Farewell Talk
There is no better day for me give my farewell talk, than Mother’s day. Without the help and example of my Mother there is no way I would be serving a mission in a few weeks. My mother has shown tremendous love for me over the years, whether it was helping me with the dishes or going to get some candy at a gas station, my Mom has always done her best to express her care for me. In 9th grade I had my first ever track meet and I was not sure how I would do. In order to save myself some embarrassment, I asked my Mom not to go just in case I didn’t do well. After I had ran a few laps I looked over to the side of the track and saw my Mom cheering me on while trying to hide behind a row of bushes. I ended up doing better than I expected and I was glad that my Mom came. She has always been my biggest cheerleader in anything I have done, from basketball to my studies she has always done her best to show her support.
It is very reassuring to know that if you slip and fall, there will always be someone there to catch you. There are many times when my Mom has saved my bacon, and I’m sure many of you can think of times when your Moms have helped you out of a tough situation. It isn’t until now that I realize how much she has helped me. As we look back on our lives, we see just how much work our Mothers went through in raising us.
Who helped you tie your shoes when you were young? or brought your lunch to school when you left it at home? When you forgot your science project was due the next day, who made a late-night run for poster board and glue? It was Mom.
Every Christmas, even though money was always tight, who consistently pulled off a miracle and made Christmas morning magical and memorable? It was Mom.
Each day is filled with toys to put away and noses to wipe, dinners to make and work to squeeze in. You can’t remember when—if ever—she took time for herself.
You now understand better than ever that mothers are gifts from God. In fact, motherhood is the “highest, holiest service . . . given to mankind.”
My mother has been great in finding ways to spend time with all of her kids, despite a busy schedule. I remember going to the church basketball court many times over the summer, and my Mom would rebound hundreds of basketball shots for me. She always found time to sneak in a little trip to get frozen yogurt, or go to the temple. These instances made a huge impact and helped me realize how much my Mom cares.
Sister Marjorie Hinckley gave a quote that I really liked.
“MOTHERS ARE ENDOWED WITH A LOVE THAT IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER LOVE ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.”
You are a child of God who He entrusted to your mother’s care, her hands substituted for God’s as she bandaged a skinned knee or wiped away your tears. Her words of love and wisdom guided you through rough patches, instilling in you the confidence to succeed. The things she taught you became the lessons you now teach to your own children.
The following was given in a talk given by Sheri L. Dew titled "Are we not all mothers?”
Motherhood is not what was left over after our Father blessed His sons with priesthood ordination. It was the most ennobling endowment He could give His daughters, a sacred trust that gave women an unparalleled role in helping His children keep their second estate. As President J. Reuben Clark Jr. declared, motherhood is “as divinely called, as eternally important in its place as the Priesthood itself.”
8
Being a mother is so much more than a biological process. It’s a heavenly job created by God before this life. In heaven, all of us who live now and all who have ever lived on earth lived with God as His spirit sons and daughters. God has a plan that allows all of us to come to earth, acquire physical bodies, and grow through life’s experiences, eventually returning to Him again after we die.
Julie B. Beck stated that,
“THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT A MOTHER CAN ACCOMPLISH. RIGHTEOUS WOMEN HAVE CHANGED THE COURSE OF HISTORY AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.”
God chose mothers to bear the responsibility of providing physical bodies for His children through the miraculous process of pregnancy and birth. Being a mother means participating in the miracle that is God’s greatest work. Thomas S. Monson, said, “One cannot remember mother and forget God. Why? Because these two sacred persons, God and mother, partners in creation, in love, in sacrifice, in service, are as one.”
In talk given in the October 2007 General Conference, Sister Julie B. Beck says the following. "In the
Book of Mormon we read about 2,000 exemplary young men who were exceedingly valiant, courageous, and strong. (
Alma 53:21) states, “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”. 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 also knew. Where would we be if these mothers were not there to send these great leaders on the right path?
The divine role of motherhood is exhibited in all women, whether they’ve born children or not. It is important to remember that the call to nurture is not limited to our own flesh and blood. Whether it’s an aunt, a teacher, a friend, or a community leader, we are all deeply indebted to the moral, steadying influence of good women in our lives.
JESUS CHRIST SHOWED US THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW TO TREAT OUR MOTHERS.
Mary had humbly listened to an angel tell her that she, a virgin, would carry and give birth to the long-awaited Messiah. How would she explain to her betrothed, Joseph, what God had asked her to do? Despite her unanswered questions, she had said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).
