HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!!!!

Grandpa and I were visiting his mother in Colorado for Mother's Day so we didn't teach a lesson in primary yesterday. This post is going to be about my mother. I want you to know about my mom because each of you has a very special MOM.

My mother's name is Barbra Laney Jensen. She was a very dedicated mother. She had 9 children!!!!!!!!! Can you imagine if you had 8 siblings (ask your parents what that word means if you don't already know :)? Well, that's how many I had. Four brothers and four sisters. And most of the time we got along, but not always. With that many siblings, there was always at least one that I wanted to play with or talk with or do something with.

Our mom and dad taught us what was right. They taught to be honest, to work, to share, to help others, and to be happy. They taught us in Family Home Evening, around the dinner table, when we were in the car, and in personal conversations. I didn't as many personal conversations as I wanted because I shared my parents with 8 other kids. So sometimes my mom would come help me when I was doing the dishes (no dishwasher :) or folding the laundry. I would get so excited to have my mother's undivided attention. My mom knew that I really strongly disliked matching socks, so whenever she had time she would fold those so I didn't have to. That's the kind of understanding mom she was.

My mom and dad taught me about the gospel of Jesus Christ. They taught me the commandments and helped me understand them so that after I was baptized I knew how to be obedient and how to repent when I made mistakes. They taught me that I showed my respect for them by doing what they asked me to do and by talking with them. They taught me to love them even when they spanked me or grounded me. They taught me that they did this because they loved me. That's a hard thing to teach to a child, but I knew it was true because they loved me so much.

Their best teachings were their examples. I never saw them do something that they told me not to do. They told me to keep the Sabbath Day holy and they kept it holy. They told me to dress modestly and they always were modest. They taught me not to talk badly about other people and they didn't gossip. They taught me to be grateful for what I had, and they did the same. They taught me to pay the first 10% of what I earned as tithing, and explained how they learned the importance of this principle. When I disobeyed they always gave me a consequence so that I would learn that obedience brings blessings and disobedience brings unpleasant consequences.

When I became an adult, my mom became one of my best friends. I will always remember helping her paint her home, walking around the mall parking lot with her, and helping her organize her slides. Your parents and I may tell you stories about your Grandma Jensenand her game-playing skills. She was fun to play games with, and she always hinted that perhaps she was cheating just so she could win. I don't think anyone ever actually proved it, but it was a lot of fun to tease her.


Some of you might remember Grandma and some of you never met her. I hope your mom and dad will tell you about their experiences with her so that you will know what a wonderful woman you are related to. And you will know that she is one of the people who I am trying to become like. She was one of the most Christlike people I've ever met, and I was lucky enough to be raised by her. She and my Dad were a very successful team.

You have a great heritage, and I want you to always remember that. I love you VERY VERY MUCH! In fact, you have lots and lots of grandmas and great-grandmas who love you!