This was requested by my mom who said she wished that she could've been in our ward today to hear Spencer's first talk in church. I told her I'd put it up on my blog. It was about a 3-4 minute talk. Here goes ---
Many years ago the First Presidency issued a statement that said, “Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.”
Another quote I found from is from a writer who wrote about mothers - it said,“God could not be everywhere, and so He gave us mothers.”
Today I’m speaking about the importance of Mothers and how children can show gratitude to their mother.
Children need to know that they could probably not achieve their highest potential without the influence of a good mother. We need to show respect and gratitude to her. We need to thank her often and express our love for her.
I think this poem explains how we can show our love:
“I love you, Mother,” said little John;
Then, forgetting his work, his cap went on,
And he was off to the garden swing,
And left her the water and wood to bring.
“I love you, Mother,” said rosy Nell—
“I love you better than tongue can tell”;
Then she teased and pouted full half the day,
Till her mother rejoiced when she went to play.
“I love you, Mother,” said little Fan;
“Today I’ll help you all I can;
How glad I am that school doesn’t keep!”
So she rocked the baby till it fell asleep.
Then, stepping softly, she fetched the broom,
And swept the floor and tidied the room;
Busy and happy all day was she,
Helpful and happy as a child could be.
“I love you, Mother,” again they said,
Three little children going to bed;
How do you think that Mother guessed
Which of them really loved her best?
The Savior himself gave us the best example of how we should honor our mothers. He did this on several occasions through-out the scriptures. When he was on the cross, one of the last things he did was make sure that his mother was cared for after he was gone.
The fifth commandment is “Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
In Colossians 3:20, it says, “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.”
To honor and obey your parents, you will love them, respect them, confide in them, be considerate of them, express appreciation for them, and do all these things by following their righteous counsel and by obeying the commandments.
Mothers are nurturers, leaders and teachers. This is their special assignment and role under Heavenly Father’s plan. Home is where a mother has the most power and influence. Home is also where she first begins to make sure the family’s spiritual needs are met.
My mother does this by seeing that our family says family prayers in the morning before leaving for school. She never, ever forgets! It is very important to her. She also makes sure we have family home evening every Sunday night after church and dinner. She even makes sure that everyone has their family home evening assignment completed before we begin. She makes sure that we read scriptures every morning together as a family. These things are very important to her, and I know her hope is that it also becomes important to us, her children, through her example.
Not only those things, but I see my mom every day cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and keeping an orderly home. I know it’s not always easy for her, but she has told me before that when her children say thank you, or show gratitude for all she does, it makes her feel like it is all worth it.
President Spencer W. Kimball once said in a conference address, “If we truly honor our parents, we will seek to emulate their best characteristics and to fulfill their highest aspirations for us. No gift purchased from a store can begin to match in value to parents some simple, sincere words of appreciation. Nothing we could give them would be more prized than righteous living for each youngster.”
We all need to make sure and thank our mother's more often, if not every day. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
A practice run for the 400-meter relay race.
Getting ready for the real thing. Notice how Spencer's 6th grade junior varsity team (2nd from the left in the orange shirts) are much shorter than the 7th and 8th grade varsity teams on either side of them. Even though they are racing together, they aren't racing each other. Each team is trying to get the best time for their own grade level.
Getting into position...
And they are off!
Here, he is racing in the 100-meter dash against other 6th graders.
He is neck and neck all they way to the finish line!!
