Mothers Who Know Bear Children
Mothers who know desire to bear children. Whereas in many cultures in the world children are "becoming less valued,"2 in the culture of the gospel we still believe in having children. Prophets, seers, and revelators who were sustained at this conference have declared that "God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force."3 President Ezra Taft Benson taught that young couples should not postpone having children and that "in the eternal perspective, children—not possessions, not position, not prestige—are our greatest jewels."4
Faithful daughters of God desire children. In the scriptures we read of Eve (see Moses 4:26), Sarah (see Genesis 17:16), Rebekah (see Genesis 24:60), and Mary (see 1 Nephi 11:13–20), who were foreordained to be mothers before children were born to them. Some women are not given the responsibility of bearing children in mortality, but just as Hannah of the Old Testament prayed fervently for her child (see 1 Samuel 1:11), the value women place on motherhood in this life and the attributes of motherhood they attain here will rise with them in the Resurrection (see D&C 130:18). Women who desire and work toward that blessing in this life are promised they will receive it for all eternity, and eternity is much, much longer than mortality. There is eternal influence and power in motherhood.
This is one area I had a problem with. Why is child birth equated to faith and testimony? Is a woman less valiant if she chooses to delay children? What if she desires a career? Can she have a testimony of the gospel and not have children or perhaps children later in life and perhaps in fewer numbers? I believe that this language is in manipulative and tells the girls and women on our Church that they are somehow less and defective in their faith in God and religious worship because they do not bear children as early or in as many numbers or even at ll if they choose not to. I am all for family and children and personally my wife and I have pretty much followed the counsel above. But some others may make valid choices and still be as faithful in their belief as others. Or perhaps delaying or not having as many children really is viewed as sinful in the LDS Church.
Mothers who know honor sacred ordinances and covenants. I have visited sacrament meetings in some of the poorest places on the earth where mothers have dressed with great care in their Sunday best despite walking for miles on dusty streets and using worn-out public transportation. They bring daughters in clean and ironed dresses with hair brushed to perfection; their sons wear white shirts and ties and have missionary haircuts. These mothers know they are going to sacrament meeting, where covenants are renewed. These mothers have made and honor temple covenants. They know that if they are not pointing their children to the temple, they are not pointing them toward desired eternal goals. These mothers have influence and power.
This bothered me as well. Why in the LDS Church are we so hung up on appearances? I think we are a bit like the pharisees of old in this.
Overall the talk really is portraying a charecture of what an LDS woman should look like and be. For those who don't or can't I think it creates a tremendous pressure and a culture that fosters others to snipe and criticize women who may not fit the mold. I think it was a pretty strong handed talk. I am sure I will now be resoundly condemned by some as a liberal woman's liber 70's secularists and an anonymous cowardly hypocrite for posting in public my thoughts on this talk. But I have no qualms about sharing how the things I though were not good, spiritually encouraging, Christ like and promoting of personal spiritual growth with many members and have other express the same to me. So no hiding on this one.