As soon as my son received his mission call in December I went online and joined every “Missionary Moms” Yahoo group I could find. I also registered both of us on his mission’s web site. I can’t tell you how helpful it has been to be able to chat with other mothers who are preparing their sons and daughters to serve full-time missions or whose children are currently out in the field. I love it and thank Heavenly Father every day for the Internet! Just do a Yahoo search under “Groups” and you’re sure to find several sites that address general missionary topics, as well as specific missions around the world.
Even though I’ve served a full-time mission myself, I’m a real Greenie when it comes to being the parent of a missionary! Because I’ve never done this before I truly appreciate the comforting words and support of other missionary moms. When talking about missionary parents, President Thomas S. Monson, the sixteenth called prophet of these modern times, once remarked ”
Fathers become justifiably proud and mothers somewhat anxious.” (Thomas S. Monson, “Profiles of Faith,” Ensign, Feb 1997, 2)
What a blessing it is to live in a day and age when I can chat with the mother of another missionary where my son is going to serve and find out if I need to buy mosquito netting or a mattress protector!
Even more important, I love being able to hear from these other mothers about how they raised their children to want to serve the Lord. It is so heartwarming to hear their stories of wayward sons or daughters who struggled with their testimonies and now have a resolve to share the gospel of repentance with the world! It is truly an honor to share a corner of cyberspace with these valiant mothers.
If you’re a mother, take a few minutes to read the powerful talk given by Julie B. Beck in the November 2007 Ensign (pages 76-78). It’s entitled “Mothers Who Know” and challenges mothers today to follow the pattern of the women who raised those inspiring 2,000 stripling warriors in the Book of Mormon. She says
“The responsibility mothers have today has never required more vigilance. More than at any time in the history of the world, we need mothers who know. Children are being born into a world where they ‘wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’ (Ephesians 6:12)” (Julie B. Beck, “Mothers Who Know,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 76–78)
What a blessing it is to know other mothers and to encourage one another as we prepare soldiers for today’s spiritual battle.
