Motherhood

“Women -- and particularly women of God who have the Holy Ghost with them and are filled with the pure love of Christ -- have an endless and eternal impact on those they love, especially their children. As far as I’m concerned, such an impact far exceeds any contribution a woman makes leading a company or even a nation. It’s not that there isn’t value in those pursuits; the point here is not about value or comparisons, but about perspective and priorities. What can possibly equate with nurturing and shaping a human life?” (Sheri Dew, If Life Were Easy It Wouldn‘t Be So Hard, 107)

first grandchild

“The love of a true mother comes nearer to being like the love of God than any other kind of love.” (Joseph F. Smith, Improvement era, May 1913, 730)

COOK 2006

WONG 2008

REASOR 1988

Mary is the example of a miraculous mother. Mary knew her son's great potential and raised him to meet that potential. Every child has God given potential ours is the work of making it possible for our children to meet that potential.

Family Thanksgiving 1965
Mothers of Generations
Wesley father of 5, Amy Ella HAWKES SMITH mother of 5, Camilla SMITH WOOD mother of 6, Loretta mother of 6, Gaye mother of 6, Corinne mother of 4, Sarah, Denise mother of 10, Lark mother of 4, Kristine mother of 10, Leona SMITH WINSOR KRAVET mother of 3, Laura Elizabeth PARKER WOOD mother of 7.

Camilla SMITH WOOD 1955
Denise, Corky, Lark

“When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of Lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses?” (Neal A. Maxwell Ensign, May 1978, 10-11)

Ella HAWKES SMITH 1933

Four Daughters and One Son

Laura Elizabeth PARKER WOOD
back left 4.Cass Shiblon, 6.Kirt DeMar, 5.Chase McCray,
front left 2. Roland Parker, Mom, 7. Lex Fernard
about 1952

Sarah Jane GIBSON WOOD and oldest child John Andrew WOOD 1883
Sarah was the mother of 9.

Mothers, “Yours is the grand tradition of Eve, the mother of all the human family….Yours is the grand tradition of Sarah and Rebekah and Rachel, without whom there could not have those magnificent patriarchal promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob….Yours is the grand tradition of Lois and Eunice and the mothers of the 2,000 stripling warriors. Yours is the grand tradition of Mary, chosen and foreordained from before this world was, to conceive, carry, and bear the son of God Himself. We thank all of you…and tell you there is nothing more important in this world than participating so directly in the work and glory of God….Yours is the work of Salvation, and there fore you will be magnified, compensated, made more than you are and better than you have ever been as you try to make an honest effort, however feeble you may sometimes feel that to be.” (Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, May 1997, 36).