The Importance of Being the Lioness who guards the Gate

From Julie B. Beck:

“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.  This means that  there has to be some prioritizing. I was taught  years  ago that when  our priorities are out of order, we lose power. If we need   power and  influence to carry out our mission, then our priorities have  to be   straight.”