The prophets have called motherhood woman’s highest calling, but some women, through no fault of their own, do not get to experience the joys of motherhood in mortality.

Questions about why an older person isn’t married or when a couple is going to have children are fairly common, Erica Heilman wrote for www.GlobalRPH.com.

In a group of women, children are usually a unifying factor and the topic comes up in conversation often. Some women without children feel they cannot participate, psychologist Dr. Mardy Ireland said in an interview with Heilman.

In a Latter-day Saint perspective motherhood is each woman’s divine calling and extends beyond mothering the children a woman bares.

“Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that. It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature and the unique traits our Father gave us,” said Sheri L. Dew, former second counselor in the Relief Society presidency.

President Gordon B. Hinckley said that there is little rhyme or reason to why some women marry and some do not, but all will be blessed with the blessings which romance offers.

“I see so many capable, attractive, wonderful women whom romance has passed by. I do not understand it, but I know that in the plan of the Almighty, the eternal plan which we call God’s plan of happiness, there will be opportunity and reward for all who seek them,” President Hinckley said.

“The Lord’s timetable for each of us does not negate our nature. Some of us, then, must simply find other ways to mother. And all around us are those are those who need to be loved and led,” Dew said.

Each woman must find ways to mother outside of traditional homes. Jolene Smith teaches clothing construction in the department of Home and Family at BYU-Idaho. She has never married and has no children, but she is still a mother.

“So what is motherhood? Isn’t it nurturing someone else whether it’s at home fixing a meal or in the mission field building a testimony or in the community on the PTA board? It doesn’t matter; it’s simply nurturing one of God’s children,” Smith said.

Smith has served in the Young Women’s program; she teaches Sunday School and she invites families to her house for family home evening on a regular basis.

At family home evening Smith serves dinner, has a lesson and makes cookies, brownies or muffins with the children of the family. Their favorite kind is chocolate chip. Whover mom is she has to stay out of the kitchen, and she can’t get upset if things get messy. That’s the rule, and things get messy.

People ask Smith why she lets the children pour the flour and crack the eggs when it makes such a mess. She tells them, “I’m not making cookies; I’m making children.”

Smith is touching the lives of these children and the young people she serves in the Church. This is how Sister Dew said women fulfill their calling of motherhood.

“Every time we build the faith or reinforce the nobility of a young woman or man, every time we love or lead anyone even a small step along the path, we are true to our endowment and calling as mothers and in the process we build the kingdom of God,” Dew said.

Smith said you have to stay positive about life. She didn’t allow another option.

“You have to look at life like a glass of water. Either it’s half full or half empty. The amount of water in the glass never changes just your attitude towards it. So I’m single. It’s my attitude towards it. The amount of water in the glass is still the same,” Smith said.