The Lioness at the gate......

Today was our Regional Conference.  By the time I wresteled all 3 kids into their church clothes...and grudgingly found myself something to wear that fits, (blasted baby wieght =)) and got to the VERY crowded Stake Center....I was not feeling "full of the spirit" thats for sure.  But nonetheless...as Jeff and I had discussed that morning....we were being faithful...even when we REALLY would rather have stayed home in our pajamas than brave a 2 hour meeting with the kids.
   Oh I am so grateful that I went.  Elder Hales, Sister Julie Beck, AND Elder Eyring!!  What a spiritual meeting.  Even between reading to my kids, picking up crayons, and stuffing them with fruit snacks to keep them quiet....the spirit was AMAZING. 
    
      Sister Beck spoke of Rebekah from the Bible.  She was a woman who understood the plan.  She was a woman who trusted in the Lord.  She was a woman through which all of ISREAL would come forth.  Think what would have happened if she had faltered???  Think how PIVOTAL her role and that of Sarah, and Rachel as well..... Women of Faith, Courage, and Determination to serve the Lord.
   Sister Beck stated that each of us are as important in our day as Rebekah was in hers.  Each of us has the responsibility to raise a righteous posterity to the Lord.  The consequences of doing so, or not, are UNMEASURABLE. 
   We are what she called "the Lioness at the gate".   WE decide what will and will not enter our homes.  If something is not important to us....it will not be important to our posterity.  The influence  which we have on our own families and on Gods kingdom is VITAL.   As the saying goes "if mom aint happy nobody is happy"......but does that also work for personal righteousness???  If mom isnt righteous......What are the consequences...or the blessings??? 

For me the hardest part of Motherhood is often feeling like what I am doing doesn't matter.  Doing dishes, reading stories 200 times, changing diapers, driving kids to and from activities....it often seems so UNimportant.  It is SO easy as a mother to feel like an exhausted doormat.  
 
 Sister Beck taught there are 3 ways to catagorize our priorities. 
ESSENTIAL, IMPORTANT, and NICE. 

ESSENTIAL
 Personal Revelation
all things that help us RECEIVE personal revelation (cue sunday school answers)
Teaching our children the gospel

IMPORTANT
Physical needs of self and family (bills, dishes,laundry)
Making house a HOME

NICE
Personal Hobbies
Time with friends
Travel
etc.

These were MY thoughts.....Having the spirit with me everyday is MORE IMPORTANT THAN FOOD!  It is more important that dishes, exercise, laundry, and friends.  Having the spirit with me entitles me to the personal revelation on HOW to be the LIONESS AT THE GATE.   It is what will not only save ME but it will save my FAMILY.  
   I have to admit there are too many days I do laundry and do not remember my prayers...or scriptures.  For the most part.....according to these guidelines....my priorities need to be revisited.  I need to focus more on what will SPIRITUALLY save our lives....because THAT is what matters most.

And, in general, I need to remember that I am a literal DAUGHTER OF GOD and that my mission here is to bring my family back to him.  There is NO TIME to wallow in feeling small and insignificant. Raising a righteous posterity is my mission because it is the Lords mission.  I am the Lioness at the gate.  It is MY JOB to fiercely protect my family.

"For this is my work and my Glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"
Moses 1:39




note: this entry includes no direct quotes from sister Julie Beck, only an overview of my feelings and impressions of her talk today.