"For Such a Time [in my life] As This"

That's how I feel about Julie B. Beck. She was called to be the General Relief Society President at the exact time in my life when I needed her. The transition to being a wife and especially to being a mother was difficult for me...what am I saying, I still struggle. It was hard to understand and appreciate my new roles and her talks have been an incredible guide to me through this process. She has truly elevated womanhood/wifehood/motherhood for me and helped me see more clearly how Heavenly Father views women. Since she was released from her calling I felt like I would share a few of my favorite quotes that come to my mind most often:

1. “There are a lot of feelings of entitlement, feelings that someone owes [us] something...This even happens in families. I hear a wife say ‘my husband owes me this,’ usually [regarding] time or help. … When I remember the Savior Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us, I remember who owes Who. No one owes me anything, and I owe everything to the Lord for His sacrifice." (BYU Women's Conference 2011)

2. "Our responsibility is to make sure that our homes are blessed with priesthood power, as the Primary song says, 'every hour' (Children’s Songbook, 190). It isn’t just when Dad is there. It isn’t just when Mom is there. It isn’t just when a priesthood ordination or blessing is being performed. It’s every hour as covenants are made and kept.” (BYU Women's Conference 2011)

3. "She was a single mother, she was needy and she did need help, but she also recognized that she had something in her to give and that if she wanted to have a friend, she should begin by being a friend. … She understood who she was and that her state was not a definition of her identity." (BYU-Idaho Devotional 2011)

4. "[A woman with a 'mother heart'] believes that to be 'primarily responsible for the nurture of [her] children' is a vital, dignified, and 'sacred responsibilit[y]' (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Liahona, Oct. 1998, 24; Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102). To nurture and feed them physically is as much an honor as to nurture and feed them spiritually. (A "Mother Heart" Ensign May 2004)

****I have to remind myself daily that part of nurturing is housekeeping/cooking. I'm trying to like it and hopefully love it and when I tell myself this, I find more meaning and purpose in it.**** Why can't part of nurturing be playing on the internet, he he he?

5. "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." (BYU Women's Conf. 2010)

***Wow, the power and influence of a mother!!!***

And finally, I love her system of categorizing activities into Essential, Necessary, and Nice to Do. I often think about these things when deciding where to focus my time. Even though I'm still very Nice to Do heavy, I'm so grateful for that framework she offered and that I can at least aspire to.