"Fear Not! Be of Good Cheer!" Didn't you come away from this General Conference with that as one of the directives? We have been told that we are living in the days that "Paul" saw....and that these are going to be "difficult" times, but, that we should NOT FEAR...but be of "Good Cheer"...! However, there was a statement that JUMP OUT AT ME... that President Thomas S. Monson made on Sunday morning...."The GOSPEL MUST BE the CENTER OF OUR LIVES!" Yes, I believe that WITH ALL OF MY HEART....!
There have been over the years, talks that are CLASSIC!!! I love reading some of my favorites more than once...and get "stirred up all over again"....One of those talks was the LAST TESTAMENT of Elder Bruce R. McConkie. To this day, everytime I watch or listen to his farewell General Conference talk, just before he had the privilege of "wetting the feet of the Savior's with his tears", I am moved to the center core of my being....I couldn't imagine another talk...that could equal this WITNESS of Christ in such a STIRRING manner....till Sunday morning....when Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave an emotional witness...of the Messiah...our Savior....Jesus the Christ....If you missed it....oh....PLEASE, go online...and WITNESS his TESTIMONY of our Beloved Savior...and his pleadings to those who feel or have felt "alone"...You will come away....feeling "differently"....Right now, it is only in MP3 version...if you care to LISTEN to his talk...http://broadcast.lds.org/genconf/2009/04/40/GC_2009_04_409_HollandJR___eng_.mp3
May the next 6 months together...be STRENGTHENING...UPLIFTING....and the BINDING of our HEARTS TOGETHER....We are TRULY....SISTERS....in a DEEP ETERNAL way....Always and forever....
13 years ago
A few of the things I loved:
ReplyDeletePresident Monson telling about the sweet saints in Mexico honoring him with the gift of a serape and he couldn't resist serenading them with "El Rancho Grande" A Spanish song he learned in the ninth grade.
from Elder Hale, everytime we got into debt to buy things that we covet we give away some of our priceless agency and put ourselves in self-imposed servitude. Money we could have used to care for ourselves and others must now be used to pay our debts. What remains is often only enough to meet our most basic physical needs. Living at the subsistence level, we become depressed, our self-worth is affected, and our relationships with family, friends, neighbors, and the Lord are weakened. We do not have the time, energy, or interest to seek spiritual things. And then I loved the story about the dress. And then the story about the coat (a mink I think!) How true that we can help lighten the burden on our sweet husbands by decreasing our needs.
Also loved the story by Brother Neider about the young Teacher's quorum president that did such a good job despite the fact he didn't speak Spanish- Wowsers!
And hurrah hurrah to sister Lifferth for actually saying if a baby is loud and crying in church YOU SHOULD TAKE THEM OUT. I honestly choose my seat on Sunday trying to avoid good meaning folks that don't take out their noisy ones. I have such ADD I can't focus enough to listen if surrounded by commotion. I think some folks think it is more valiant or Holy to stay in the meeting and just keep trying. Glad to hear in conference you should take them out!
And how cute was that when Elder Alan Packer told the football story about "Packer Tackle Him" and he "dropped him on the spot". I bet he loved telling that story and finding a way to relate it to a gospel topic (hearing the voice of the spirit even in these days of tumult)
And I loved Elder Cristofferson's story about Sister Conde who had lost her home and belongings in an earthquake but was still smiling because she had prayed and was at peace and had all she needed because they had each other and their children and were sealed in the temple and have this marvelous church and the Lord. That seemed like a recurring them to me (especially with the way President Monson ended the conference with those sad sad stories) That we need to look to the Lord and his Prophets.. learn to deny ourselves and get out of debt and make our homes and famlies secure, go to the temple often and not in a hurry for strength and peace and feel secure in the Lord's care.
And didn't you love Elder Eyring (He is my favorite Apostle) saying
Money we could have used to care for ourselves and others must now be used to pay our debts. What remains is often only enough to meet our most basic physical needs. Living at the subsistence level, we become depressed, our self-worth is affected, and our relationships with family, friends, neighbors, and the Lord are weakened. We do not have the time, energy, or interest to seek spiritual things.
Then he went on to say It is clear that for us to have that gift and to be given that trust we must be transformed through making righteous choices where that is hard to do. We are prepared for so great a trust by passing through trying and testing experiences in mortality. That education can come only as we are subject to trials while serving God and others for Him.
Loved it... need to go get some things done but will share what I loved about Sunday later!
Sandee
Thank you for inviting me to join you.
ReplyDeleteThis weekend, with several sick children, our family spent the hours of Conference sitting together on our living room couch listening to the audio feed of the meetings.
As each new speaker began my children would ask me who it was so that they could keep thier notes. I was so grateful for my many years of listening to conference, as we have not often had the opportunity to actually go see the Prophets.
I love to recognize the voices of the prophets and apostles. Each one has a different quality in their voice yet each voice is filled with love and compassion. That is the feeling I have taken away from Conference this weekend.
That the Prophets and Apostles love us! That through them our Father is expressing His great love for us, His great desire to guide us, and help us.
As our family is struggling with unemployment the messages of Prophets, Seers and Revelators taught us the path we should take, helped us to reinvigorate our discouraged hearts, and reminded us of the bright future we have because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I thank the Lord for the voices of Living Prophets!
I have yet to view the Saturday afternoon session for being out of town, but here's my take from Conference:
ReplyDeleteIt's like reading the Book of Mormon - there are layers of meaning for all eyes to see if only they are open...
to me those stories of struggle that we can't even comprehend are told for a purpose and warning...if you notice at the end of those pioneer stories and the lady from Germany the point was they WERE ABLE to endure what they did because of their temple covenants and strenthening of testimony...it doesn't take a college degree to see what state of affairs we are in right now in this country! and our ONLY WAY thru what is coming....is increased temple attendance, did you hear HOW Elder Bednar described it?....our PROTECTION POWER..."there is a difference between active, tithe paying church members rushing into the temple here and there and THOSE who REGULARLY ATTEND in whom the "fire of the covenant burns in their hearts"....I guess it's up to us to figure out which group we are in!
I love Pres. Uchtdorf's admonition to not have a "spectator discipleship" and how some hope to get by and do this.
I also love the further admonition by Elder Hales to "live modestly" and "we can afford it, but don't need it" type of character and attitude we should have...made me feel good that we have been trying to sell our home...and he emphasized that we should JOYFULLY live within our means....interesting -change of heart, change of attitude maybe, hmmm.....JOYFULLY!!...the kind of feeling we will have IF we are seeking INSATIABLY the Savior's love, confidence, etc.
Do we even realize how blesed we are to hear such words of wisdom - like "light" in the darkenss to lead us further along? - really cool!
Something I forgot to share. We were joined for Sunday sessions by Chris and his wife and Buddy's parents. About 30 minutes before the afternoon session Chris's best friend from high school stopped by. He is a good Catholic boy and an amazing Navy Pilot currently stationed in Chile. I fed him and then he stayed and watched the entire afternoon session with us. It was so interesting to watch conference knowing he was watching it with us and wondering what he was thinking. It seemed that the afternoon session covered all of the topics that the conference in it's entirety did- The importance of families, the strength that comes from temple attendance, love and appreciation for the Savior. You can imagine how happy we were to hear Mother Theresa honored-- so great to belong to a church that speaks kindly of the goodness in other churchs. So anyway I haven't had a chance to talk with him about his feelings about conference by I know it was no mistake he happened by (all the way from Chili). The Lord has had his eye on this young man for 15 years and places good Mormon folks in his path every place he lives.
ReplyDeleteSandee