As always, General Conference was awesome!
I have to share this talk President Uchtdorf spoke at the General Women's Broadcast a week before General Conference. It was so good, how could I not share it? It gave me goosebumps every time I heard it (and I listened to it about 500 times!).
This is my favorite part of President Uchtdorf's talk. He states:
"My dear sisters, I was grateful to speak with you this evening at the general women’s session of conference. Wherever you are throughout the world, I hope that the Spirit touched you with new insights.
"In this painting, a pioneer girl is skipping along a bright blue path. She has endured many dark and dreary days, but she has a spring in her step and looks optimistic, happy, and hopeful.
"As you walk through life, I hope you will feel a spring in your step as you trust the Lord and continue on your own bright path of discipleship. Faith will lead you to open your eyes to the things Heavenly Father has in store for you. Love for God and His children will continue to brighten your path, even on dark and cloudy days." (end of quote)
This General Conference was very special because we received three new apostles due to the deaths of President Boyd K. Packer, Elder L. Tom Perry, and Elder Richard G. Scott. Elder Russell M. Nelsom became President Russell M. Nelson (as in, he is the new president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles). Elder Dale G. Renlund, Elder Ronald A. Rasband, and Elder Gary E. Stevenson were called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I'm so excited for those three new apostles.
The Saturday sessions were awesome!
The Saturday sessions were awesome!
I really loved President Uchtdorf's talk. He stated, "Tell a man there are a trillion stars in the world and he'll believe you. Tell him there is white pain on the wall and he'll touch it just to be sure." It made me giggle. His talk was on living the gospel. He also said, "Because we love God, we want to serve Him. It is beautifully simple and it works." He said that we should be preparing for exaltation right now.
I also loved Sister Neill F. Marriott's talk. She's the second counselor in the Young Women's General Presidency. She shared a really sweet story about her daughter Georgia. She was in a bike accident and had to go to the hospital while Sister Marriott was on her mission in Brazil. Sadly, Georgia passed away before Sister Marriott's plane landed. She said that her family's motto was, "It will all work out." She said that her family motto doesn't say it will all work out now. Eventually, everything will work out for our good. She also said that we are all going to make it.
Elder Fransisco J. Vanas, of the seventy, talked about enduring to the end. He stated, "Repentance is a process. It requires consistancy."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk was pretty amazing as well. He talked about mothers. He said that a mother's love is selfless and kind. He stated that when you have a child, your life will never be your own again. He shared a story about a man who was on his mission and discovered that he was gay. So, he had to come home from his mission for that reason. He was so lost. His mission president, stake president, and bishop spent so much time with him, but the missionary didn't seem like it had helped. He felt like he went way too far to receive forgiveness from Heavenly Father. He and his mother sought healing together. His mother bore her testimony of the Church and of God's love for her son and her own love for him as well. She fasted, wept, prayed, and listened to her son. She carried her own son again, but not for 9 months. After a long time, she got to see her son come back to her. Little by little, he went back to church, earned his temple recommend, accepted a call to serve as an early morning seminary teacher, and went back on his mission after 5 months. That story brought me to tears. He stated, "Mothers, be peaceful. Believe in God and yourself. You are doing better than you think you are. In fact, you are saviors on Mount Zion and like the Master you follow, your love never faileth."
Sunday sessions were pretty awesome as well.
I loved President Monson's talk. He talked about six attributes we must have to let our light shine: be an example in word, be an example in conversation, be an example in charity, be an example in spirit, be an example of faith, and be an example in purity. He talked about all of them in depth. I really enjoyed that. He said that we will stand out of the crowd because we are different. We are different because we wear modest clothing, we don't use profane words, we don't drink, and that we believe in purity. He stated, "Challenging is the truth that each must run. But you and I do not run alone."
I noticed as President Monson spoke, he was leaning on the puplit quite a bit. He looked like he was sick or just getting old. I read an article after Conference was over that said President Dieter F. Uchtdorf was on the edge of his seat, ready to catch President Monson if he ever fell. As soon as President Monson said, "Amen", President Uchtdorf was quickly at his side and led him back to his seat. What a wonderful example of Christlike love.
Elder Dale G. Rendlund's talk was really good too. He stated, "To effectively serve others, we must see them through a parent's eyes; through Heavenly Father's eyes." It opened my eyes to what I really need to do.
President Henry B. Eyring's talk was very inspiring. He stated, "When our hearts are full of charity and when virtue garnishes our thoughts unceasingly, then we will receive the constant compansionship of the Holy Ghost."
I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to watch and listen to General Conference. I don't know where I'd be if I didn't get to listen to our beloved prophet and apostles. I know that they are called of Heavenly Father. I know that President Thomas S. Monson leads the Church today and I'm so grateful for his inspiring counsel.
