful and walk in virtue.

Vs.4- Murmur not.

Vs.10- Lay aside things of this world and seek for things of a better.

Vs.13- Lift up your heart and rejoice. Cleave unto the covenants you have made.

Vs.14- Continue in meekness. Beware of pride.

Marriage Relationship

Vs.5- Comfort with consoling words in meekness.

Vs.6- Go with your husband.

Vs.9- Support your husband. Support your wives.

Vs.14- Delight in the glory which will come upon him, or Celestial glory.

Duties to the Church

Vs.7- Ordained to expound scriptures and exhort the Church.

Vs.8- Writing and learning.

Vs.11- Make a selection of Hymns.

Relationship with the Lord

Vs.1- Daughter or son.

Vs.3- Elect lady

Vs. 15- Crown of righteousness for obedience.

Some interesting insights that I learned from studying this counsel are as follows:

The word “receive” can be defined as “to admit a person to a place.” As the Lord explained the requirement for becoming His sons and daughters he specifies “all those who receive my gospel”. This act of receiving can be as simple as receiving Him into your heart, or a change of heart that is referred to in the scriptures.

Another word that stuck out to me was that of “meekness”. I loved the explanation that was given as meekness is “power under control.” Twice the Lord uses the word meekness, once in reference to the marital relationship and then again in our actions and desires. This is part of the process of “putting off the natural man.”

Lastly the term “elect” was used to describe Emma’s position in the kingdom. A simplistic definition of the term elect is given in Section 29 verse 7, “for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts.” Joseph Smith in his journal entry dated March 17, 1842 writes, “Elect meant to be Elected to a certain work.” We were elected to come to this earth, hear the gospel, be proven faithful, and do our job of gathering Israel. I believe anyone who is a member of the Church is an Elect individual under these terms.

Section 25 is so much more than just a commandment to organize the hymns of the Church.

Our First Parents Adam and Eve

I believe the scriptures are a wonderful place to look to find examples of valiant women who honored their role as wife and mother. Since March is designated as National Women in History month, I have decided to honor a few of the significant women who have played important roles in the history of the world.

One of the greatest women to have come to this earth is Eve. Eve is the ultimate example of the word mother, for she was designated “the mother of all living.” Being given the title of the first mother, Eve naturally can be looked to as a model for all mothers to follow.

Joined together as husband and wife, she and Adam in obedience lived by the perfect pattern, set by the Lord, for all families to follow. Being symbolically formed from the rib of Adam, Eve became a lateral partner with her husband. Working side by side in equality Adam and Eve raised their children in righteousness, teaching them, making “all things known unto them.” Such is the job of righteous parent throughout all time periods.

As partners, Adam and Eve became co-creators with Deity, to build and organize bodies of mortal men. This partnership made them literal parents, or progenitors, of the entire human race. As their children we can all fondly call them Father Adam and Mother Eve. Thus the Lord declared, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be done flesh.” The pattern for procreation was clearly established on this earth, patterned after what was in Heaven before.

Eve was created in the image of God, and deemed “very good” by Him. She learned to call upon the Father in the name of the Lord as she learned to pray. She and Adam blessed the name of the Lord, and were taught the law of sacrifice as it pointed to the last great sacrifice, Jesus Christ. These concepts of prayer, calling upon the Father through Jesus Christ, and offering sacrifices, they lovingly taught their children.

As a mother, Eve knew the heartache of loss. She understood the effects of both the spiritual death and the physical death, learned very clearly through the example of her children Cain and Able. Eve also knew great happiness and joy in her posterity with the gift of an obedient child in Seth. She understood the blessing she received, in that, a righteous posterity would continue on the earth through his line. Eve received all the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ and enjoyed all of the gifts of the spirit. As a great mother and teacher she sought to prepare her posterity for all the same blessings she enjoyed.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie stated:

"Thus, in the beginning, the perfect pattern is set for perfecting the family. The man and the woman are together in worship; they are together in teaching their children; they are together in establishing the family unit that hopefully will endure in the eternities ahead, thus giving eternal life to all those who earn it."

In a time where the sanctity of marriage may be in question, and the importance of the role of mother is at stake, I am grateful for the example set by our righteous first parents, Adam and Eve.