Conference Reflections

What a wonderful weekend it has been!   I love, love, LOVE General Conference.  I'm happy that my children are learning to love it too.  Michelle, in particular, took great notes and was really focused on what was being said.

There was so much said and I am so excited to go back and study the talks again (and again).  I know that as I reread and study them, I will gain additional insights.  But here are my immediate reactions:

There were so many talks that I really loved...every single talk had value.  Elder Holland gave a talk that deeply touched me.  I also really loved Elder Bragg's talk.  And Joy D. Jones' talk gave me some insights that I absolutely need as a parent.  I loved L. Whitney Clayton's talk about how doing the small and simple things allows us to be more and do more than we could on our own.  So many great talks!

A couple of quotes that especially touched me:
"Seeking the light is in our spiritual DNA."  --Elder Mark Bragg

I loved Gary Sabin's stories of his father.  His father, in his 90's, when asked how he was doing would reply, "On a scale of 1 to 10, I'm about a 25."   Also, when asked if he wanted a wheelchair to get around, he'd reply to wait until he got old.  He'd say, "If I get tired of walking, I can always run."   What a great attitude!  I want to be more like him!

Elder Hales said, "Disciples live so the characteristics of Christ are woven into the fiber of their beings, as a spiritual tapestry."

Sister Jones said, "Children are great imitators, so give them something great to imitate."


Themes that stood out to me:
1.  The Godhead...D&C 130:22-23 was quoted numerous times.  Several different talks spoke about the Godhead...some focusing on all three members of the Godhead and several focusing either on Jesus Christ or the Holy Ghost.  As I reread, I plan to take notes on what was taught about each member of the Godhead in this conference.  There wasn't any new doctrine but it is important doctrine.  Joseph Smith taught that to acquire faith unto salvation you must have a correct knowledge of God's attributes.  He also said, "If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves."   So this is something I plan to study in greater depth.  We were encouraged to study The Living Christ.  I'm going to break it into chunks and use it for our family to "ponderize" for the next month or two.  We were taught to recognize the Holy Ghost, live worthy of his inspiration and act on His promptings.

2.  Love others...see them as God sees them.  Help your children and others to understand their divine identity.  I loved Elder Palmer's talk focusing on Mark 10, "Then Jesus beholding him, loved him."  We need to look at others with the Savior's love.

3.  So much great counsel on how to be a better parent!

4.  Several talks on LIGHT.

As I study, I plan to focus on what was taught about the Godhead.   I also plan to focus on counsel given/things we (I) need to do and blessings promised.

I'm so very thankful for the blessing and privilege it is to be a member of the Church and to be taught by a living prophet and apostles and other leaders!  It is clear they are inspired and so many of their words felt as if they were spoken directly to me, for me.

This weekend was also nice because on Saturday evening we were able to go to Alfredo's cousin's house for dinner and spend time with his family.  Today we had a family from our ward, Chad and Teresa and their children, over for dinner.  For the past several months, I've been trying to have someone from the ward over for dinner about once a month.  Chad and Teresa said this was the first time they'd been invited to someone's home for dinner in the 7 years they have been in the ward.  I'm glad I listened to the feeling to invite them, but I'm sorry that no one has done that yet.  We can do better.  I can do better.  We had a great time visiting and eating and getting to know each other better.  I feel so very blessed to be in the ward that I am in.  We are surrounded by wonderful people.