Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

(Elder Jeffrey R. Holland) The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work. Please know that it is worth it then, now, and forever. One young mother wrote to me recently that she felt like the world expected her to teach her children reading, writing, interior design, Latin, calculus, and the Internet-- all before the baby said something terribly ordinary, like "goo goo." She worried because she felt she didn't measure up or somehow wasn't going to be able to be equal to the task, the mental investment, the spiritual and emotional exertion, the long-night, long-day, stretched-to-the-limit demands that sometimes are required in trying to be and wanting to be the mother God hopes she will be. But one thing, she said, keeps her going. "Through the thick and the thin of this, "and through the occasional tears of it all, "I know deep down inside I am doing God's work. "I know that my motherhood is an eternal partnership with Him." Mothers, cherish that role that is so uniquely yours and for which heaven itself sends angels to watch over you and your little ones. Yours is the work of salvation, and therefore you will be magnified, compensated, made more than you are, better than you are, and better than you have ever been. And if, for whatever reason, you are making this courageous effort alone, without your husband at your side, then our prayers will be all the greater for you. Know that in faith things will be made right because of you. We thank all of you, and tell you there is nothing more important in this world than participating so directly in the work and glory of God. May I say to mothers collectively, in the name of the Lord, you are magnificent. You are doing terrifically well. The very fact that you have been given such a responsibility is everlasting evidence of the trust your Father in Heaven has in you. He is blessing you and He will bless you, even--no, especially--when your days and your nights may be the most challenging. Rely on Him. Rely on Him heavily. Rely on Him forever. And "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope."