"Mother Told Me" Story (Elder Foster)

One of the fun conversations we have had over the dinner table is "My mom always says..."  As a mom it is eye-opening to hear what the kids think I always say.  As a daughter it is enlightening what I feel my mom always said, and as a grand-daughter I love when my mom talks about her mom.  I sometimes feel we need to be aware of the power of our words, and influence.  I love the story Elder Foster told in General Conference a few years ago.


"One night his four-year-old son asked him to read a bedtime story. Eric had picked out his favorite book: The Ballooning Adventures of Paddy Pork, a story about a family who lived on the isles of the sea and traveled from island to island by hot-air balloon. It was a picture book that had no words, so Brother Pearson made up words to the story.

“Paddy is in a hot-air balloon. He is landing on an island now. He is dropping a line over the side of the balloon.”

Eric stopped him. “Dad, that is not a line. It’s a rope.”

Brother Pearson looked at Eric and back at the picture book, and then he continued: “Paddy is getting out of the balloon and climbing down the tree. Oh no! His coat is caught on a limb!”

Again Eric stopped him. “Dad, that’s not a coat. It’s a jacket.”

By now Brother Pearson was somewhat perplexed. He said, “Eric, there are no words in this book, just pictures. Why do you insist that it’s a jacket?”

Eric answered, “Because Mother told me.”

His father closed the book and said, “Eric, who do you think is the last word, the ultimate authority in this house?”

This time Eric thought carefully before he answered, “You are, Dad.”

Brother Pearson beamed at his son. What an exceptional answer! “How did you know that?”

Eric quickly responded, “Mother told me.”"

- Elder Bradley D. Foster, "Mother Told Me"  General Conference April 2010  Click Here