[Another data point in Keepa’s collection of past LDS teachings on women and women’s roles.]

From the Young Woman’s Journal, 1917 –

The Meaning of Marriage, of Wifehood, and Motherhood From a Latter day Saint Standpoint

By Florence Barclay.

Related and yet each having a particular meaning of its own are the conditions of marriage, wifehood, and motherhood.

Our Heavenly Father has worked out a plan for man’s salvation. They who kept their first estate shall be added upon, and they who keep their second estate shall be added upon forever and ever. We believe that marriage is part of this plan. Among the Latter-day Saint people is a Bible quotation that has become a sort of maxim. It states that to be perfect in the sight of God man is not without the woman, nor the woman without the man. By marriage the husband and wife become joint owners, that is they must share everything together.

All the works of God receive the impression of eternity. We are told in Ecclesiastes, the third chapter and fourteenth verse that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever, nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it. So marriage must be forever. We believe that the first marriage was not for time alone, but for all eternity. Marriage is spoken of as the “New and Everlasting Covenant.” In the other churches the members are married for time only, but in our Church the members are married not only for this life, but for the life to come also. The commandments of the Lord are that we should be married by the law for time and by the priesthood for all eternity.

To the Latter-day Saint salvation is not complete without marriage, and that in the temple. The union of man and wife must be sealed by the priesthood in the temple of the Lord. The marriage ceremony must be performed by someone who has authority to act in God’s stead. We are filled with joy when we realize that if our marriage has been properly attended to here upon earth, it will be binding in the resurrection. The Lord has told us that whatsoever is bound on earth shall be bound in heaven.

According to the custom of the Navajo Indians, the man must get a wife from another clan. The Latter-day Saints differ greatly from this. We believe, that in order to do our very best and to obey God’s commandments to the fullest extent a Latter-day Saint should marry a Latter-day Saint, else life may be like a house that is torn asunder by opposing forces. In the scriptures we are told that ancient Israel was forbidden to marry with the Canaanites, a different people.

In the world people may be divorced easily. It is interesting to note that the Navajos may be divorced by mutual consent of each party to leave the other. Divorces are not easily obtained by those who are married in the temple. Marriage performed in the temple is a sacred thing and it is only in rare and exceptional cases that it is undone.

The Latter-day Saint girl before her marriage is often compared to a lily. In an environment of good she cannot help living a life of purity and innocence. She always seeks the Lord in prayer. There comes a time in her life when she is in need of special aid. Before her marriage she should seek the Lord in fervent prayer.

There is nothing more beautiful to Latter-day Saint parents than to see two beautiful young people ready to enter wedlock in the manner indicated as the correct one by our Heavenly Father. Marriage is like two streams emerging from their courses uniting to form the river.

To many people of the world the day of the marriage is a gala one. It is one of earthly enjoyment. To the chosen people of God it is a sacred day of thought, of inspiration, of good spirit, and of companionship with God and His chosen servants. Is it not wonderful to think that the joy that comes to Latter-day Saints upon this day, providing they live a faithful life, will remain with them forever!

After marriage the Latter-day Saint girl has changed her name from that of girl to wife. By this name she must endeavor to gain greater heights.

The wife in connection with her husband holds the priesthood. She shares with him the blessings, rights, privileges, and promises of exaltation that are given under the priesthood.

The first position in the home, that of being home-maker and caretaker belongs to the wife. As homemaker she should make the home a fit and comfortable dwelling place. Cleanliness in everything should be her watchword. Everything should be in order and have a place. The meals should be appetizing and should be served in a pleasing manner and on time.

The wife is a helpmate to her husband. In Matthew, the nineteenth chapter and fifth verse it says that a man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave unto his wife, and they twain shall be one flesh.

The true Latter-day Saint wife makes life a joy for her husband. She does this by being loyal in adapting herself to her surroundings, and interesting herself in those things that interest her husband. She cannot come up to his glory if she is not his equal in everything that is noble and good.

She should see that there is perfect harmony in the home. In the absence of her husband she it is who should remember the prayers. Perhaps you have entered a home of sunshine and noticed the husband and wife in the true light of unity, insomuch that a lasting impression of that home and its harmony will remain with you forever.

During wifehood the woman prepares herself for a greater work. That greater work is the sacred one of “Motherhood.”

You will remember that the commandments given to Adam and Eve were that they should multiply and replenish the earth. We believe that in heaven there were and are many spirits ready to come down here on earth and take bodies. Our Heavenly Father had to prepare a way to receive those spirits. He gave this great work to mothers. It is wise for all women to prepare and care for their bodies in order that they may receive these spirits. The mother cultivates great love for her children. The true mother wants to rear her children to love God and to keep His commandments. The greatest reward that comes to a mother is to see her children grow up to be honorable men and women, and to see that they appreciate their mother. I the picture where Christ is leaving His mother you can’t help but notice the look of loving solicitude that He gives her. We all know the memorable words of Abraham Lincoln, “all that I am and hope to be I owe to my angel mother.” Motherhood should be sacred, and woman should esteem it a great joy to be called mother.

When a child dies the Latter-day Saint mother is already comforted because she understands if things have been done properly that there will be a union or reuniting of families on the other side. In other churches the mother believes her child lost forever. Some Relief Society teachers were visiting a certain lady, who did not belong to our Church, and who had recently had a little boy dragged to death by a horse. These teachers were trying to comfort her by the idea of the hereafter. Her only answer was, “My child is like an animal. When it dies that is the end of it.” Blessed are we because we know that earth-life is not the end. So we see that marriage, wifehood, and motherhood are closely related. Motherhood stands out as the greatest and most important.