While I was at stake conference this evening I got this picture texted to me. She looks so peaceful, it's strange having her gone for a whole week. I miss her already, dear girl.
Conference was amazing. The Saturday evening adult session is always hands down my favorite meeting. So uplifting and wonderful and tonight was no exception. There was just such a strong spirit and such a peaceful feeling. Really it was wonderful.
The Bowie ward performed two musical numbers, one was "oh my Father" which has always been one of my favorites. Music is a powerful tool to invite the Spirit of the Lord. It was very touching. One thing I have always wished is that I could sing well. I would love to sing the hymns of Zion and raise my voice in beautiful song so others could hear my testimony and feel the love of God. That's what beautiful music does for me. Sadly I am not a good singer, at all. One thing I always enjoy about the Saturday night session is the congregational hymns. Everyone is loud and it's powerful and I can sing and not hear my own voice, it just mixes in with the others.
So I took a few notes to remind myself about the wonderful lessons taught tonight.
President Sakai spoke about being hopeful and finding hope. He is such a great and loving man. I love his talks and his good council.
We had two sisters speak about raising good families. Both were excellent. What a wonderful responsibility we have been given to rear God's children, to teach them about Him and how to return to Him someday.
Randy and Meredith were called up, shot gun Sunday style, to bear their testimonies. They were baptized yesterday and their testimonies were so moving, so powerful. Theirs has been a neat story to watch unfold. One thing Randy said, in his very former Lutheran Pastor style, was that grace is the unmerited love of God. I have always thought of grace as divine means of help and strength, which it is, but it really struck me as he was talking about this that His love, unconditionally given, undeservedly received is really a key part of grace. God helps us because He loves us. Amazing. Aah-Maze-Ing! And what does He ask of us? To love one another. So tender and sweet. Loved it.
President Williams spoke about the need to protect our homes. To be vigilant in keeping them safe from the influence of Satan.
Protect our homes, don't let Satan find a way in.
Make homes a safe place, conversations need to happen in a safe place. Children need to feel safe in bringing questions and situations to parents. Be open and clear. Always be awake when kids come home.
Homes need to be a place where we teach and learn.
-pres. Williams
Patriarch Talbot, who was just set apart as a sealer, spoke about the sealing power and using the priesthood. He is a humble, sweet man and so wise and good. He spoke about spending time in Israel working with the dept of agriculture and an experience he had visiting a garden of Gethsemane. He spoke of the Saviors great great love for us. The spirit spoke to my heart and I felt so grateful and joyful. He said among other things that the Lord calls ordinary men to do his work, if we are humble and call upon Him then He will raise us up to the level that makes us able to.
Our concluding speaker was Elder Jack Gerard of the 6th quorum of the Seventy. He was great, they were all great.
He spoke about:
The Lord loves his children and desires that they all return home. Our sacred responsibility is to teach our children how to come back to him, and to share the good news of the gospel with others and help them come back. Teaching, helping, being a good example. That's kind of what it boils down to.
He talked about how as parents we often feel like we are not getting through to our children but that there are Defining moments, the few minutes they are paying attention. You can't schedule them or force them but as we are there day by day they add up. They make up the fabric of our testimonies, our characters, our beliefs.
He told a couple of stories. The first one was the Grilled cheese sandwich story. He and his wife are the parents of 8 children. The youngest two are twins, boys adopted from Guatemala On Saturdays when he is not travelling on a church assignment he takes the two boys to breakfast at their favorite little deli. The boys always order a grilled cheese sandwich, chips and an orange soda. Clearly the breakfast of champions. One morning after breakfast was done little Sam made a break for the parking lot and out he dashed. Elder Gerard called after him to stop, when he caught him he said you can't run in the street, you'll be hit by a car and die. Sam looked at him and said I'll be resurrected then. Sam, too young to spell resurrected and not really old enough to understand what it means was taught at his mothers knee and he knew that she knew it was true. That was good enough for him. Powerful stuff.
He talked about all the hard stuff in life and that those experiences and trials make us better.
All these things shall be for thy experience and shall do they good.
Alma 7 11-12.
Jesus suffered for all our sins, but also for all our weaknesses, hurt feelings, hard times, insecurity He suffered it all so he would know how to succor his people according to their infirmaries.
Lastly he said he attended the National Prayer Breakfast. One of the talks was given by General Mullen who told the story of being a young commander. He and his unit were under attack and had taken shelter in some rocky terrain. As the night wore on and he was trying to keep his troops safe he often ducked behind a big rock, then would come out and give his orders. This happened repeated throughout the night. Eventually they were pick up and one of his men asked him what he was doing behind the rock. He answered he was asking himself three important questions.
What am I doing right? What am I doing poorly? and how do I make up the difference?
It would be good for us to adopt a similar train of thinking and then find a
Joyful happy hopeful way make up the difference
Helaman 5 12.
When the conference was over it was so fun to see friends from the stake. We couldn't help but greet each other with hugs and smiles. The spirit was just so strong and so great was our joy at being together and being uplifted and edified. What a great night.
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