"...and call her blessed..."

This morning as I was studying in the Book of Mormon, some questions came to my mind, and I found myself in the Bible, reading in Luke. I read this verse:

"For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck." -Luke 23:29

Today this verse struck me in a different light than it ever had before.

In my Family Processes class yesterday, a few of the many topics we discussed were changing trends in marriage and fertility rates around the world.

Modern research shows that the way people think about marriage is becoming increasingly disconnected from child-bearing. Many people don't feel there is or needs to be a connection between the two.

 As far as re-population rates, most Western countries are far below the fertility rate (2.1- meaning that 2.1 children per woman are required to keep our population at the same number) required to repopulate their own country. Some countries are so far below the 2.1 rate (at 0.7) that they fear their entire population will be made of foreigners in less than 20 years. Governments of countries who are concerned about their re-population rates try to give their people incentives to have children (like writing out a check for thousands of dollars for a couple who has a baby, or guaranteeing up to 3 years of maternity leave and a guaranteed position at their job for 7 years after that for a mother who has a baby, or even matching any amount that parents put in a saving account for their new baby). Yet despite these high incentives, the re-population rates have not improved.

Now back to the scripture in Luke. As I read it, it struck me that this exact thing is happening today. "...they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck." While many (if not most) individuals still believe in families and desire to have a family, our society and perhaps much of our world are sending us this message... "blessed is a woman who is free from the responsibility of motherhood, who can be independent, who has an incredible career, who can travel whenever she wants, who can do what she wants..."

While it can be wonderful for a woman to have a great education and career, to travel, and to work towards her individual dreams and goals, it seems that today there is so much emphasis on this idea of a woman's "freedom" that motherhood is looked down upon. Being a wife and mother are often seen as limiting or binding.

After reading that verse and seeing what much of our media and society believe about mothers, I wanted to study a bit more about what God thinks of mothers and motherhood...

"Mother: A sacred title referring to a woman who bears or adopts children. Mothers assist in God's plan by providing mortal bodies for God's spirit children." -LDS Guide to the Scriptures


"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
Give her the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."
-Proverbs 31:28, 30-31 (Bible)

"When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!" -John 19: 26 (Bible)


"...yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them." -Alma 56:47 (Book of Mormon)

"Among the great and mighty ones who were assembled in this vast congregation of the righteous were Father Adam, the Ancient of Days and father of all, And our glorious Mother Eve, with many of her faithful daughters who had lived through the ages and worshiped the true and living God." -Doctrine and Covenants 138:38-39 (Latter-day Saints believe the Doctrine and Covenants to be modern scripture and revelations from God)

While we could go into great detail about every one of these verses, they all teach us that God loves mothers. And He always will, regardless of what the rest of the world says. He sends mothers to the earth to play an important role in His plan. He sends them here to teach their children, our future generations, to nurture and love, to testify of Jesus Christ through their deeds. In the world's eyes, a woman who escapes motherhood is blessed, but in God's eyes, mothers are blessed. Regardless of whether a woman has already born children or not, if it is her desire to be a righteous woman and mother, I believe that God is pleased with her desires and will someday (in His timing) bless her to play the sacred role of mother.


Blessed are mothers.