I remember my Grandma always quoting the old Mormon cliche - "When the Saints meet, the Heavens weep." While that's usually the case in Utah during the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it was also the case here in Placerville this morning. We woke up to rain. We're watching Conference on the BYU channel all cozy and warm on our couch. I love hearing from my church leaders and always come away feeling spiritually uplifted and wanting to be a better person. Below are notes of what stood out to me:
President Thomas S. Monson - President Monson opened the conference by saying that 3 new temples have been dedicated since last conference for a total of 128 temples around the world. He announced that 5 new temples will be built in Calgary, Alberta Canada - Cordova, Argentina - Kansas City area - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Rome, Italy. There was a pause and audible roar of the congregation. Rome, Italy!?!?!?!? How awesome is that?
L. Tom Perry - Quorum of the Twelve Apostles - Talked about life's tests, cycles of ups and downs and the stresses and strains of life. He encouraged us to remain positive and optimistic and to have hope that "the best is yet to come." He talked about simplifying our lifestyles. He said we have 4 basic needs - Food, Clothing, Shelter and Fuel. He expanded on each item. Food - He talked about the Word of Wisdom - Section 89 of Doctrine of Covenants. Clothing - He encouraged us to wear simple and modest clothing. He encouraged us to stay away from the latest trends and to be neat in our appearance. Shelter - He spoke of the current housing crisis. He encouraged us live within our means and stay out of debt. He said it's a good idea to earn interest rather than to pay it. Fuel - He related this to spiritual fuel. We should have plenty of spiritual reserves so that when we have tests and trials we won't lose our faith during difficult challenges.
Silvia H. Allred - First Counselor Relief Society General Presidency - She spoke about missionary work and how we can be better missionaries. She shared her conversion story and experiences from her mission. She said if we understood the far reaching impact of one person's conversion we would be more willing to share the gospel. It continues to bless for generations. God loves all of His Children. Our message of the gospel is the most important gift we have to give. She encouraged us to be good neighbors and friends, to be happy and smile.
Neil L. Andersen, Presidency of the Seventy - He talked about finding our spiritual footing and how to deal with inadequacy and doubt. He suggested that step-by-step and line upon line is the best way to grown spiritually and to gain knowledge. He said we don't have to know everything, we just need to know enough. He said that the most priceless piece of spiritual knowledge that we can have is the knowledge that God loves us.
Marcos A. Aidukaitis of the Seventy - He spoke of his father's conversion and baptism in 1940. He said this event changed his life. He expressed gratitude for his father's decision to join the church in spite of the difficulties he faced. His said his father's conversion was because he read the Book of Mormon prayerfully. He talked about how powerful the Book of Mormon is in changing lives and bringing us to Christ. He encouraged us to read the Book of Mormon and ponder it's message, to pray with faith to receive a testimony of it and to act upon the things we learn by reading this book.
Dallin H. Oaks - Quorum of the Twelve Apostles - Spoke about the ordinance of the Sacrament. He said that Sacrament Meeting is the most important meeting in the church. He talked about individual reverence and worship in Sacrament Meeting. We should prepare ourselves to participate in the ordinance of the Sacrament by bringing a broken heart and a contrite spirit to Sacrament meeting. We should be seated before the meeting begins. Sacrament meeting is not a time for conversation but of quiet meditation. We should dress appropriately when participating in the ordinance of the Sacrament. We should dress as if we were attending the temple. We should concentrate on worship and refrain from other activities. It's not a time for reading books or magazines. We shouldn't text message on cell phones. Music should be for worship and not for performance. Those who prepare, bless and pass the sacrament should do so reverently. They should be worthy to participate in this ordinance. They should be well groomed and modestly dressed (white shirts preferred).
Dieter F. Uchtdorf - Second Counselor, First Presidency - Spoke about how to move forward in the face of discouragement, fear, worry or loneliness. His answer was to have hope. He quoted the scriptures on the importance of hope. Hope is a gift of the spirit. Hope is a commandment and we have the responsibility to make it a part of our lives. Despair is the opposite of hope. The adversary uses despair to drain from us all hope. Hope is a like a beam of sunlight. It pierces the darkness. Hope is not knowledge but an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill his promises to us. It is believing that our prayers will be answered. With hope we can have happiness. We should hope for things that are beyond the horizon of mortality. Hope leads to good works. There will be times when we are required to have hope when all around us contradicts this attitude. The brighter our hope, the greater our faith. The stronger our hope the purer our charity. Faith, Hope and Charity work together to lead us to good works.
