Mother's Day

I had a lovely Mother's Day today. I felt so loved and cared for by my family and feel so grateful to be the mother of this remarkable little family. I feel the responsibility and great work that is mine and pray that I am up to the task, weaknesses and all, of being the mother that is needed here. I love my role as wife and mother and am incredibly grateful for it and grateful for the enabling power of Jesus Christ to help me along the way. I am also incredibly grateful for David and the respect, love, and support he shows me and that we get to be on this journey together as a team. (Photo from March, but I love it so much.) 

We spent the evening of Mother's Day at the Peaden Home in West Jordan. This was our first mother's day without Sue and we missed her dearly. We wanted to be together with Amy, Kevin, and Cal on this day and although it was sad, it was also really special to remember that the impact of Sue's motherhood to us all will be never-ending. 

In addition to those Mother's Day thoughts, I wanted to include some of the things that were shared at church because they were meaningful to me. 

During Sacrament meeting, Brother Fowles shared this quote in his talk: 

"Sisters, I testify that when you stand in front of your heavenly parents in those royal courts on high and you look into Her eyes and behold Her countenance, any question you ever had about the role if women in the kingdom will evaporate into the rich celestial air, because at that moment you will see standing directly in front of you, your device nature and destiny." - Elder Glenn L Pace 

During Relief Society, the RS President Tara Gotfredson shared some portions of the talk "What Shall We Do?" by Neill F. Marriott - YW 2nd Counselor, April 2016 (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2016/04/what-shall-we-do?lang=eng)

I loved this talk and wanted to save it.

"Mothers literally make room in their bodies to nurture an unborn baby—and hopefully a place in their hearts as they raise them—but nurturing is not limited to bearing children. Eve was called a “mother” before she had children.4 I believe that “to mother” means “to give life.” Think of the many ways you give life. It could mean giving emotional life to the hopeless or spiritual life to the doubter. With the help of the Holy Ghost, we can create an emotionally healing place for the discriminated against, the rejected, and the stranger. In these tender yet powerful ways, we build the kingdom of God. Sisters, all of us came to earth with these life-giving, nurturing, maternal gifts because that is God’s plan."

And as part of Relief Society, they had some of the youth come in and share their thoughts about mothers and motherhood. Eli Myntti, son of one of our dear (homeschooling) friends, wrote this prose and I was so impressed and inspired, I asked if he would share it with me so I could record it. 

Eli Myntti, May 12, 2024

Motherhood is a most noble profession. 

It provides young soldiers with someone to protect and someone to be taught by. Alma 53:21 says that they (the stripling warriors) were taught to keep the commandments. Who could have done this but their mothers? These mothers had to fight the battles of motherhood during these less advanced ages. 

Mothers are resilient and powerful. Perhaps not in magic or great swordsmanship (though some are) but they have power in influence and teaching. Through their influence and teaching the greatest men and women have become great. Would George Washington have had values if not for his mother? Would Betsy Ross have known how to sew if not for her mother? Mothers have great power and great responsibility over the young ones that they nurture. 

Those of you who are mothers can testify of the influence you have had on your children and the teachings of the spirit that you have given them. Those of you who are not yet blessed with children can testify of your mothers. 

All mothers in their own way emulate aspects of God. His unending love. His boundless compassion. His tender mercy. These have been given to you. Even if you do not have children you have these traits inside of you. God speaks to you and teaches you the right way to go. I am a firm believer that without the power and influence from women the church would not be on this earth today. So many times it was the unshaken faith of women that brought the saints forward. Even now the faith of women brings this church beyond the others. This gift that you have from God is sacred and testifies of his love for us on earth through you. 

We could not survive without you. Every one of you makes a difference, you may not see it at first. It may be just a single comment in a class or it may be a lifesaving revelation but every one of you makes differences in the lives of all those that you meet. 

I would like to close by calling you to arms. Not military arms, however, but the arms of our Heavenly Parents. They love you and your families and friends love you. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

Mother's Day

"We are a part of a divine plan designed by Heavenly Parents who love us"

-M. Russell Ballard (When Thou Art Converted, DB. 2001)

"The doctrine of a Heavenly Mother is a cherished and distinctive belief among Latter-day Saints." Gospel Topics Essay on Mother in Heaven

This Mother's Day, I think it's only appropriate to express how much I have loved learning about and connecting with my Heavenly Mother over the past year (past few years, but especially this past year). I listened to a beautiful podcast celebrating our Heavenly Mother and her role right next to our Heavenly Father and it was such a tender way to celebrate my own motherhood. I am grateful for the love and strength I have felt from my effort to connect with her in this challenging role of motherhood.

