Heroic Mothers can be found on the local news but they can also be found in the scriptures. Read inspiring examples of heroic mothers, modern and ancient.
Nothing compares to the love a mother has for her child. I have a sign in my home that says:
As my children will attest to, a mother’s love knows no bounds. It is natural for a mother to instinctively love, protect, and fight for her children. It is a maternal instinct not to be reckoned with.
Modern Day Mothers
Sometimes you may hear or witness first-hand of a mother going to great lengths just to protect her offspring. Oftentimes we will hear of such amazing and inspiring stories on the local news. For example…
In 1982, the news reported that Tony Cavallo in Georgia was repairing a 1964 Chevrolet Impala automobile from underneath. The vehicle was propped up with jacks, but it fell. Tony’s mother, Angela, miraculously lifted the car high enough and long enough for two neighbors to replace the jacks and pull Tony from beneath the car.
In 2007 Shelby Carter realized her Illinois home was engulfed in flames, knowing her and her baby’s life was in danger, she strapped her 12-day-old infant into a car seat and tossed the baby from a second-story window.
The Washington Post reports that this 21-year-old mother’s decision was gut-wrenching and heroic. “Her quick thinking saved her newborn before a wall of fire and smoke tore through the upstairs bedroom of the wood-frame house where Shelby lived with her mother.” Unfortunately, Shelby was unable to save herself.
In 2009, Maureen Lee and her 3-year-old daughter Maya were walking their dog and picking berries
in a park near their home in Canada when an 88-pound cougar pounced on Maya. The cougar rolled Maya a couple of times. Maureen said, “[Maya] was on her back and he had his paws 0n her head, and I just knew I had to react quick, so I just jumped in there and wedged myself between the cougar and her on the ground, and I just got up and threw it off my back and grabbed her and booked it.” Maya and her mother Maureen made it to safety in a nearby house and Maya only suffered minor cuts to her arm and head. According to CBC News, Maya’s only comment was, “Why didn’t the kitty play nice?”
And in 2010, a devastating tornado ripped through central Mississippi. Nikki Carpenter knew she had to protect her kids. She covered her three small sons with pillows and then lay on top of them to provide a human shield as the house came down around them. All three boys (ages 7, 2 and 1) made it through the storm, but unfortunately, Nikki did not. Rick Cleveland of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger reported that “When the family was found amid the wreckage, the three boys were bruised but alive, their lifeless mother’s arm still around them. It’s a tragic but also beautiful picture, underscoring the awesome power and self-sacrificing nature of a mother’s love.”
The author Linda Wooten once said:
Mothers demonstrating their heroic love for their children is not only found in the local news but can also be found in the scriptures as well.
Mothers in the Scriptures
Eve, the mother of all living, left the Garden of Eden so that all mankind could come to earth. Because of her and Adam’s decision, we are here today. The scriptures tell us she loved God and taught her children in righteousness. Although the scriptures do not mention her reaction to Cain killing Abel, I’m sure it had to of been devastating and almost unbearable at times as she struggled with the choices of one wayward son and the loss of another. Eve was undoubtedly a woman of great courage and strength. Eve was truly heroic.
Sariah, the mother of Nephi, went from having luxuries and a comfortable home to living in a tent. She followed her husband into the wilderness when the rest of world called him foolish. She dealt with contention in her family and literally became sick over the wrong choices her older sons made. Her testimony was tried and tested when her sons went to retain the plates and she feared for their safety. Instead of becoming bitter upon their return, she let the test of her testimony strengthen her and she praised the Lord who had delivered them. Through it all, Sariah loved her family unceasingly. Sariah was truly heroic.
There is also Hannah, mother of the prophet Samuel, who promised the Lord that if she had a son, he would serve the Lord. Because of her integrity, Samuel grew up in the temple and became a prophet. Hannah was truly heroic.
Jochebed, the mother of Moses, courageously saved her baby from the pharaoh by putting him in a basket in the river. Because of her great courage, Moses later led the Israelites to the promised land. Jochebed was truly heroic.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, bore God’s son knowing the judgment she’d receive from being pregnant outside the bonds of marriage. Mary also left her home and fled to Egypt with her family to save her young son’s life from the wicked King Herod. At the end of Christ’s life, Mary endured the horrific, agonizing pain of watching her own child be beaten and hung on a cross to die. Her courageous faith never failing, Mary was truly heroic.
American writer Helen Steiner Rice wrote:
Latter-Day Saint Mothers
What powerful examples of mothers who love, protect and fight for their children both in modern and ancient times. Their acts of sacrifice and selflessness make us aware of what a mother’s love is capable of.
As we stand as Latter-Day Saint mothers, let us continually look to the scriptures and follow the example of the heroic mothers we find there. Let us forever be courageous, faithful, and live what we know to be true. Like the mothers of the 2,000 stripling warriors, let us teach our children by word and deed to keep the commandments of God and walk uprightly before Him.
Julie B. Beck in her talk entitled “Mothers Who Know” said,
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 the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). However, mothers need not fear. When mothers know who they are and who God is and have made covenants with Him, they will have great power and influence for good on their children.
We are fighting the greatest battle against Satan the world has ever known. Do not let your innate motherly instinct fail you now. We need strong valiant mothers willing to endure faithfully, love unceasingly, and stand strong against the forces of evil.
We may not ever find ourselves in a situation where we must physically save our child’s life from the jaws of death, but we are called upon daily to help protect them from the jaws of the adversary.
May we each answer the call to be women who are strong and immovable, who do not give up during difficult and discouraging times, and who stand for all that is right. As we do, we will be truly heroic.
Yours Truly,
The image of Adam and Eve was used with permission. (c) 2018 First Parents by Jay Bryant Ward. For more beautiful artwork by Jay B. Ward, visit his website by clicking HERE.
For Julie B. Beck’s full talk, Click HERE
To download the poem by Helen Steiner Rice, Click HERE
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Another Resource
I found this video on YouTube that puts Julie B. Beck’s talk to music with pictures. I think you’ll really like it. 🙂 The video is by Clark Siler.
