Lesson Recap: Find Nobility in Motherhood and Joy in Womanhood

Taught by Jill Fairchild

Motherhood is more than bearing children. … It is the essence of who we are as women. ~Sheri Dew

As daughters of God we are all of noble birth. Sheri Dew reminds us...

Have you ever wondered why prophets have taught the doctrine of motherhood—and it is doctrine—again and again? I have. I have thought long and hard about the work of women of God. And I have wrestled with what the doctrine of motherhood means for all of us. This issue has driven me to my knees, to the scriptures, and to the temple—all of which teach an ennobling doctrine regarding our most crucial role as women. It is a doctrine about which we must be clear if we hope to stand “steadfast and immovable” regarding the issues that swirl around our gender. For Satan has declared war on motherhood. He knows that those who rock the cradle can rock his earthly empire. And he knows that without righteous mothers loving and leading the next generation, the kingdom of God will fail. Full article >

Mothers nurture, teach, care for, protect, give unconditional love, beget life, create. These are God given gifts to all women, whether or not we have children. Eve was called the mother of all living before she had children.

There are barriers in our world to filling our roles as mothers, such as the attitude that self-sacrifice is not fulfilling, that motherhood is not a valued career, that we must do more, or that we are not "enough".

Beware of the comparisons and judgments we make of each other. We should accept and support one another whether we are working mothers or stay-at-home moms. We each must make choices that are right for us and our families. We need to accept that we are each doing the best we can given our circumstances.

Femininity is part of your inner beauty

President Faust reminds us about the gifts we all have as women...

I wonder if you sisters fully understand the greatness of your gifts and talents and how all of you can achieve the “highest place of honor” in the Church and in the world. One of your unique, precious, and sublime gifts is your femininity, with its natural grace, goodness, and divinity. Femininity is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos, and trendy clothes. It is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your qualities of your capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each of you possesses it. Femininity is part of your inner beauty. Full article >

Be proud of your womanhood. Enhance it. Use it to serve others.

Sisters, Jill reminded us, we need the atonement and the Lord's divine grace to help us fulfill our mission and roles as women and mothers. We can't do it ourselves, only through faith and hope in Christ.