Some photos of Heavenly Mother that have touched my heart:

Some highlights from our Mother's Day Celebrations this year: 

-With the help of my friends, we donated $120 to the refugee Mamas in our community. The organization Utah Refugee Connection (@justserve) holds an annual Mother's Day fundraiser and it's been such a blessing to be able to contribute in a small way each May. This year they honored over 500 Refugee Mothers with the fundraiser. 

-Lydia made a lovely flower pot at her Primary Activity to give to me as a gift. 

-David watched the kids so I could go to the Opera with my dear friend Tami. 

The day of was filled with expressions of love from each of my kids. They each decided that they wanted to make some kind of food for me. It made me laugh, but then also I loved that their chosen expressions of love were a reflection of the service that I offer to them each day. Austin made me pancakes in bed. Lydia made me a fruit salad for lunch. Caleb made me jello to go with the delicious dinner David prepared for me. I definitely felt their love and I'm grateful for that. 

We also were able to take flowers and decorate the driveway of our beloved Robin who lives across the street. She doesn't have any children of her own, but her kindness and goodness bless the lives of our children each day. The Farnsley-Becker driveway is unarguably the favorite spot on the street for all the kids to hang out. I often worry that we are bothering them, but Robin is always assuring me that she loves that the kids play on her driveway. We made her a note "Thank you for letting us play on your driveway" and delivered flowers and it was probably my favorite part of the day. 

I didn't get any pictures but we also went and visited Sue and it was lovely. It was our first time inside the Peaden Home since Christmas (and then only because we had quarantined). There is a lot of controversy over masks and vaccines and you name it. But I'm SO grateful for the ability to safely go back inside their home and spend time with them. We are blessed with wonderful mothers. 

 Also, because my kids aren't going to school or even attending primary - I asked David if he would help the kids fill these little "About my Mom" packets. Kind of silly, but I love them. 

 By: Lydia

My Mom's Name is: Shantel

Her favorite color is: Yellow

Her favorite food is: alfredo pasta

My mom loves when I: snuggle her

My favorite thing is: she is a great snuggler

By: Austin

My Mom's Name is:Shantel

Her favorite color is: Yellow

Her favorite food is: Cereal/Alfredo Pasta

My mom loves when I: Clean up.

My favorite thing is: That she loves me and that she always gives me a snuggle when I am hurt.

By: Caleb

My Mom's Name is: Shantel (PIP - he wrote that by himself)

Her favorite color is: Yellow

Her favorite food is: Oranges

My mom loves when I: make sunflowers grow

My favorite thing is: that she snuggles me

By: Lucy

My Mom's Name is:"Maam"

Her favorite color is: Yellow

Her favorite food is: Fried Egg Avocado toast/pANDa express

My mom loves when I: smile

I'm grateful to be a mother. Grateful to have David by my side as we figure it out. I am so far from the mother that I want to be, that my kids deserve, but I hope that if nothing else they will always know that I love them. That I'm trying. 

Gospel Topics Essay on Heavenly Mother

Mother in Heaven

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that all human beings, male and female, are beloved spirit children of heavenly parents, a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother. This understanding is rooted in scriptural and prophetic teachings about the nature of God, our relationship to Deity, and the godly potential of men and women.¹ The doctrine of a Heavenly Mother is a cherished and distinctive belief among Latter-day Saints.²

While there is no record of a formal revelation to Joseph Smith on this doctrine, some early Latter-day Saint women recalled that he personally taught them about a Mother in Heaven.³ The earliest published references to the doctrine appeared shortly after Joseph Smith’s death in 1844, in documents written by his close associates.⁴ The most notable expression of the idea is found in a poem by Eliza R. Snow, entitled “My Father in Heaven” and now known as the hymn “O My Father.” This text declares: “In the heav’ns are parents single? / No, the thought makes reason stare; / Truth is reason—truth eternal / Tells me I’ve a mother there.”⁵

