Gender and My Eternal Idenity

We have been studying” “The Family: A Proclamation to the Word” and this week we took a deeper look at who we are, and what our divine roles are in our families. I really struggle with wanting to be home more with my children, but also working outside the home. For now I get the privilege to do both, with the partnership of a loving spouse who works along side me to be equal partners in the raising of our children. One of the talks I read this week was: Elder D. Todd Christofferson: The Moral Force of Women. Here is a little bit of that talk: “A woman’s moral influence is nowhere more powerfully felt or more beneficially employed than in the home. There is no better setting for rearing the rising generation than the traditional family, where a father and a mother work in harmony to provide for, teach, and nurture their children. Where this ideal does not exist, people strive to duplicate its benefits as best they can in their particular circumstances. In all events, a mother can exert an influence unequaled by any other person in any other relationship. By the power of her example and teaching, her sons learn to respect womanhood and to incorporate discipline and high moral standards in their own lives. Her daughters learn to cultivate their own virtue and to stand up for what is right, again and again, however unpopular. A mother’s love and high expectations lead her children to act responsibly without excuses, to be serious about education and personal development, and to make ongoing contributions to the well-being of all around them.” Wow, who should ever be ashamed to say their job is being Mom!! The Family: Proclamation to the world tells us about the specific roles of a Mother and a Father: HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are a heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations. …By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed. What a great week this has been for learning my divine role as a mother and wife. I must admit there are some guilt feelings for not being home with my children more, but I know what I am doing the best for my family in this moment, and I can keep striving to be better. Mothers are essential to the family, and we are loved by our Father in Heaven. October 10, 2014