First Lesson

Yesterday I gave my first Relief Society lesson. A few weeks ago, I was called as the second counselor in the Relief Society presidency. I realized I haven't been in Relief Society since we lived in Utah and I was still in school, even longer since I taught there. I was a bit nervous but it seemed to go well and I knew exactly what I wanted to talk about: Sister Beck's talk from Women's Conference.

I loved pretty much everything in the talk and had a hard time cutting back so I could fit it in the time I had (although I did have to talk kind of fast). I wanted to share my favorite part of it here:

I have said lately that women are like lionesses at the gate of the home. Whatever happens in that home and family happens because she cares about it and it matters to her. She guards that gate, and things matter to that family if they matter to her. For example, if the lioness at the gate believes in the law of tithing, tithing will be paid in that family. If that family has a humble little portion of ten pesos coming in, that lioness will safeguard the one peso if tithing is important to her. If that lioness at the gate knows about renewing her baptismal covenants with God, she will be in sacrament meeting on Sunday, and she will prepare her children to be there. They will be washed, cleaned, combed, and taught about that meeting and what happens there. It isn’t a casual event, but it is serious to her, and it will be serious to them. The lioness at the gate ensures that temple worship is taken care of in the family. She encourages that participation. She cares about seeking after her ancestors. If the lioness at the gate knows about and understands missions, missionaries, and the mission of the house of Israel, she will prepare future missionaries to go out from that home. It is very difficult to get a lion cub away from a lioness who doesn’t believe in missions, but if the lioness believes in a mission, she will devote her life to preparing the cub to go out and serve the Lord. That’s how important she is. Service happens if she cares about it.Sisters, you are each like the lioness at the gate.

Even thinking about the term "lioness at the gate" can give me chills. I love the imagery and it makes me want to be more firm in my convictions and what I want for my family, no matter what the other people in the house say or do.