I love Conference!
In Eyring's talk on the Holy Ghost he said that we had received many "seeds" today. He then said, "Plant those seeds." "Do it." We need to take the seeds of conference and plant them in our lives and watch them grow. And it's not just the words that were spoken, but also the promptings that came into our hearts. When Carole M. Stevens spoke about her granddaughter not sitting in her seatbelt and trying the IF...Then approach to no avail and then praying. That is how parenting is. Her answer was to teach and when her granddaughter saw that she loved her, it made all the difference. She then sat in her seatbelt and since she didn't forget ... went to the store for a treat, made homemade bread and played with play dough. My thought was "This is why Jamie should live close by - so I can do that with George - and the other grandkids." That is my hope and prayer. BUT the prompting that came to me was "Learn to make really good whole wheat bread." I'm going to do that in the next 6 months. Maybe then my prayer will be answered. Seems a little crazy - I can't eat any of it to know it's good and Julie and Dad don't really care. But I guess I can give it away. Hope it's not bad. haha Maybe I should give them jam too:)))
Highlights from me of Conference.
Uchtdorf - told the experience that as a patient he was not very patient and came home and went on the internet. We make it too complicated. The gospel is simple. We don't need to be more of anything to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Richard Maynes - Joy in a Christ-centered life - the story of the potter and the clay and how the clay needs to be perfectly centered on the wheel.
Neill Marriott - I cried when I heard her story of her family motto "It will all work out" and then her daughter dying just before she arrived. She told us the words to a gospel song "Have thy way, Lord, Have thy way." I'll be what you want me to be. To be healed, we have to have a broken heart. It made me think of Cassie when they broke her arm to set the other broken arm. HE is the healer.
Larry Lawrence - talked about the rich man in the NT that was humble enough to ask, but not faithful enough to do. What Lack I yet? And then went on to give several real examples of how the HG prompts us. He encouraged us to ask the Lord in prayer, "What is keeping me from progressing?" And sometimes when we are discouraged we need to ask the Lord what we are doing right - so he can lift us up. As we receive those promptings we pierce the veil. It made me think of a sheet of paper with a pin hole in it. As we have more and more pin holes we can one day see the face of God.
Quentin L. Cook - spoke of his mission in England and being sent to a town. People advised him to be "ship shape and bristled fashion". He explained what that meant. He then said to be Righteous, Follow Rules and Expect Hardships. Sounds like a mission.
I have in my notes after the primary song "Beautiful Savior" Katie is listening to this:)))
Robert D. Hales - Spoke to the YA. I didn't know he was a pilot, but he said "Never deliberately fly into a thunderstorm. And then chuckled as he said, "I won't tell you how I learned that). Will you hear His voice? Lots of advice on the person you should marry. If you want my counsel, be prepared to take it.
Jeffrey Holland - The love a mother for her child is the nearest thing to the love of our Savior to us. Of course I cried. Being a mother is the greatest thing.
Bradley Foster - Difference between hearing and understanding and the example of Hellen Keller. He talked of Pablo's father and how he counseled him. I know where you are. I've been there. I'll help you get through it. LOVED it! I want my children to know that I want to help them get through it.
Oh my, I'm going to mention every talk, but they were so good!
Vern P. Sanfill - biking in the dark tunnel. We may feel confident only to find that our preparations are not enough. It made me think that we need each other. We all have dark times. We choose how long we remain in the dark. Lord save me. Hope. Faith. Darkness would not last if I kept peddling. I thought of your investigators - They have the power to choose - to believe or doubt. If you doubt you do nothing. But if you believe, you do something.
James B. Marino - Sometimes answers to prayers are not an event, but a process.
Dallin H. Oaks - There is hope and strength through Christ, if only, we will ask.
Sunday - If the Savior Stood Beside Me - ...thinking of Katie (so happy but I miss her).
Thomas S. Monson - so strong and then I was so worried at the end of his talk. I remember praying to give him strength. His words... Let you Light so Shine before Men..., Be thou an example of the believers... Talked of the experience of the Jerusalem Center and the "light in their eyes". I thought of Rahgad and how she saw the light. We will shine in an increasing dark world.
Gary E. Stevenson - new apostle - I need to focus on what I can do, not on what I can't do.
Dale G. Renlund - new apostle - heart surgeon - I wrote "oh my..." this calling isn't about me. He told the experience of a mother and father who lost 3 children. We have to see others through the eyes of our Heavenly Father and our Heavenly Mother.
Russell M. Nelson - heart surgeon operated on Spencer W. Kimball - L. Tom Perry - stunned to have him gone, Boyd K. Packer - soldiered on during his illness, Richard G. Scott - reunited, but then he said, "The 3 of them were my treasured friends. I miss them more than I can say." He too, talked about their wives and women and how, (we brethren) need your strength...
Claudio Costa - Tell Me the Stories of Jesus - Oh how Katie loved Jesus Stories! Her prayers always included "Thank you for Jesus."
Devin G. Durrant - Small efforts sustained over time can produce significant results. And then talked about "Ponderizing" that will be a new fad. Ponder/Memorize a scripture/week. We are going to do it.
Von G. Keetch - about surfing and upset about a barrier only later to find that the barrier was keeping them safe from sharks.
Koichi Aoyagi - car accident in pain, why? We need to accept our trials in faith. Can we endure it WELL? I could have died. I didn't. I have learned empathy.
SO many seeds!
In between morning and afternoon conference yesterday I cleaned windows. It's an amazing thing - you wash windows and your whole house feels cleaner. Made me think of the funny story Pres. Monson tells of a woman who thought her neighbor didn't know how to do laundry, only to find out it was her windows that were dirty. Our lives are so much better when we do the things to "clean our windows" and let the "Light" come in. I feel more content and happy.
I've been thinking how I need to be more grateful. I have so many blessings that the Lord gives me. It hits me harder and harder. Katie has been doing better than I even ask for and I ask for a lot! Everyone is doing well. How can I be grateful?
Katie is talking about El Niño and how there's a lot of fear in the people. Many will lose their homes. They are doing all they can to prepare. Today in South Carolina there is flooding and many people are losing their homes. Here, I am hoping for El Niño so the hills are green and I can spray the house down and not be penalized for wate usage. I feel very ungrateful.
So how do we show gratitude? Plant the seeds that He gives us. At a time of harvest of the earth, remember eternal things. He wants to bless us. He loves all his children. Follow Him.
