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What Latter-Day Stripling Warriors Learn from Their Mothers
How does a mother prepare her son or daughter to become a warrior for the Lord?
86 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 22, 2014
I found this book in a bargain bin at a grocery store years ago..and have mislaid it and I'm heartbroken. I wanted to give a copy of it to my three older brothers on Mother's Day..because sometimes they're a little hard on our mother who really is quite simply wonderful, and raised her children well. In the way that only Ardith Greene Kapp can, she illustrates the invaluable role mothers have in the lives of their children.
As a mother of two children one who was little boy when I stumbled across this book, it was one of those "lightbulb" moments. It seemed so obvious..well of course the mothers had an incalculable role in creating those young men, who would become the Stripling Warriors. Certainly their fathers set examples, and taught them all the things that fathers teach, but they had to support their families. It was their mothers, who taught and trained them every day in the home. If anyone has ever had to learn or helped a child learn multiplication tables, or The Articles of Faith..the lightbulb goes on.
I was pretty stunned by the idea. It's very simple, and in some ways quite subtile. I love my kids, and do my best to keep them pointed in the right direction. I've had mixed results..haha Being a divorced mother of a teenage son is intimidating, knowing there are things I simply can't teach him.
Then I think of those other mothers. Surely, some of them had lost a husband or father or brother. How did they manage? They probably relied on those around them to teach and train what they simply couldn't. My son has had the very best of men as scoutmaster's, teachers, and other leaders who teach him what I can't.
In some reviews I've read that this book was frustrating, because it didn't give much helpful advice on how to be a more effective mother. I think that is the simple beauty of it.
As a mother with older children, a teenager and one in her early 20's, the missionaries stories are the point. There is no formula of what's the best way to raise happy faithful children. I think it's a fly by the seat of your pants kind of adventure. What works for one family, might be a complete bust for another. What the book underlined for me, and the reason I think it would be an appropriate gift for my brothers is that mothers do a lot of heavy lifting. That load may be distributed in a thousand pieces, but it does nothing to overall weight of the task we are given. We are the trainers of Warriors. We feed them, clothe them, run them around, council them, render first aid, help with talks, and kiss them goodnight..
I often wonder if so little is said about what the mothers of these young men did was such a part of their normal life, it would be the equivalent of the most boring Twitter feed ever. Woke up, fixed breakfast, scriptures, dishes, weaving.. The Stripling Warriors are only extraordinary because they stepped up in the place of their fathers. Before that..they were just ordinary faithful boys, like any Young Men's Quorum. But they went to war, on the faith of their mothers and they weren't afraid.
This is a wonderful book. I often wonder if our missionaries aren't much like those a Stripling Warriors. They answer a call, and go out into the world with confidence because their mothers have told them their whole lives this is something they can do. Ask a 15 year old kid sometime if he'd be willing to leave home for two years and pay to be a missionary and ride around on a bike. I've done it with my son's friends. It's pretty enlightening. Even better is to hear my son explain why he's going to do it. I guess I'm doing something right so far. Not that I have a clue what it is.
As a mother of two children one who was little boy when I stumbled across this book, it was one of those "lightbulb" moments. It seemed so obvious..well of course the mothers had an incalculable role in creating those young men, who would become the Stripling Warriors. Certainly their fathers set examples, and taught them all the things that fathers teach, but they had to support their families. It was their mothers, who taught and trained them every day in the home. If anyone has ever had to learn or helped a child learn multiplication tables, or The Articles of Faith..the lightbulb goes on.
I was pretty stunned by the idea. It's very simple, and in some ways quite subtile. I love my kids, and do my best to keep them pointed in the right direction. I've had mixed results..haha Being a divorced mother of a teenage son is intimidating, knowing there are things I simply can't teach him.
Then I think of those other mothers. Surely, some of them had lost a husband or father or brother. How did they manage? They probably relied on those around them to teach and train what they simply couldn't. My son has had the very best of men as scoutmaster's, teachers, and other leaders who teach him what I can't.
In some reviews I've read that this book was frustrating, because it didn't give much helpful advice on how to be a more effective mother. I think that is the simple beauty of it.
