Needed Encouragement

This post is part of the General Conference Odessey. This week covers the General Young Women session of the April 1998 conference.

I grew up wanting nothing more than to be a wife, mother and homemaker. It is what I had seen my mother and grandmothers, even a great-grandmother, do with their lives. I had interests and talents, but the driving force of my soul desired a family. Looking back from the vantage point of a senior citizen I wish someone would have encouraged me to pursue one of my interests to the point of mastery and certification; I could have used the income earning potential at various times.

Each of the four speakers in this session addressed the fact that our main purpose in life as women, is to marry and raise a family. It is part of Heavenly Father's plan for His children to do so, partly as a learning laboratory, and partly as a means for other spirit children to come to earth for their mortal experience.

Sister Margaret D. Nadauld said, "You young women have an important role to play in at least three families. The first is the family you are part of now, the second is your future family, and the third is the heavenly family of which we are all part."

This is an important reminder that no matter our current marital status, we are all part of at least two families at all times; and if we think of our church unit as our family then that is three! We don't ever have to be or feel that we are alone.

"Oh, you learn a lot of things in a family, don't you? And they're important things--things like praying and sharing and laughing and working and getting along with others." Sister Nadauld explained. That certainly could describe our church unit families too. 

Sister Carol B. Thomas told several stories of young women who were learning things in their families and also from watching the women at church. "As each of you practices being a homemaker, you are doing exactly what the Lord wants you to do. In every young woman's heart is a deep yearning to someday be a wife and a mother. These feelings were nurtured in your soul long before you came to earth." 

This is exactly why Satan works so hard to confuse and discourage young women about their role in today's world. He doesn't want more spirits to come to earth to righteous parents. He doesn't want there to be a leavening influence of righteous mothers raising children to be like the stripling warriors from the Book of Mormon. He wants women to question their role and try to be like men; to limit their families and spend more time chasing dollars, position and praise in the world. It shouldn't be a hard decision at all to stay home with a baby and make home a refuge for a growing family. But Satan has distracted women who end up feeling that it is an extreme sacrifice to be a wife, mother, and homemaker.

Sister Sharon G. Larsen said, "Young women, you are like titles of liberty as you strive to protect your families from such intruders as selfishness, harshness, anger, and strife. Your banner stands for peace, love and service to your families. . . . Young women, your life is the banner that can help to protect your families from wicked intruders. We call upon you to take a stand for kindness and goodness and service to those you love most--your families."

President James E. Faust expressed his love of women and said, "I hope that each of you girls will become an individual of significant worth and a person of virtue who contributes both now and in eternity. As a woman you have been born with many unique endowments that are not common to men." 

I can vouch for that! My husband can do many things, but remembering birthdays and holidays, and preparing for the future are not among them. He can lift heavy things, but his logic, and financial choices, defy understanding at times.

"Women today are encouraged by some to have it all: money, travel, marriage, motherhood, and separate careers in the world. For women, the important ingredients for happiness are to forge an identity, serve the Lord, get an education, develop your talents, serve your family, and if possible, to have a family of your own.

"However, you cannot do all these things well at the same time. . . . You cannot be a 100-percent wife, a 100-percent mother, a 100-percent Church worker, a 100-percent career person, and a 100-percent public-service person at the same time. How can all of these roles be coordinated? I suggest that you can have it sequentially."

I've written several times about being a homemaker on my other blog. If you're interested you can read my thoughts here and here.

President Faust ends with, "Lastly, how do I think you may become great women? You should cultivate and employ generously your noble, womanly instincts of care and mercy, first to your family and then to others. May you always hunger and thirst after righteousness within the framework of the revealed gospel of Jesus Christ. May you have an eternal perspective as you go about your angelic cause of doing good so that it will not only lead you to become great women, but ultimately to become queens in the eternities."

I have several regrets in my life, but being a wife, mother and homemaker is not one of them. This session was a wonderful shot in the arm for me, affirming my life choice and helping me remember the eternal perspective.