My Mother

Normally on the mission. We send home emails and stories of all the miracles, faith building experiences, and people that we have seen the atonement work in their lives. Today I want to write about before the mission and the miracle that I have in my life to prepare and serve a mission. This is a tribute to the woman that has helped me become the person I am. My mother. 

Before my mission as every youth has, I struggled with the challenges of living in a wicked world. To say that I made it to the mission would be a lie. I only made it to where I am now through the grace of the Atonement and the love of my mother. 

I remember when I was facing times of finding my way on the path to the tree of life and had to decide if I would fight for Christ or the world. It was the love of my mother that kept me grounded to the teachings of Christ. The primary songs that she would sing to me as I slept would fill my mind as I would determine the person that I wanted to be during my times of temptation. 

I would say that even now in times of difficulty or find that I need to change, it is the memories of my mother help me to do so. The feelings of Joseph F. Smith explain my feelings when I think of my mother. As a fifteen year old by serving a mission he said:

“‘and yet, whenever those temptations became most alluring and most tempting to me, the first thought that rose in my soul was this: “Remember the love of your mother. Remember how she strove for your welfare. Remember how willing she was to sacrifice her life for your good. Remember what she taught you in your childhood...’”

My mother is the person in my life that resembles the Savior more than any other person. I know when I see her hands, they are filled with the love of the Savior. 

Happy Birthday Mom. I love you.

Eu te amo,

Elder Cooper