Conference Notes

Since I'm using this blog as more of a journal lately, I thought I'd include some notes from this last General Conference.  Don't be too impressed--it's not as if I sit there and take notes the whole time.  But I did try to write down the names of the talks that really spoke to me.  Then I went back and found quotes from those talks so I could record them here.  

From Kevin Duncan's talk, "The Healing Ointment of Forgiveness":

"In our shortsightedness, we may sometimes find it easy to develop resentments toward others who do not act or think the way we do. We may form intolerant attitudes based on such things as rooting for opposing sports teams, holding different political views, or having different religious beliefs.

President Russell M. Nelson gave wise counsel when he said, “Opportunities to listen to those of diverse religious or political persuasion can promote tolerance and learning.”2

Forgiveness is the very reason God sent His Son, so let us rejoice in His offering to heal us all. The Savior’s Atonement is not just for those who need to repent; it is also for those who need to forgive. If you are having trouble forgiving another person or even yourself, ask God to help you. Forgiveness is a glorious, healing principle. We do not need to be a victim twice. We can forgive."

Love the thought, "We do not need to be a victim twice.  We can forgive.  Such a good reminder that we can turn to God's help to do what we need to do.

From the talk, "Be Thou Humble" by Steven Snow:

"If we humble ourselves, our prayers are answered; we enjoy peace of mind; we serve more effectively in our callings; and, if we continue to be faithful, we will ultimately return to the presence of our Heavenly Father.

The Savior taught His followers that they must humble themselves as a little child in order to enter into the kingdom of heaven.  As we raise our own children, we need to help them remain humble as they mature into adulthood. We do not do this by breaking their spirit through unkindness or by being too harsh in our discipline. While nurturing their self-confidence and self-esteem, we need to teach them the qualities of selflessness, kindness, obedience, lack of pride, civility, and unpretentiousness. We need them to learn to take joy in the successes of siblings and friends. President Howard W. Hunter taught that “our genuine concern should be for the success of others.” If not, our children can become obsessed with self-promotion and outdoing others, jealousy, and resentment for the triumphs of peers. I’m grateful for a mother who, when seeing I was becoming too full of myself as a boy, would say, “Son, a little bit of humility right now would go a long way.”"

I think about this a lot as a parent and this talk reminded me that I could do better at teaching them the concept of humility--what it means and why we need to apply it to our lives.  I love when it says, "While nurturing self-confidence....we need to teach selflessness, kindness, obedience...unpretentiousness."  We can all remember that stuff.

From M Russell Ballard's talk on family counsels:

"Family councils have always been needed. They are, in fact, eternal. We belonged to a family council in the premortal existence, when we lived with our heavenly parents as their spirit children."

A good reminder to keep the lines of communication open with kids and to have family meetings or little discussion times with them, either collectively or individually.

From Stephen Owen's talk, "The Greatest Leaders are the Greatest Followers":

"The world teaches that leaders must be mighty; the Lord teaches that they must be meek. Worldly leaders gain power and influence through their talent, skill, and wealth. Christlike leaders gain power and influence “by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned.”"

I love this so much. A wonderful guide to help us choose our leaders and to become good leaders ourselves.

From Henry B. Eyring's talk, "Eternal Families":

"I was never sure how I could exhort in a way that would move a family toward eternal life without offending or seeming to criticize. I have learned that the only exhortation that changes hearts comes from the Holy Ghost. That occurs most often as we bear testimony of the Savior, who was and is the perfect family member. As we focus on our love for Him, harmony and peace will grow in the homes we visit. The Holy Ghost will attend us in our service to families."

I love Henry B. Eyring so much.  His words always have a way of reaching my heart.  

Uchtdorf's talk, "In Praise of Those Who Save":

"In God’s plan of happiness, we are not so much looking for someone perfect but for a person with whom, throughout a lifetime, we can join efforts to create a loving, lasting, and more perfect relationship. That is the goal.

Brethren, those who save their marriages understand that this pursuit takes time, patience, and, above all, the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It requires you to be kind, envy not, seek not your own, not be easily provoked, think no evil, and rejoice in the truth. In other words, it requires charity, the pure love of Christ.

All this won’t just happen in an instant. Great marriages are built brick by brick, day after day, over a lifetime.

And that is good news.

Because no matter how flat your relationship may be at the present, if you keep adding pebbles of kindness, compassion, listening, sacrifice, understanding, and selflessness, eventually a mighty pyramid will begin to grow.

