My Mom

"The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work."
(Jeffrey R. Holland, “‘Because She Is a Mother’,” Ensign, May 1997, 35)

I'd like to take the opportunity this Mother's Day to honor my own mother. She has always been a great example of selfless love, patience, courage, compassion, kindness, meekness, faith, nurturing, and sacrifice. Even now in the midst of a debilitating disease, she remains positive and cheerful. She used to sing and play the piano. How I wish I coud hear her voice sing again, and her hands play the beautiful music of my grandfather.

President Monson perfectly described my mother when he said the following in April General Conference of 1992:

"Mother, who willingly made that personal journey into the valley of the shadow of death to take us by the hand and introduce us to birth—even to mortal life—deserves our undying gratitude. One writer summed up our love for mother when he declared, 'God could not be everywhere, and so He gave us mothers.'

While on the cruel cross of Calvary, suffering intense pain and anguish, Jesus 'saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!' (John 19:26–27.) What a divine example of gratitude and love!

My own mother may not have read to me from the scriptures; rather, she taught me by her life and actions what the 'Good Book' contains."
(Thomas S. Monson, “An Attitude of Gratitude,” Ensign, May 1992, 54)

I thank Heavenly Father for my Mom and everything she taught me, both by example and by her words. I hope that my daughters will someday be as good a mother to their children as my own mother was to me. And may my son find a mate as worthy as my Mom.

I love you, Mom.