To be a Mother or Father

Once you are married you are able to experience the most beautiful thing that makes you become more like your Father in Heaven. You are able to bring a child into this world. Having children enables us to learn so much more about the Plan of Salvation and understand the Fathers love for us on a deeper level. 

In the world today there is a lot of speculation on whether it really matters if a child has a mother and a father as well as the roles that those two people play in a child’s life. Understanding your role as a mother or father is crucial to the life of a child, along with that you want to find someone who understand how sacred their role is as well. 

We are so lucky to have The Family: A Proclamation to the World which was given to us by1 a loving Prophet and apostles from the mouth of the Lord. Through this we are able to more deeply understand our divine roles as parents. It states, “By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.” 

It is important to recognize that these characteristics are God given and enable us to function well together as husband and wife. Along with that it says they are equal partners. Too much in the world we assume that in order to equal everything has to be exactly the same 50/50. This may not always be the case. There will be things your spouse does well and things you do well. Figuring out the best way to make these things work in your home is what makes and equal marriage, working in harmony with the Lord is what makes and equal marriage. 

So now,

To the Future Mothers: “Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.” How blessed are we to become mothers?! So blessed, it really enables us to become closer to our Heavenly Father and blesses us with the biggest learning experience of our lives. 

Here’s what I can tell you to prepare for motherhood now and these are just a couple things.

• ·        Cultivate and develop the values that are taught in the Young Women’s program in yourself.

• ·        Take a parenting class, or learn about parenting.

• ·        Talk to people you look up to in your life, maybe your parents, maybe another couple from your ward.

• ·        Seek out someone who hold the same standards as you to be with.

• ·        Pray always.

I have to take a second to let you all know how excited I am to be able to be a mother. This has been something I have looked forward to since I was a child. I am so grateful for my role as a woman and I am so grateful that the Lord has given me the opportunity and blessing to one day be a mother. When I said earlier to take some family or parenting classes that is what I have been doing in school even though it is not my major and it helps me recognize my role so much more prominently and appreciate it as well. Along with that I have started doing the Young Women program over again and it reminds me of my innate qualities I have been blessed with! For me these things have helped me realize that I am adequate, please find whatever it is that helps you to understand your divine role and qualities because it will make your life seem so much fuller!

To the Future Fathers: “The father’s leadership of the family is his most important and sacred responsibility and the family is the most important unit in time and in eternity and, as such, transcends every other interest of life.” What an awesome responsibility to become a father! In a world that preaches secular things the church recognizes the importance of a role of a father, not only that but that it is the most important role he will play in this life and in the next.

I do not have as much knowledge in regards to being a father since I am going to be a mother but I can say that I know the role of a father is so important and I am grateful that I had a worthy priesthood holder as a father. Along with that he helped me so much to believe in myself and grow. Fathers play a role that mothers can not and I am thankful to my own father for that.

Here’s what I can tell you to prepare yourself for fatherhood, and again these are only a couple of things.

• ·        Read this talk, http://www.ldslastdays.com/default.aspx?page=talk_ppi.htm. Think about the things that David O McKay expresses to be the most important and implement them into your life.

• ·        Also, seek out someone who hold the same standards as you to be with.

• ·        Honor your priesthood, and get involved in your home teaching.

• ·        Pray always.