Saturday Morning Session
Jeffery R. Holland
There's been a long history of rejection in every generation of Christ's followers in a world that is often hostile to the laws of God.
You may wonder if it's worth it to strive against the cultural norms. Yes it is! The alternative is to have our houses, families, cities, and nations left unto us desolate.
Hate is an ugly word, yet today there are those that hate us and the prophets.
If people want any gods at all they want ones that don't demand much at all. They want a God that makes them comfortable.
Miracle after miracle led people to say He was of the devil rather than God. They said this because he had strict doctrine that was hard for them.
Christ like love is the greatest need we have on this planet. partially because it is accompanied by righteousness.
There is a clear difference between the commandment of forgiving sin and the warning against condoning it.
Be strong, live the gospel faithfully, defend your beliefs with courtesy and compassion, but DEFEND them!
Ronald A. Rasband
To sustain our leaders is a privilege, it comes with the responsibility to help them when needed.
Reaching out to save eachother at any time is a hallmark of followers of Christ.
We have the responsibility to reach out and lift others.
Focusing on serving our brothers and sisters prepares us to love what the Lord loves. We grow in testimony, faith, trust and love.
Carlos H. Amado
His ministry always consisted of blessing people one by one even though multitudes followed after Him.
At each moment of His suffering, He showed exceptional self-control. He forgave those who would torture and kill Him.
Linda S. Reeves (loved this talk)
One reason we're here on Earth is to learn to control our God-given passions and power of procreation.
The spouse becomes our preeminent concern and no other activity, hobby, or task should take priority over one's spouse. Pres. Kimball
We need to respond in the appropriate way when someone we love comes to us seeking help in defeating pornography.
You can feel compassion, but you shouldn't take upon yourself the responsibility for the sins of those you love.
How do we protect our children and youth? Filters are useful, but the best way is to have an individual conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ and an understanding of His love and Atonement.
It's ok if the house is a mess and some responsibilities are left undone. The only things that MUST be accomplished are daily family scripture study and prayer, and weekly FHE. They are the very things that strengthen our homes and help keep us safe. then, if something challenging does arise, we can petition the Lord and expect great blessings and help because we have been obedient.
We must WANT to experience a change of heart and go to our Heavenly Father in prayer and ask His forgiveness.
Neil L. Anderson (the youth are a great focus during this session!)
The world will not glide calmly to the Second Coming of the Savior! As the gospel expands and grows stronger, so will Satan strengthen his efforts against us.
Sin always has been and always will be a part of this world, but now it is more accessible to all.
Not all whirlwinds in life are of your own making, some of them are caused by others and others are just part of mortal life.
Challenges will come to you, but as you trust in Christ, He will help you stand strong!
The whirlwinds in your youth can strengthen your spirituality just as strong winds make a young tree stronger too.
As the world slips away from the Law of Chastity, we DO NOT!
Everyone deserves our kindness and consideration. Beware of self-righteousness. There is no place for ridicule, bullying, or bigotry in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
There may be somethings that contradict your political beliefs, but the prophets of God will always be right.
Henry B. Eyring
Your example will be followed by many that you aren't even aware of. You can leave a heritage of faith for others to come after you.
The happiness of eternal life comes through family bonds that last forever.
Duties must sometimes be difficult because their purpose is to move us down the path to live with Heavenly Father as eternal families.
Keeping our sacred covenants for a lifetime takes conviction and faith.
Righteousness must be chosen, it cannot be forced.
If we choose righteousness, we receive happiness...in time. If we choose wickedness, we receive sorrow....in time. Sometimes the effects of our choices don't come immediately. If it was always immediate, it wouldn't test our faith.
If you let Him be the leader of your home, things will work out.
Saturday Afternoon Session
Russell M. Nelson
Faith is the antidote for fear.
Religion means to tie back to God. Are we securely tied to God?
What is our faith in? There is only one in whom your faith is always safe: the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Look unto me in every thought. Doubt not, fear not."
Whether truth emerges from a lab or revelation, it is truth. All truth is part of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Spiritual truth cannot be ignored. Obeying spiritual truth brings blessings every time. Disobedience to them brings sadness every time.
Living the Lord's pure religion is a way of life and daily commitment that will provide divine guidance.
Scriptural knowledge also brings peace and safety.
What are we missing in our lives? We can obtain inspiration through prayers of faith.
God's standards must always be our lighthouse.
Danger lurks when we try to divide ourselves by using phrases like "My private life.." etc.
Evil will never be truth, even if popular!
Of course we will face fear. Let us have the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God upon us. Pres. Monson
Let your faith show!
Richard G. Scott
Focus your life on the most basic principles of the gospel and you can bring forth more good fruit.
Teach with the vision of families being sealed in the temple.
Keep your sharing of the gospel simple.
don't become so absorbed with the trivial things that you miss learning about the true necessary doctrine of Christ.
Robert D. Hales
Claiming to love and honor God while picking which commandments we will fully follow is not what a disciple of Jesus Christ does.
We recognize the essential role of agency as we understand more deeply obedience.
Using our agency to obey requires faith and always includes a deep personal commitment to sustain our priesthood leaders.
Did Lucifer and his followers understand the consequences of their choice? Why would any of us choose to be disobedient when we know the eternal consequences of sin. Our love of the Savior is the key to our obedience to His laws.
It is impossible for others to modify God's commandments.
To rationalize disobedience doesn't change eternal consequences.
Obedience brings blessings. It is taught by example. Learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.
Claudio D. Zivic
Wouldn't it be great to get to the point in our conversion where people don't have to remind you to be obedient to the laws of the gospel.
How often do we make a mistake about the "right" way because we've listened to the world.
If we repent and accept correction, we can draw closer to our Heavenly Father.
We must not fear man more than God!
W. Craig Zwick
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of you mouth."
What does that phrase mean to you?
We must participate in civil dialogue whether in public or in our own homes.
It does not mean that we never speak directly. Words that are full of hard truth still can be full of soft spirit.
The willingness to see through each others eyes will take the poison out of our communications and fill it with compassion and empathy. It enables us to transform hazardous situations into holy places.
Quentin L. Cook
We need to be connected to our roots and branches. That's why temple work is so important.
Sunday Morning Session
Deiter F. Uchtdorf
There is something we can do to make life sweeter...we can be grateful!
It may seem contradictory to the world for someone in pain and struggle to be thankful for their situation, but when we do so, we will be happier in life.
Commandments our opportunities to exercise our agency and receive blessings.
"What do I have to be grateful for when my world is falling apart?"
The Lord expects us to have an attitude of gratitude no matter what our circumstances.
We should focus on being thankful in our circumstances, no matter what they may be.
The choice is ours. We can focus to limit our gratitude based only on the blessings we can count, our we can have an overall feeling of gratitude.
In pain we can glory in the power of Christ's Atonement.
We may think being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved. Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It just means we keep an eternal perspective.
It requires that we trust God as we wait for things we cannot see, but which are true.
Gratitude is an expression of hope and testimony.
There seems to be something inside us that resists endings. Why? Because we are eternal beings that have no end!
Endings here on Earth are merely pauses. In Heavenly Father's plan there are no true endings, only eternal beginnings.
Gratitude fosters empathy for all of God's creations. It is a catalyst to all Christ-like attributes.
M. Russell Ballard
No matter how good your message is, you may not get a chance to share it without consistent follow-up,
We should not refer to the church in any other way than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Let us always make it clear that we belong to His church.
Extending an invitation without following up is like buying a ticket and not seeing the show.
The testimony that you bear is recorded by angels in Heaven. Remain steadfast in bearing testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
Primary children can be missionaries too!
Jean A. Stevens
God is watching over us. We are not alone. You are not forgotten.
God accomplishes miracles one at a time, one person at a time.
The gospel is not weight, it gives us wings.
Gary E. Stevenson
The discipline of training for an athlete is like the discipline of keeping the commandments for us.
If there are things slowing your spiritual progress, let us set those things aside.
Is there someone who needs your encouragement? How can you reach out to them?
You have the Savior of the world on your side. With His help, how can you fail?
David A. Bednar (share with Scott)
The load of wood provided the traction necessary to get the truck free of being stuck.
Our individual load is comprised of many different tasks, responsibilities, trials, etc.
Is the load I'm carrying providing sufficient spiritual traction to put me back on the path to return and live with Heavenly Father?
Happiness is not the absence of a load.
We should be careful to not carry around unnecessary things in our load.
We are not, and never need be, alone. Through our Savior's atonement, we can receive strength beyond our own.
Covenants are necessary to receive all of the blessings made available thru the Atonement.
Not only does the Atonement overcome our sins, but it also enables us to do good and become better.
It is one thing to understand that the Lord came to Earth to die for us, but He also came to live for us so that He could enable us and understand the help we need in our own lives.
There is no physical pain, spiritual wound, infirmity, or weakness we experience in mortality that the Savior did not experience first. Because He can have perfect empathy, He can give us the strength we need to survive and be strengthened by the trials we have in this life.
As we are yoked to him thru sacred covenants, we will seek to live more according to His will. We will become agents who act rather than objects to be acted upon.
Thomas S. Monson
We cannot truly love God if we do not fully love His children.
Love is the very essence of the gospel, and Jesus is our exemplar.
Everyday of our lives, we are given the opportunity to show love and kindness to others.
Some of the greatest opportunities to share our love is within our own homes. Why is it that the ones we love most so frequently become the targets of our harsh words? The answer doesn't matter. We need to apply the commandment to love one another in our homes.
Forgiveness should go hand in hand with love in our home.
Blame keeps wounds open. Only forgiveness heals.
Giving words of sincere appreciation can change the world.
Let us determine to respond with love and kindness to whatever may come our way during the day.
Sunday Afternoon Session
Boyd K. Packer
Of all the titles God could have chosen for Himself, He chose Father. That should tell us where our focus needs to be in this life
Their is an adversary who personally tries to destroy the work of the Savior. Our protection depends on the choices we make to follow the Savior.
William R. Walker
When we get the inspiration from Heaven to do something, we do it NOW!
The more we feel connected to our ancestors, the more likely we are to make good choices.
No sacrifice is to great to receive the blessings of the temple.
L. Tom Perry
Out of respect for our agency, the Spirit's promptings will never by sharp and jarring. They will most often be a gentle tug of the Spirit.
We must be sensitive to the Spirit and be willing to completely alter our course. We must teach our spirit and body to work together.
Too often we think of obedience as thoughtless or blind. On the contrary, it requires much thought of if we will be obedient to the Almighty God.
Lawrence E. Corbridge
There will always be a plan to destroy the plan of God. The truth will always be opposed.
The family is the pattern of Heaven.
Michael John U. Teh
We need to recognize when we have enough. There appears to be a strong inclination to acquire more and more of what is unnecessary.
Do we refuse to see the folly in the pursuit of material things?
We need to instead lay up treasures in Heaven like faith, hope, and charity.
Our passions, appetites, and what we seek after will have a direct effect on our next estate.
Marcos A. Aidukaitis.
One should not run through garbage.
Everything which inviteth to do good is sent forth from Christ and ye may know it is from God.
In the kingdom of God, the search for truth and knowledge is strongly encouraged.
How can we recognize truth in a world that is increasingly attacking it? Know truth by it's fruits.
Ask in faith to know the truth.
He that will harden his heart will receive a lesser portion of the word, but he that will seek out truth will have it made known unto him until he knows the mysteries of God.
We need to be willing to do God's will when we find it.
We must also believe that we will receive revelation when we ask for it.
D. Todd Christofferson
Doubts about the meaning and purpose of life are groundless.
The Savior's resurrection is real!
Sunday, April 6, 2014
General Conference October 2013
Robert D. Hales
The greatest blessings of General Conference often come after conference is over when we go home and ponder the messages that were shared.
At this conference 97% of the members of the church can hear the messages in their own language.
Have personal interviews with your children to strengthen them.
If you pray with sincere desire to hear His voice through the messages of this conference, you will recognize how He has reached you through the messages.
Elder Ulises S. Soares
Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit, so it can most easily be obtained by living worthily of the Spirit.
We must change our character to be more like Him every day!
Christ-like attributes are gifts from God. With a desire to please God we need to recognize our weaknesses and ask for strength to overcome them.
Through the process of time we develop Christ-like attributes. It needs to be a constant goal day by day, minute by minute.
Being meek means learning how to control our temper! We need to convey our feelings with patience and calmness to keep the spirit in our homes.
Only those who are humble can recognize the Lord's answers to their prayers and help others as well.
It is possible to change our attitudes, strengthen our weaknesses, and reject evil influences in our lives through the power of the Savior.
Sister Carole M. Stephens
Every person who has been baptized into the church of God has the right to receive the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost and the personal revelation that follows.
Our H.F. is gracious with His power and we all have access to it. We must cultivate reverence for this power and respect for members of the opposite sex.
Daughters of God, do we respect and embrace our roles as stated in the Proclamation?
Sons of God, do we respect daughters of God and understand the power that we hold as priesthood holders?
God will keep His promises to you as you honor your covenants to Him.
Edward Dube
Never look back, look at what we still have to do!
The covenant that we made at baptism is a life-long journey. It never ends!
In the service of the Lord it is not where you serve, but how.
The past is to be learned from, but not lived in. When we have learned what we need to learn, then we look ahead and let our faith point us to the future.
It is much more about where we are willing to go to serve the Lord rather than what we have done previously.
Elder David A. Bednar
#1 Significant but subtle blessings of tithing:
As we live the law of tithing we often received significant, subtle blessings that would normally go unnoticed unless constantly looking at our lives with gratitude and spiritually attentive and observant.
Spiritual light is poured into our lives upon paying tithing. A grateful person is rich in contentment, an ungrateful person suffers in the poverty of discontentment.
Act and change our own circumstances rather than waiting for someone else to change them.
We can often do more with less as we pay our tithing.
Assurance peace, faith and hope are some of the blessings we can receive.
Sometimes we plead for prosperity and we receive increased perspective and patience.
#2 The Simplicity of the Lord's Way
D&C 119, 120 describes financial counsel of the Lord's church and it's members. Read it!
The temporal affairs of the church are managed in simplicity:
-Live within the means received and don't spend more.
-A portion of tithes is set aside for unforeseen needs.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
The church doesn't require anything of the members, but the Lord asks that we consecrate all.
Our church has reached more than 15 million members now. Why?
Because this church was restored by Jesus Christ Himself. Here is where you find His power to perform all the necessary ordinances of salvation.
Because the church provides opportunities for doing good and allows us to help others.
Because walking the path of discipleship leads to precious blessings both on Earth and Heaven.
Why would anyone want to leave the church they once loved?
We respect those who honestly search for truth, but we honor their right to worship God how where and when they may like we do.
Sometimes questions arise
God is perfect and His gospel is pure, but we are imperfect and make mistakes, so sometimes we do things that can shake the faith of others.
God will not allow His church to lead you astray or stray from its course.
It is natural to have questions, but doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.
The diversity of persons and peoples around the globe is a strength of this church.
We are all hypocrites, none of us are as Christ-like as we know we should be.
If you expect to find perfect here, you will be disappointed. But if you seek to find people seeking out truth and faith, you will find them.
Come, join with us! There's room for you here!
Elder Boyd K. Packer
In a gospel centered home is the safest place to raise children.
The scriptures hold the keys to spiritual safety.
Making reading the scriptures a part of your daily routine and the blessings will follow.
Righteousness is more powerful than wickedness.
Children taught in righteousness will stay the course, and even if they stray, they will have the ability to come back to the gospel.
Joseph Fielding Smith was called on a mission at age 15!!!
Stay on the course and keep your covenants! The cure for most mistakes can be found by seeking forgiveness through personal prayer.
D. Todd Christofferson
Women have the moral influence to do great things in the world and absolutely in the home
By the power of example, mothers can teach their daughters to be virtuous, sons to respect women and be kind.
We must experience a physical birth and a spiritual re-birth to reach exaltation. Women play a vital role in both of those births.
Some feminist thinkers view homemaking as degrading, but that is completely untrue. There is no superior career than motherhood, fatherhood, and marriage.
Attitudes on social norms debase women's moral authority. Immodesty, abortion,
Equal opportunity sexual promescuity
In the name of "equality" women want to erase all differences between men and women. In blurring the feminine and masculine differences, we lose the ability to form partnerships that strengthen both.
You must always but your devotion to God first! Strive to be that kind of disciple and your influence will never fade.
Brethren, let us stand with women, and together use our moral influence for good.
S. Gifford Nielsen
What would you do if the prophet really called you?
The Lord said He would hasten His work in His time, and that time is now!
We need to be engaged in this work more than ever before!
Pray to bring someone closer to the Savior every day.
Pray for the missionaries serving in your area and their investigators by name every day.
"Until you know someone's name and face, you can't know their heart."
Invite a friend to an activity, in or out of your home.
There are 65 passages with exclamation points and dealing with missionary work! Find them.
This the testimony last of all which we give of him, that He lives! Exclamation Point!
During the intermediate hymn, I just had this overwhelming feeling that this is an amazing time to be alive! The gospel is restored in its fullness and we can be sealed forever!
Arnulfo Valenzuela
By small means, great things come to pass. (I've heard that many times today. I need to study out what small things Christ wants me to do to bring about great things)
Timothy J. Dyches
Christ heals body, mind, and spirit. His healing begins with faith.
Opposition in all things is not a flaw in the plan of salvation.
We become agents unto ourselves when we put down our weapons of opposition.
Be not afraid...only believe.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Disciples of Jesus Christ are to have love unto one another.
It is only an appreciation on God's divine love that can help us overcome our depression.
So how do you go on through deep depression (yourself or those you love).
Never lose faith in your Father in Heaven. Believe in miracles. Hope is never lost. If the bitter cup does not pass, drink it.
Be alert to things that may lead to depression. Fatigue is a common ailment. If we don't take to be well, we will definitely take time later to be ill.
Try not to be overwhelmed and don't assume you can fix everything
Use all the marvelous gifts H.F. has given us (priesthood blessings, and getting the best medical care possible).
There is still much in life to be hopeful for.
Do not vote against the preciousness of life by ending it. Know that one day the dawn will break even brighter than you can imagine.
Broken minds can be healed, just as bones and tissues can.
Those of us who are healthy can help others by being charitable, patient, and kind.
Show compassion, hold fast to hope, and trust in faith.
Elder M. Russell Ballard
Now is the time for members and missionaries to labor to bring souls unto Him together!
The Lord is hastening His work! This can only be done if all the members reach out to those around us in love to share His gospel.
Make the decision to do what Jesus Christ has asked us to do.
Fear will be replaced by faith and confidence when we kneel in prayer to have missionary experiences.
Just be positive and those with whom you speak will feel your love for them and the Savior.
It's impossible for us to fail when we try to do our best on the Lord's errand.
Trust the Lord. He knows His sheep and He will help us know them.
Pray personally and in your family for missionary opportunities.
Nothing happens in missionary work until we find someone to teach! Open your mouth!
President Henry B. Eyring
How can I make choices that will lead to happiness in marriage? Follow the words of the Savior to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. And the 2nd is like unto it: love thy neighbor as thyself.
While serving others, we are more likely to plea for the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
It is only with the companionship of the Holy Ghost that we can hope to be equally yolked in a happy marriage.
HF has perfect foresight. He knows what difficulties we would pass through and sent His Son to suffer with us so He would know how to succor us.
We must expect that it will take time and the aid of Heaven to become what God wants us to be.
There is not one of us that God does not desire to save and that He has not prepared a way to save.
He has given His angels, beings of immense power, charge over us to help us return to Him.
The way for God's servants will not be easy in these last days, but He will help us and let us feel His love for His children.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks (Loved this talk!)
The meaning of jealous is possessing sensitive and deep feelings in Hebrew. So when in the commandment to not bow down before other idols He says He is a jealous God it means we deeply offend Him by putting other priorities first.
Are we serving priorities that are not in accordance with the covenants we made at baptism.
If we do not establish our priorities in accordance with the plan of salvation, we are in danger of serving other gods.
The marriage of a man and a woman is necessary for God's plan. We consider it a sacred duty for all God's children to raise a family.
The traditional family is becoming an exception rather than the rule. Women are postponing child bearing in favor of pursuing careers. The role of father's is being diminished and seen as less important and necessary as we know it to be.
Our understanding of God's plan doesn't allow us to make allowances for what is becoming the "norm" in the countries where we live.
Man's laws cannot make moral what God's laws have declared immoral!