As a mother with older children, a teenager and one in her early 20's, the missionaries stories are the point. There is no formula of what's the best way to raise happy faithful children. I think it's a fly by the seat of your pants kind of adventure. What works for one family, might be a complete bust for another. What the book underlined for me, and the reason I think it would be an appropriate gift for my brothers is that mothers do a lot of heavy lifting. That load may be distributed in a thousand pieces, but it does nothing to overall weight of the task we are given. We are the trainers of Warriors. We feed them, clothe them, run them around, council them, render first aid, help with talks, and kiss them goodnight..
I often wonder if so little is said about what the mothers of these young men did was such a part of their normal life, it would be the equivalent of the most boring Twitter feed ever. Woke up, fixed breakfast, scriptures, dishes, weaving.. The Stripling Warriors are only extraordinary because they stepped up in the place of their fathers. Before that..they were just ordinary faithful boys, like any Young Men's Quorum. But they went to war, on the faith of their mothers and they weren't afraid.
This is a wonderful book. I often wonder if our missionaries aren't much like those a Stripling Warriors. They answer a call, and go out into the world with confidence because their mothers have told them their whole lives this is something they can do. Ask a 15 year old kid sometime if he'd be willing to leave home for two years and pay to be a missionary and ride around on a bike. I've done it with my son's friends. It's pretty enlightening. Even better is to hear my son explain why he's going to do it. I guess I'm doing something right so far. Not that I have a clue what it is.
September 9, 2008
Dave's parents gave me this book for my birthday several years ago. While her husband was serving as mission president in Canada, Sister Kapp sat the missionaries down and asked them questions about what they had learned from their moms. There were some very sweet stories and the conclusion that I came to from her research was that little things count. One thing that I have been having issues with lately is how quickly our children grow and how little time we have with them to teach them and get them ready to be grown ups and then I start to worry that I have already done irreparable damage! Ironic I know, considering that I have a brand new baby. This book didn't really help me feel better about that, it just made me cry about it more! :-)
January 26, 2010
I found this on my shelf. I have no idea where it came from, but I'm glad it's here. It makes me feel so good about being a mom and inspires me to do better with absolutely no guilt. Ardeth Kapp interviewed the missionaries on her mission about their mothers and what they did to prepare them. Here's one of my favorite quotes so far: "No one, not one, spoke of the fancy clothes his or her mother wore. They didn't remember the perfect color coordination of the funiture in the home. They never spoke of their mothers' social status, title, or position. They didn't remember their moms' imperfections or mistakes."
I love Ardeth Kapp!
I love Ardeth Kapp!
July 31, 2015
This is not a how-to book. This is a quick, encouraging, inspiring book for mothers. When Sister Kapp's husband was the mission president in Canada she interviewed the missionaries about their mothers. This is a compilation of their thoughts and personal stories.
The main thing that I got out of it was that it's those small and simple things that we do for our children everyday that matter most. We don't need to demand perfection of ourselves, just keep trying. Most of the time we don't realize what an impact we are making in our children's lives just by continually loving them and never giving up on them.
This book would make a great mother's day present.
The main thing that I got out of it was that it's those small and simple things that we do for our children everyday that matter most. We don't need to demand perfection of ourselves, just keep trying. Most of the time we don't realize what an impact we are making in our children's lives just by continually loving them and never giving up on them.
This book would make a great mother's day present.
May 12, 2010
It was sheerly coincidence that I stumbled on this at the library a few weeks before mothers day, but the timing was just right.
This book is written in run-on format. No division into chapters or sections, so you feel a bit like you're sitting through a BYU devotional. However, it was nice to be reminded that my kids are likely learning more from me than I realize, and that they aren't taking any notes on the mistakes I keep making. :o)
This book is written in run-on format. No division into chapters or sections, so you feel a bit like you're sitting through a BYU devotional. However, it was nice to be reminded that my kids are likely learning more from me than I realize, and that they aren't taking any notes on the mistakes I keep making. :o)
March 22, 2009
This Book was good, however i was hoping for things I could do. I found that most were stories about wonderful moms which are encouraging but not specific. In a way it made me feel overwhelmed because I couldn't keep track of all the things each mother did. IF you are not a list maker i believe you could love this book.
