April 14, 2018 - Reflections on Sheri Dew's 'Are We Not All Mothers?'

"When we understand the magnitude of motherhood, it becomes clear why prophets have been so protective of woman’s most sacred role. While we tend to equate motherhood solely with maternity, in the Lord’s language, the word mother has layers of meaning. Of all the words they could have chosen to define her role and her essence, both God the Father and Adam called Eve “the mother of all living”—and they did so before she ever bore a child. Like Eve, our motherhood began before we were born. Just as worthy men were foreordained to hold the priesthood in mortality, righteous women were endowed premortally with the privilege of motherhood. Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that. It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits our Father gave us."

-Sheri Dew
"Are We Not All Mothers?"

This is an emotional subject for me because I have endometriosis and my mind keeps wondering what kind of a man would want someone who might not be able to have children naturally without a lot of help or even at all? I am temple worthy and I have a lot of good qualities, skills, and talents that would make me a wonderful spouse to he who is right for me. Unfortunately for me, a lot of Mormon men are raised to want only those who can bear them endless children and who don't have mental/emotional struggles at times.

I'm not perfect and I want to be, but it's not going to happen right away and I'm fine with that. I was promised in my patriarchal blessing that I will have the opportunity to be married in the temple and that I will become a mother to many children. I am so sick of people implying that it might not happen til the next life. They are not me, they don't receive revelation for me, and I daresay some even might get a thrill watching me not receive these blessings because they think I am unworthy or undeserving of them. I am neither unworthy nor undeserving of these blessings.

The blessings of spousehood and motherhood just haven't come into my life yet and my hope is that a man with patience and understanding to my struggles and situation will come along and want me as I am. I know God loves me, I know Christ died and rose for me, and I know that I am worthy of the blessings that will come.

Those who think I am unworthy and worthless of God's blessings and do whatever they can to interfere in His plan for me know who they are, they know what they are doing is wrong, and they know that God will not condone their crap. If people want to test and mock God by ignoring my worth and shutting me out simply because they think I am crap, it is their right to do so. However, it is an unwise choice they are making and God has made his thoughts clear on what He thinks of unwise choices and He has also made it clear that choices have consequences.

I just have to keep hanging on and God will provide because I know that I am worthy to receive many blessings in His eyes. If it weren't for the Atonement, it would be much harder to hang on, so I'm glad I have it so that I can be carried by Christ right now. With the strength I am saving while being carried, I have the strength to see positives in trying situations like I am with this current burden.