Is There an Eternal Nature of Motherhood for All Women?

Last updated on: August 27, 2022 at 9:11 am by Delisa Hargrove

Is There an Eternal Nature of Motherhood for All Women? 2022-08-27T09:11:46-10:00 Delisa Hargrove

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Last year, Public Square Magazine asked me to write a piece on motherhood for Mother’s Day. I agonized over the invitation and prayed for guidance. How did I, a woman without children, define motherhood? Could I put into words my conviction that every woman expresses an eternal nature of motherhood? My concept of motherhood bore fruit as doctrinal clarity came. Words followed. I rejoiced in the divine opportunity I have as a covenant woman of God to participate in the eternal nature of motherhood, now, as I am, in my barrenness.

The Eternal Nature of Motherhood for All Women

Among most of the Christian world the ideal of an under-shepherd pertains to those who choose to take on the ministry, recognizing that as they are shepherding those in their congregations, the True Shepherd is Jesus Christ.

Matthew Cowley, a mid-twentieth-century apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, expanded this idea in relation to women. He said that they “belong to the great sorority of Saviorhood. … You are born with an inherent right, an inherent authority, to be the saviors of human souls. You are the co-creators with God of his children. Therefore, it is expected of you by a right divine that you be the saviors and the regenerating force in the lives of God’s children here upon the earth.”

The theme continues in the ministry of current Church President, Russell M. Nelson:

My dear sisters, you have special spiritual gifts and propensities … I urge you, with all the hope of my heart, to pray to understand your spiritual gifts—to cultivate, use, and expand them, even more than you ever have. You will change the world as you do so. We need your strength, your conversion, your conviction, your ability to lead, your wisdom, and your voices. We simply cannot gather Israel without you. I love you and thank you and now bless you with the ability to leave the world behind as you assist in this crucial and urgent work. Together we can do all that our Heavenly Father needs us to do to prepare the world for the Second Coming of His Beloved Son.

Today, we find much debate over the meaning of womanhood or female identity. Latter-day Saint doctrine, then, provides significant clarity to these questions.

Yet pinned between loving accolades by Church leaders and the world’s blasting rhetoric combined with unjust acts against her, a woman’s covenant path to receive the Lord’s mantle of motherhood can be an arduous and soul-searching one.

The Lord “knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth,” beautifully intertwined a woman’s journey to exaltation in His scriptures. He marks the path by highlighting women’s roles and purposes as she progresses from a virtuous daughter of Zion to a bride, to a mother of nations, to a mother of all living while resisting the juxtaposed roles proffered by the adversary.

The Lord invites women with or without husbands and with or without children to become covenant mothers in Zion who are “the saviors and regenerating force in the lives of God’s children” and “to prepare the world for the Second Coming of His Beloved Son.” Each woman’s path is personally tailored to her circumstance and talents and enabled by the Savior’s atonement for her to become a joint-heir with Christ.

Click on this link to read the rest of the article: “The Eternal Nature of Motherhood for All Women” on Public Square Magazine.

Family, Parenting and Religion

Home and Religion

Women in Religion

Discovery

Better Choices Through Knowledge

Covenant

Nature of God

Previous Post

May 7, 2022

The Eternal Nature of the Family

Next Post

May 12, 2022 What War Did the Lord Fight in the Brooks of Arnon?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Discovery How Tos Realization Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 November 2025 October 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 June 2024 May 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz