First, a confession. Every six months I try to read the entire Conference issue of the Ensign (this time it was the Liahona in Portuguese because my Ensign copy was needed elsewhere). I try to have it finished before the start of the next Conference. I’ve been doing this for a few years now and I’m always amazed at what I apparently missed when I was listening to it live, or even listening to it on the DVDs I get each time and watch on Sundays. I was a few talks short this time, but it will be finished in the next few days. And I have learned so much and have been consistently amazed at the timeliness of the messages.42D
Second, I still can’t snap. My thumb is getting better, but it still isn’t completely better. But, I can write, kind of. I’m better with a pencil than a pen because it takes less pressure to get a pencil mark than a pen mark. I’m very glad I can write to some degree though. I don’t know how I’d get through General Conference without being able to write down the things that stand out to me.
As this last week was ending, I began to get excited at the fact that I get to listen to the voice of a living prophet. Just as people of old listened to the voices of Moses, Isaiah, Enoch, and all of the others, I have the blessing of listening to President Thomas S. Monson, the man chosen of God to be His prophet today. What an amazing blessing that is!
There is always something that stands out to me. At the end of the first session I’d already heard several things that I know were meant for me and not the other 13 million members of the Church. But I’m sure there was something there for them as well.
It makes me grateful that my parents always made sure we attended all of the sessions of Conference and not just Sunday morning, making sure I’m in the habit of that now. If I had not listened today, I would have missed that counsel. It also makes me grateful for the wonders of the internet. I was able to listen while sitting in my own home in my pajamas eating Cheerios. Now that’s a blessing.
I can’t wait to find out what I will learn tomorrow. And then spend the next six months reading and pondering on the words and counsel of this weekend – the 179th Annual General Conference of The Church of JesusChrist of Latter-Day Saints.
Amazing. Absolutely amazing. I loved Conference. And the four kids that were there enjoying it today were great too.
Can’t wait for my May Ensign to get here and for the DVDs to follow after that.
Wasn’t it great? I think that I might try to read all of the talks before the next conference, I’ve never tried it before! I love hearing the words of the Prophet and feeling the Spirit when they testify of our Savior!
Pingback, 9 April 2009 at 11:53 pm
Review, Reflect, and Return: Thoughts on General Conference | Mormon Women: Who We Are
I just read today that Zimbabwe was able to watch Conference live for the first time this year. That’s super exciting!
It reminds me of my first General Conference on the mission. Due to some health issues I was in the mission home at the time. They put me in charge of making sure the computer was set up so we could gather around and listen to it over the internet.
I take notes from meetings in my journal. That means I always know where my General Conference notes are. This time and last time I’ve also done a two page spread with a quick summary of all the talks, listing who spoke when and a word or two for what I got as the topic of that talk. It makes for a real quick reference and run-down of the talks. I still need to read through the Priesthood session and figure out what those talks are about. But I thought I’d share what I put together here. I wouldn’t be surprised if the topic I got for a talk was different from what others got.
(SA – Saturday morning, SP – Saturday afternoon, DA – Sunday morning, DP – Sunday afternoon, P – priesthood)
First Presidency
President Monson: SA – progress; DA – blessings in despair; DP – don’t get trapped; P –
President Eyring: SA – adversity; P –
President Uchtdorf: DA – happiness, discipleship; P –
Quorum of Twelve
President Packer: P –
Elder Perry: DP – member missionary work
Elder Nelson: SP – patterns ofprayer
Elder Oaks: DP – serve
Elder Ballard: SP – listen to counsel
Elder Scott: SP – temple service
Elder Hales: SA – provident living
Elder Holland: DA – atonement
Elder Bednar: DP – temple covenants
Elder Cook: SP – be an example
Elder Christofferson: SA – covenants
Elder Andersen: DA – God qualifies
Quorum of Seventy
Elder Packer: SA – revelation
Elder Pearson: SP – faith
Elder Pino: SP – source of comfort
Elder Costa: P –
Elder Snow: DA – change
Elder Stevenson: DP – homes as temples
Elder Teixeira: DP – Spirit helps
Elder Watson: DP – scriptures
Presiding Bishopric
Bishop Edgley: P –
Relief Society General Presidency
Sister Thompson: DA – Christ can save
Young Men General Presidency
Elder Neider: SA – wisdom from God
Primary General Presidency
Sister Lifferth: SA – respect, reverence
Pingback, 31 March 2012 at 9:11 am
Across Seven Aprils | Ooh Shemo