“When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses? When the surf of the centuries has made the great pyramids so much sand, the everlasting family will still be standing….” – Neal A Maxwell

Yes, mothers raising children is by far the most powerful, impactful, and influential thing that happens in this world. And the impact a good mother has on generations to come is as wide spread a legacy as can be achieved in this life. And I am glad we have Mother’s Day as a reminder to tell all the amazing Mothers in the world how important they are and how much they are appreciated and loved.

“There is no greater good in all the world than motherhood. The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation.” – James Faust

Today I received the most amazing Mother’s Day gift. I arrived at church this morning to find my daughter Ashley sitting up on the stand at church. I was shocked because I didn’t think she was going to be able to come home from college until tonight, but there she was on the stand getting ready to give a talk at the pulpit during our church meeting about the importance of Mothers. I immediately turned to my husband and said, “Go get me some tissue fast!” I knew I was going to be in tears the moment she started talking. She gave an amazing talk on Motherhood and she shared some of the values she felt I had taught her in her life. Sure enough, I went through the tissue faster than you could imagine. What an amazing Mother’s Day gift to hear from your child the lessons they’d learned from you. I was humbled and touched beyond measure and I am so grateful for her words today.

My darling daughter Ashley

After our church meeting was over we drove to my own Mother’s house to drop off a card for her and in talking to her we found out that she was going to be giving a talk today at her own church meeting today about her Mother (my Grandmother) and how she influenced her life. So we decided to follow my parents to their church building and I was able to hear a beautiful talk given by my Mother on the lessons she learned from my Grandmother. Once again I had need of some tissue.

My sweet Mother Leslie

As we drove home all I could think about was how blessed I was to have had amazing an amazing Grandmother who raised my amazing mother, who then raised me, and I was blessed to then raise a sweet daughter of my own, who will one day in the future raise children of her own…each Mother passing on life lessons and an example for the next to follow.  What a tremendous legacy and impact good Mothers have on this world.

“Women who make a house a home make a far greater contribution to society than those who command large armies or stand at the head of impressive corporations. Who can put a price tag on the influence a mother has on her children, a grandmother on her posterity, or aunts and sisters on their extended family?” – Gordon B. Hinckley

My daughter, me, my maternal Grandmother, and my Mother

Not only am I grateful for my Mother but I am also grateful to be a Mother. I LOVE being a Mom more than any other title I have held in life, and I have been privileged to hold many important and prestigious titles in the business world, yet none of them can come close to holding the title of “Mother”. My children are my everything…

My children when they were young

“You have nothing in this world more precious than your children. When you grow old, when your hair turns white and your body grows weary, when you are prone to sit in a rocker and meditate on the things of your life, nothing will be so important as the question of how your children have turned out. It will not be the money you have made. It will not be the cars you have owned. It will not be the large house in which you live. The searing question that will cross your mind again and again will be, How well have my children done?” – Gordon B. Hinckley

My children are my greatest accomplishment and my biggest source of pride. And I couldn’t have raised them to be the fine people they have become if it weren’t for the example and influence of my own beautiful Mother.

My Mother

Happy Mother’s Day Mom…and Happy Mother’s Day to all you other Moms and all of you who have a Mom 🙂

~Amy Rees Anderson