Stake and General Conference

President Thomas S. Monson   Source

Yesterday was our Stake Conference, and it has been a wonderfully awesome weekend. I love pulling out a new yellow legal pad and taking notes during the meetings.  Every single speaker had uplifting thoughts and experiences to share and left me with much to think about.  I love our stake leaders and their devotion and concern for the members of our stake.  Almost always our Stake Conference is held just several weeks before LDS General Conference, and is like having a warm up for two days of listening to Prophets and Apostles of the Lord.  These two weekends are part of the reason that I love spring so much!

Members of our Stake Presidency shared scriptures and stories from The Book of Mormon that are among my favorites.  These verses from Alma 5 remind us that some day we will stand before the Lord to report on our works and deeds during this life.  Am I prepared for that day?

 14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye ^aspiritually been ^bborn of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty ^cchange in your hearts?

 15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who ^acreated you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption ^braised in incorruption, to stand before God to be ^cjudged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

 16 I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye ^ablessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?

 17 Or do ye ^aimagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and ^bsay—Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth—and that he will save you?

 18 Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect ^aremembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?

 19 I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the ^aimage of God engraven upon your countenances?

Our Stake President reminded us of the powerful story of the  missionary, Ammon, who dedicated years of his life to serving and teaching the gospel to his enemies, the Lamanites.  This inspiring story can be found in Alma chapters 17 to 27.  He promised us that if we too will be faithful in missionary work and temple work, that we will find solutions to the other challenges and problems that we face.

I also spent some time yesterday reviewing a few of my favorite conference talks from last October's General Conference Report.    I always love listening to the wise words of our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson.  During the Sunday morning session he reminded us to step back and recognize and consider  blessings in our lives, even though we can be discouraged when we see all of the problems and permissiveness that surrounds us in the world today.  He reminded us of the truth found in 2 Nephi 2:2 5 of The Book of Mormon:

Men are, that they might have joy.

I loved this reminder to take an inventory of our lives and look specifically for the blessings, both large and small that we have received.  I think it was this talk that prompted me to make gratitude my theme for the year and to do a better job of documenting my blessings on a daily basis here on my blog. I'm grateful for conferences and inspired counsel from Apostles and Prophets and other church leaders, and I'm looking forward to what our General Authorities have to say next month!

Conference Weekend

Today I am grateful for sunshine.  I'm grateful that I was able to be a stay at home Mom when my children were small.  I'm grateful today for a job that is still somewhat flexible and that allows me to pay the bills. 

It has been a great weekend, with a wondeful opportunity to attend my Colombia Bogota Missionary Reunion this past Friday, and then spend time with family as we listened to the various sessions of General Conference.  This is only the 2nd missionary reunion that I have been aware of since I returned from my mission nearly 30 years ago.  None of my missionary companions were able to attend, but two of the sisters that I traveled with from the MTC in Provo to Bogota were there, and it was nice to reconnect with them, and with several of the Elders that I was also able to serve with.  Our mission was large in area, and outside of Bogota, most areas were quite remotely disconnected with the rest of the mission.  I was in Bogota for about 3 weeks, and then in outlying areas for the rest of my mission, so there were many many missionaries that I really did not become aquainted with.  However, it was nice to be able to visit briefly with President and Sister James and Penny Dunn, and to hear them speak, and to see the photos that other missionaries had to share.  The Mission was a challenge for all of us, but a great learning and growing experience.  I was able to meet may wonderful, faithful people and to see and experience a marvelously beautiful, though troubled country.  Most importantly of all, we were able to teach many of our brothers and sisters about the wonderful plan of salvation, The Book of Mormon, and the restoration of the Lord's true church to the earth, and help them along the path to eternal life.

I love General Conference.  I again took copious notes and need to review them and renew my goals and aspirations, one of which is stronger personal prayers and relationship with my Heavenly Father.  Life is not easy, and it is easy to get discouraged.  I need to know his will for me each and every day. 

And now it's time to get on with the day.  I hope that your day is wonderful and that you find much to be grateful for!

Stray Socks and General Conference

Over the years many families create or develop certain traditions for holidays and special occasions.  Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or Mormons, often develop special tradtions and activities surrounding the sessions of the semi annual General Conferences held every April and October where we hear the words of counsel from our prophet and other general authorities of the church.   In our house we have had varied traditions over the years, some including baking of treats such as cinnamon rolls, apple crisp, or brownies, playing General Conference Bingo, working on crafts of handiwork such as crocheting or embroidery, or joining with grandparents or other family members to listen to the sessions, visit, and of course eat. 

