"Decide now to make general conference a priority in your life. Decide to listen carefully and follow the teachings that are given. Listen to or read the talks more than once to better understand and follow the counsel. By doing these things, the gates of hell will not prevail against you, the powers of darkness will be dispersed from before you, and the heavens will shake for your good."
Elder Andersen shares the story of the greatest rugby player of all time, Sid Going. My boys especially got in to this talk because they've watch several rugby matches and love the New Zealand team for their "Haka" ceremonies before the match begins. (Chris and Josh even made up one of their own one afternoon.) He told of Sid Going and his sacrifice to go on a mission instead of playing rugby for a great team.
A mission instead of a place on the New Zealand All Blacks team? Sid responded, “The blessing of [bringing others] into the gospel far outweighs anything [you] will ever sacrifice.”
A lot of people questioned the quick engagement Gabriel and I had 17 years ago. We hardly knew each other. But what we were absolutely certain of as we spoke and as we shared activities in our Single Adult group, was that we were supposed to be married. There was witness born to both of us. His parents were confused, mine were wary, but it has been the best decision I have ever made. Gabriel is my best friend, the one true love. Pres Monson said this:
Choose a companion carefully and prayerfully; and when you are married, be fiercely loyal one to another. Priceless advice comes from a small framed plaque I once saw in the home of an uncle and aunt. It read, “Choose your love; love your choice.” There is great wisdom in those few words. Commitment in marriage is absolutely essential.
Elder Oaks always gives great talks. This one is no different. I especially loved the story he told of the Utah National Guard group in the Vietnam Ward. He spoke of their commander, Capt Cox.
During one critical night, when enemy infantry had poured through the front lines and into the rear areas occupied by the artillery, the captain had the field telephone lines wired into his tent and ordered his numerous perimeter guards to phone him personally each hour on the hour all night long. This kept the guards awake, but it also meant that Captain Cox had scores of interruptions to his sleep. “How could you do that?” I asked him. His answer shows the power of an overriding desire.
“I knew that if we ever got home, I would be meeting the parents of those boys on the streets in our small town, and I didn’t want to face any of them if their son didn’t make it home because of anything I failed to do as his commander.”
What an example of the power of an overriding desire on priorities and on actions! What a powerful example for all of us who are responsible for the welfare of others—parents, Church leaders, and teachers!
This was a great talk from Sis Dalton. Before I was called to be in the YW Presidency in our ward, I was asked to give a talk based on this address- that should have been a clue, huh? I researched her previous talks and found that this wasn't the first one written on Virtue. She's had several talks from General Conference on this topic. She shared the story of the Young Women in Utah who took a challenge to walk from Draper to the Salt Lake Temple.
The temple walk is a metaphor for your life. Parents and priesthood leaders stood guard along the route. They provided support and aid. Young women guarded and encouraged each other. Young men admired the strength, commitment, and stamina of the young women. Brothers carried sisters who had been injured. Families rejoiced with their daughters as they ended their walk at the temple and took them safely home.
In order to stay on the path to the temple, you must guard your personal virtue and the virtue of others with whom you associate. Why? Mormon taught in the Book of Mormon that virtue and chastity are “most dear and precious above all things.”
This week's talks area great! We loved using these in FHE about testimonies and how we gain and strengthen them.
While a testimony is simple and clear in this defining declaration, arising from this declaration are several potential questions, such as: Who is entitled to have a testimony? How does one obtain the necessary revelation? What are the steps in obtaining a testimony? Is gaining a testimony an event or an ongoing process? Each of these queries and others have their own subsets, but the fundamentals of gaining and retaining a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ are straightforward, clear, and within the capacity of every person.
I didn't get the chance to watch the YW General Conference addresses when they were broadcast, but I have read them carefully now that I'm in the YW organization in our ward. I was very much struck by these words,:
It is at the heart of my message tonight. He [Brigham Young] said in a room in his home less than a mile from where this message now goes out to daughters of God in nations across the world: “There is need for the young daughters of Israel to get a living testimony of the truth.”
He then created an association of young women that has become what we now call in the Lord’s Church “Young Women.” You have felt tonight some of the wonderful effect of his choice made in that Sunday evening meeting in the parlor of his home.
More than 100 years later, daughters of Israel across the world have that desire for a living testimony of the truth for themselves. Now, for the rest of your lives, you will need that living and growing testimony to fortify you and lead your path to eternal life. And with it you will become the transmitters of the Light of Christ to your brothers and sisters across the world and across generations."
We've been very mindful of the constant array of "fiery darts" the Adversary tried to throw at our family, at our home. And because of that acknowledgment, we've been pretty hard on the kind of things we bring into our home. And that's been hard for outside people to really understand. We don't have TV- no cable, no nothing. We don't let the kids bring outisde music into the home, we don't listen to the latest and greatest of the world's music, and we make sure out kids are monitored in their internet use.
"Understanding the eternal nature of the family is a critical element in understanding Heavenly Father’s plan for His children. The adversary, on the other hand, wants to do everything in his power to destroy Heavenly Father’s plan. In his attempt to defeat God’s plan, he is leading an unprecedented attack on the institution of the family. Some of the more powerful weapons he uses in his attack are selfishness, greed, and pornography."
Some might thing we're fanatical, that's ok. It shows how much we love our children, how much we are for their welfare. Do I love them enough to make sure TV shows aren't an influence, that music isn't a hinderance to the spirit in our home?
I loved his talk by Sis. Cook. She quotes from a song that I used to sing to each of our kids when they were babies. It's not sung as often as I think it should be in Primary. But we used this talk in FHE and I hope the kids were able to glean something from it. (I can't tell sometimes if they are actually "getting it".)
Sometimes being benevolent is most difficult in our own families. Strong families require effort. “Be cheerful, helpful, and considerate of others. Many problems in the home are created because family members speak and act selfishly or unkindly. Concern yourself with the needs of other family members. Seek to be a peacemaker rather than to tease, fight, and quarrel.”9 “Remember this: kindness begins with me.”
Elder Nelson is such a fun speaker to listen to, so happy! And always has a story that the kids can relate to and love to listen to.
Elder Nelson speaks on faith, and it was a great talk to go over in FHE. He espcecially taught the parents what they should teach their own children. All week we looked up scriptures on faith and shared them each night. The kids did a great job with this one and I am fairly confident they have been taught well on this subject. I hope they can rely on this foundation and create stronger testimonies.
"We live in a time of turmoil... We have great cause for concern. But we do not need to let our fears displace our faith. We can combat those fears by strengthening our faith. Start with your children. You parents bear the primary responsibility to strengthen their faith. Let them feel your faith, even when sore trials come upon you. Let your faith be focused on our loving Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Teach that faith with deep conviction. Teach each precious boy or girl that he or she is a child of God, created in His image, with a sacred purpose and potential. Each is born with challenges to overcome and faith to be developed."
Elder Johnson's talk is a good one. I take great comfort in talks given on trials and overcoming adversity. He quotes Elder Orson F Whitney,
"No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted...All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable...It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire."
I love Pres Packer. He is so unapologetic and says it like it is no matter what the backlash.
Grandma sent us a book on William Tyndale and it is amazing the feat of translating the Bible into the English language. There are no simple translations so he had to come up with many of the phrases and words we find and love in the Bible.
William Tyndale was hounded from place to place because the English clergy didn't want him to make the Bible available to the masses.
"If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the Scripture than thou".
Pres Packer goes on to talk about our scriptures and what we learn, especially about revelation- personal revelation, and latter-day revelation- and about the Holy Ghost. This was a good lesson for our kids.
Chris had a question about the Apostles that didn't recognize the Savior when he appeared to them (after his resurrection). Because the Apostles didn't have the Holy Ghost they didn't recognize Christ when we came to them.
We love Elder Holland. While living in Turkey, we were privileged to be part of a district conference in which Elder and Sister Holland conducted in Istanbul, Turkey. At the conference were upwards of 20-30 Ethiopian investigators. Elder and Sister Holland had just finished touring the continent of Africa and was able to report to these people of the growth of the church in Africa and in their country. He spoke of Pres Hinckley's words to "bring all your truth and we will add to it". He turned this conference into a missionary fireside. He spoke of Mohammed- how he was a prophet to guide his people away from idolatry. He said bring those "truths" (that have not been polluted over time and by evil men).
Afterward was a time for the branches leadership to meet with him. I will never forget when we filed out of the room, how he put his arms around my shoulder and looked right at me and said, "You are doing a great job. We love you!" and he took my children in his arms and kissed them on their heads. What a memory we wil always hold of this special-to-our-family Apostle of the Lord.
"... if you are trying to do the best you can—if, for example, you keep trying to hold family home evening in spite of the bedlam that sometimes reigns in a houseful of little bedlamites—then give yourself high marks and, when we come to that subject, listen for another which addresses a topic where you may be lacking. If we teach by the Spirit and you listen by the Spirit, some one of us will touch on your circumstance, sending a personal prophetic epistle just to you."
With the call to YW came another call to be on The Compassionate Service Committee- sisters called to help out when the VTers are unavailable or unable to step in. It was a week after my call and I remember thinking, "I am so overwhelmed as it is, when am I going to find time to serve more?". It was then that we were reading this first article in FHE (perfect timing!) and I learned so much from searching scriptures all about service and loving our neighbor, especially those in our own wards.
I have always liked Pres Eyring's talks. They are simple yet cause us to think and ponder. This one was no different.
"Pres Marion G Romney said of welfare work, "You cannot give yourself poor in this work." And then he quoted his mission president, Melvin J Ballard, this way:"A person cannot give a crust to the Lord without receiving a loaf in return."
Pres Eyring continues, "I have found that to be tru in my life. When I am generous to Heavenly Father's children in need, He is generous to me."
We just recently read this article last week in FHE and for our scripture study. I taught the lesson and had everyone write down some of the complications in their lives outide the home in one column and complications they feel inside the home in another. I knew ahead of time what the common complications would be in the home and geared my lesson around that. We talked about the common complication of not being able to get along with siblings and talked about ways from the talk that would help us at home.
"There are myriad ways and circumstances in which we can serve and love others. May I suggest just a few.
First, charity begins at home. The most important principle that should govern every home us to practice the Golden Rule. Take a moment and imagine how you would feel if you were on the receiving end of thoughtless words or actions. By our example, let us teach our family members to have love one for another."
I absolutely love love love this talk. It is always a nice thing to hear the Brethren speak on women and hear them express their gratitude for all we do. Sometimes it seems our lives are a bit unknown and unappreciated. I have always made sure when Gabriel thanks his guys for their service that he thanks their wives as well- the true heroes.
"Our women are not incredible because they have managed to avoid the difficulties of life- quite the opposite. They are incredible because of the way they face the trials of life. Despite the challenges and test life has to offer... they remain remarkably strong and immoveable and true to the faith."
We didn't go over this one in FHE but we did read it on our own. Gabriel gave Chris an assignment to read it every night for a week. :)
I especially, like many other people, loved the story- parable?- of the purse! I found a cute handout/craft that shows you how to make a cute little purse from a small paper bag, with some of the things in the story that you can put into this "purse". If you want the pdf of this, email me and I'll send it to you. I can't remember the website.
Does she look like her father? Sis Dibbs is the daughter of Pres Monson. If you look in the peinted Ensign, their talks (page 114 and page 115) face each other.
Anyway.. I appreciated this talk especially on the heels of being called into YW. There is a lesson coming up on Avoiding Dishonesty, and I will definitely refer to this talk. This is a topic Gabriel and I have tried so hard to teach our children- strict obedience. She quotes Pres Hunter,
"When we are honest in all things, big and small, we experience peace of mind and a clear conscience. Our relationships are enriched... and the greatest blessing that comes from being honest is that we are able to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost."
These talks were great for our family. They were simple and easy for the kids to read and understand.
Elder Richards spoke of two kinds of pains- those we inflict on ourselves because of sin, and pain and suffering not necessarily our fault- unexpected events, contradicting or disappointing circumstances, interrupting illness, and even death. My kids actually got this concept! It was amazing to see them making sense of it. We've always talked of true repentance/sorrow and the difference sorrow of the damned is, and we were never really convinced they fully comprehended, until now.
Elder Grow's talk was equally good. His nephew served with Gabriel as one of his counselors in the Bishopric in Baltimore. They look a lot alike!
"Not only did He pay the price for the sins of all men, but He also took "upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people." And He took "upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, … that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."
These talks were inspirational, and ones that we were especially able to share with our kids. My husband always likes to tell the kids, "Intelligence is the application of knowledge". We can teach and teach to our kids until we're blue in the face but they have a responsibility to take that knowledge and apply it, and until they do they aren't true followers of Christ. These talks were all about applying the teachings of Christ and being "doers" of the work.
I loved what Elder Gonzales says,
"The Savior has promised, “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Followers of Christ pattern their lives after the Savior to walk in the light. Two characteristics can help us recognize to what extent we follow Him. First, followers of Christ are loving people. Second, followers of Christ make and keep covenants."
I love Sis Allred! I loved the stories she shared of Saints around the world helping themselves and those around them.
".. a humble sister or brother with a Church calling can go into a home where there is poverty, sorrow, sickness, or distress and can bring peace, relief, and happiness is astonishing. No matter where the ward or branch is or how big or small the group is, every member throughout the world has that opportunity. It happens every day, and it is happening somewhere at this very moment."
"It is here in our families, in an atmosphere of love, where we see and appreciate in a more personal way the divine attributes of His spirit children. It is here in our families where our hearts can be softened and in humility we desire to change, to become more childlike. It is a process by which we can become more Christlike."
This was a good talk, too. We haven't gone over this one with our family yet. Having re-read it this week I think there is so much I can learn to do better with my own kids.
"A sweet and obedient child will enroll a father or mother only in Parenting 101. If you are blessed with a child who tests your patience to the nth degree, you will be enrolled in Parenting 505. Rather than wonder what you might have done wrong in the premortal life to be so deserving you might consider the more challenging child a blessing and opportunity to become more godlike yourself. With which child will your patience, long-suffering, and other Christlike virtues most likely be tested, developed, and refined? Could it be possible that you need this child as much as this child needs you?"
This was a great talk! It reminded me of another talk about Sacrament Meeting by Elder Oaks back in 2008.
I liked this one a lot, too.
We've lived in many wards over the last several years and some are really good at bringing a reverent Spirit to their Sacrament Meetings and others not so much.
We try really hard to make sure our kids understand that Sacrament Meeting is a special meeting- not a place to search for friends or hold fun conversations. It's a reverent place and we never know who may be there who really needs the peace that the Atonement can bring. We don't want to be the ones to interrupt that.
Elder Perry says,
"Parents, now is the time to teach our children to be examples of the believers by attending sacrament meeting. When Sunday morning arrives, help them to be well prepared to partake of the emblems of the sacrament and receive the enlightening, edifying, ennobling power of the Holy Ghost. Let your family be filled with love as you honor the Sabbath all day long and experience its spiritual blessings throughout the week."
How do you prepare for Sacrament Meeting? How do you help your family prepare?
I combined the two talks from President Monson to start off the Book Club. There's so much in both of these talks. He spoke at the start of Conference of temples. I love temples! He then spoke of service- the Church's service in Japan and service that members could perform.
In his last talk of Conference, President Monson asked that we read and study the talks from Conference once we received the Ensign.
I especially loved:
"We are a global church. Our membership is found throughout the world. May we be good citizens of the nations in which we live and good neighbors in our communities, reaching out to those of other faiths as well as to those of our own. May we be examples of honesty and integrity wherever we go and in whatever we do."
What did you like best in these talks? What did you teach your children about what the prophet said at Conference?