Rather than attempting to force everyone into a mold of our own making, we can choose to celebrate these differences and appreciate them for adding richness and constant surprises to our lives."

This talk was given during Priesthood and this time Eric stayed home to watch it.  We turned it on just as Uchtdorf was giving this talk.  Watching it with Eric was such a good thing.  A great reminder of what marriage is all about.  He really catches the vision of what we should be striving for--A vision that can be easy to forget in the business of daily life.

Uchtdorf's talk, "He Will Place You on Your Shoulders and Carry You Home":

"Stones from the destroyed church had been stored and cataloged and, when possible, were used in the reconstruction. Today you can see these fire-blackened stones pockmarking the outer walls. These “scars” are not only a reminder of the war history of this building but also a monument to hope—a magnificent symbol of man’s ability to create new life from ashes.

If you cannot say you know God is there, you can hope that He is. You can desire to believe. That is enough to start.

Then, acting on that hope, reach out to Heavenly Father. God will extend His love toward you, and His work of rescue and transformation will begin.

Over time, you will recognize His hand in your life. You will feel His love. And the desire to walk in His light and follow His way will grow with every step of faith you take."

This talk made me cry.  It took me back to some times in my own life where I've had to really focus on "rebuilding" and I love the idea that we can use the pieces of our past to help create a beautiful future for ourselves.  
I can attest that when you reach out to Heavenly Father for help, even if a feeble reach, "Over time, you will recognize His hand in your life."
Love President Ucthdorf.  His words are art that form into beautiful tapestries of talks.

Robert D. Hales' talk on the Holy Ghost:

"To my own posterity and all within the sound of my voice, I offer my testimony of the personal revelation and constant flow of daily guidance, caution, encouragement, strength, spiritual cleansing, comfort, and peace that have come to our family through the Holy Ghost. Through the Holy Ghost, we experience “the multitude of [Christ’s] tender mercies” and miracles that do not cease."

I love the topic of the Holy Ghost.  It has had such a profound effect on my life and continues to do so.  Anytime someone speaks of it or anytime I read of it in the scriptures, I am drawn to the words.  
I read a scripture at the end of 2nd Nephi lately that testified to me that oftentimes when we speak from the heart, the Spirit can reach our listeners.  

Always Remember Him" by Gerritt Gong:

"When trust is betrayed, dreams shattered, hearts broken and broken again, when we want justice and need mercy, when our fists clench and our tears flow, when we need to know what to hold onto and what to let go of, we can always remember Him. Life is not as cruel as it can sometimes seem. His infinite compassion can help us find our way, truth, and life.15

When we remember His words and example, we will not give or take offense."

That last sentence is what caught my attention.  Perhaps it's an obvious concept, but a profound one no less.  Remember him and what he's had to do...That remembering will help us not "give or take offense."

From "And There Shall Be No More Death by Paul V. Johnson:

"The reality of the Resurrection of the Savior overwhelms our heartbreak with hope because with it comes the assurance that all the other promises of the gospel are just as real—promises that are no less miraculous than the Resurrection. We know that He has the power to cleanse us from all our sins. We know that He has taken upon Himself all our infirmities, pains, and the injustices we have suffered. We know that He has “rise[n] from the dead, with healing in his wings.”  We know that He can make us whole no matter what is broken in us. We know that He “shall wipe away all tears from [our] eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.”We know that we can be “made perfect through Jesus … , who wrought out this perfect atonement,” if we will just have faith and follow Him.

For all who have laid a child in a grave or wept over the casket of a spouse or grieved over the death of a parent or someone they loved, the Resurrection is a source of great hope. What a powerful experience it will be to see them again—not just as spirits but with resurrected bodies."

I have traumatic, heart-wrenching memories from when I have experienced loss that will always remain in the core of my being.  Those moments changed me.  So I listen when I hear others express their own deep losses.  I love the quote, "We know that He can make us whole no matter what is broken in us."  

From Jeffrey R. Holland's Talk, "Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders Among You":

The notes I wrote in my own words: 

In the Gospel we are given credit for trying.

We'll mess up--turn to the Savior.

Give our heart to God--love Jesus--do the best we can--We can escape our own stupidity and the stupidity of others through them.

For those that have little strength, remember the scripture:  I will give thee wings as eagles--fear not--I will help thee.

His divine love and loving help will be with us.

"Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."

Some lovely words that inspire such comfort and strength!