Mother’s Day. It’s a day overflowing with flowers, heartfelt cards, and maybe even a slightly burnt breakfast in bed. We celebrate the women who brought us into the world, nurtured us, and shaped us into the individuals we are today. But this year in Relief Society, I’m craving something a little deeper than the usual Hallmark sentiments. I want to explore the legacy of motherhood, how the lessons we learned from our own mothers (or grandmothers) ripple outwards, influencing the way we mother our children.
Think about it for a moment. What’s the one thing, the core value, the guiding principle, that you learned from your mom (or a grandmother) that has most profoundly impacted your own parenting? It might be something big and obvious, like a deep-seated belief in the importance of family. Or it might be something subtle, a quiet way of showing love, a particular phrase she always used, a tradition she held dear.
Mother’s Day Relief Society Lesson Idea
This Relief Society lesson is about honoring that legacy, acknowledging the ways our mothers and grandmothers continue to influence us, even now, as we navigate the beautiful, chaotic, and often hilarious journey of motherhood ourselves.
Here’s how I envision the lesson unfolding:
I. Opening: A Mother’s Influence
- Begin with a short, reflective reading. Perhaps a poem or a quote about the enduring power of a mother’s love and influence. I really love this one by President Thomas S. Monson: “One cannot forget mother and remember God. One cannot remember mother and forget God. Why? Because these two sacred persons, God and Mother, partners in creation, love, sacrifice, service, are as one.”
II. Lesson: The Shaping of Our Motherhood:
- Guided Reflection: Pose a central question: “What is one key lesson or value you learned from your mother or a grandmother that has shaped the way you mother (or mothered) your own children?” Provide some guiding questions for discussion within the groups: What was the specific lesson or value? How did your mother teach you this lesson (through words, actions, or example)? How has this lesson influenced your own parenting style? What challenges have you faced in applying this lesson in your own motherhood journey?
- Choose one of the following options for the sisters to share their thoughts and stories:
- Pre-Assigned Sister Sharing: Before the lesson, reach out to a number of women and ask them to share about the influence of their mothers to all of the sisters in Relief Society. I would suggest asking them to PLEASE keep it to a time limit (3 minutes? 5 minutes?) I have done something similar, once before, and a couple sisters ended up taking most of the time. It still turned out well, but I was hoping to have a few minutes at the end for some spontaneous contributions.
- Small Group Sharing: Divide the sisters into smaller groups (4-6 women per group is ideal). This creates a more intimate and comfortable space for sharing personal experiences. If there’s time, you can even do a group shuffle after 10 minutes, allowing the sisters to share with others in the room, as well. Optional: After the small group discussions, invite a few volunteers to share key insights or takeaways with the entire Relief Society. This can be a powerful way to connect and realize how much we have in common.
III. Making It EXTRA Special:
- Mother/Daughter Photo Display: Take the lesson up a notch, and show your own love for the sisters, by seeking out a photo of each sister with her mother in it. Create a powerpoint and share the photos or have them printed and pinned to a clothesline that’s draped in the room. Or, you could even just tape them all over the walls for the sisters to look at when the lesson is over (even better… look at them while munching on a yummy Mother’s Day treat.)
- My Favorite Recipe of Mom’s Cookbook: Collect a favorite mom’s recipe from each of the sisters ahead of time and create a little book (even just paper stapled together) to hand out as a Mother’s Day gift, with a treat. The sisters will have fun trying out the favorite recipes of their fellow sisters!
- Tasting Table of Mom’s Recipes: Ask the sisters to bring a homemade treat or appetizer to share, made from a recipe they received from their mom. Even better, if you print the recipes, cut them out and have them sitting by each dish, for the sisters to take home, if they love it.
IV. Closing: Gratitude and Inspiration
- Conclude with a closing thought or quote that emphasizes the enduring power of a mother’s influence.
- Hand out any Mother’s Day gifts you have prepared for the sisters.
- If you want to hand out a printed talk on Mother’s Day for the women to take home to read, I love this one by President Monson, “Behold, Thy Mother.”
This lesson is designed to be a celebration of motherhood in its many facets. It’s a chance to honor the women who shaped us and to recognize the profound impact they have on the way we mother. It’s an opportunity to connect with each other, share our experiences, and find strength and inspiration in the shared sisterhood of motherhood.
If you liked this Mother’s Day post, check out:
- Special Ways to Love the Childless on Mother’s Day
- 20 Brilliant Things About Your Mom – Printable and Gift
- Mother’s Day Bookmark Printables
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