One of the more constant of my traditions has been taking some time during the Saturday sessions to sort through my basket of mismatched or stray socks.  For the past decade or so, I have taken to taking rather copious notes on yellow legal pads, rather than trying to do crafts or handiwork, so this fall's sock matching activity took place while listening to the news and programs that are broadcast on TV between the two Saturday sessions of conference.   With only two dear daughters of my six children currently living at home, this task went much quicker than usual this year.  I did throw out a half dozen or so socks that were worn or extremely old, and managed to match up quite a few socks that had just been sitting in the basket since being lost from their mates somewhere in the laundry process.  (there are still a few strays left under the matched pairs . . . hopefully their matches are still in a hamper or under a bed somewhere and have not been eaten by the washer or dryer.) 

Yesterday, as usual, I thoroughly enjoyed and was uplifted by news and announcements and wonderful messages that were given.  I was excited to hear the announcement of two new temples to be built in Tuscon, Arizona, and Arequipa, Peru, and the younger age requirement for missionary service. I loved listening to our local area youth sing in the afternoon session, and watching for their familiar faces to appear on the TV screen.   Every single talk resonated with counsel and advice that is pertinent to me and my life, but the one that resonated most with me was the final talk of the afternoon session where Elder Oaks Pleads for Increased Concern for the Rising Generation.  I don't think it a coincidence that much of what I have read lately has delt with many of the issues of suffering and neglect and abuse of so many of the innocent dear children in today's world. 
Well, today's morning session is about to begin, so I will publish this post and pull out my pad.  If you would like to join with me to view or listen to this weekend's sessions of General Conference, information on times and locations can be found here on the General Conferences website or here on facebook.  Currently summaries of the different sessions and talks can be found here at lds.org.  Welcome to General Conference!

General Conference

Ok, So I know that I haven't been posting my daily favorite Book of Mormon scriptures this past week.  I promise that I'm still reading and I will finish reading the Book of Mormon again this year.  I'm a bit behind my schedule, but I am reading.  I've also been posting quite a bit to my other blog, Creation and Compassion, and I've been including a lot of my favorite Book of Mormon scriptures there.  Go and check it out if you'd like.  Anyway since last weekend was General Conference, today I thought I would blog a bit about General Conference.  One day this past week I was reading from Jarom:

Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffereing the people to dilligence; teaching the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was.  And after this manner did they teach them. 
And it came to pass that by so doing they kept them from being destroyed upon the face of the land; for they did prick their hearts with the word, continually stirring them up unto repentance.
     Jarom 1:11, 12 (pgs 139 & 140)

My thought when I read this was, wow, the Nephites must have had their own version of General Conference.  Can't you just see them gathering for church, sometimes in smaller groups and other times in bigger conferences?   And of course we know that King Benjamin gathered the people together later on for his famous meeting and teachings to them.  The prophets and the priests and the teachers were all busy exhorting the people to live the Law of Moses (remember this was before Christ was born) and to have faith in the Messiah, even though he had not yet been born.    Isn't that pretty much what our General Conference was about?  The Savior loves us.  Read and learn about him.  Keep the commandments.  Follow his example.  He atoned for our sins. He knows and understands us personally.  This is His Church. He loves us.  Our Prophet and Apostles have just witnessed and testified of Jesus Christ.  I love it!

I also love the announcement of the new temples.   My facebook post on Saturday afternoon was:

 Loving General Conference! So excited for the new temples!  Barranquilla Colombia . . . one of the most beautiful cities in the world! Provo Tabernacle . . . my old stomping grounds! Star Valley Wyoming. . . one of my Grandpa's favorite places! And France and Africa!

I served my mission in Colombia and spent 6 months in the city of Barranquilla.  If I am rich when the Branquilla Temple is dedicated we will be taking a family trip!!! (not likely, but it would be my dream!)  Colombia has more than it's share of problems, but it is by far one of the most beautiful places in the world.  I met some fantastically wonderful people during the time that I was there during my mission. When I was there I served in the Paraiso (translation:  Paradise)  area, which was only a branch at the time, meeting in a small rented home.  Barranquilla had the strongest, most faithful priesthood leaders of any of the cities where I served.  Now this area is the Paraiso Stake.  I am so happy and excited for the members there to have their own temple.  I hope and pray that the temple will be built quickly and without problem and delay. 

I love General Conference!  I love the Temple!  I love our Prophet, President Monson!  I love our Savior, Jesus Christ, and am so grateful that I live in a time and place where I can enjoy these wonderful blessings.

Thanks for stopping by.
Marcy