Let us have the courage to defy the consensus. Live decently. A moral coward is one who refuses to do what's right because their afraid others with laugh or reject us.
Don't aspire so much to the praise of men that we forget our divine course and the plan God has for us.
Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson
True conversion is more than knowing about gospel principles. It means we are acting on what we believe and living the principles of the gospel and sacrificing.
You have the primary responsibility for your own conversion. It comes as we live pure and virtuous lives and enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
Your personal conversion will helps you in the tasks you face everyday.
When thou are converted, strengthen your brethren.
A person who has been truly converted experiences the blessings of the Atonement and then reaches out to help others experience those blessings also.
Elder Richard J. Maynes
Our ability to endure to the end is directly proportionate to the strength of our testimonies and depth of our conversion.
Being physically able to endure comes at dedication, perseverance and self discipline. Spiritual endurance requires the same price.
We need to study and learn the fundamental principles of the gospel and then live them.
When we face adversity in life, it is essential to be spiritually prepared.
Because we face challenges everyday, we must work on our spiritual stamina everyday.
Elder Richard G. Scott
A testimony of the Atonement gives us personal strength to do those things that are hard.
It is a fundamental truth that thru the Atonement we can be cleansed, but sometimes because of our choices, those sins may cause long-term consequences. Satan can use feelings of our previous guilt to lure us back under his control.
We're all in desperate need of the redemptive power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Many of us have allowed weakness to develop in our character. But we can build spiritual protections around ourselves with the help of the Savior. We must start with sincere, complete, and total repentance. Repentance is not punishment, it is the hope-filled path to a more glorious future.
Be a real friend to those you visit teach. Serve the members of your own family. Make strengthening their testimonies a priority. Fill your life with service to others! As you lose your life in service, Satan loses influence over you.
President Thomas S. Monson
When the pathway of life takes a cruel turn, there is the temptation to ask "Why Me?' We feel encompassed by despair and shattered dreams. We feel abandoned and view our own difficulties thru the distorted prism of pessimism. The difficulties of life are the times we test our endurance. Shall we falter or shall we finish?
Whenever we're inclined to feel burdened down, let us remember that others have passed the same way before and endured and remained steadfast. the reason? They had made the gospel of Jesus Christ the center of their lives.
We will still face difficult times, but we can face them head-on with faith.
Sadness and suffering are universal. Do not feel alone.
We should make it our goal to become more spiritually strong thru the joys and trials we pass.
"Good timber doesn't grow with ease..." Find that poem
In the best of times and worst of times, He is always with us! He always loves us!
We shouldn't need difficulties to bring us closer to Him. We must pray to Him and listen to Him everyday!
Elder Niel L. Andersen
Thru the ordinances of the temple we all receive strength and peace to endure.
When we speak of the priesthood, there are many things we know and we also know that gender is an essential characteristic of our identity. Specific duties are given to each gender and the priesthood falls to the men.
We know that worthiness is necessary for receiving and administering priesthood ordinances.
If one is unworthy, he should withdraw from administering in priesthood ordinances.
Seeing thru the lens of mortality does not always help when looking at the things of God.
We do not determine the callings we receive. Sometimes we feel underwhelmed by our callings and wish we could do more. But we must wait upon the Lord to understand why we are placed where we are and what he wants us to do.
The power of God's priesthood is found in this church!
Whatever your situation, your home will be blessed by priesthood power.
Elder David M. McConkie
Our message to the world is that "God Speaks". He spoke to prophets before, He spoke to Joseph Smith, and He will speak to you. This is what sets you apart from all other teachers in the world.
The Lord has provided a way for all of us to teach in his way.
Our biggest responsibility as teachers is to have the Holy Ghost with us at all times. With it, we can be sure that what we are saying is what the Lord would have us say.
Elder
Revelation and testimony come by attending our Sunday church meetings. Sacrament mtg provides the opportunity to partake of the sacrament. Sunday school allows us to learn together doctrines of the gospel. RS mtg serves to strengthen the sisters in their sisterhood.
May we choose to be diligent and choose to grasp tightly the iron rod.
Elder Adrian Ochoa
If you ever come across anything that causes you to question your testimony, look to God rather than continuing to question.
The companionship of the Holy Ghost is essential for your spiritual survival.
Elder Terrence M. Vinson
Members of this church are entitled to receive spiritual witnesses of truths.
Is Christ the center of the thoughts and intents of our hearts?
Do we take seriously the covenant we renew every week during the sacrament?
For us to be like God is His goal and also His work.
Elder Russell M. Nelson
Decisions determine destiny. The freedom to make your own choices is critical for your progression.
We are eternal beings and children of God. Not one of us can stop being a child of God.
You were chosen to come forth at this specific time!
Self mastery=ability to choose responsibility over appetite.
When we master our appetites, we can enjoy longer life, stronger love, and supernal joy.
Permanent change can only come thru the power of Jesus Christ.
Obey eagerly, earnestly, and exactly
Sin is still sin in the eyes of God even if legalized by man. We cannot change His doctrine! It is not ours to change.
Though we should show compassion and love for others we cannot change God's eternal truths.
The greatest blessings of General Conference often come after conference is over when we go home and ponder the messages that were shared.
At this conference 97% of the members of the church can hear the messages in their own language.
Have personal interviews with your children to strengthen them.
If you pray with sincere desire to hear His voice through the messages of this conference, you will recognize how He has reached you through the messages.
Elder Ulises S. Soares
Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit, so it can most easily be obtained by living worthily of the Spirit.
We must change our character to be more like Him every day!
Christ-like attributes are gifts from God. With a desire to please God we need to recognize our weaknesses and ask for strength to overcome them.
Through the process of time we develop Christ-like attributes. It needs to be a constant goal day by day, minute by minute.
Being meek means learning how to control our temper! We need to convey our feelings with patience and calmness to keep the spirit in our homes.
Only those who are humble can recognize the Lord's answers to their prayers and help others as well.
It is possible to change our attitudes, strengthen our weaknesses, and reject evil influences in our lives through the power of the Savior.
Sister Carole M. Stephens
Every person who has been baptized into the church of God has the right to receive the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost and the personal revelation that follows.
Our H.F. is gracious with His power and we all have access to it. We must cultivate reverence for this power and respect for members of the opposite sex.
Daughters of God, do we respect and embrace our roles as stated in the Proclamation?
Sons of God, do we respect daughters of God and understand the power that we hold as priesthood holders?
God will keep His promises to you as you honor your covenants to Him.
Edward Dube
Never look back, look at what we still have to do!
The covenant that we made at baptism is a life-long journey. It never ends!
In the service of the Lord it is not where you serve, but how.
The past is to be learned from, but not lived in. When we have learned what we need to learn, then we look ahead and let our faith point us to the future.
It is much more about where we are willing to go to serve the Lord rather than what we have done previously.
Elder David A. Bednar
#1 Significant but subtle blessings of tithing:
As we live the law of tithing we often received significant, subtle blessings that would normally go unnoticed unless constantly looking at our lives with gratitude and spiritually attentive and observant.
Spiritual light is poured into our lives upon paying tithing. A grateful person is rich in contentment, an ungrateful person suffers in the poverty of discontentment.
Act and change our own circumstances rather than waiting for someone else to change them.
We can often do more with less as we pay our tithing.
Assurance peace, faith and hope are some of the blessings we can receive.
Sometimes we plead for prosperity and we receive increased perspective and patience.
#2 The Simplicity of the Lord's Way
D&C 119, 120 describes financial counsel of the Lord's church and it's members. Read it!
The temporal affairs of the church are managed in simplicity:
-Live within the means received and don't spend more.
-A portion of tithes is set aside for unforeseen needs.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
The church doesn't require anything of the members, but the Lord asks that we consecrate all.
Our church has reached more than 15 million members now. Why?
Because this church was restored by Jesus Christ Himself. Here is where you find His power to perform all the necessary ordinances of salvation.
Because the church provides opportunities for doing good and allows us to help others.
Because walking the path of discipleship leads to precious blessings both on Earth and Heaven.
Why would anyone want to leave the church they once loved?
We respect those who honestly search for truth, but we honor their right to worship God how where and when they may like we do.
Sometimes questions arise
God is perfect and His gospel is pure, but we are imperfect and make mistakes, so sometimes we do things that can shake the faith of others.
God will not allow His church to lead you astray or stray from its course.
It is natural to have questions, but doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.
The diversity of persons and peoples around the globe is a strength of this church.
We are all hypocrites, none of us are as Christ-like as we know we should be.
If you expect to find perfect here, you will be disappointed. But if you seek to find people seeking out truth and faith, you will find them.
Come, join with us! There's room for you here!
Elder Boyd K. Packer
In a gospel centered home is the safest place to raise children.
The scriptures hold the keys to spiritual safety.
Making reading the scriptures a part of your daily routine and the blessings will follow.
Righteousness is more powerful than wickedness.
Children taught in righteousness will stay the course, and even if they stray, they will have the ability to come back to the gospel.
Joseph Fielding Smith was called on a mission at age 15!!!
Stay on the course and keep your covenants! The cure for most mistakes can be found by seeking forgiveness through personal prayer.
D. Todd Christofferson
Women have the moral influence to do great things in the world and absolutely in the home
By the power of example, mothers can teach their daughters to be virtuous, sons to respect women and be kind.
We must experience a physical birth and a spiritual re-birth to reach exaltation. Women play a vital role in both of those births.
Some feminist thinkers view homemaking as degrading, but that is completely untrue. There is no superior career than motherhood, fatherhood, and marriage.
Attitudes on social norms debase women's moral authority. Immodesty, abortion,
Equal opportunity sexual promescuity
In the name of "equality" women want to erase all differences between men and women. In blurring the feminine and masculine differences, we lose the ability to form partnerships that strengthen both.
You must always but your devotion to God first! Strive to be that kind of disciple and your influence will never fade.
Brethren, let us stand with women, and together use our moral influence for good.
S. Gifford Nielsen
What would you do if the prophet really called you?
The Lord said He would hasten His work in His time, and that time is now!
We need to be engaged in this work more than ever before!
Pray to bring someone closer to the Savior every day.
Pray for the missionaries serving in your area and their investigators by name every day.
"Until you know someone's name and face, you can't know their heart."
Invite a friend to an activity, in or out of your home.
There are 65 passages with exclamation points and dealing with missionary work! Find them.
This the testimony last of all which we give of him, that He lives! Exclamation Point!
During the intermediate hymn, I just had this overwhelming feeling that this is an amazing time to be alive! The gospel is restored in its fullness and we can be sealed forever!
Arnulfo Valenzuela
By small means, great things come to pass. (I've heard that many times today. I need to study out what small things Christ wants me to do to bring about great things)
Timothy J. Dyches
Christ heals body, mind, and spirit. His healing begins with faith.
Opposition in all things is not a flaw in the plan of salvation.
We become agents unto ourselves when we put down our weapons of opposition.
Be not afraid...only believe.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Disciples of Jesus Christ are to have love unto one another.
It is only an appreciation on God's divine love that can help us overcome our depression.
So how do you go on through deep depression (yourself or those you love).
Never lose faith in your Father in Heaven. Believe in miracles. Hope is never lost. If the bitter cup does not pass, drink it.
Be alert to things that may lead to depression. Fatigue is a common ailment. If we don't take to be well, we will definitely take time later to be ill.
Try not to be overwhelmed and don't assume you can fix everything
Use all the marvelous gifts H.F. has given us (priesthood blessings, and getting the best medical care possible).
There is still much in life to be hopeful for.
Do not vote against the preciousness of life by ending it. Know that one day the dawn will break even brighter than you can imagine.
Broken minds can be healed, just as bones and tissues can.
Those of us who are healthy can help others by being charitable, patient, and kind.
Show compassion, hold fast to hope, and trust in faith.
Elder M. Russell Ballard
Now is the time for members and missionaries to labor to bring souls unto Him together!
The Lord is hastening His work! This can only be done if all the members reach out to those around us in love to share His gospel.
Make the decision to do what Jesus Christ has asked us to do.
Fear will be replaced by faith and confidence when we kneel in prayer to have missionary experiences.
Just be positive and those with whom you speak will feel your love for them and the Savior.
It's impossible for us to fail when we try to do our best on the Lord's errand.
Trust the Lord. He knows His sheep and He will help us know them.
Pray personally and in your family for missionary opportunities.
Nothing happens in missionary work until we find someone to teach! Open your mouth!
President Henry B. Eyring
How can I make choices that will lead to happiness in marriage? Follow the words of the Savior to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. And the 2nd is like unto it: love thy neighbor as thyself.
While serving others, we are more likely to plea for the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
It is only with the companionship of the Holy Ghost that we can hope to be equally yolked in a happy marriage.
HF has perfect foresight. He knows what difficulties we would pass through and sent His Son to suffer with us so He would know how to succor us.
We must expect that it will take time and the aid of Heaven to become what God wants us to be.
There is not one of us that God does not desire to save and that He has not prepared a way to save.
He has given His angels, beings of immense power, charge over us to help us return to Him.
The way for God's servants will not be easy in these last days, but He will help us and let us feel His love for His children.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks (Loved this talk!)
The meaning of jealous is possessing sensitive and deep feelings in Hebrew. So when in the commandment to not bow down before other idols He says He is a jealous God it means we deeply offend Him by putting other priorities first.
Are we serving priorities that are not in accordance with the covenants we made at baptism.
If we do not establish our priorities in accordance with the plan of salvation, we are in danger of serving other gods.
The marriage of a man and a woman is necessary for God's plan. We consider it a sacred duty for all God's children to raise a family.
The traditional family is becoming an exception rather than the rule. Women are postponing child bearing in favor of pursuing careers. The role of father's is being diminished and seen as less important and necessary as we know it to be.
Our understanding of God's plan doesn't allow us to make allowances for what is becoming the "norm" in the countries where we live.
Man's laws cannot make moral what God's laws have declared immoral!
Let us have the courage to defy the consensus. Live decently. A moral coward is one who refuses to do what's right because their afraid others with laugh or reject us.
Don't aspire so much to the praise of men that we forget our divine course and the plan God has for us.
Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson
True conversion is more than knowing about gospel principles. It means we are acting on what we believe and living the principles of the gospel and sacrificing.
You have the primary responsibility for your own conversion. It comes as we live pure and virtuous lives and enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
Your personal conversion will helps you in the tasks you face everyday.
When thou are converted, strengthen your brethren.
A person who has been truly converted experiences the blessings of the Atonement and then reaches out to help others experience those blessings also.
Elder Richard J. Maynes
Our ability to endure to the end is directly proportionate to the strength of our testimonies and depth of our conversion.
Being physically able to endure comes at dedication, perseverance and self discipline. Spiritual endurance requires the same price.
We need to study and learn the fundamental principles of the gospel and then live them.
When we face adversity in life, it is essential to be spiritually prepared.
Because we face challenges everyday, we must work on our spiritual stamina everyday.
Elder Richard G. Scott
A testimony of the Atonement gives us personal strength to do those things that are hard.
It is a fundamental truth that thru the Atonement we can be cleansed, but sometimes because of our choices, those sins may cause long-term consequences. Satan can use feelings of our previous guilt to lure us back under his control.
We're all in desperate need of the redemptive power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Many of us have allowed weakness to develop in our character. But we can build spiritual protections around ourselves with the help of the Savior. We must start with sincere, complete, and total repentance. Repentance is not punishment, it is the hope-filled path to a more glorious future.
Be a real friend to those you visit teach. Serve the members of your own family. Make strengthening their testimonies a priority. Fill your life with service to others! As you lose your life in service, Satan loses influence over you.
President Thomas S. Monson
When the pathway of life takes a cruel turn, there is the temptation to ask "Why Me?' We feel encompassed by despair and shattered dreams. We feel abandoned and view our own difficulties thru the distorted prism of pessimism. The difficulties of life are the times we test our endurance. Shall we falter or shall we finish?
Whenever we're inclined to feel burdened down, let us remember that others have passed the same way before and endured and remained steadfast. the reason? They had made the gospel of Jesus Christ the center of their lives.
We will still face difficult times, but we can face them head-on with faith.
Sadness and suffering are universal. Do not feel alone.
We should make it our goal to become more spiritually strong thru the joys and trials we pass.
"Good timber doesn't grow with ease..." Find that poem
In the best of times and worst of times, He is always with us! He always loves us!
We shouldn't need difficulties to bring us closer to Him. We must pray to Him and listen to Him everyday!
Elder Niel L. Andersen
Thru the ordinances of the temple we all receive strength and peace to endure.
When we speak of the priesthood, there are many things we know and we also know that gender is an essential characteristic of our identity. Specific duties are given to each gender and the priesthood falls to the men.
We know that worthiness is necessary for receiving and administering priesthood ordinances.
If one is unworthy, he should withdraw from administering in priesthood ordinances.
Seeing thru the lens of mortality does not always help when looking at the things of God.
We do not determine the callings we receive. Sometimes we feel underwhelmed by our callings and wish we could do more. But we must wait upon the Lord to understand why we are placed where we are and what he wants us to do.
The power of God's priesthood is found in this church!
Whatever your situation, your home will be blessed by priesthood power.
Elder David M. McConkie
Our message to the world is that "God Speaks". He spoke to prophets before, He spoke to Joseph Smith, and He will speak to you. This is what sets you apart from all other teachers in the world.
The Lord has provided a way for all of us to teach in his way.
Our biggest responsibility as teachers is to have the Holy Ghost with us at all times. With it, we can be sure that what we are saying is what the Lord would have us say.
Elder
Revelation and testimony come by attending our Sunday church meetings. Sacrament mtg provides the opportunity to partake of the sacrament. Sunday school allows us to learn together doctrines of the gospel. RS mtg serves to strengthen the sisters in their sisterhood.
May we choose to be diligent and choose to grasp tightly the iron rod.
Elder Adrian Ochoa
If you ever come across anything that causes you to question your testimony, look to God rather than continuing to question.
The companionship of the Holy Ghost is essential for your spiritual survival.
Elder Terrence M. Vinson
Members of this church are entitled to receive spiritual witnesses of truths.
Is Christ the center of the thoughts and intents of our hearts?
Do we take seriously the covenant we renew every week during the sacrament?
For us to be like God is His goal and also His work.
Elder Russell M. Nelson
Decisions determine destiny. The freedom to make your own choices is critical for your progression.
We are eternal beings and children of God. Not one of us can stop being a child of God.
You were chosen to come forth at this specific time!
Self mastery=ability to choose responsibility over appetite.
When we master our appetites, we can enjoy longer life, stronger love, and supernal joy.
Permanent change can only come thru the power of Jesus Christ.
Obey eagerly, earnestly, and exactly
Sin is still sin in the eyes of God even if legalized by man. We cannot change His doctrine! It is not ours to change.
Though we should show compassion and love for others we cannot change God's eternal truths.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Spring 2013 General Conference
So here are my thoughts/notes from Conference last weekend. It took me a while to compile them, but here they are.
We are meant to age for with it comes the knowledge of the truth.
There are few things more powerful than the faithful prayers of a righteous mother.
We are not free to choose the consequences of our choices. They will come as they come.
"Let every man be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgement." what scripture?
We need to be careful of the tolerance trap. Exaggeration of any virtue leads it to become a vice.
Learn to receive and act on inspiration and revelation!
In order to successfully survive tempests of life, we must build on a sure foundation...the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Daily searching the scriptures, praying, and choosing the right will help keep our spiritual foundation firm. Partaking of the Sacrament weekly will help us continuously improve and have His spirit with us always. Attending the temple often is vital as well to help us keep an eternal perspective.
None of us would knowingly construct a house on a poor foundation. So let us anchor our lives to the Savior to be sure our souls have a solid foundation.
We are daughters of an exalted Being. We have a Heavenly Father. Do not forget that!
What e'er thou art, act well thy part. As daughters of God we need to act well that part.
"I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise"
"We must never lose sight of the strength of the women." -Pres. Hinckley
How do parents help their daughters realize their divine nature? Exemplify virtuous womanhood, How you love and honor your husband and his priesthood will be an example for your daughter. Virtue is the strength and power of daughters of God.
Scriptures are written on the back of the carpet in the Conference Center, and under the pulpit is the scripture Mosiah 18:9 "Stand as a witness of God in all times, in all things, and in all places."
The Lord loves us and wants us to understand His desire to forgive us.
It is only thru virtue of His compassion that we can overcome the world.
As often as we seek His forgiveness, He will forgive us again and again!
Rationalized false faith doesn't justify sin. When our hearts are not pointed toward Him but instead take pleasure in our sin, we are not truly repentant.
During this talk I was reminded of what a friend said recently. She said "We're off course 90% of the time, but if we are constantly trying to get back on the course, we will make it to our destination safely."
"In the day of wrath, I will remember mercy" what scripture?
Repent and live, though your sins be crimson red, repent and He'll forgive. from Gently Raise the Sacred Strain
The Priesthood is the power that created the Earth and Heavens. It is that same power the Savior used during His mortal ministry to perform miracles.
Priesthood power and authority comes only when those who hold it are worthy and act in accordance with God's will.
A man cannot fully exercise the power of the priesthood to establish an eternal family without a woman. Just as a woman cannot conceive a child without a man. So to establish a priesthood based eternal family, a man and woman must do so together equally.
We have unlimited divine potential. But if we drift away and become spiritually malnourished we can wilt like the little girls tomato plant. We can be renewed however with the light and power of the gospel if we come back to our covenants and our Savior.
Regardless of your circumstances, you can center your home around the Lord Jesus Christ. When He is the center of your home there is a sense of peace and serenity.
It is the parent's role to lead, but children can help build the Spirit within the home. They must be held accountable for their actions so they can grow to become trustworthy members of the kingdom of God.
Apply sound gospel prinicples in your home. Remember little things lead to big things. So forgetting little things that we may forget to do can lead to big trials of faith.
Satan is no match for the Savior! Satan's fate is decided. He will try to exploit your weaknesses if you give in to him. Stay on the lord's side and you will come out ahead every time!
Used with discipline personal technological devices can serve as a protection for you. Use them to read uplifting material wherever you may be.
Be careful with how you use technology. If you memorized scriptures instead of sending a text, imagine how many scriptures you would know after just a short period.
Acting obediently on spiritual promptings will increase your ability to do the will of the Lord.
Selfishness is the root of great evil!
Focus our lives outward in service to others.
When we obey the commandments of the Lord and serve others unselfishly, the result is power from the Lord. One of the greatest blessings we can offer to the world is a christ-centered home.
We need to trust in the Lord and acknowledge His will in all things.
Living an obedient life provides the greatest assurance for peace and refuge in our homes. So even in the midst of difficutly we can enjoy abundant peace and security.
Peace will never come to the world until the world acknowledges the Savior and His ultimate power.
Peace is the gift of God. It is an abiding deep happiness and spiritual contentment.
Peace comes from knowing that the Savior knows who we are and what we are going through.
God is not the author of confusion, but the authpr of peace.
Worldly ways of trying to gain peace will never work! Pray always, make covenants, be a true disciple of Jesus Christ these are ways to find true peace.
The Savior is the source of true peace. righteous living will be rewarded with true peace.
Stick to the basics. Nothing is more basic than our first Article of faith. We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost.
We are not spiritual orphans! We have Heavenly parents! We can follow their examples, we don't have to be lost, deceived, or confused. We can follow the way they taught us to live by sending their Son Jesus Christ to follow His example.
One of the evils of these days is that everyone wants to walk according to their own desires. we must walk after the way of the Lord.
The Lord has shown us the way to love. The world tells us that all that matters is that two people love each other. While that is important, there is an authorized way and time to express that love.
He know best how to help. Ask for His assistance to know what He needs you to do.
Why is the law of chastity so important?
Our ability to be obedient to the laws and ordinances of the gospel are amplified with our physical bodies.
The man and the woman are intended to learn from each other.
The power of creation is spritiually significant. Specific guidelines for the ability to create life are part of Heavenly Father's plan for us.
Sex is a way to strengthen the relationship between a woman and a man bonded as husband and wife.
Every appetite, passion, and desire of the natural man may be overcome in and thru the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Lucifer tempts us to use our bodies improperly. Therefore our bodies (that which he does not have) becomes his main way of attacking us.
Disciplining the natural man in each of us
Love increases thru righteous restraint and decreases thru impulsive indulgence.
Our innate longing to belong is fulfilled in righteousness as we walk in light and hope.
Guilt is to our spirit what pain is to our body...a warning of danger and a sign to change course.
The resluts of sincere repentance is spiritual healing.
"Catch the wave" of mission work.
This wave is not manmade. It was from divine origins and started with 7 simple words: "This is my beloved Son. Hear Him!"
"I never told you I was perfect, but there is no error in the revelations I have taught." -Joseph Smith
God's light is real. It is available to all! It has the power to soften the sting of the darkest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness of our souls and illuminate the path before us.This is the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
We can't sit in a dark room and wait for some one to flip the switch! We have to act in faith to turn the light on ourselves by opening our eyes to the light.
How do we open our eyes to the light?
*Start where you are right now. The very moment you begin to seek your Heavenly Father, the reality of His light will being to enlighten your soul.
*Turn your heart towards the Lord's. Acknowledge your short comings, plead with Him for strength and support, ask that your eyes may be open to see His light.
*Walk in the Light! He wants us to rise up and become the person we are supposed to be. For that reason, He sent His Son to show us what to do. He also gave us the gospel so we may know exactly what we must do.
Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light.
In the midst of great darkness, we can be the light that shines forth to brighten the lives of others.
Our living hope is in Jesus Christ! He is the doorway to divine enlightenment. Learn of Him and of His gospel.
Joyfully serve our God!
Faith overcomes doubt in every situation! We just need to exercise that faith!
We are few in number, but at the same time, we are eye witnesses that the "stone cut without hands" is filling the whole Earth.
Our desire to share the gospel should bring all of us to our knees in prayer!
One of the greatest effects a person can have in this world is to influence a child.
That voice from heaven was one giving firm direction while giving hope, it was not harsh, demeaning, or loud.
How we speak to our children can strengthen them or diminish them.
To speak to a child's heart we must know that child's needs. Our efforts are magnified when we seek the direction of the Holy Ghost.
We must more often technologically disconnect. Our ability to connect with our children diminishes as we use technology to distract them or pacify them.
What would we say to our families in less than 25 words if we hadn't seen them in 2 years?
Will it make a difference if we take the time to whisper to them everyday "You are a child of God." or "I love everything about you!"
We can learn so much by watching and then considering what we have seen and heard.
*Value the marriage- In the happiest marriages both the husband and wife consider their relationship to be a pearl of great worth. They know that no other relationship can bring as much happiness.
*Faith is central to their marriages. Their mutual quest is to be obedient and good. They don't consider the commandments to be a buffet from which they can choose which ones to obey. Keeping the commandments is fundamental to happy eternal marriages.
*Repentance-happy marriages rely on the gift of repentance. Humility is the essence of repentance. It doesn't speak with moral superiority, it answers softly and listens quietly looking for understanding, not vindication. We should treat our spouse with meekness seeking to bless and put the other first in every decision.
*Respect- husbands and wives treat each other as equals. They make decisions unanimously. They focus first on the home and helping with shared responsibilities. They forgo personal entertaniment to help with their household duties. There is also transparency.
*Love- cleave means to be completely devoted to another person. Their marriage is their first priority! They don't allow things to come first to their spouse. They love each other fully!
Marriage is a gift from God to us, and the quality of our marriage is a gift from us to Him.
Secularism is beginning to be the norm. Many of it's teachings are in contradiction to the laws of God.
If you would be a man and live abundantly, then obey God's law!
Obedience to law is liberty!
Next to love itself, free agency is God's greatest gift to mankind.
None of us should ever under estimate how driven Satan is to destroy us.
For man to substitute his own laws for God's is detrimental to all society.
As we give up commitments and fidelity to our marriage covenants, we remove the glue that holds our society together.
Indeed our heaven is little more than a projection of our home in eternity.
There are moral absolutes! Sin will always be sin! Disobedience to His commandments will always deprive us of His blessings.
We must not pick and choose which commandments are important to keep! They are all important!
He that keeps God's commandments will know His will and be enlightened.
A loving Heavenly Father has charted a course for our lives. We follow that course through obedience.
Life would be simpler for us if we were obedient to the simple commandments He has given us.
The happiness, peace, progress, prosperity, salvation, and exaltation of the LDS lie in walking in obedience to the laws of God.
The Savior set the example for all of us with His unwavering obedience! "Follow Thou Me."
The strength to survive today can be ours when we willingly obey the Lords commandments.
Even if you can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you until you come to believe.
He shared the story of the father in the New Testament who had an afflicted son who asked that his son be healed. When Jesus said that "all things are possible if you believe" the father responded "Oh Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief." The rest of Elder Holland's talk refers to the example of this father.
When facing the challenge of faith, the father asserts his strength first, then acknowledges his weakness second. In troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if it is small! *When questions arise, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes!
The size of your faith is not your issue, it is the integrity you show to the faith you already have.
*When problems arise, don't lead with your unbelief. An expression of doubt is not a higher testament of experience than a simple admission of faith.
You have more faith than you think you do.
In this church, what we know will always trump what we don't know!
All in this life must walk by faith! So be kind to yourself in your struggles of faith.
*When doubt or difficulty come, don't be afraid to ask for help.
Belief is a precious word and even a more precious act. It is always the first step to conviction.
Only at our peril will allow doubt or devils to distract us.
Hope on! Journey on! Fan the flame of your Faith! Because all things are possible to them that believe!
If your testimony is struggling, lean on mine!
Jesus taught that baptism by immersion is necessary. We do likewise. He taught us to repent. that is still the call of His servants today. He told us to follow the commandments even though it might not be popular in the world. We still to try to do so.
Jesus' teachings were not meant to be theoretical. They were always meant to be acted upon.
Following Christ is not a casual commitment. It is something we do throughout our lives.
He taught us to pray, which is what we still do today.
At the heart of the Gospel is a true understanding of the nature of the Father and the Son.
They are two separate Beings with one divine purpose. That oneness in purpose is not reserved for them alone. They desire us to be one with them as well.
Nothing will startle us more when we leave this life than to realize how well we know our Father in Heaven and recognize His face.
There is a school for parenting...it is called home.
Lessons from this school
*The temple is the place. In order to obtain the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, one must enter this covenant.
*In order to contend, you need 2 people, and I will never be one of them. We also have to live a Celestial life
*A child who sings, is a happy child.
*I need you to hug me. The words "I love you" and "I'm sorry" can heal wounds faster than any others. We need to express love!
*I love the Book of Mormon and my Savior Jesus Christ.
*It is not enough to know the scriptures. We must live them!
The feeling of being accepted by someone we love is a basic human need. It increases our sense of self worth and confidence.
Seeking acceptance for the wrong reasons of from the wrong sources puts us on a path to destruction.
See that ye look to God and live! They are the ultimate source of loving acceptance.
Here is a pattern for acceptance
*Know that our hearts are honest and broken. How do we know that? We must engage in honest and open self-examination. We know our own motives better than anybody else. We will be taught by the Holy Ghost.
*Know that our spirit is contrite. We acknowledge our sins and shortcomings we are teachable and willing to repent. Willing to change!
*A conscious decision to observe our covenants through sacrifice. Too often we think of sacrifice as something big and hard to do, but most often it's living righteously day to day. It includes partaking of the sacrament every week.
Having the Holy Ghost as our constant companion is the ultimate sign of being accepted of Heavenly Father.
We live in an era of turbulence and uncertainty, yet we too have cause for good cheer and rejoicing because we live in a time when God has restored His gospel to the Earth in preparation for the Second Coming of the Savior.
We can exclaim with happiness "Oh what a beautiful morning"
The greatest service we can provide for others in this life is to bring them to the Gospel.
There are great reasons for rejoicing even among our disappointments and heartaches. If we put our trust in the Lord, He will help us through our difficulties no matter what they may be.
Be humble and prayerful having the faith that our Heavenly Father can guide and bless us in our lives.
May you nurture and nourish your testimonies of God so you can stand against the buffetings of Satan.
My thoughts:
In all, it was a fantastic weekend! Lots of things that I can definitely apply in my life. This is always a good time for self-reflection and I'm grateful for the whisperings and promptings that I felt during this weekend. I know that God wants to help us in our lives and He uses opportunities like this to whisper to our hearts the things we need to repent of, be grateful for, and improve. I pray that you all were able to feel how much Heavenly Father loves you while either watching the conference or reading my little recap here! Love you all!
We are meant to age for with it comes the knowledge of the truth.
There are few things more powerful than the faithful prayers of a righteous mother.
We are not free to choose the consequences of our choices. They will come as they come.
"Let every man be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgement." what scripture?
We need to be careful of the tolerance trap. Exaggeration of any virtue leads it to become a vice.
Learn to receive and act on inspiration and revelation!
In order to successfully survive tempests of life, we must build on a sure foundation...the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Daily searching the scriptures, praying, and choosing the right will help keep our spiritual foundation firm. Partaking of the Sacrament weekly will help us continuously improve and have His spirit with us always. Attending the temple often is vital as well to help us keep an eternal perspective.
None of us would knowingly construct a house on a poor foundation. So let us anchor our lives to the Savior to be sure our souls have a solid foundation.
We are daughters of an exalted Being. We have a Heavenly Father. Do not forget that!
What e'er thou art, act well thy part. As daughters of God we need to act well that part.
"I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise"
"We must never lose sight of the strength of the women." -Pres. Hinckley
How do parents help their daughters realize their divine nature? Exemplify virtuous womanhood, How you love and honor your husband and his priesthood will be an example for your daughter. Virtue is the strength and power of daughters of God.
Scriptures are written on the back of the carpet in the Conference Center, and under the pulpit is the scripture Mosiah 18:9 "Stand as a witness of God in all times, in all things, and in all places."
The Lord loves us and wants us to understand His desire to forgive us.
It is only thru virtue of His compassion that we can overcome the world.
As often as we seek His forgiveness, He will forgive us again and again!
Rationalized false faith doesn't justify sin. When our hearts are not pointed toward Him but instead take pleasure in our sin, we are not truly repentant.
During this talk I was reminded of what a friend said recently. She said "We're off course 90% of the time, but if we are constantly trying to get back on the course, we will make it to our destination safely."
"In the day of wrath, I will remember mercy" what scripture?
Repent and live, though your sins be crimson red, repent and He'll forgive. from Gently Raise the Sacred Strain
The Priesthood is the power that created the Earth and Heavens. It is that same power the Savior used during His mortal ministry to perform miracles.
Priesthood power and authority comes only when those who hold it are worthy and act in accordance with God's will.
A man cannot fully exercise the power of the priesthood to establish an eternal family without a woman. Just as a woman cannot conceive a child without a man. So to establish a priesthood based eternal family, a man and woman must do so together equally.
We have unlimited divine potential. But if we drift away and become spiritually malnourished we can wilt like the little girls tomato plant. We can be renewed however with the light and power of the gospel if we come back to our covenants and our Savior.
Regardless of your circumstances, you can center your home around the Lord Jesus Christ. When He is the center of your home there is a sense of peace and serenity.
It is the parent's role to lead, but children can help build the Spirit within the home. They must be held accountable for their actions so they can grow to become trustworthy members of the kingdom of God.
Apply sound gospel prinicples in your home. Remember little things lead to big things. So forgetting little things that we may forget to do can lead to big trials of faith.
Satan is no match for the Savior! Satan's fate is decided. He will try to exploit your weaknesses if you give in to him. Stay on the lord's side and you will come out ahead every time!
Used with discipline personal technological devices can serve as a protection for you. Use them to read uplifting material wherever you may be.
Be careful with how you use technology. If you memorized scriptures instead of sending a text, imagine how many scriptures you would know after just a short period.
Acting obediently on spiritual promptings will increase your ability to do the will of the Lord.
Selfishness is the root of great evil!
Focus our lives outward in service to others.
When we obey the commandments of the Lord and serve others unselfishly, the result is power from the Lord. One of the greatest blessings we can offer to the world is a christ-centered home.
We need to trust in the Lord and acknowledge His will in all things.
Living an obedient life provides the greatest assurance for peace and refuge in our homes. So even in the midst of difficutly we can enjoy abundant peace and security.
Peace will never come to the world until the world acknowledges the Savior and His ultimate power.
Peace is the gift of God. It is an abiding deep happiness and spiritual contentment.
Peace comes from knowing that the Savior knows who we are and what we are going through.
God is not the author of confusion, but the authpr of peace.
Worldly ways of trying to gain peace will never work! Pray always, make covenants, be a true disciple of Jesus Christ these are ways to find true peace.
The Savior is the source of true peace. righteous living will be rewarded with true peace.
Stick to the basics. Nothing is more basic than our first Article of faith. We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost.
We are not spiritual orphans! We have Heavenly parents! We can follow their examples, we don't have to be lost, deceived, or confused. We can follow the way they taught us to live by sending their Son Jesus Christ to follow His example.
One of the evils of these days is that everyone wants to walk according to their own desires. we must walk after the way of the Lord.
The Lord has shown us the way to love. The world tells us that all that matters is that two people love each other. While that is important, there is an authorized way and time to express that love.
He know best how to help. Ask for His assistance to know what He needs you to do.
Why is the law of chastity so important?
Our ability to be obedient to the laws and ordinances of the gospel are amplified with our physical bodies.
The man and the woman are intended to learn from each other.
The power of creation is spritiually significant. Specific guidelines for the ability to create life are part of Heavenly Father's plan for us.
Sex is a way to strengthen the relationship between a woman and a man bonded as husband and wife.
Every appetite, passion, and desire of the natural man may be overcome in and thru the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Lucifer tempts us to use our bodies improperly. Therefore our bodies (that which he does not have) becomes his main way of attacking us.
Disciplining the natural man in each of us
Love increases thru righteous restraint and decreases thru impulsive indulgence.
Our innate longing to belong is fulfilled in righteousness as we walk in light and hope.
Guilt is to our spirit what pain is to our body...a warning of danger and a sign to change course.
The resluts of sincere repentance is spiritual healing.
"Catch the wave" of mission work.
This wave is not manmade. It was from divine origins and started with 7 simple words: "This is my beloved Son. Hear Him!"
"I never told you I was perfect, but there is no error in the revelations I have taught." -Joseph Smith
God's light is real. It is available to all! It has the power to soften the sting of the darkest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness of our souls and illuminate the path before us.This is the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
We can't sit in a dark room and wait for some one to flip the switch! We have to act in faith to turn the light on ourselves by opening our eyes to the light.
How do we open our eyes to the light?
*Start where you are right now. The very moment you begin to seek your Heavenly Father, the reality of His light will being to enlighten your soul.
*Turn your heart towards the Lord's. Acknowledge your short comings, plead with Him for strength and support, ask that your eyes may be open to see His light.
*Walk in the Light! He wants us to rise up and become the person we are supposed to be. For that reason, He sent His Son to show us what to do. He also gave us the gospel so we may know exactly what we must do.
Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light.
In the midst of great darkness, we can be the light that shines forth to brighten the lives of others.
Our living hope is in Jesus Christ! He is the doorway to divine enlightenment. Learn of Him and of His gospel.
Joyfully serve our God!
Faith overcomes doubt in every situation! We just need to exercise that faith!
We are few in number, but at the same time, we are eye witnesses that the "stone cut without hands" is filling the whole Earth.
Our desire to share the gospel should bring all of us to our knees in prayer!
One of the greatest effects a person can have in this world is to influence a child.
That voice from heaven was one giving firm direction while giving hope, it was not harsh, demeaning, or loud.
How we speak to our children can strengthen them or diminish them.
To speak to a child's heart we must know that child's needs. Our efforts are magnified when we seek the direction of the Holy Ghost.
We must more often technologically disconnect. Our ability to connect with our children diminishes as we use technology to distract them or pacify them.
What would we say to our families in less than 25 words if we hadn't seen them in 2 years?
Will it make a difference if we take the time to whisper to them everyday "You are a child of God." or "I love everything about you!"
We can learn so much by watching and then considering what we have seen and heard.
*Value the marriage- In the happiest marriages both the husband and wife consider their relationship to be a pearl of great worth. They know that no other relationship can bring as much happiness.
*Faith is central to their marriages. Their mutual quest is to be obedient and good. They don't consider the commandments to be a buffet from which they can choose which ones to obey. Keeping the commandments is fundamental to happy eternal marriages.
*Repentance-happy marriages rely on the gift of repentance. Humility is the essence of repentance. It doesn't speak with moral superiority, it answers softly and listens quietly looking for understanding, not vindication. We should treat our spouse with meekness seeking to bless and put the other first in every decision.
*Respect- husbands and wives treat each other as equals. They make decisions unanimously. They focus first on the home and helping with shared responsibilities. They forgo personal entertaniment to help with their household duties. There is also transparency.
