On Sunday, July 1st, we blessed our baby at church.

In our church, babies are usually blessed on the first Sunday of the month, when we have fast and testimony meeting. Members of the congregation fast (go without food or drink) for 2 meals, and give the money that they would have spent on those meals to help feed the poor. The meeting during that Sunday is dedicated to the bearing of testimonies. Members of the congregation are invited to stand before everyone to bear their testimony of Jesus Christ, of His gospel, and other divine truths.

Our parents came to be with us for the baby blessing, so our children were divided between grandparents in the pews, rather than sitting next to us on this Sunday. This allowed me the opportunity to sit next to a young girl of 13. I noticed her staring at at the baby in my arms, and I wondered what she was thinking.

A little while later, she rose to bear her testimony, and to my surprise, I found out what she had been thinking.

She said that she was staring at our baby, and that she was thinking about the divinity of motherhood, and what an important role it will be for her to fulfill someday.

It was one of the most simple, most profound testimonies that I have ever heard.

Did you know that you testified of the importance of motherhood, simply by choosing to bear children?  I had never thought of it that way. Her words helped me to see the examples that we set, simply by choosing to give life to the spirits who are waiting to come to this earth.

I asked her if she wanted to hold the baby. She blinked back tears and said yes, and she held my sleeping infant in her arms for the rest of the meeting.

“Years ago, a son wrote to his mother and asked her what she did to successfully rear her children—all nineteen of them! She wrote him this reply:
The writing anything about my way of education I am much adverse to. It cannot, I think, be of service to anyone to know how I, who have lived such a retired life for so many years, used to employ my time and care in bringing up my own children. No one can, without renouncing the world, in the most literal sense, observe my methods; and there are few, if any, that would entirely devote above twenty years of the prime of life in hopes to save souls of their children,which they think may be saved without so much ado; for that was my principal intention, however unskillfully and unsuccessfully managed.” (Franklin Wilder, Immortal Mother, New York: Vantage Press, 1966, p. 43; italics added.)
That mother was Susannah Wesley, and the son who wrote was John Wesley, one of the great reformers. Twenty years of the prime of life in the hopes of saving the souls of her children! Such a task required skill, competence, courage, intelligence, and ingenuity far above any career.”

Motherhood is a divine calling. Your example influences others far beyond what you may ever know.

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17 Comments

  1. What a beautiful, precious little girl you hold in your arms! The look of love on your face is a testimony of motherhood all by itself.-Marivene

  2. I love the pictures of you with Ivory! You are both beautiful! It’s easy to lose focus of the importance of what we are doing in being at home with our children and homeschooling them. Sometimes I focus to heavily on what I’m giving up in a “Woe is me. I could have been….” way. Other times I’m prideful “Oh, how wonderful I am to sacrifice. Just look at me SACRIFICING!” Only staying in God’s Word and praying keeps my focus on Him and my primary goal in being at home- my children’s salvation and relationship with their Creator.A very timely and important post. -Danielle B

  3. To answer “anonymous” I believe the divinity of motherhood is simply the fact that motherhood is divine, that being a mother is ordained of God and to fulfill that calling in life is not only what God wants women to do (within the bonds of marriage) but will also bring a woman closer to God.

  4. The first commandment given to Adam and Eve on this earth was the commandment to multiply and replinsh the earth. It is a divine commandment with a divine purpose–to be a mother. Through motherhood, we come closer to God.Julie’s comments truly answer the question so beautifully.

  5. beautiful. i have always thought your website photos display such simplicity and beauty. thankful for your God given gift for making things pretty.sorry this is off topic, but i could not find a contact button- how did you use the math website listed under your homeschool tab on your website? did you just visit it everday and teach from it? print off the concepts? would love a free resource such as this and appreciate any wisdom you have. thanks in advance:)

  6. Yes, I too would love to hear some posts on how you homeschool. I have 2 children that I would love to homeschool but just get so overwhelmed thinking of how I would do it and get all the housework done and everything else. And picking cirriculum, and a schedule, and dealing with my son who desperately hates to read. It appears to me that almosst all homeschoolers that I read their blogs or know, they love to do crafts of some sort. I am not creative at all, therefore don’t believe that I could do it. Sounds silly, doesn’t it? But I’ve seen a correlation.

  7. To Anonymous – I homeschool my children, and I and NOT crafty at all! I think you should attend some homeschooling seminars – you’ll see that there are SO many different ways to school your children, and you can find one that fits you and your children. To Brandy – I wonder if you’d post how you made your little baby’s dress and bonnet – I love it! 🙂

  8. Anonymous, you most certainly do NOT have to do crafts to homeschool! In fact, not doing any could make you a better teacher, since you won’t be tempted to sneak off and sew instead of having school (not that I’ve EVER felt that way–just kidding! I totally have!)Of course you can do it! The most important thing that you need to have, which you just said that you DO have, is the desire! You said you would LOVE to. That’s all that you need.

  9. I am inspired by your website & blog. Things are tight w/ our budget too, but I love how you make things beautiful. How can you feel deprived when surrounded by beauty?My baby was born the same week as yours. We LOVE having a baby again- they bring such joy!

  10. Brandi, do you have a recent photo of your whole family posted somewhere? I was looking around the website and couldn’t find one. Bettye

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