Dear Ward Members,
On this beautiful Mother’s Day my thoughts are with my Mother, my Wife, and all of the other Mothers out there who have had such a great influence on their families. To all the sisters out there I express great reverence and thanks for all you do, and for all you mean to the families of our Heavenly Father’s children.
As I contemplate the situation we are all in, with “Home Church”, in many aspects I am grateful that we can focus this Sabbath day on the dear Sisters in our lives. How grateful I am for the example and influence that the Sisters have, not only in my life, but on our Heavenly Father’s kingdom as a whole. Women have many characteristics of such importance to the salvation of mankind that exaltation would not be possible without them. Elder Matthew Cowley was quoted at saying, “You sisters belong to the great sorority of saviorhood. You may not hold the priesthood. Men are different, men have to have something given to them to make them saviors of men, but not mothers, not women. You are the co-creators with God of his children.” Jack R. Christianson said, “You, as a woman, whether or not you have the opportunity to bear children, belong to the sorority of saviorhood. I don’t know of anything more beautiful than that.”
Sisters, and Brothers also, we often feel we fall short in our efforts to be all that we can and should be. Six years ago, as I was preparing to speak on Mother’s Day in our ward for a high council speaking assignment, I had been praying to know what I should say to the sisters in the ward. About 2:30 A.M. on the morning I was to talk, I was awakened with a thought that was so powerful to me that I had to get up and write it down before I forgot what it said. It was this, “Your imperfections may be exactly what your children need to help them come closer to God, and to help them get to the Celestial Kingdom.
I pray that the Lord’s choicest blessings will be with you at this time. Happy Mother’s Day!!!
Love,
Bother Shelley
