The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints launched a Mother’s Day initiative Wednesday to celebrate the divine calling of mothers and women around the world. The initiative, sponsored by the Missionary Department of the Church, includes a YouTube video titled “It Was Mom,” which depicts all that a mother does in the lives of her children and emphasizes the crucial role mothers play in God’s plan.
Downloadable HD quality video - "It Was Mom"
“Because motherhood is the ‘highest, holiest service … given to mankind,’ we express deep gratitude and respect to mothers everywhere and reaffirm our belief that the role of mothers in nurturing and caring for their families is a divinely appointed and holy assignment,” said Elder David F. Evans, executive director of the Missionary Department.
Memes with short statements about the importance of mothers and women will be posted on several of the Church’s official social media sites each day from Thursday, 8 May, through Monday, 12 May 2014, with the accompanying hashtag #ItWasMom.
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“No matter where you are in life, whether you are a woman looking forward to one day having a family, currently in the trenches of motherhood, or a seasoned grandmother, there is a mother to be found in each of us,” said Sister Linda K. Burton, the Church’s general Relief Society president. “A nurturing influence is not limited to those who bear children. The effect of righteous women is felt in communities throughout the world.”
A website for the initiative on mormon.org features the YouTube video and text that emphasizes the importance of motherhood as a divine calling.
From the beginning of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, its leaders have affirmed the significant role of motherhood and the important influence righteous mothers have in instilling Christlike attributes in their children. The importance of family is at the core of Latter-day Saint doctrine.
“We have been instructed to honor mothers. ‘Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee' (Exodus 20:12),” said Elder Evans. “We express gratitude to mothers everywhere who play a divinely appointed role in fostering love, hope, service and sacrifice with their children.”
Learn more at mormon.org/motherhood.