*Love- cleave means to be completely devoted to another person. Their marriage is their first priority! They don't allow things to come first to their spouse. They love each other fully!
Marriage is a gift from God to us, and the quality of our marriage is a gift from us to Him.
Secularism is beginning to be the norm. Many of it's teachings are in contradiction to the laws of God.
If you would be a man and live abundantly, then obey God's law!
Obedience to law is liberty!
Next to love itself, free agency is God's greatest gift to mankind.
None of us should ever under estimate how driven Satan is to destroy us.
For man to substitute his own laws for God's is detrimental to all society.
As we give up commitments and fidelity to our marriage covenants, we remove the glue that holds our society together.
Indeed our heaven is little more than a projection of our home in eternity.
There are moral absolutes! Sin will always be sin! Disobedience to His commandments will always deprive us of His blessings.
We must not pick and choose which commandments are important to keep! They are all important!
He that keeps God's commandments will know His will and be enlightened.
A loving Heavenly Father has charted a course for our lives. We follow that course through obedience.
Life would be simpler for us if we were obedient to the simple commandments He has given us.
The happiness, peace, progress, prosperity, salvation, and exaltation of the LDS lie in walking in obedience to the laws of God.
The Savior set the example for all of us with His unwavering obedience! "Follow Thou Me."
The strength to survive today can be ours when we willingly obey the Lords commandments.
Even if you can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you until you come to believe.
He shared the story of the father in the New Testament who had an afflicted son who asked that his son be healed. When Jesus said that "all things are possible if you believe" the father responded "Oh Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief." The rest of Elder Holland's talk refers to the example of this father.
When facing the challenge of faith, the father asserts his strength first, then acknowledges his weakness second. In troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if it is small! *When questions arise, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes!
The size of your faith is not your issue, it is the integrity you show to the faith you already have.
*When problems arise, don't lead with your unbelief. An expression of doubt is not a higher testament of experience than a simple admission of faith.
You have more faith than you think you do.
In this church, what we know will always trump what we don't know!
All in this life must walk by faith! So be kind to yourself in your struggles of faith.
*When doubt or difficulty come, don't be afraid to ask for help.
Belief is a precious word and even a more precious act. It is always the first step to conviction.
Only at our peril will allow doubt or devils to distract us.
Hope on! Journey on! Fan the flame of your Faith! Because all things are possible to them that believe!
If your testimony is struggling, lean on mine!
Jesus taught that baptism by immersion is necessary. We do likewise. He taught us to repent. that is still the call of His servants today. He told us to follow the commandments even though it might not be popular in the world. We still to try to do so.
Jesus' teachings were not meant to be theoretical. They were always meant to be acted upon.
Following Christ is not a casual commitment. It is something we do throughout our lives.
He taught us to pray, which is what we still do today.
At the heart of the Gospel is a true understanding of the nature of the Father and the Son.
They are two separate Beings with one divine purpose. That oneness in purpose is not reserved for them alone. They desire us to be one with them as well.
Nothing will startle us more when we leave this life than to realize how well we know our Father in Heaven and recognize His face.
There is a school for parenting...it is called home.
Lessons from this school
*The temple is the place. In order to obtain the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, one must enter this covenant.
*In order to contend, you need 2 people, and I will never be one of them. We also have to live a Celestial life
*A child who sings, is a happy child.
*I need you to hug me. The words "I love you" and "I'm sorry" can heal wounds faster than any others. We need to express love!
*I love the Book of Mormon and my Savior Jesus Christ.
*It is not enough to know the scriptures. We must live them!
The feeling of being accepted by someone we love is a basic human need. It increases our sense of self worth and confidence.
Seeking acceptance for the wrong reasons of from the wrong sources puts us on a path to destruction.
See that ye look to God and live! They are the ultimate source of loving acceptance.
Here is a pattern for acceptance
*Know that our hearts are honest and broken. How do we know that? We must engage in honest and open self-examination. We know our own motives better than anybody else. We will be taught by the Holy Ghost.
*Know that our spirit is contrite. We acknowledge our sins and shortcomings we are teachable and willing to repent. Willing to change!
*A conscious decision to observe our covenants through sacrifice. Too often we think of sacrifice as something big and hard to do, but most often it's living righteously day to day. It includes partaking of the sacrament every week.
Having the Holy Ghost as our constant companion is the ultimate sign of being accepted of Heavenly Father.
We live in an era of turbulence and uncertainty, yet we too have cause for good cheer and rejoicing because we live in a time when God has restored His gospel to the Earth in preparation for the Second Coming of the Savior.
We can exclaim with happiness "Oh what a beautiful morning"
The greatest service we can provide for others in this life is to bring them to the Gospel.
There are great reasons for rejoicing even among our disappointments and heartaches. If we put our trust in the Lord, He will help us through our difficulties no matter what they may be.
Be humble and prayerful having the faith that our Heavenly Father can guide and bless us in our lives.
May you nurture and nourish your testimonies of God so you can stand against the buffetings of Satan.
My thoughts:
In all, it was a fantastic weekend! Lots of things that I can definitely apply in my life. This is always a good time for self-reflection and I'm grateful for the whisperings and promptings that I felt during this weekend. I know that God wants to help us in our lives and He uses opportunities like this to whisper to our hearts the things we need to repent of, be grateful for, and improve. I pray that you all were able to feel how much Heavenly Father loves you while either watching the conference or reading my little recap here! Love you all!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Thanksgiving and other things
So it has been an eventful November for us here in Logan! Most of the beginning of the month was me studying like crazy for my ABO certification test and Scott scouting out places to go duck hunting with his dad. By the 16th, I was able to go down to Salt Lake and stay at my parent's new house for the weekend (since the test was only administered down there). While I was there I got to go see Breaking Dawn with my sisters and some friends! That was tons of fun! But most of the rest of the time I got to spend just relaxing and playing with my nieces and nephew. I swear my parents have some of the cutest grandbabies I know of! Kristi's kids are hilarious! Reese will just play in her room by herself and if you stand at the door and listen to her playing, you will have just as much fun as her! Graham is a tank! Just straight boy! Such a cutie! One of the funnest things was going to church with Kristi's family so we could watch the kids while she and Phil spoke. To try and keep Reese quiet I asked her to tell me what I needed to do during the meeting. She said "Number one, after they pass the sacrament, give me treats because I'll be hungry." There was no number two. ;) Hahaha! And with Jamie's little Norah, whenever we were anywhere with her, people would comment on how cute and happy she is. She's just cute as can be, just like her mother! So that was all before Thanksgiving. Here's the photographic evidence of good times had:
So then the Thanksgiving prep started (after Marie and I had the scariest drive ever on the way home to Logan! The lines weren't visible in the middle of a crazy rain storm!). So while Scott was out duck hunting with his dad, we had fun swimming at the hotel, going shopping, and seeing movies. Lots of fun had by all to say the least! See the pics for further details of the good times!
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| Kristi's son, Graham, is becoming such a little chunk! Love him! |
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| His poor little scratches on his head. They look like little horns. Haha! |
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| At first he wasn't too thrilled about his food... |
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| But then he loved it! Look at that happy face! |
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| I hope he likes his aunt as much as I love him! |
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| Jamie's daughter, Norah, may just be the cutest little Hansen ever! Look at her cute little dress and boots! |
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| I loved being able to stay at my parent's new house and getting to see my sisters and their adorable children! |
So then the Thanksgiving prep started (after Marie and I had the scariest drive ever on the way home to Logan! The lines weren't visible in the middle of a crazy rain storm!). So while Scott was out duck hunting with his dad, we had fun swimming at the hotel, going shopping, and seeing movies. Lots of fun had by all to say the least! See the pics for further details of the good times!
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| Over Thanksgiving break, I went with some of the girls from Scott's family to see Breaking Dawn!!! |
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| Sitting by Becca and Caitlyn was awesome since they hadn't seen it yet. |
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| 1 of the 5 pans of rolls we made for the Thanksgiving feast! |
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| The leftovers from Thanksgiving. |
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| Here's what kept the kids entertained for quite a while. |
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| It's amazing how much fun these guys were having with that I-Pad! |
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| We all went to Angie's to try the Kitchen Sink Challenge (not on the same day as Thanksgiving mind you! That would have been far too much!). Charles and Marie shared one with me and Scott, while the Phelps and Jackson's got one for each of their families. |
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| Our kitchen sink after we couldn't eat anymore. We barely lowered the giant mound! That was a lot of ice cream! |
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| Here's the Phelp's kitchen sink. They were able to make more of a dent than we did! |
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| And then here's the Jackson's kitchen sink. What else would you expect from the family that has 2 teenage boys! haha! They got a bumper sticker for finishing it! |
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| It was getting quite cold so we were trying to stay warm. |
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| Jackson kids looking at the ducks with Grandpa |
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Lately
What up y'all!?!? So as of lately things have been going on as usual. Some exciting things coming up though! Next week I get to take my ABO certification test down in Salt Lake! If I pass, and become a certified optician, it will seriously help in finding a job if we ever have to move. So wish me luck please! One of the benefits of taking the test is that I have to go down to Salt Lake to take it, so I'll be able to have a blast seeing my family again!!! My parents just moved into a new house, so I can't wait to see it! And then I get to see my cute little nieces and nephew as well! I miss those little munchkins! Can't wait to see everybody!
So besides getting ready for my test, its been fun helping Scott with all his hunting stuff. It's kind of crazy how he's able to get up so early when it comes to something like hunting and be fine the rest of the day! He's been pretty successful with getting ducks so far this season. We even made this yummy duck with an orange glaze dinner the other night. I was fully prepared not to like it (as most of you who know me probably realize I'm not the most adventurous of eaters), but it was surprisingly good. I think we could cook it for a little less time when we try it again, but the flavors were fantastic! I want to try the glaze with another type of protein as well, because I think that would be delicious! Anybody have any good recipes (not just for duck) that they're excited to try this season?
So besides getting ready for my test, its been fun helping Scott with all his hunting stuff. It's kind of crazy how he's able to get up so early when it comes to something like hunting and be fine the rest of the day! He's been pretty successful with getting ducks so far this season. We even made this yummy duck with an orange glaze dinner the other night. I was fully prepared not to like it (as most of you who know me probably realize I'm not the most adventurous of eaters), but it was surprisingly good. I think we could cook it for a little less time when we try it again, but the flavors were fantastic! I want to try the glaze with another type of protein as well, because I think that would be delicious! Anybody have any good recipes (not just for duck) that they're excited to try this season?
Friday, October 19, 2012
Leona Lewis
So I was just wondering what happened to Leona Lewis? I loved her stuff! Her voice really is epic like Whitney, Mariah or Celine. Exhibit: A, B, and C. She's crazy good! Someone needs to give her some awesome new song to belt out and show what she's got! Sorry this is so short, but I had to share some videos of what impresses me! :)
By the way, I love you guys! I miss everyone that I'm far away from and appreciate the support of those that I'm close to. LOVE and HUGS for everyone! E
By the way, I love you guys! I miss everyone that I'm far away from and appreciate the support of those that I'm close to. LOVE and HUGS for everyone! E
Sunday, October 7, 2012
General Conference Notes
Thought I would just post a couple of my notes from conference. And it's also kind of easier to take notes and actually have them look neat and tidy! haha!
Woohoo! Missionary age limits lowered to 18 for young men and 19 for young women! That would have been awesome to go a little earlier! Still grateful for how my life has gone though. :)
I'm a Mormon! I know it, I live it, I love it!
A desire to serve is a natural product of one's conversion and faithful life.
I'm so grateful for a prophet and the restored gospel!
We follow the Lord Jesus Christ and teach of Him in over 150 nations and want to take the fulness of the gospel everywhere.
Missionaries may be young in the ways of the world, but they are given gifts such as the promptings of the Holy ghost, love of God and a desire to humbly serve Him.
I forgot how much I loved the song "I will follow God's plan." The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is awesome!
Discipleship is a path to happiness and holiness.
The regrets of tomorrow can be prevented by obeying the Savior today!
As sons and daughters of Heavenly Father we are capable of so much more! We must become what Heavenly Father needs us to become.
This is from the press conference between sessions about the change in the missionary program:
All missionaries will have time at the MTC reduced by 1/3! That's going to be intense for them!
Improved preparation by the individual missionaries before entering the MTC will allow for more missionaries to come through.
God is hastening His work! And he needs more and more missionaries to spread the light and hope and truth of salvation to a darkening world. You must prepare by personal worthiness and knowing the gospel you will teach. We want you teaching effectively from the first day you arrive at the MTC. It is not the responsibility of local church leaders to prepare you for your missions. You must take personal responsibility for your preparation and ask for help from others as necessary.
The Lord and the Church honor the desire of heart of those with physical or other limitations that make it unwise or impossible for missionary service. They are on the team and can serve in various other ways to participate in the work.
Back to the sessions:
Parents must resolve that teaching in the home is a most sacred responsibility they have.
5 things parents can do
Parents are to teach by example as well as by precept.
It is wonderful to see when parents work together as husband and wife to protect their children and communicate about the needs of their family.
God is never hidden, yet sometimes we are. We may be unwilling to listen and submit to His will and His time and that hides us from Him.
God is close to us and aware of us and never hides from His faithful children.
We can't insist on our time table while the Lord has His own. Sometimes our insistence on acting on our own timetable, obscures God's will for us.
We remove the pavilion that hides us from God when we pray "Thy will be done and in thine own time."
Submitting our will to God's does not guarantee immediate answers. God's delays often seem long, some last a lifetime, but they are always intended to bless. We can be assured that He does fulfill His promises.
We must first do the things that make Him as familiar to us as we are to Him as we approach that day when we will stand before Him so we will know Him.
First observe, then serve.
Our discipleship is not a fleeting task. It goes forever!
Did you love me? -asked by the Savior on judgement day
The crowning characteristic of love is always loyalty. We have a life a devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love to the Lord.
The call is to come, stay true, love God, and lend a hand.
Love God and remain clean from the blood and sins of this generation.
He expects our loyalty and love through every stage of our life.
Having set our hand to the plow, we will never look back until this work is finished and love of God and of our neighbor rules the world.
Take an inventory of your life and look for the blessings large and small that you have received.
Much of our joy comes as we recognize we can communicate with our Heavenly Father thru prayer and receive answers from Him.
The Lord is in the details of our lives. He wants to bless us! He wants us to seek His help!
True Christians will always be BLESSED with challenges and trials-- often our biggest trials are meant to bless us and draw us closer to God, not push us away from Him.
How are we doing as Christians? If someone accused us of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict us?
When darkness comes, keep going! When difficulties arise, keep going! Just keep going!
All things are fulfilled by faith. It is a principle of power.
The future is as bright as your faith!
Ways to benefit from a church meeting: with a prayer in your heart, come prepared, be willing to listen, and not be distracted.
A testimony is personal knowledge of a spiritual truth obtained by the witness of the Holy Ghost.
The essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a change in our character and a desire to be like Him. It requires obedience, diligence, and sacrifice.
Conversion is a sacrifice we make out of gratitude to our Savior.
Conversion requires believing in the teachings of the holy prophets in the scriptures, exercising faith in Jesus Christ, repenting, experiencing a mighty change of heart, and enduring to the end.
Do we still possess weapons of rebellion that keep us from fully converting to the Lord? If so, we need to repent NOW!
Knowing the gospel is true is the essence of testimony. Living the gospel is the essence of conversion.
The Lord is always on our side as we do what is right. He will help us in our time of need. But the purpose of mortality is to learn and grow, and that growth happens most often in times of difficulty.
I'm so grateful for General Conference and the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! Their messages are always so inspiring and offer me answers to prayers. Can't wait to study the messages more fully in next month's Ensign!
Woohoo! Missionary age limits lowered to 18 for young men and 19 for young women! That would have been awesome to go a little earlier! Still grateful for how my life has gone though. :)
I'm a Mormon! I know it, I live it, I love it!
A desire to serve is a natural product of one's conversion and faithful life.
I'm so grateful for a prophet and the restored gospel!
We follow the Lord Jesus Christ and teach of Him in over 150 nations and want to take the fulness of the gospel everywhere.
Missionaries may be young in the ways of the world, but they are given gifts such as the promptings of the Holy ghost, love of God and a desire to humbly serve Him.
I forgot how much I loved the song "I will follow God's plan." The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is awesome!
Discipleship is a path to happiness and holiness.
The regrets of tomorrow can be prevented by obeying the Savior today!
As sons and daughters of Heavenly Father we are capable of so much more! We must become what Heavenly Father needs us to become.
This is from the press conference between sessions about the change in the missionary program:
All missionaries will have time at the MTC reduced by 1/3! That's going to be intense for them!
Improved preparation by the individual missionaries before entering the MTC will allow for more missionaries to come through.
God is hastening His work! And he needs more and more missionaries to spread the light and hope and truth of salvation to a darkening world. You must prepare by personal worthiness and knowing the gospel you will teach. We want you teaching effectively from the first day you arrive at the MTC. It is not the responsibility of local church leaders to prepare you for your missions. You must take personal responsibility for your preparation and ask for help from others as necessary.
The Lord and the Church honor the desire of heart of those with physical or other limitations that make it unwise or impossible for missionary service. They are on the team and can serve in various other ways to participate in the work.
Back to the sessions:
Parents must resolve that teaching in the home is a most sacred responsibility they have.
5 things parents can do
- Pray in earnest that they can show the love Heavenly Father has for all His children
- Hold family home evenings, scripture study, and eat together as much as possible
- Take advantage of church network by communicating with church leaders and teachers
- Share their testimonies often with their children
- Organize our families around clear expectations and rules.
Parents are to teach by example as well as by precept.
It is wonderful to see when parents work together as husband and wife to protect their children and communicate about the needs of their family.
God is never hidden, yet sometimes we are. We may be unwilling to listen and submit to His will and His time and that hides us from Him.
God is close to us and aware of us and never hides from His faithful children.
We can't insist on our time table while the Lord has His own. Sometimes our insistence on acting on our own timetable, obscures God's will for us.
We remove the pavilion that hides us from God when we pray "Thy will be done and in thine own time."
Submitting our will to God's does not guarantee immediate answers. God's delays often seem long, some last a lifetime, but they are always intended to bless. We can be assured that He does fulfill His promises.
We must first do the things that make Him as familiar to us as we are to Him as we approach that day when we will stand before Him so we will know Him.
First observe, then serve.
Our discipleship is not a fleeting task. It goes forever!
Did you love me? -asked by the Savior on judgement day
The crowning characteristic of love is always loyalty. We have a life a devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love to the Lord.
The call is to come, stay true, love God, and lend a hand.
Love God and remain clean from the blood and sins of this generation.
He expects our loyalty and love through every stage of our life.
Having set our hand to the plow, we will never look back until this work is finished and love of God and of our neighbor rules the world.
Take an inventory of your life and look for the blessings large and small that you have received.
Much of our joy comes as we recognize we can communicate with our Heavenly Father thru prayer and receive answers from Him.
The Lord is in the details of our lives. He wants to bless us! He wants us to seek His help!
True Christians will always be BLESSED with challenges and trials-- often our biggest trials are meant to bless us and draw us closer to God, not push us away from Him.
How are we doing as Christians? If someone accused us of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict us?
When darkness comes, keep going! When difficulties arise, keep going! Just keep going!
All things are fulfilled by faith. It is a principle of power.
The future is as bright as your faith!
Ways to benefit from a church meeting: with a prayer in your heart, come prepared, be willing to listen, and not be distracted.
A testimony is personal knowledge of a spiritual truth obtained by the witness of the Holy Ghost.
The essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a change in our character and a desire to be like Him. It requires obedience, diligence, and sacrifice.
Conversion is a sacrifice we make out of gratitude to our Savior.
Conversion requires believing in the teachings of the holy prophets in the scriptures, exercising faith in Jesus Christ, repenting, experiencing a mighty change of heart, and enduring to the end.
Do we still possess weapons of rebellion that keep us from fully converting to the Lord? If so, we need to repent NOW!
Knowing the gospel is true is the essence of testimony. Living the gospel is the essence of conversion.
The Lord is always on our side as we do what is right. He will help us in our time of need. But the purpose of mortality is to learn and grow, and that growth happens most often in times of difficulty.
I'm so grateful for General Conference and the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! Their messages are always so inspiring and offer me answers to prayers. Can't wait to study the messages more fully in next month's Ensign!
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