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By Kent Larsen
Every Woman is a Mother Says Sister Dew
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- At the General Relief Society meeting Saturday
night, Sister Sheri L. Dew told the audience that every woman is a mother,
regardless of whether she has borne children. Sister Dew, second counselor
in the Relief Society General Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, told the audience, "Motherhood is more than bearing
children. 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." It is, Sister Dew taught, the nature of women to care for others,
to "mother" them.
In addition to Sister Dew, speaking at the meeting were Relief Society
President Mary Ellen Smoot, first counselor Virginia U. Jensen and President
Thomas S. Monson of the LDS Church's First Presidency. All of the speakers
focused on the role of mothers and the importance of families.
Sister Dew's remarks went on to reconcile the role of motherhood with the
number of women who don't or can't have children, "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 she suggested that the best way to make a
difference in the world is to do just that, "If we really want to make a
difference, it will happen as we mother those we have borne, and those we
are willing to bear with."
President Smoot added that individual reactions to the recent terrorist
attacks show how important families are, "The most frequent sentiment
expressed by those directly affected by the recent terrorist attacks, was
that all they wanted was to have their family together again." She urged
women to prioritize their lives to put family first, "Lucifer is doing all
that he can to divert us from those things of first importance," she said.
"One of his most effective tools is to convince us that it is impossible to
stay centered on spiritual things when the demands of life are so pressing."
The theme of Satan's attack on the family also appeared in Sister Jensen's
remarks. "Today, sisters, we are engaged in a fierce battle for the minds,
hearts and even the souls of our children, grandchildren and other family
members." She went on to urge women to set an example to others, saying
"everything we do and say, how we dress, how we spend our time, in all the
choices we make we demonstrate what we believe."
President Monson's remarks concluded the meeting. He gave women a three-part
guide to being a righteous example. Women, he said, should "first, fill your
mind with truth; second, fill your heart with love; third, fill your life
with service." To further these ends, he urged women to get an education and
stand "steadfast and immovable," rededicating their lives to truth, virtue,
love and service.
Source:
Be Steadfast Amid Turmoil, LDS Women Are Admonished
Salt Lake Tribune 30Sep01 N1
By Catherine Reese Newton: Salt Lake Tribune
LDS leader: Comfort children
Ogden UT Standard-Examiner 30Sep01 N1
By Amy Nicholson: Standard-Examiner correspondent
LDS women exhorted to remain steadfast
Deseret News 30Sep01 N1
By Carrie A. Moore: Deseret News religion editor
Motherhood stressed at General Relief Society meeting
BYU NewsNet 30Sep01 N1
By Rachel Olsen: NewsNet Staff Writer
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