Current Lessons
Lesson No. Fifty-One

Mothers Matter Much - 2025 Mother’s Day Message

“The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is the Hand That Rules the World” is the title of the poem written by William Ross Wallace in 1865 that recognizes and praises motherhood as the preeminent force for good changes in the world. The message of this poem is an important part of the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Well-known mothers who have blessed and changed the world:

- Eve, “The mother of all living” (see Eve, LDS Bible Dictionary); Scripture also describes her as “our glorious Mother Eve” (D&C 138:39) – We have the unique belief that Eve’s actions in the Garden of Eden were courageous and necessary. She opened the door of mortality, which is an essential experience in our eternal progression. As she exclaimed: “Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient” (Moses 5:11). “Without question she was like her mighty husband, Adam, in intelligence and in devotion to righteousness, during both her first and second estates of existence” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 471).

- Mary the mother of Jesus – Nephi described Mary as “a virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins” (1 Nephi 11:15). “Our Lord’s mother, Mary, like Christ, was chosen and foreordained in the pre-existence for the part she was to play in the plan of salvation. Hers was the commission to provide a temporal body for the Lord Omnipotent, to nurture and cherish him in infancy and youth, and to aid him in preparing for his great mission. Certainly she was one of the noblest and greatest of all the spirit offspring of the Father” (Ibid, p. 242).

- Sarah, Rebecca, and Rachel were the mothers of the house of Israel because they were the wives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who were the fathers of the house of Israel. Sarah was the mother of Isaac, Rebecca was the mother of Jacob, and Rachel was the mother of Joseph. The covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob He also made with Sarah, Rebecca, and Rachel. The promised blessings were given to Abraham and Sarah, to Isaac and Rebecca, and to Jacob and Rachel. These women were equal with their husbands in every righteous way.

- Sariah the wife of Lehi and the mother of Nephi – Sariah, like her husband Lehi, “was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore [she] did as the Lord commanded [her]. And it came to pass that [she] departed into the wilderness. And [she] left [her] house, and the land of [her] inheritance, and [her] gold, and [her] silver, and [her] precious things, and took nothing with [her], save it were [her] family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness” (1 Nephi 2:4). Sariah was the mother of the Nephites and the Lamanites.

- Lucy Mack Smith the mother of Joseph and Hyrum Smith – Lucy raised Joseph and Hyrum in a loving home where she nurtured and prepared them for their callings, of which it has been written: “Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it…. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!” (D&C 135:3).

Lesser-known mothers who have blessed and changed the world:

- Mary Fielding Smith the wife of Hyrum Smith and the mother of Joseph F. Smith and the grandmother of Joseph Fielding Smith – When Hyrum was martyred Mary was raising several children from Hyrum’s first marriage and her own son Joseph F. Smith, who like her grandson Joseph Fielding Smith became presidents of the Church. Mary stayed close to the leaders of the Church, and the strength of her testimony was demonstrated as brought her family west and raised them in Salt Lake City.

- Nancy Hanks Lincoln – “All that I am or hope to be I owe to my angel mother” (Abraham Lincoln). Abraham Lincoln and George Washington are considered to be the greatest US presidents. Unlike Washington, Lincoln was raised in very humble circumstances living on the frontier. Nancy’s example shows the lifelong impact mothers have on young children.

- Sarah Bush Lincoln – Abraham Lincoln was blessed with two wonderful mothers. A year after Nancy’s premature death Thomas Lincoln married Sarah when Abraham was 11 years old. Sarah and Abraham quickly bonded. She encouraged Abraham’s eagerness to learn and his desire to read. He described her as “a good and kind mother.” He ensured Sarah’s wellbeing until he died. Sarah’s example shows the lifelong impact mothers have on teenagers.

- Stella H. Oaks mother of Dallin H. Oaks – Stella’s remarkable story of a single mother raising three successful children in difficult circumstances can be found at the website of the Stella H. Oaks Foundation. This Foundation promotes the certain truth, “That when you educate a mother, you educate generations.”

Mothers who have blessed and changed my life:

- Rachel Petty Lunt – My mother was a gifted and independent woman. She was well educated and successful in many ways, including loving and encouraging her three boys whom she raised in an untraditional way. It worked for our family. She passed 22 years ago, and the love and appreciation her sons have for her continues to grow. (Rachel’s Knoll is in Sedona Arizona)

- Susan Child Lunt – My eternal companion of over 57 years is a most remarkable woman and mother. Her every instinct is to nurture others, especially her family. She has passed these instincts to our daughters. Proverbs 31:10-28 describes her perfectly: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her…She will do him good all the days of her life…She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy… She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the way of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children raise up, and call her blessed; her husband also and he praiseth her.”

- Michelle Lunt Hilton, Sarah Lunt Bradley, Christine Lunt Jackman, Katie Lunt Rynearson, Sydney Lunt, and Chantele Lunt – My daughters and daughters-in-law are spectacular wives and mothers. They are intelligent, accomplished, and well educated, but their families come first. They have given us 26 grandchildren, and they have also passed their feminine virtues to their daughters.

- Jessie Mostert, Krissy Sommers, and Hannah Lunt Anderson – These three granddaughters have given us 8 great grandchildren so far, and there will be many more as our 14 other granddaughters mature. Our family enjoys the great blessing that intelligent, accomplished, nurturing, and righteous wives and mothers are in each generation, and this will continue from generation to generation.

Testimony – There is nothing that pleases the Lord more, nor is there any greater calling and responsibility than that of a righteous, devoted wife and mother. The mothers in our family are a primary reason our 6 children, 26 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren were all born or adopted in the Covenant.

Released on May 10th. 2025.