Strenthen Home and Family

Sister Mary N. Cook:
*"The Lord is depending on you to bring the blessings of the gospel to your family."
*"As you personally study the scriptures, you will come to know the Savior and His teachings. From His example you will know how to love, serve, and forgive members of your family."
*"As you live worthily and renew this covenant weekly [baptism through taking of the Sacrament bread/water], you will qualify for the guidance of the Spirit. The Holy Ghost will guide you and will teach you what you should do to bless your family.
*4-point program to assure my happiness and bless my family, too.
1. Pray
2. Study scriptures
3. Pay your tithing
4. Attend your meetings
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I especially liked how she turned it around and asked...how could my prayer or my studying the scriptures, etc help any of my family members? So much food for thought!

Spiritual Earthquakes

"We don’t know when or how earthquakes will hit us. They likely won’t be literal shakings of the earth, as happened in Peru, but rather quakes of temptations, sin, or trials, such as unemployment or serious sickness. Today is the time to prepare for when that type of quake comes. Today is the time to prepare—not during the crisis. What are we doing today to engraven in our souls the gospel principles that will uphold us in times of adversity?"
--Elder Walter F. González, "Today is the Time", October 2007 General Priesthood Meeting

Enduring Together

Bishop Edgley: Enduring Together
What happens to one happens to all. Our church ward should be our family ward.
*Mosiah 18: 8-9 --> As ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;...Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort."
*"Adversity can bring us closer to God with a renewed and enlightened appreciation for prayer and the Atonement which covers pain and suffering in all their manifestations."

It seems at times that we need a little nudge in the right direction. I can see when my life gets stuck in that pride cycle (humble, turn to the Lord, blessed with abundance, prideful, fall to humility, etc). I ask myself why I feel so distant from the Lord and then I see I stopped reading my scriptures, stopped doing Family Home Evening, or lost that motivation to do what I know I need to do. I had become complacent in the Gospel. I ask how I got to this point? What matters next is how am I going to get back to where I need to be. How? By studying, pondering, and finding out what the Lord is saying to me/us today in the General Conference talks, what is being written in the Ensign magazine, studying the Sunday School Lesson, making sure I have FHE with my family. After all, family is what is most important to me.

Integrity of Heart

"We should not be discouraged or depressed by our shortcomings. No one is without weakness. As part of the divine plan, we are tested to see whether we master weakness or let weakness master us. Proper diagnosis is essential to proper treatment. The Lord gave us this remarkable assurance: “Because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong” (Ether 12:37). But wishing for strength won’t make us strong. It takes faith and work to shore up a weakened cord of integrity."

--Russell M. Nelson, "Integrity of Heart", Ensign, Aug. 1995, 19

*Hijacked from http://ablackmormongirl.blogspot.com/. Thanks Shabang!

Conference Thoughts

Elder Packard: The Weak and the Simple of the Church
I liked how he said that it doesn't matter where we serve but how. I've been in my calling for one year now, and I'm still trying to get into my calling...feel the direction of where I need to bring His young women and where I am supposed to grow.

Elder Wirthlin: The Great Commandment
Without the pure love of Christ, all of our other qualities, gifts or talents are nothing. We must have charity embeded into our actions if we are to be true examples of Jesus Christ. How heartwrenching to see Elder Wirthlin in such a weakened state, but as other friends have stated, what happened in his talk as Elder Nelson helped him steady himself to finish the talk was truly a perfect example of the pure love of Christ.




Audio/Video of conference talks:
http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,49-1-775,00.html

Re: General Conference

Hello Sisters, Oct. 11, 2007
I really enjoyed conference. My sister was at the first seeion on Saturday and said that when Pres. Hinckley told the newly called members of the first presidency and the 12 apostles to take their seats he pulled a prank on Pres. Eyring. When Pres. Hinckly finished speaking and walked back to his chair he tapped Pres. Eyring on the head with his cane! My sister said everyone was laughing. Isn't wonderful to know and love each other so much that we can enjoy our leaders' personalities!
I think the part of conference that moved me the most was Elder Wirthlin's talk on charity. I will never forget the topic of that address because it was so beautifully demonstrated to us during that talk by the actions of Elder Nelson. When Elder Wirthlin started to shake and become unsteady Elder Nelson quietly came and put his hand on Elder Wirthlin's back and arm. He patiently waited and allowed Elder Wirthlin to decide to finish his talk himself or accept assistance. When Elder Wirthlin finished speaking Elder Nelson gently helped him back to his seat. Moroni 7:47 says, "But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever and whoso is possesed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him." Certainly it will be well for Elder Nelson! How about us?
Stake R.S. Pres.

Happiness Now and Forever

"Salvation is an eternal goal we gain by a process of constant upward change. Doubt is spiritual poison that stunts eternal growth. We must first feel our way before we can see it with any clarity. We prove ourselves by making numerous correct decisions without being absolutely sure; then comes a greater knowledge and assurance, not before. Happiness is created. Love is its center. Its principal ingredients are sincere faith, true repentance, full obedience, and selfless service."

--Richard G. Scott, " Happiness Now and Forever", Ensign, Nov. 1979, 70

Be Not Dismayed

"We should not be discouraged or depressed by our shortcomings. No one is without weakness. As part of the divine plan, we are tested to see whether we master weakness or let weakness master us. Proper diagnosis is essential to proper treatment. The Lord gave us this remarkable assurance: “Because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong” (Ether 12:37). But wishing for strength won’t make us strong. It takes faith and work to shore up a weakened cord of integrity."
--Russell M. Nelson, "Integrity of Heart", Ensign, Aug. 1995, 19