Women's Conf, Sis. Beck & Mother's Day

I got to go to Women's Conference last week. Thanks to some wonderful sisters in my ward who watched Hunter and Eleyna, and my little sister Deanna who spent the day on campus entertaining baby Rockwell, I had the opportunity to spend nearly all of Friday feeding my spirit-which has been running a little lean lately. The morning began in the Marriott center with Sis. Julie B. Beck as the speaker. Sis. Beck is my hero. I want to be like her when I grow up. Every time she speaks my questions are answered and my soul is soothed.

I loved the part of her talk where she discussed the importance of a woman's unique identity as a daughter of God. Particularly when she said that "The identity we have from Heavenly Father can be fully understood only through spiritual confirmation.”

“An intellectual study can be made, but a spiritual confirmation teaches us who we are and what we are to do. … The identity of a daughter of God is precious beyond compare and rich and full."

There has been a lot of activity surrounding Mother's Day in the Mormon Mommy Blog world regarding the topic of (surprise!) motherhood. I've alternated between enjoyment and mild annoyance that this subject is getting so much attention under headlines such as "Why Motherhood Matters". It seems to me that even in the church there is some uncertainty on this topic or we wouldn't be so desperate to address it. (You can check out this post for more on the growing distance between MORMON CULTURE's ideas on motherhood and what Latter-day Saints actually believe about motherhood.)

This is because a spiritual confirmation is required for us to stand strong and immovable about who we are-REALLY ARE-and the the work associated with that identity. It is critically important to receive a personal testimony about our divine nature because, again, to borrow from Sis. Beck, "These are non-negotiable responsibilities. We can’t delegate them. We can accept them and live them. These are things we understood before we were born, and we can’t negotiate with the Lord whether they’re part of His plan. These are our responsibilities.”

Sometimes I look around me, figuratively speaking, and I feel alone. I am deeply unsettled by this since I am literally surrounded by members of the Church. I was grateful for the chance to be in the Marriott Center last week with thousands of women united by the power of our Relief Society President's testimony and inspired message. I know that a spiritual confirmation of the divine nature of motherhood is something the Lord would love to bless each one of His daughters with. All we need to do is have faith and ask with a sincere heart and real intent.

And just as I still experience peaks and valleys with regards to how solid I'm feeling in my faith, even after a woman receives a witness from the Spirit regarding her role as a mother there will still be moments of difficulty (like having at least one of your children sick every week since Christmas) and insecurity (like looking in a mirror a couple of weeks postpartum after baby #3). Still, the difference between overcoming these moments and being overcome by them is whether our hearts have been changed through the power of the Spirit's witness.

At the end of the day, the Holy Ghost is also the one who will help us determine the answer to the question Sis. Beck asked the sisters to consider:

"Am I aligned with the Lord’s vision of me and what He needs me to become?"

I am humbled at the mere thought of posing this question to the Lord. I know that there are areas that need improvement and that's not always a fun thing to ponder. But I am determined to do as my beloved Sis. Beck has encouraged.

I am SO grateful that when I start to feel confused the truth can still be heard from the mouths of the Lord's servants.

It is a sweet honor to care for and nurture the children our family has been blessed with and this Mother's Day I feel quite amazed that the Lord has accorded me and all of his daughters the position of partner in His great business of salvation and building the kingdom.