Influential People

We watched a 60 minutes segment tonight about this man:

"We've had three big ideas at Amazon that we've stuck with for 18 years, and they're the reason we're successful: Put the customer first. Invent. And be patient." 

 His name is Jeff Bezos, and he is the brilliant founder of Amazon.com, a worldwide company that has revolutionized the internet marketplace...  He is constantly innovating ways to literally deliver to his customer base, including the recently announced idea of drones which will fly your purchased product to your door within minutes of ordering.

Listening to Jeff Bezos' interview caused me to think about some other very influential people of our time:

 Steve Jobs (with hair).  Inventor of all things i.

 Mark Zuckerberg, founder of facebook.

 Steve Jobs, who made the computer personal.

 Walt Disney, who dares us all to imagine!

And the list goes on.  These people have reached millions of people with their ideas and ambition, and I am in awe of their talents and influence.

BUT as I thought of the word influence, I couldn't thinking of a quote from Julie B. Beck:


"Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord’s kingdom for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power."

I so agree.
This is my beautiful mom, Oreta Sue Satterthwaite Rice, or "Grandma Sue" as she is affectionately called by her grandchildren.  Her loving influence is felt by me and my family on a daily basis.  I feel so fortunate to be watched over by her.  

I also agree with the following statement from Neal A. Maxwell, an apostle in our faith who passed away when I was in college:

"When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses? When the surf of the centuries has made the great pyramids so much sand, the everlasting family will still be standing, because it is a celestial institution, formed outside telestial time. The women of God know this."

Although I am grateful for the modern times we live and the brilliant minds who help shape them, I am ever so much more influenced by my dear sweet mom.