This One's For the Girls...

When I think about my life and pause to ponder about why I am here, an overwhelming feeling of gratitude fills my heart.

I am a woman - who once was a girl who dreamed of becoming a mother. I have been blessed. My dream has been fulfilled. I have become a mother - to 4 beautiful children. I am humbled when I look upon the faces of my children, and constantly pray within my heart and mind that I will be guided by our Father in Heaven as to how to care for and teach them as He would have me do. For I am a mother - and mothers fulfill a divine and essential role as partner with God in fulfilling the Plan of Salvation - by providing the temples that our other brothers and sisters need in order to gain their salvation. What a wonderful blessing it is to be a woman - to nurture our Heavenly Father's children!

I would encourage you to hold tight to the whisperings of the Spirit and the feelings deep within your hearts about how beautiful and important you are as daughters of God and future mothers. Do not let the loud voices of the world extinguish the small, yet bright flame of truth within you - the undeniable truth of your value and importance. Do not let Satan use his tools of discouragement, confusion and fear to persuade you to think otherwise. He is working so hard to thwart Heavenly Father's plan of happiness. Create a loving family - Man, Woman and Child.

I know that Heavenly Father lives and loves me, just as he knows and loves each of you. I am grateful to be a mother and humbly accept the responsibility to care for His children - to teach them about who they are and where they came from - so that they can return home to Him someday. I know Jesus Christ is our Savior and I strive to teach my children to go to Him for comfort and to find the answers they seek. I know the gospel that is taught in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and pure, and I testify of these truths in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.