What do you think of this article/talk?

Question

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=dba62bce258f5110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

Answer 1

I think that's true of Mothers. Not every Woman is a Mother however, and not every female human who gives birth is a Mother, nor is every female human who is over the age of 18 a Woman.
It does take something to be a Mother. I think that there are MANY Women out there who would be EXCELLENT Mother's but for one reason or another have not been given the blessing of having children. I also know that there are many women (note the lower case "w") who have given birth who are terrible Mothers and have no business raising a child. It's not to say they aren't doing their best in MANY cases. It's just that to me there are Mothers, and mothers, Women, and women. What may be true for Mothers, may not be possible for mothers, and the same for Women and women.

I've heard that this talk has created some controversy. I don't see how it could. As a single Woman, I know who I am, and that blessings will not be denied me just because I am unmarried. I think if anything could be said about the talk is that it was not inclusive of those who are not Mothers. But her target audience was to Mothers, and to try to get them to step up to the raised bar. So I don't see a problem with it. All of us need something to aspire to, and for many years we have heard WONDERFUL talks about how great we (women) are, and how noble and giving we are and can be. But this one maybe cut some Sisters to the quick because it wasn't a feel good, see how wonderful you are, type of talk. It was a yes, you're great, now grow some more. Now that the bar has been raised, which ways can/should you grow?

Having said all of this, it may sound like I think that it didn't apply to me, because I'm not a mother, I'm not married, etc. and so much of it was geared to those who are. But I feel it does apply to me too, because even though i'm not a Mother yet, I know that eventually - on this side or the other I don't know, I will be. And now is the time for me to learn as much as I can from those around me who are Mothers - what to do, what not to do, what I think I would do in a given situation, etc. To learn what our Church leaders say I should do if I were a Mother, is of great interest to me, because if things go the way I think they will, it will be on the other side that I become a Mother and I will need to already know what to do, and how to do it and why.

Answer 2

Your readers are missing the point. The point of the article is in the words "who know". What do they know? They know that God is alive and well. They know that Jesus is the Christ and that they are daughters of a divine origin with a divine destiny. Because of that knowledge, they know that their primary mission from God is to be a partner with God in bringing His children to earth and to nurture them into being true sons and daughters of God. Mothers who know are concerned about returning to God's presence and bringing a few of His children (her own children) with her. If we comprehend our divine destiny, we would change our whole focus on what is or is not important in life. Women who know have that eternal focus.

Answer 3

The idea that women who "know" automatically want to bear children is false, and in my opinion a very harmful piece of doctrine. There are many childless, successful, fulfilled women out there. If they had been forced to bear children, both they and the children would have been miserable.

Answer 4

I concur. I think inately that most women feel the desire to have children.

Answer 5

"Mothers who know desire to bear children."

What does that mean, exactly?

Answer 6

I give it a thumbs up.

Answer 7

Great talk.

gw