Dave's Mothers Day Talk 2015

We all know that a mother Grizzly bear can be one of the most dangerous animals on earth.  Darwin would argue that this is because nature is pushing it to carry on the bear’s genetic line.  The thing that Darwin couldn’t explain after countless hours of research is the mystery of heroic acts. 

In Feb of 2001, a deranged man walked into an elementary school with a sizable weapon and intent to do harm. The principal, a small 42-year-old woman noticed the man acting strange and stepped in front of him as he was trying to enter the door of the kindergarten class. 

The man then pulled out the weapon and attacked the principal who had never been in a fight in her life. She crossed her arms in front of her head, locked eyes with him as she absorbed the repeated blows and backed towards her office and away from students.  Once there, she was quickly able to send out the lock down code. 

The man then turned his attention on to a new target, but the principal jumped on his back and locked her arms in a bear hug around his body. He then dropped his weapon and shortly there after help arrived. 

How on earth was she able to overpower the attacker? Some thought it was plain luck, but it has been suggested that it was far less luck and instead a perfectly executed plan of defense and ultimate victory against the attacker. 

She does so many things correctly. For example, not letting her adrenaline red line so she wouldn’t have burnt through her energy in moments and been left helpless. 

        

She finds a very creative solution to the challenge. After the attacker has redlined and exhausted his energy, she does what she knows best, LOVE.  She wraps her arms around him and holds him tight.  Using her fascia to create an incredibly strong lasso around his body causing him to drop the weapon. 

The hardest challenge she had that day to face was her mind and fear. If your brain is faced with something that it has never done before, it can render your entire body useless. If it finds a match, you are good to go.  For example, people have failed to get on the fireman’s ladder because they are unfamiliar with ladders and have frozen over fear of heights. 

The principal had to find something that matched her skill set. Hugging was something she had been doing for the last 20 years many times a day. She could not beat his rage, but she thought she could try and calm it. She said from the witness stand at the man’s trial, “I put my arms around you, to comfort you”. In the courtroom he silently mouthed “Thank You” in reply.

Joseph Smith taught about Saviors on Mount Zion—helping others find and experience the saving power of atonement. I have thought, what does it take to be a “Mother in Zion”? The qualifications are not an advanced degree or training. They are not even having your own children. Sherry Dew, has been a “Mother in Zion” to countless woman in the church. As I look around the ward and see that many of you woman have been mother’s in Zion to my children.  You have: taught them the gospel; shared your testimonies with them; showed them examples of patience; said “No” when needed, instead of the easier path of saying “YES” and most of all LOVED THEM.

In 2 Nephi 2:25 it states that “men are, that they might have joy”. You “Mothers in Zion” are you not, helping to fulfill the short and long term joy of my children? For this I will be eternally grateful to you all.

Now I know that I have just turned all of you women into heroes, which may make you uncomfortable. In your minds it may just not work.

I could be wrong but, but I don’t remember my mother ever really enjoying a Mother’s Day Talk. It was as if she after hearing people’s talks she felt she needed to repent for not being better—for not matching up to the stories told that day. Later in life, I spoke with her and she admitted that more often than not it was more a day of guilt. 

A researcher of heroic events stated, “I challenge you to find a hero that thinks of themself as heroes. You can’t find it.” Maybe this is why it is so hard for mothers to listen to “Mother’s Day Talks”. 

Let me clear on this day, you Mothers of Zion will never think of yourselves as anything special or heroic. No person or talk is going to convince you otherwise, in fact it may even add confusion and guilt and you may feel like you need to do, or be more.  

BUT DON’T. 

Just continue being exactly who you already are!

And know that we are all eternally grateful for what you do and who you are. We are grateful for:

·      The new primary presidency

·      The recently released primary presidency

·      All the primary teachers

·      The Young Woman Leaders

·      Sister Sutton, our sweet nursery leader

·      The aunts that you are, like my children’s Aunt Shari

And to each Mother today, if you are tempted to start listing things that you should or could do. 

Please don’t. 

Thank you and we love you.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen