The FHE post

For FHE tonight, Nick and I are writing a post together. We found the recent conference talks online. And we decided to listen to Elder Christofferson speak because we like him. (We like all of them, but we like him a lot because we know him on a more personal basis.)

His talk centered around the scriptures and the story of William Tindale and all of the efforts made hundreds of years ago in the publishing of the Bible. Also he spoke of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and how in times past people who had a Bible in their house were considered very lucky or privileged. They were hard to come by. And William Tindale was executed for translating the Bible into English.
Hearing this talk made me feel a bit ashamed for not being more thankful for my scriptures and not reading them and cherishing them more often. Also during the talk I thought about how we can be like prophets of old in our writings and have something to pass onto our future generations. We may or may not have many of the writings of our ancestors but our progeny will sure have much from us! How blessed we are to live in this day and age where all of this is possible to us. Not only can our writings be much more easily kept and organized for our future generations but also for the current generation. How fast doth information flow these days with the internet and so much technology!

From my (Nick's) point of view... this was a most excellent and invigorating piece of elocution. I think the main point that struck home to me was that we are all so familiar with so many stories from the scriptures - ranging from the Old Testament prophets like Moses, through New Testament and Book of Mormon prophets like Peter, Nephi, or later Joseph Smith.
Then I got thinking about how much we would really know today about God without the scriptures... basically nothing. Or rather, we would possibly know the theory and principles of the gospel through inspiration in our time, but we wouldn't be able to put them into context as easily as we can today. It is so much easier to think about Faith when you've read about the example of a seed growing into a tree, and it is so much more simple to talk about what kind of man Jesus was when you can read about his teachings and miracles.
So I guess I'm just echoing Trish's thoughts - stop taking what you know for granted and go back and learn more. The more you read these revelations the more you open your mind and heart to receive other revelation that is on a much more personal level.

Wow that was a fun activity! Do you and your spouse (if you are married) study the scriptures together? It is also fun writing spiritual blog posts together about the scriptures! Try it sometime!

A Good Woman

It's always interesting to take a step back after conference and see if there is a 'theme' to the talks. After the last session, a friend and I seemed to notice the same thing: the divine role of mothers. I haven't had the chance to watch all of the second session on Saturday yet (yay for a DVR or on the Church Website), but there seemed to be a lot of talks focusing on the roles of parents, especially mothers. I look forward to re-reading the messages (available tomorrow on the Church website), but the one which stuck out to me the most when watching was Sister Beck's talk on Saturday morning. I just want to mention three things she said:

A good woman knows all good things cannot be finished: we are not striving to be perfect, just the best we can be. It's okay to let things go. Something I need to remind myself daily.

The single most important skill a mother can have is learning how to understand personal revelation: We don't just receive revelation for ourselves; if we know how to listen to the spirit, he can guide us to be better wives, mothers, and sisters to each other.

When we do our best, we may have disappointments, but we won't be disappointed in ourselves: Things on this earth will never go according to plan because our mortal minds have a hard time grasping the eternal picture. Strive to do your best because i's really all that's asked of us.

I'm so grateful for the opportunity to listen to the Lord's messengers on the earth. These are scriptures for our day--- revelation for our time. I just hope and pray that we (including me) all heed their words because they are the words of the Lord.

No Empty Chairs

I seconded Ash's feelings about not knowing where to start; it was truly a wonderful weekend. I definitely got a lot out of it and feel like I could get so much more! :)

However, if I must mention one talk, I really enjoyed President Uchtdorf and President Eyring's talk about Love. They both mentioned how love is the motivating principle for us, as natural men (and women), to become like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Along with this, I want to mention a couple other gems from President Eyring's talk (if you missed it, the LDS website said text will be available Thursday).

• Love of others is at the heart of our capacity to obey Him (meaning Christ)
• Any believing Latter-Day Saint is an optimist of the future
• Family is the ideal setting to learn how to Love as Christ
• No Empty Chairs: This means when we look at our family eternally, we should always remember our goal is to have no empty chairs at the celestial family table. We should use love for one another to encourage and lift each other to the goal of eternal happiness.
• Pray for the love to allow yourself to see the good of your companion
• Love is persistent
• Your quality of life will improve as you honor your parents (and I would also add in-laws)
• We can and must expect to become better as long as we live

May we be motivated to improve our capacity to Love each other, be more like Christ, and keep our chair full.

The Gift of Personal Revelation

I hardly know where to start in talking about General Conference. It's like talking about a feast and trying to describe a single bite...

Let me say that I know that if you head into Conference having prayerfully asked for answers and guidance, you will receive them. Many people find these answers in talks that seem to be meant "just for them." Talks that deal specifically with what they needed to know about. This is what happens to me.

Interestingly enough, in the past two or three Conferences, the very first talk has been "just for me." Exactly what I needed to hear. I think this is funny because it says to me that Heavenly Father knows me-- He knows I pay the most attention to the first talk, that I never sleep through the first talk, and that the first talk sets the tone for my attitude towards the whole weekend.

I'm so glad He knows this about me and puts my answers up front like that. :-)

Needless to say that Elder Richard G. Scott's talk about personal inspiration particularly struck me.

He began by saying that it is good when we are compelled to seek personal inspiration rather than following the path of "respected individuals" who made similar decisions. The phrase "respected individuals" first made me think of public personas-- prominent or well-known people in our field of study or community. Now, after thinking on it, "respected individuals" could just as well mean parents, extended family members or friends. What is the right path for one person may not at all be right for another.

He said:

"Father in Heaven knew you would be required to make decisions that were beyond your own ability to decide correctly. ... He included a provision for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions during your mortal life. That assistance will come through the Holy Ghost as personal inspiration."

Personal inspiration is something I have felt a great need of lately. My husband is entering his final year of graduate school and we have been praying to find the answers to life decisions we are trying to make. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father knew that we wouldn't be able to make these decisions on our own! I feel His love when I think that He provided us with a way to get the answers we are seeking.

Elder Scott also said:

"Spirituality brings forth two fruits: 1) inspiration to know what to do, and 2) power-- the ability to do it."

I love this! Spirituality helps us to know what to do and gives us the power to go forth and do it!

Have a lovely week everyone, and may you all get the personal inspiration you are seeking.

Be a Messenger of God

Has anyone seen my ball? I seem to have dropped it.

I went to Colorado for the weekend and watched Conference with my brother and his family and I have to say that when I heard Elder Osguthorpe's talk and I punched my fist in the air and said, "YES!!" He said what I have always wanted to say if I ever had the opportunity to speak at one.

"The goal of gospel teaching is not to 'pour information' into the minds of class members...The aim is to inspire the individual to think about, feel about, and then do something about living gospel principles." --Thomas S. Monson

Elder Osguthorpe gave some great examples about studying with the manual and then teaching by the Spirit. I have been in so many lessons where there was a lot of great information WITHOUT an invitation, and the Spirit is not as strong, and the lesson is soon forgotten. However, I have also been in many great lessons where an invitation to apply the principles has led to an energy and light in the room that leaves the Spirit with the class for days and weeks afterwards.

Another important example of teaching is when Elder Osguthorpe shared his story about the Tahitian woman who helped teach him the language of the people and how it was a lesson in faith. I would also add it was a lesson in love.

"Close the manual and open their eyes, and their ears, and their hearts to the glory of God."

Conference Week!!

Wasn't General Conference amazing? If you'd like to talk about your favorite talk/thought shared during conference this week, then please do so! It is fun to see what the brethren will be prompted to talk about each session and compare it with what is going on in the world these days. It is always something refreshing, even when the subject has already been spoken on.

I'm always a fan of Elder Bednar's talks because he is always so straight forward. You never have to wonder what he means or where he stands on an issue. His talks make my heart alive with joy! I love what he said about people who use fast and testimony meeting as their one opportunity to express love to their spouse and/or children. You know what he said about these people? They are hypocrites! I love his forthrightness.

Sometimes I have to have Nick translate or explain the talks to me because they are said in a way that I don't understand. I'm so glad Nick is good at picking up on the tricky to understand language of some of the apostles.

My dad was fortunate enough to be in the choir on Saturday afternoon. They didn't do any close ups of him but I got a shot on my phone. For some reason it isn't working to upload it onto the computer. So you'll just have to trust me. What a neat experience that would be to sing in the General conference choir!

From President Monson's talk, I want to share the following question he asked us:
"What have I done for someone today?"

Make this question a daily phrase and try to find amazing ways to answer it. Isn't it funny how making someone else's day makes your own day better?

Preparing for Conference

The last couple times the end of March and September came around, I have tried, and sometimes failed, to re-read all the conference talks. I know I should spend more of the six months in between studying and pondering the messages, but at least I'm trying. :)

I felt impressed to share something from one of the talks I re-read this past week. In Elder Steven R. Snow's talk, Get On with Our Lives, he gave four things we can do to be prepared for the changes which come as we progress through life:

1. Follow the Prophets
2. Keep an Eternal Perspective
3. Have Faith
4. Be of Good Cheer
   

Sounds easy, right? If it were so easy, I highly doubt most of our mortal lives would be 'enduring to the end.' All four are fantastic, however I want to focus on following the prophets. This upcoming weekend, we have a marvelous opportunity to sit and listen to messengers of the Lord; messages which are meant for us... right now.

I encourage us all to do things this weekend to keep us focused on the messages. Pray, take notes, play games meant for primary kids.... do something to allow the Spirit to speak to you! (This includes watching/listening to Saturday's sessions and encouraging our men to go to Priesthood).

We should not think of General Conference as a 'break from church,' if anything it is a spiritual feast. I hope we all have the chance to fully partake of and enjoy the feast!