Subsequent Church leaders have affirmed the existence of a Mother in Heaven. In 1909, the First Presidency taught that “all men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother, and are literally the sons and daughters of Deity.”⁶ Susa Young Gates, a prominent leader in the Church, wrote in 1920 that Joseph Smith’s visions and teachings revealed the truth that “the divine Mother, [is] side by side with the divine Father.”⁷ And in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” issued in 1995, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles declared, “Each [person] is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.”⁸

Prophets have taught that our heavenly parents work together for the salvation of the human family. “We are part of a divine plan designed by Heavenly Parents who love us,” taught Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.⁹ President Harold B. Lee stated, “We forget that we have a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother who are even more concerned, probably, than our earthly father and mother, and that influences from beyond are constantly working to try to help us when we do all we can.”¹⁰

Latter-day Saints direct their worship to Heavenly Father, in the name of Christ, and do not pray to Heavenly Mother. In this, they follow the pattern set by Jesus Christ, who taught His disciples to “always pray unto the Father in my name.”¹¹ Latter-day Saints are taught to pray to Heavenly Father, but as President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “The fact that we do not pray to our Mother in Heaven in no way belittles or denigrates her.”¹² Indeed, as Elder Rudger Clawson wrote, “We honor woman when we acknowledge Godhood in her eternal Prototype.”¹³

As with many other truths of the gospel, our present knowledge about a Mother in Heaven is limited. Nevertheless, we have been given sufficient knowledge to appreciate the sacredness of this doctrine and to comprehend the divine pattern established for us as children of heavenly parents. Latter-day Saints believe that this pattern is reflected in Paul’s statement that “neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.”¹⁴ Men and women cannot be exalted without each other. Just as we have a Father in Heaven, we have a Mother in Heaven. As Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said, “Our theology begins with heavenly parents. Our highest aspiration is to be like them.”¹⁵

1.

Genesis 1:26–27; Moses 3:4–7; Romans 8:16–17; Psalm 82:6; Doctrine and Covenants 132:19–20.

2.

See “Becoming Like God”; see also Elaine Anderson Cannon, “Mother in Heaven,” in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, ed. Daniel H. Ludlow, 5 vols. (New York: Macmillan, 1992), 2:961. For an extensive survey of these teachings, see David L. Paulsen and Martin Pulido, “‘A Mother There’: A Survey of Historical Teachings about Mother in Heaven,” BYU Studies 50, no. 1 (2011): 70–97.

3.

Zina Diantha Huntington Young recalled that when her mother died in 1839, Joseph Smith consoled her by telling her that in heaven she would see her own mother again and become acquainted with her eternal Mother. (Susa Young Gates, History of the Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints [Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1911], 15–16.)

4.

See W. W. Phelps, “Come to Me,” in “Poetry, for the Times and Seasons,” Times and Seasons 6 (Jan. 15, 1845): 783.

5.

“My Father in Heaven,” in “Poetry, for the Times and Seasons,” Times and Seasons 6 (Nov. 15, 1845): 1039; “O My Father,” Hymns, no. 292; see also Jill Mulvay Derr, “The Significance of ‘O My Father’ in the Personal Journey of Eliza R. Snow,” BYU Studies 36, no. 1 (1996–97), 84–126.

6.

“The Origin of Man,” Improvement Era 13, no. 1 (Nov. 1909): 78.

7.

“The Vision Beautiful,” Improvement Era 23, no. 6 (Apr. 1920): 542. At this time, Gates was the recording secretary of the Relief Society general presidency.

8.

“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 145.

9.

M. Russell Ballard, When Thou Art Converted: Continuing Our Search for Happiness (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2001), 62.

10.

Harold B. Lee, “The Influence and Responsibility of Women,” Relief Society Magazine 51, no. 2 (Feb. 1964): 85.

11.

3 Nephi 18:19–21; Matthew 6:6–9; John 17:1, 5, 21, 24–25; see also Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8; and 3 Nephi 13:9; 17:15.

12.

Gordon B. Hinckley, “Daughters of God,” Ensign, Nov. 1991, 100.

13.

“Our Mother in Heaven,” Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star 72, no. 39 (Sept. 29, 1910): 620. Rudger Clawson was the editor of the periodical and likely author of this editorial.

14.

1 Corinthians 11:11.

15.

Dallin H. Oaks, “Apostasy and Restoration,” Ensign, May 1995, 84.