The authorship of the following article is 90% Marjorie, and 10% James.

Women who opt out of becoming mothers, or who purposely have only one or two children—women who choose to follow men into the workplace and be like men—miss the best opportunity to become sanctified, and must achieve sanctification like men do.  It’s a slower process, and is not the path that God intended for His daughters to follow.

Service sanctifies, or makes holy.  Nowhere is service required more than in motherhood.

The next best place to be sanctified is on a mission, because one’s full time on a mission should be spent in service.  Sanctification is the reason missionaries come home shining.

Suffering also sanctifies.  Mothers do a good deal of suffering.

Why is suffering sanctifying?  It’s because we’re constantly calling for help.  Our thoughts are turned to God.  People who have easy lives just float through and don’t feel the desperation that comes with struggles.

The Savior paid for all of our sins and suffered all that we suffer.  If we simply sit back and accept that payment, we become justified; but we still haven’t become sanctified.  We haven’t become like the Savior.

There is a difference between justification and sanctification.  Justification is when a person repents of his sins.  Sanctification is when a person becomes like the Savior.  Justification is when a person stops doing.  Sanctification is when a person becomes—becomes more like the Savior.

It’s a natural thing to not want to be inconvenienced.  Service and suffering are always inconvenient.  They are sanctifying.  Can we hope to receive the same blessings as the handcart pioneers if we avoid all inconveniences?  The handcart pioneers became sanctified.  Their testimonies became firm in their sufferings and service.

I observe the same thing happening with my sleep-deprived, overworked daughters who are struggling to raise their numerous children.

I see the same thing happening to my overworked sons as they struggle to support their families.  The worries and the strains and the efforts they put forth are hugely sanctifying.

Like the handcart pioneers, all that my sons and daughters can see when they look ahead is more sand and sagebrush.  But there is a Zion ahead that they can’t see, but which they know is there.  As they struggle on they’re building inner strength and capabilities that are very sanctifying.

Marjorie and I have pulled our way through the sand and sagebrush that our children are now trudging through.  We’re able to look ahead and see things they can’t yet see.  So we look back, beckon to them, and shout encouragement.  What they’re going through is tough, but there’s light ahead.

I’m anxious to get there.  I’m more anxious that they all get there, too, so that we can enjoy the light all together.