FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

Gordon B. Hinckley was the prophet during most of my childhood/adolescence, and he loved the youth. He and other apostles of that time would take every opportunity to remind us of how special we were. How we had been chosen to come to earth at this time. How Heavenly Father had saved his most valiant spirits for when the world was at its most wicked-and that that time was now. We were IT. We were CALLED, CHOSEN, and BORN for such a time as this.

President Hinckley said, “I love the youth of the Church. I have said again and again that I think we have never had a better generation than this. How grateful I am for your integrity, for your ambition to train your minds and your hands to do good work, for your love for the word of the Lord, and for your desire to walk in paths of virtue and truth and goodness.”

Armed with the knowledge that the the prophet of God had confidence in me, I felt unstoppable. I could handle anything Satan tried to throw at me because I knew who I was. I was one of God’s choicest spirits. And He believed in me.

Then, I grew up. I got married in the temple to my best friend and we had three amazing children together. I think I am only now starting to understand what President Hinckley saw in us, because it’s the same thing I recognize when I look at my children. They are valiant. They are strong. And they have to be. 

This world has only increased in confusion and wickedness since I was growing up. I worry, every single day, about how to raise my children in such a sin-saturated world. I feel the weight of motherhood so profoundly. There are times when I feel woefully under-qualified and that I am not up to the task. Who am I to go toe-to-toe with the adversary? I can be fearful of the future, feel hopelessly outmatched, and it’s heavy. 

Then I remember, I was born for such a time as this. I was chosen to come to earth at this time so that I could help raise this exact generation of spirits. Heavenly Father entrusted my children to ME, because I am best equipped to arm them with truth so that they can defend themselves against the fiery darts of the adversary. 

Ezra Taft Benson once taught, “You are not just ordinary young men and young women. You are choice sprints, many of you having been held back in reserve for almost 6,000 years to come for this day, at this time, when the temptations, responsibilities, and opportunities are the very greatest.”

My children were born for such a time as this.