Joycelyn's Ponderings: April 2010

Sunday, April 4, 2010

GenCon Sunday PM

Presiding: President Eyring

5th session of 180th Annual GenCon

Choir sings twice.

Fave part about MoTab -- When they sing softly, even with 100's of them, it sounds like they are whispering the words in song. Truly sounds like a chorus of angels.

Speaker: Elder Russell M Nelson

Theme: Families

Attacks on the family are rampant
W/o the Atonement, there would be no further continuation of the family through the ages.
Turning our hearts to our fathers, making family connections through sacred ordinances in the temple
The New Family Search is a program that helps you prepare names for the temple.
Start working on family names to make sure names are prepared in the temple.

Speaker: Elder Robert D Hales

Theme: Duty to God

Starts by parents that live by example
We can't just be in the same room or go to the same church activities. We must plan and use gospel lessons to interact with our children, use the teaching moments.
We need to understand the hearts of our children
It is the family interaction that feeds the soul of children and family members.
Ask them questions and be willing to listen and/or hearken to them.
Not just conversing but doing activities with them.
We need to help them understand who they are and where they came from through Family Home Evenings, family counsels.

Speaker: Elder Bradley D Foster

Theme: Influence of a mother

Nurturing is a spiritual heritage given to mothers
Even if someone strays, we should never give up on them but go back and find our lost ones
Assure them that there is always a home for them
Even Christ looked after his mother after all he went through
The end will be better than the beginning.

Choir and Congregation: I Know That My Redeemer Lives

Speaker: Elder James B Mortino

Theme: Reactions to Trials

The question is not when but how we will face our trials.
Trials help us develop attributes that we need to become more like Christ
Trials require us to humble ourselves before God
1) Sought to do will of our Father -- He knows the end from the beginning
2) When faced with trials, learn to not complain or murmur -- Attempt to correct the problem, find out what to learn or change about yourself
3) When facing challenges, turn to a greater power than us for help -- turn to HF in prayer for answers. Answers may not take trial away but help us get through it easier.
4) Learn to serve and think of others even in our time of trials -- Repent and follow his example of service. Lose ourselves in service to others and find our happiness through services
5) ???

Speaker: Elder Gregory A Schwitzer

Theme: Judgements

The Lord expects us to not judge others but still use excellent judgements in our decisions.
Story of Mary and her sister Martha. Am I Mary or Martha?
Good judgement is needed in judging others and also in making decisions in where the Lord wants me to be
Standards of Morality are eternal and have not changed, clearly aligned with the gospel of Jesus Christ
Listen to the messages of the living prophetsCultivate with the holy spirit a relationship of listening
When facing difficult decisions, following these guidelines will help us make good judgements

Speaker: Francisco

Theme: Replacing fear with faith

Awful death upon the wicked, spiritual death.
Haiti -- mourning with those that mourn, comfort those that are in need of comfort
Help our family members stay away from those things that keep us from living with our HF again
Atonement can help bring those back to Christ and our HF
Parents have a sacred duty to raise their children in love and righteousness.
Read the scriptures daily, pray daily and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Speaker: Neil L Andersen

Theme: The Mind and Will of the Lord

Talk more about Jesus Christ in the home to our children
Bear our testimony of JC to them
Our testimony will never leave our children
The Spirit of the Lord will accompany us as we bear testimony to our children

Speaker: President Thomas S Monson

Theme: Conclusion

Live the gospel of the Jesus Christ.
Study the messages in the Ensign (May)
The world has left the harbor of peace
Look to the Lighthouse of the Lord during these times for rescue
Rock, Fortress, Strength, God
Evokes the blessings of heaven upon us as we leave

My "Spiritual To Do List" according to the words spoken in General Conference October 2015

Prophets straightforward message: Keep the Commandments!
Everyone should reach out in faith to rescue every soul from whom he is responsible for.
Knowing that God calls us through His authorized servants to callings, should be the source of our courage to persevere, whatever the callings are.
Be not afriad, only believe. We can choose to believe.
There is nothing noble or impressive about being cynical. Be faithful.
Practice the principles of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and to live true to God's Commandments.
Even when we have repented of a sinful behavior, the addiction may remain. The guilt from it can be relieved through strength from our Savior!
Remember that what cures us from pain and heartache is our Savior and His Atonement.
Our Savior can give us strength we need to overcome mortal challenges when we seek His help through His Atonement.
Works without faith is dead. We must have faith with works to receive answers.
Remember past spiritual experiences.
Words of Christ can tell us what we should do.
Daily scripture study can help open doors of revelation.
Obedience, scripture study, prayer and fasting are all personal religious habits that I need to strengthen me against temptation to murmur or doubt.
If I want answers to my prayers, I need to ask with a sincere heart and real intent.
If we want stronger spiritual power, we need to choose to heed prophetic counsel, recognize and act upon spiritual promptings, be obedient to God's commandments, and seek personal revelation.
We have the power to choose belief over doubt.
By seeking His light, the Lord offers us greater assurance, greater confirmation, and greater confidence in the spiritual direction we are traveling.
Seeking His light can bless us with confidence, determination, comfort, and the power to know He lives.
If we receive His light, we can receive more light and that light can grow stronger and brighter.
To ignore and discount past spiritual experiences will distance us from God.
Remember spiritual blessings and feelings that have penetrated our hearts and lives in the past and place our faith in Heavenly Father.
Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith!
We must act, expecting that the Lord will fulfill His promise to lift us from the darkness if we draw near unto Him.
Remember that those who truly love us can help build our faith, not tear us down.
Don't listen to strangers or those who claim to be enlightened when they have no light. (aka: social media trolls hiding behind a screen)
Relying on the light of others temporarily while I struggle with seeing my own light is not wrong.
Prepare myself with the powerful light of spiritual strength.
Invite others to come to church.
Express compassion when our family and friends are suffering.
Smile at others!
Go the extra mile in our efforts.
Be willing to bear one another's burdens.
Be worthy to take the Sacrament, hold a temple recommend, go to the temple regularly, serve in church, go about doing good.
Exercise my faith every day so that I can wax stronger and firmer in my faith. Don't let my faith atrophy.
Marriage is not only about what I want, it's also about what my companion wants and who He needs me to be.
Pay tithing, save, live with your means.
Be humble enough to be lead along when we hear His voice and the voice of His servants.
The scripture stories tell us how righteous people react to temptation and evil: They AVOID it!
We are responsible to think about the consequences of every choice we make.
Adherence to sacred gospel principles will allow me to be temple worthy, help me find happiness in this life, and lead me back my Heavenly home.
Living a righteous life can invite the Holy Ghost into my life to be a cleansing agent, a voice of warning, a voice of protection, help me avoid temptations or dangers, comfort and lead me through challenges.
Keeping the Sabbath is a refuge from the storms of life.
Observing the Sabbath Day can strengthen families, connect us with God, and increase happiness.
Develop and demonstrate conduct and appearance that declare we are true followers of Christ.
Exercise self-control like a muscle and it'll get stronger each time to avoid temptations.
We should be temple-worthy in good times and in bad times.
We must be righteous, follow rules, and be prepared for difficult times.
Having the companionship of the Holy Ghost will make us better people -- are my actions always inviting the Spirit or pushing the Spirit away?
Keep the Sabbath Day more holy by not doing our own pleasure, but doing God's will.
Repentance is a process that requires consistency in each of its steps. Don't become entangled in the vanities of the world.
We must be willing to act when we receive an answer.
We need to ask the Lord for directions along the way -- "How can I improve?"
We choose to be HAPPY or SAD during trials.
If we follow His example, love God, and serve others with kindness and compassion, THEN we may STAND IN PURITY, blameless before God at the last day.
I can find happiness and joy as I utilize the tools Heavenly Father has given me to stay clean and virtuous.
As I learn of my Divine Worth, I can learn to see the Divine Worth of others.

Joycelyn's Ponderings

Sunday, April 4, 2010

GenCon Sunday PM

My "Spiritual To Do List" according to the words spoken in General Conference October 2015

If You Could Hie to Kolob and Adam-ondi-Ahman Celtic Hymn Medley by Ricky Valadez

Amazing Grace

How Great Thou Art

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