Ever since watching Sister Julie B. Beck’s phenomenal conference address at the women’s portion of General Conference last week, I have been inspired to try harder to be the kind of mother she spoke of. I made up new job charts for my children and have stuck to enforcing them. I have recommitted myself to menus and to housework. I have tried to read my scriptures and pray more regularly. I have cut down the amount of television time. And it’s been one of the hardest weeks of my life.
The opposition has come in full force and tried to knock me off my feet. The demands are never-ending, the challenges are getting tougher. I’m doing my best to set the example and to bring down the level of contention in the home, and I’m absolutely exhausted. What finally broke me was the bottle of vinegar that was broken all over my living room carpet Saturday night. I told my husband that I just didn’t know if I could do it anymore.
After listening to Sister Beck’s second address in the general session of conference yesterday afternoon, I remembered why I wanted to up my game and be a better mother. All day, the question nagged me—why is being a mother so hard? And I believe I’ve finally hit on an answer.
The Church is really emphasizing the family. While we’ve always been a family-oriented church, in the last years we’ve seen much more focus on this precious topic. The Proclamation was given. The sentence “strengthen home and family” was added to the Young Women’s theme. The Relief Society gained a theme of their own, with the family being at its core. The Lord wants us to circle our wagons and protect our families. Is it any wonder, then, that the opposition would be working that much harder to destroy our families?
As the mother, I’m the gatekeeper of my home. I am charged with many responsibilities in regards to my children, my husband, my housework, my own spiritual development, and in setting a good example in bringing us all back to live with our Heavenly Father. It is no wonder to me that the opposition’s main point of attack will be me. I stand between my family and evil, and evil wants in.
Does having this knowledge make the trials and the burdens suddenly disappear? No, of course not. But it makes me stronger to deal with them. I know how to pray for strength. I know how to invite the Spirit of the Lord to be with us and to guide us. I know how to shore up my own reserves. My family is my most important responsibility, and I must do what it takes to fulfill my calling to the very best of my ability.
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