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| Rearing a child in righteousness |
| Church leaders counsel mothers |
by Angela Gingerich
GIN01001@BYUI.EDU
Scroll Staff |
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Going from never having kids to rearing one is a big transition that scares many women. Being a mother is a full-time responsibility, and since the mothers’ influence will last the child’s life, being concerned about doing it right can be overwhelming.
An important thing to remember is that being a mother is more than just having children.
“Motherhood is more than bearing children. ... It is the essence of who we are as women,” Sheri Dew said in the October 2001 general conference.
One way a mother can be helped in raising children properly is to follow the council of Church leaders by staying at home with children when circumstances allow. However, many women feel this is an insult on their abilities and limits their influence on the world.
“[Women] are often made to feel that there are more exciting and self-fulfilling roles than housework, diaper changing, and children calling for mother. This view loses sight of the eternal perspective that God elected women to the noble role of mother and that exaltation is eternal fatherhood and eternal motherhood,” according to The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson.
The greatest influence a mother can have on the world is raising her children.
“Mothers have as powerful an influence over the welfare of future generations, as all other causes combined,” John Abbott said in his book Principles of Maternal Duty.
Another thing that has been proven to strengthen family ties is religious orientation. It provides a common ground for the family to work from and provides unity.
“In addition to attending church together, strong families read the Bible and other religious books together. They share the belief that there is a Supreme Being that is a guiding force,” according to www.thefunplace.com.
Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have also counseled that scripture study, prayer and other religious activity will help strengthen the family.
A happy home is one centered around the teachings of the gospel. This takes constant, careful effort by all concerned,” Elder Legrand R. Curtis said in his 1990 general conference address.
Spending time together as a family will also help seal the bond between parent and child. It is a time to get to know your child and to earn their trust. There may be times when the house is a mess and cleaning it is the only thing on a parent’s mind, but it’s important to remember even at these times that a missed opportunity is gone forever.
“Time taken with your family pays much bigger dividends than housekeeping tasks. The house may be cluttered, but moments to enjoy your family will never be the same,” according to www.thefunplace.com.
Another effective tool in raising children is communication. There are a multitude of opportunities to talk with children. Dinner table discussions, driving in the car, cleaning the house and cooking together all provide simple yet frequent opportunities to communicate.
Holding Home Evening every week will also provide a time for the family to get together and discuss the gospel and other family business. Some students remember having Home Evening in their family and how the practice helped in their home.
“Having Family Home Evening helped us learn different things. We learned how to laugh together and how to feel the Spirit together. We also had family council so we solved problems together,” Emily Carlson, a freshman from Mesa, Ariz., said.
There are certain guidelines any parent can follow to make sure that they are following the right path. Parents should avoid fighting in front of their children, avoid using profane language in the home, make sure daily behavior is consistent with church behavior, teach the children to be obedient and make sure the gospel is taught in the home, according to Treasures of Life.
Although raising children is a huge responsibility, following the guidelines set by the Church makes it possible to do right.
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