All of the feelings of inadequacy that mothers sometimes feel must have rested on Mary, who knew that Jesus was meant to become something far greater than a mere carpenter. She watched her son confound older men in the temple and, later, turn water to wine. She heard firsthand His transcendental teachings and saw the outcome of His innumerable miracles—the blind seeing, the dead living, and the dumb speaking. She wondered at all of it.
But nothing—not scripture or miracles or prophecy—could have prepared her to watch her son die. Mary’s heart broke as Jesus was sentenced to the cruelest death imaginable. As Jesus hung from the cross, Mary looked up into her son’s tortured face and wept.
Jesus never forgot His mother, even as His crucified body trembled with indescribable pain.
From the cross, He saw His trusted disciple, and said to Mary, “Woman, behold thy son!”
And to the disciple, He said, “Behold thy mother!”
He never forgot, even in His anguish, the woman who cared for Him even before she could hold Him in her arms—the earthly mother who had prepared Him for a divine mission.
WHEN OUR BRANCH ATTENDED YOUTH CONFERENCE, THERE WAS A GREAT TALK ABOUT HOW TO RESPECT WOMEN.
I forgot who gave the lesson, and a lot of what he said, but I can recall that I could do a lot better in showing respect to women. He told of an experience he had while getting into the car after an outing with his parents. As they were walking back form whatever activity they were attending he walked straight to his own door and waited for his Dad to unlock the car. He had walked up to his own door without opening the door for his Mom. His Dad opened up the door for his wife, then opened his own door, got in the car, and drove off without him. Whether it is opening the door, or a giving a simple thank you, I’m sure that all of us, can do a little better in showing respect and gratitude for women.
“THERE ARE FEW THINGS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE PRAYERS OF A RIGHTEOUS MOTHER.”
Boyd K. Packer
Most mothers know that whenever life is overwhelming, they can turn to God. Because motherhood is a divinely appointed calling, mothers are enabled by help from above in times of need. Through sleepless nights, dark days, and seemingly impossible and difficult circumstances, the prayers of righteous mothers have been a source of unparalleled divine power in homes, communities, and entire nations.
My Dad shared an article with me from Deseret News, That was titled “Lives of love: the true beauty of moms, in four movements. It gives just a few examples of Women who have sacrificed a lot to take care of their families. From losing both of her legs and an arm during complications in childbirth, to raising the teenage kids of a sister who had passed away. The article shows the extreme care and love women show for children even when they face major adversity themselves. There are women everywhere who put their needs behind them to take care of others.
I HAD THE SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MY MOM AS A SEMINARY TEACHER
Not only was this great because I just had to walk upstairs to get to class, but because I got to see a more spiritual side of my Mother on a day to day basis. She asked us each day about tender mercies that we had received the previous day. Even though some days it was quiet for a good couple of minutes, we all had experiences come to mind of when these tender mercies had shown up in our life. This helped me recognize how much help I receive from the Lord everyday. As she bore her testimony after each lesson, I could feel my own testimony grow stronger and stronger. Having her as a seminary teacher also helped me gain a better understanding of the Book of Mormon and prepare for a mission.
As I look back, i realize just how big of a role my Mom played in helping me prepare for a mission.
She set me up for success. She took me to primary when I was little. She supported my decision to be baptized at 8 years old. She was one of my cub scout pack leaders. She helped me to know which friends I should spend my time with, and other friends that I should be cautious of. She taught me to sing the hymns in church, despite how bad my voice is. She drove me to mutual and scouts every Wednesday. She led by example, and encouraged me to pay tithing. Thanks to my mother, the road that I have taken to get to this point has been pretty easy.
Abraham Lincoln stated that,
“ALL THAT I AM OR EVER HOPE TO BE, I OWE TO MY ANGEL MOTHER.”
So this Mother’s Day, let your mom know she’s important. Write her a card, create a tribute, send some flowers—because when you think about it: who was the champion and cheerleader for nearly everything in life you cling to with all your heart?
It was Mom.
As I close my talk, I would like to thank all of you for helping me feel welcome in the short time that I have been here.
I would like to bear my testimony, I know this gospel is true. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that through the atonement of Christ, we can be forgiven of our sins. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet called of God. I know that there is nothing better that I can be doing with these next two years of my life, than serving a mission. and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
