In the Courts of Heaven, the honors of men have little if any worth. Jesus repeatedly told his followers in Palestine that He would refuse the honors of men, but would receive honor from God (see John 5:41, 8:54). In America, his disciples are told that men who aspire to the honors of men have not learned the first thing about Priesthood, which is, after all, the honor of God (Doctrine & Covenants 121:35-36). Jesus asked the question, I imagine with a tone of exasperation, “how can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not that honor which comes from God only (John 5:44)?” That is one perspective and viewed from that perspective this meeting is something of an embarrassment.
On the other hand, we are commanded to honor one another. The Church has declared unequivocally, “that every man should be honored in his station. (D&C 134:3)." Examples in scripture abound. “Render…honor to whom honor [is due]. (Romans 13:7).” “Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land (Exodus 20:12).” “Thou shalt rise up before the face of the hoary head and honor the face of the old man (Leviticus 19:32).” “Honor widows that are widows indeed (1 Timothy 5:3).” And, we are told, Elders who labor in word and doctrine are worthy of a double honor (see 1 Timothy 5:17).
Viewed from this other perspective, our meeting is indeed a worthy pursuit. We are reenacting what took place in the valley of Adam-Ondi-Ahman, when Adam stood in the midst of his righteous posterity and each in their turn rose up and called him blessed. Today, of course, instead of Father Adam we have set Mother Eve in the midst of the congregation. And while it is good for us to be here and to rise up and call our mothers blessed, it is also spiritually correct for them to refuse our honors and seek instead the honors that come from God.
I think today is an excellent day for our sisters to consider the good news that is proclaimed in the Doctrine and Covenants.
“I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end. Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory. And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom. Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations. And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught. For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will—yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man. (Doctrine and Covenants 76: 5-10).”
Here is honor that comes from God—the intimacy of being taken into His confidence and having the mysteries of eternity opened to your view—the privilege of having your soul deepened through the endowment of wisdom.
When we receive spiritual gifts we are honored of God. Do you have the ability to receive portents and understand spiritual warnings? Then, my sister, you have been honored of God. Are your dreams at times communications with the Church of the Firstborn—do the spirits of those you have loved and lost visit you in the nighttime? Do passages of scripture, as your reflect upon them again and again, enter with great force into the feelings of your heart? Then you—along with the Prophet Joseph Smith—have been honored of God. Do you conceive life and bear human souls within your womb and thus partake of the mystery of creation? Then you can bear witness to the honors of God.
It is true that such bestowals are rarely noticed and valued by others. This is an important truth recognized and experienced by Brother Joseph.
“The world can in general know nothing about [the honors and gifts of God]. The greatest, the best and the most useful gifts [go unnoticed] by an observer. *** When John had the curtains of heaven withdrawn, and by vision looked through the dark vista of future ages, and contemplated events that should transpire throughout every subsequent period of time, until the final winding up scene—while he gazed upon the glories of the eternal world, saw an innumerable company of angels and heard the voice of God—it was in the Spirit, on the Lord’s day, unnoticed and unobserved by the world (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 246).”
How relevent this is to Mother's Day! The honor of God is an intimacy—a private thing between you and Him—that more often than not goes unnoticed and unobserved by us but truthfully is of greater value than any potted plant we may offer.
My conclusion is that it is a good thing for us to memorialize this day in our meeting, to replicate for Eve some measure of the honor bestowed upon Adam in the Valley of God. It would also be a good thing for our mothers, wives and sisters to gently refuse our tributes and seek instead honors that come from God.
