Mothers Who Know

In 1983, Janice Kapp Perry, a prominent LDS composer, wrote a song called We'll Bring the World His Truth (Army of Helaman).  It was likely introduced to the Primary aged children (ages 3-12) at that time, but I was 16 years old then, so past the time I would have learned it in church. I probably became familiar with it later on, after I was married, and serving in the church as a chorister to those Primary children.

The words are as follows:

1. 1. We have been born, as Nephi of old,
   To goodly parents who love the Lord.
   We have been taught, and we understand,
   That we must do as the Lord commands.
2. 2. We have been saved for these latter days
   To build the kingdom in righteous ways.
   We hear the words our prophet declares:
   "Let each who's worthy go forth and share."
3. 3. We know his plan, and we will prepare,
   Increase our knowledge through study and prayer.
   Daily we'll learn until we are called
   To take the gospel to all the world.
4. Chorus
   We are as the army of Helaman.
   We have been taught in our youth.
   And we will be the Lord's missionaries
   To bring the world his truth.

At that time, I was a new mother to a handsome baby boy... 

And I was certainly feeling the responsibility of teaching him his true worth as a child of our Heavenly Father. I had a great example in my own mother, (pictured) so I felt I had some good resources to call upon. 

As Brennan got older, and his sisters joined our family, we tried often to get in the habit of reading the scriptures together, usually The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. We have been counseled by our church leaders to do this, and it was a blessing to our family. Our children became familiar with the accounts of ancient people in the book, but the practice of reading aloud together made them excellent reading students at school.  

One of the wonderful stories in The Book of Mormon is that of Helaman and his 2000 Stripling Warriors.

In October 2007, Julie B. Beck, the Relief Society General President, said the following, "In The Book of Mormon we read about 2000 exemplary young men who were exceedingly valiant, courageous and strong. 'Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God,  and to walk uprightly before him.' (Alma 53:21)  These faithful young men paid tribute to their mothers. They said ,  'Our mothers knew it.' (Alma 56:48)  I would suspect that the mothers of Captain Moroni, Mosiah, Mormon and other great leaders knew. "

Sister Beck continued on to say that Mothers Who Know do the following :

***Bear Children

***Honor Sacred Ordinances and Covenants

***Are Nurturers

***Are Leaders

***Are Teachers

***Do Less

***Stand Immovable and Strong

At the time of Sister Beck's Talk, in 2007, my children were ages 12, 10 and 6, and still fairly impressionable.  We regularly attended church as a family, and taught our children in the home to follow the teachings of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Needless to say, there are likely times in every mother's life that she feels that she is not doing enough, or she has failed in teaching her children.  Sister Beck's talk was encouraging to mothers around the world, to remind us to remember how important it is to KNOW - how to be an influence for good on the lives of our children, and also the world.

You Can read her full talk  Here  .  

My children are now 21, 19, and 15, and they are not too old to be taught.  I worry still with some of the choices they make, but hope that they will always return to the things that we have taught them throughout their lives. The world today is in turmoil, and there are fiery darts of the adversary being tossed at them from every turn.  

I have enjoyed reading the account of the Stripling Warriors, and being reminded how great of a responsibility it is to continue teaching my family. I feel the weight of it a little more as a single parent now, but I know that with the help of my Heavenly Father, and diligence in following the commandments, I can try to make sure that my children know that I am a Mother Who Knows..