When I first was asked to write an essay to help celebrate this great month my thoughts immediately went to the scripture that is quoted in the Proclamation which reads, “Children are an heritage of the Lord.” (Ps 127:3) As I continued to ponder about this assignment I kept experimenting with different themes but I keep coming back to this scripture. So I decided it was time I followed through with my instincts!
What’s even more amazing is that we get to share in all of that with Him. He sends some of His spirits down, His heritage, to us and lets us share in that heritage/legacy by allowing us to be stewards over them. If God’s whole work and glory is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life than it is very humbling that we are entrusted with children to raise. There is much to be done. The paragraph that Psalms is referenced in reads,
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
As I read that paragraph several words jump out at me that remind me of the magnitude of my responsibility. The apostles refer to our duty as parents as a solemn responsibility. That means that all my best efforts must be put forth and this is an absolutely serious charge-a sacred duty. When I think of a sacred duty I think of serving in the temple. Being a parent I now realize is also a sacred duty. Have I viewed it in such reverent and humbling terms before? I am to rear, provide and to teach them. I think about all the ways that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have reared, provided and taught me. I have in them my example for my children. Finally they close with a warning that I will be held accountable if I don’t recognize the sacredness of this and I jump ship half way through. Why? Because this is God’s heritage and God’s legacy and He doesn’t want it messed up. We are all His children and He wants us all to progress and return to live with Him.
In Elder Oak’s famous “Good, Better, Best” talk he quoted President Hinckley who said,
“Work at our responsibility as parents as if everything in life counted on it, because in fact everything in life does count on it,,,I ask you men, particularly, to pause and take stock of yourselves as husbands and fathers and heads of households. Pray for guidance, for help, for direction, and then follow the whisperings of the Spirit to guide you in the most serious of all responsibilities, for the consequences of your leadership in your home will be eternal and everlasting.” (Ensign, November 2007)
As I contemplate the seriousness of my duty as a mother I am humbled. Why in the world did He entrust me with four precious souls to rear, provide, and teach? I barely know what I’m doing with my own life. In reflecting on this serious charge I’ve asked myself some questions:
- Am I giving my best efforts toward parenting?
- Am I teaching them the most important things, the things they really need?
- Am I unified with my husband in the discharge of our joint duty with rearing our children?
These seem like simple questions with simple answers, but I don’t think they really are. The first question of course begs what are my best efforts? Am I allowing my children to be exposed to negative, spiritually damning influences? Am I feeding them the best foods? Am I instilling in them the best habits? Do I say no enough? Do I say yes enough? Am I personally distracted with my own spiritually damning influences? Are my thoughts centered on them enough? Do my children know that I love them unconditionally?
The second question makes me ask myself do they know and understand the Plan of Salvation? Do they read their scriptures every day? Do they pray every day? Do we hold family prayer, scripture study and Family Home Evening so they can learn the gospel? Do they know how to recognize the Spirit? Do they know how to obey? Do they listen and follow the words of the prophet? Do they know what their baptismal covenants are and do they honor them?
Finally am I one with my husband in rearing these special children? Do we discuss regularly our roles as presider, provider and protector along with nurturing? Do we agree and support one another? Do we back each other up when interacting with the children? Does my spouse know I love him and do my children know we love each other?
As I review and ponder on God’s great heritage I am humbled to be a part of it. I realize I can do much more to help Him bring to pass His work and glory. I hope all of us can review whether we are giving our best efforts, teaching our children all they need to know, and ask whether we are unified with our spouse as we strive to fulfill our sacred responsibility-rearing God’s heritage.
My name is Deanna and I am the mother of four children ages 8-12. I am the wife to one great man also known as Mr. Patriot. He is currently running for a state house seat in our home state. Our family spends a lot of time campaigning and attending political events. Traveling is a favorite pastime and we have traveled this vast country near and far. How blessed we are to live in America! We home educate our children and have had many wonderful adventures together. You can learn more about us on my blog at: beingamotherwhoknows.blogspot.com.
Have you written any posts about family or the proclamation? Link to them here so others can visit, read, and enjoy!
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it is a joy to read what the moms of today are meditating upon, the plans they work toward. being a grandMOM, my time as a mom is over for my own kids but as i read through these thoughts, i am reminded that I am always a “mom” to other children. My piano students, the children in a class, a friend down the street.
These sacred duties and responsibilities go way beyond our own 4 walls, don’t they?
Good thoughts….and good luck to your husband. The government needs a lot more family men….who understand their divine natures and callings.
Oh boy. What a topic you chose to talk about (and did it beautifully I might add). I often feel that somewhere I am failing, but if I take it to the Lord (who’s precious children these are) I know He will never steer me wrong. I loved reading your post. Thank you!
What a great reminder. Thanks
I love the quote from Pres. Hinckley, and appreciate those thought questions you proposed. Thanks.
Deanna, Thank you! I have been a real lousy, lazy parent lately. This is a wonderful wake up to me and I’m printing it out so I can read it often and remind myself of what I want to be doing!
It sure is quite the responsibility! I sometimes wonder if I can carry the weight of it. I love sharing in this work with Him!:)
P.S. sorry I can’t spell “gratitude” in my link this morning;)
I need to print out you’re three questions to have as a reminder of what I should be doing as a parent every day. It is very humbling to realize the charge we have as parents to rear our children unto the Lord. The trust He places in us to care for His little ones!
So good to read.
Great post Deanna…as always. I wish more parents thought of parenting as a “sacred responsibility”. I realized that one of my duties as an “older mother” is to encourage the mothers in my life. They are all frazzled, challenged, fallible people (just like I was/am at their stage of life)…yet…we are also Daughters of God with a special purpose in this life. Keep up the great work!
I think I am going to print this blog out because there is so much good stuff in here. I’m a new mom and I am already wondering how I will do everything. But I know if I go to the Lord He will help me do my best and make up for the rest.
Thank you for your post. I’m learning new things everyday and trying to fulfill this great responsibility of being a mother.
Those three questions are hard to answer truthfully. There are days I feel great about what I have done and then others I know I coasted or ignored when I should have been more attentive. It is hard to always be the best parent. At least with your questions and thoughts in my head I can remind myself to be better.
Great ideas!
WOW
All of it!
I went to BYU-Idaho for education week this year and I was so rejuvenated to really put more thought and attention into my job? career as Mother.
I have been trying to catch ideas from my personal study for FHE lessons and I am having daily scripture verse quoting (repeat after me… “Behold…) and amazingly my kids are starting to memorize verses!
Thanks for such good reading!
So nice to hear this. Thanks for all your thoughts.
Very important questions that get right to the heart of essential things.
I think most of us would say that we hope we will have a positive answer to all of those questions come judgement day, but sadly as we NOW tend to judge ourselves harshly most of us would say we could be doing better.
Here’s hoping that we can see that He did trust us with His children because we can do it.