Monday, January 31, 2011

The Song that Started it All

There's a children's song I grew up singing the words to which goes like this:

"I belong to the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
I know who I am,
 I know God's plan,
I'll follow Him in faith.
  I believe in the Savior Jesus Christ,
I'll honor His name. 
 I'll do what is right, I'll follow His light, His truth I will proclaim."

Children age 3-12 go to two hours of what we call "Primary" every Sunday while the adults tend Sunday School one hour and Relief Society (for the Women) and Priesthood (for the Men) the second hour.

I bring this up because my earliest memories of Church were when I learned this song in Primary.  It is the effect of this song on my influential mind of youth that gives me the confidence I have as a Mother to know that I know God's plan for me; and that I am fulfilling the plan He has for my life by fulfilling my role as Wife and Mother.

  Because of the teachings of the Mormon church I understand "God's plan for me", as becoming a wife and Mother and giving all my time and effort to that cause.  I look at today's society and feel genuine sorrow for most, because it seems to me they have no true direction; they don't know where to look for instruction on how to live life appropriately.

Without this Church, I fear my faith and confidence to raise children in this society would be less than adequate.  I am happy to know confidently that the efforts I place in rearing my children today is exactly how I can "do what is right,..folllow His light..[and proclaim His truth]."

Thursday, January 27, 2011

We prefer "Homemaker" to "Housewife"

Thank you for posting my blog link at the bottom of this blog article. 
http://todaysmama.com/2011/01/mormons-they-are-everywhere/?replytocom=8989#respond
  I'm glad to see someone else has taken as much interest blogging about the salon article, 
“Why I can’t stop reading Mormon housewife blogs” as I have.

This "Mormon housewife blog" article was actually brought up by another Mormon mommy at a playgroup I attended TODAY!  OH how I wanted to shout out, "Yeah, I set up a WHOLE blog to address this article!"
Other Mormon moms LOVE that we are getting attention for doing what we choose to do as Moms in today's society where the focus is on material acquisition at the expense of child-bearing and rearing.

 Some Mormon moms at the playgroup and I, discussed in great detail the craziness of our modern world and how things are soooo backwards in where our values as a society lie.  I love how other people not of our faith are gravitating towards our way of life.  They see it as "retro" (the mothering, woman role fulfilling way of life) when we see it as just living life as we've been taught in the Mormon church.


 As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints, I know the followers on this blog will take everything I say as "Doctrine" and assume that what I post here is definately what Mormons are all about; so, I must proceed extremely cautiously as to how I come across.  I don't want any of my posts to create a new misconception in someone else's mind and start the whole vicious cycle over again.  So, for reference, I encourage you to visit the OFFICIAL church website to learn more about us, but my stories and life relating experiences can give you at least a partial clue on typical.  Visit http://www.lds.org/ or http://www.mormon.org/ and browse around.

I'll leave you with an excerpt from a talk given by an Elder in our church, whom we uphold as "Prophets, Seers and Revelators":  I can see how he was correct in 1977 when he delivered the address, addressing the topic of ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).  I love how he correctly foretold how women would stop "giving in" to their instincts as women if the amendment passed. 

No wonder "Feminist-Atheists" are so intruigued by blogging Mormon Mommies; we are a rare find, indeed!

President Packer Proclaimed:

“In Utah, where our Church is headquartered, women received the right to vote in 1870, fifty years before the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution granted the right nationally.
“There have been injustices to women before the law and in society generally. These we deplore.
“There are additional rights to which women are entitled.
“However, we firmly believe that the Equal Rights Amendment is not the answer.
“While the motives of its supporters may be praiseworthy, ERA as a blanket attempt to help women could indeed bring them far more restraints and repressions. We fear it will even stifle many God-given feminine instincts."

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

"Rosie the Riveter"

Google those words and you'll see the image I am about to comment on.  Because it is copyrighted, I have refrained from posting the image here, but nonetheless let me begin.

In middle school, I purchased a shirt from a trip to D.C. with this gal on it and I thought I was pretty tough stuff everytime I wore it.  Everything about my attitude changed when I wore that shirt.  It seemed it appealled to almost every girl in my grade, for we all went home wearing one.  Looking at the image, I think of women empowerment and it fosters a "get out of my way I don't need a man around" attitude.  I think this image is the epitome of thought that predominates and teaches our growing girls how to behave, as evidenced by so many of my peers (myself included) who couldn't leave the museum without one in their possession. 

How far I've come, since that day, in coming to understand what "toughness" really is and how to go about getting that acknowledgement from men that so many women desire.  So many women have to "fight" to get recognition in the workplace and academic arena to try to validate their actions, but let me tell you; the fastest and easiest way to get this kind of recognition is to marry the right man, love him unconditionally, serve him by bearing his children, make daily sacrifices to tend to them, and then, he'll whisper in your ear one morning, out of no where, like my husband did in mine, this morning,  "You are so tough.  You deserve anything you want. You sacrifice your life for me and the kids."

I'm willing to bet a whole career of workaholic women whose lives are dominated by the "all about me and what I can accomplish" attitude will work their lives away and never hear such beautiful words as I heard this morning coming from my loving, appreciative husband.  

What's not to envy about my role as wife and mother when I get to wake up in the morning to a husband kneeling at my bedside with words of thanks, admiration and accolades like this? 

Already have a follower?

Thank you Lindsay for stumbling across this blog and following me.   You are the first of potentially many more like-minded individuals who feel the need to return to the traditional ways of society and take pride in fulfilling our roles as women. 

I wasn't expecting someone to find me overnight.  May I ask how you stumbled upon my little experimental blog?  It is my hope that once I've been found, and now that I have, my story can be shared! 

Monday, January 24, 2011

Dear Mommy-blogger followers:

It is my conclusion after reading this link, http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/01/15/feminist_obsessed_with_mormon_blogs , that the woman writing the article is likely not the only out there with a drive and need to live a pseudo-life through Mormon-mommy-bloggers.

It is my opinion that there is a need that is partially being fulfilled by following the lives of others who have given way to the mothering life. I see it as evidence of a need that is not being fulfilled in their current lifestyle. 

They yearn for what these Mormon mothers have, but are not willing to go against their social pressures and  modern-day stigmas of what marriage and family life bring.

Being a mother is the absolute apex of creativity, and these "feminist" blog followers are yearning to understand how life as a woman is ultimately suppose to be. 

As a mom, and one who plays the role of current wife and mother, you will not see me taking time out of my busy diaper-changing, batman pretending, boo-boo kissing day, to follow the lives of non-mothers.  Their lives are simply not interesting to me because I've got my needs fulfilled as a wife and mother. 
My "non-seeking out of other's lives" is evidence enough to show that I am satisfied enough to be happy with the domestic, most feminine, life.

They are yearning to be creative, to climb the corporate and educational latter in hopes of finding something at the top; when really, the most rewarding life is evidenced in the creation of children with a loving spouse who jointly helps to rear those children in love and righteousness.

I live my life as a homemaker, husband entreator, and creator of children. And in contrast to popular held belief, being a true feminist is just that, fulfilling womanly roles that only women can most perfectly fulfill.

Mormon Mommy Blog

Today on Facebook, I stumbled across this link, and it got me thinking....and then the idea of creating this blog enwrapped me and so it has begun. 

 This is my attempt at educating the world on how a day as a Mormon mother of three can change your view on what life should really be about, (if only but for the small amount of time you sit and read my posts) and ultimately convince you, the reader, where the modern woman of today should ultimately place their focus to find the most lasting happiness.

http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/01/15/feminist_obsessed_with_mormon_blogs