President Thomas S. Monson - President Monson opened the conference by saying that 3 new temples have been dedicated since last conference for a total of 128 temples around the world. He announced that 5 new temples will be built in Calgary, Alberta Canada - Cordova, Argentina - Kansas City area - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Rome, Italy. There was a pause and audible roar of the congregation. Rome, Italy!?!?!?!? How awesome is that?
L. Tom Perry - Quorum of the Twelve Apostles - Talked about life's tests, cycles of ups and downs and the stresses and strains of life. He encouraged us to remain positive and optimistic and to have hope that "the best is yet to come." He talked about simplifying our lifestyles. He said we have 4 basic needs - Food, Clothing, Shelter and Fuel. He expanded on each item. Food - He talked about the Word of Wisdom - Section 89 of Doctrine of Covenants. Clothing - He encouraged us to wear simple and modest clothing. He encouraged us to stay away from the latest trends and to be neat in our appearance. Shelter - He spoke of the current housing crisis. He encouraged us live within our means and stay out of debt. He said it's a good idea to earn interest rather than to pay it. Fuel - He related this to spiritual fuel. We should have plenty of spiritual reserves so that when we have tests and trials we won't lose our faith during difficult challenges.
Silvia H. Allred - First Counselor Relief Society General Presidency - She spoke about missionary work and how we can be better missionaries. She shared her conversion story and experiences from her mission. She said if we understood the far reaching impact of one person's conversion we would be more willing to share the gospel. It continues to bless for generations. God loves all of His Children. Our message of the gospel is the most important gift we have to give. She encouraged us to be good neighbors and friends, to be happy and smile.
Neil L. Andersen, Presidency of the Seventy - He talked about finding our spiritual footing and how to deal with inadequacy and doubt. He suggested that step-by-step and line upon line is the best way to grown spiritually and to gain knowledge. He said we don't have to know everything, we just need to know enough. He said that the most priceless piece of spiritual knowledge that we can have is the knowledge that God loves us.
Marcos A. Aidukaitis of the Seventy - He spoke of his father's conversion and baptism in 1940. He said this event changed his life. He expressed gratitude for his father's decision to join the church in spite of the difficulties he faced. His said his father's conversion was because he read the Book of Mormon prayerfully. He talked about how powerful the Book of Mormon is in changing lives and bringing us to Christ. He encouraged us to read the Book of Mormon and ponder it's message, to pray with faith to receive a testimony of it and to act upon the things we learn by reading this book.
Dallin H. Oaks - Quorum of the Twelve Apostles - Spoke about the ordinance of the Sacrament. He said that Sacrament Meeting is the most important meeting in the church. He talked about individual reverence and worship in Sacrament Meeting. We should prepare ourselves to participate in the ordinance of the Sacrament by bringing a broken heart and a contrite spirit to Sacrament meeting. We should be seated before the meeting begins. Sacrament meeting is not a time for conversation but of quiet meditation. We should dress appropriately when participating in the ordinance of the Sacrament. We should dress as if we were attending the temple. We should concentrate on worship and refrain from other activities. It's not a time for reading books or magazines. We shouldn't text message on cell phones. Music should be for worship and not for performance. Those who prepare, bless and pass the sacrament should do so reverently. They should be worthy to participate in this ordinance. They should be well groomed and modestly dressed (white shirts preferred).
Dieter F. Uchtdorf - Second Counselor, First Presidency - Spoke about how to move forward in the face of discouragement, fear, worry or loneliness. His answer was to have hope. He quoted the scriptures on the importance of hope. Hope is a gift of the spirit. Hope is a commandment and we have the responsibility to make it a part of our lives. Despair is the opposite of hope. The adversary uses despair to drain from us all hope. Hope is a like a beam of sunlight. It pierces the darkness. Hope is not knowledge but an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill his promises to us. It is believing that our prayers will be answered. With hope we can have happiness. We should hope for things that are beyond the horizon of mortality. Hope leads to good works. There will be times when we are required to have hope when all around us contradicts this attitude. The brighter our hope, the greater our faith. The stronger our hope the purer our charity. Faith, Hope and Charity work together to lead us to good works.
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Welcome to my world... Life has been insane lately!
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