June 8, 2009
This was your basic Ardeth Kapp book. When she and her husband were in charge of the Canadian mission, she asked the missionaries what they remembered most about their mothers and how it affected who they were today. A quick read. I don't think I came away with any one bit of advice on how to raise great boys and girls to be great missionaries.
August 23, 2011
This is the second time I have read this book. It's been many years since the first time. I was about to give the book to goodwill, but I decided to read it again first. It's quick read. I think I will keep it now and read it from time to time. It's a good reminder of the kind of mother and I am and can be.
October 15, 2012
I loved this book. It was a very quick read but touched me so much. I hope that when my kids go on missions they have mission presidents with wives like this amazing woman. This book made me cry and made me feel like maybe I'm not doing such a bad job at being a mother. It really spoke to me. I would like to get my own copy to read whenever I am feeling down or not good enough. I loved it!!!
February 16, 2015
Picked this up off my parents shelves and read it on my flight home. Short, easy read. I've thought about the stripling warriors, and their sisters, and their mothers often over the years, so it was interesting for me to read a former Mission President's wives thoughts on modern mothers of stripling warriors (AKA missionaries).
January 12, 2008
I love the side margin quotes that are easily reviewed for pieces that were meaningful to me. Wonderful reminder of the "small" things we do now that are truly preparing our children for their future-not so distant missions and families of their own.
March 29, 2009
This was a good, easy read. It really helped me appreciate motherhood more and the importance of it. I feel more motivated to really try being a better mom and teaching my kids what is really important!
December 7, 2010
Just the thoughts that are always on my mind raising sons (and even daughters). A really nice reference book, and helps me always remember all that I need to teach them before they leave me. Despite the heavy responsibility...I love my job!
October 11, 2012
This quick read left me feeling very validated in my efforts to teach my children. However, I'm going to need to read it again with a pen in hand to be able to extract specific principles that I can focus on as I parent.
June 15, 2008
very uplifting book. would recommend it to anyone with children/spiritually minded.
August 4, 2008
I was given this bok when Brock was first born. It's a very simple and fast read, but it has some very sweet, and touching ideals.
October 16, 2008
Talk about a tear jerker! Ardeth G. Kapp interviews missionaries about their mothers. Very touching and it made me think of ways I can be a better mom for my kids. A quick, spiritual read.
October 20, 2008
A quick, feel good book to remind us of our goals as mothers.
October 27, 2008
The perfect book if you have a 16 year-old young man. I was able to see him in a different light, especially after he came home from EFY this summer. Highly recommend this book!
September 13, 2009
Short easy read and I cried through most of it. We do better than we think.
September 16, 2009
Short, quick read. Shares stories she learned from her missionaries while they were serving as mission president/wife.
August 15, 2012
Great reread of a good book to remind me of the importance of being a mother. Maybe my children are learning something from me.
February 25, 2010
This was an inspiring book that showed how some mothers raised missionaries! I liked it alot!
October 14, 2011
I liked this book but am only giving it 3.5 stars because it was so simple I didn't come away with a whole lot.
October 26, 2014
Loved it. Very inspirational.
January 9, 2026
This was an emotional read for me. Motherhood is so hard, the emotions that come with it can be excruciating. It was uplifting to hear that righteous mothers can raise children in a lot of loving ways and there isn’t a perfect way to be a loving mother.
July 10, 2010
I loved the insights in this book! A short pretty easy read. It brought me to tears and made me think about how my parenting is, or is not, preparing my children for the outside world and what they need intellectually and spiritually to be able to fight those influences which are destructive. I loved reading about what missionaries remembered about their mothers or what they related their mother's taught them. It gave me a different perspective on how the little things can really go a long way.
Loved this book!
Loved this book!
August 25, 2016
Love Ardeth Greene Kapp. Nothing deep or new, but an incredibly fast read and uplifting.
September 9, 2020
This was such a mediocre cutesy book about very traditional mothers. It was rather dull even though it was mildly heartwarming.
July 16, 2020
Quick read, yet very powerful. I know this is one I will read again and again!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews