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One session down, five to go. I didn’t get to watch the General Women’s Session live. I’ll keep my posting brief, I’m really sick and need to get back to bed. Cheryl A. Esplin:
Quoting a BYU devotional given by Sondra Heaston:
Quote:What if we could really see into each other’s hearts? Would we understand each other better? By feeling what others feel, seeing what others see, and hearing what others hear, would we make, and take, the time to serve others, and would we treat them differently? Would we treat them with more patience, more kindness, and more tolerance?
Quote:All of us can incorporate some service into our daily living. We live in a contentious world. We give service when we don’t criticize, when we refuse to gossip, when we don’t judge, when we smile, when we say thank you, and when we are patient and kind.
I thought I’d get a little further than the first talk but I’ve got to take another break. From everything I’ve heard it was an amazing session of conference.
I will post more later but the general consensus from FMH to TBM – It was out of the park. Couple of quick links –
http://aspiringmormonwomen.org/2016/03/28/april-16-general-womens-session-top-10-list/ ” class=”bbcode_url”> http://aspiringmormonwomen.org/2016/03/28/april-16-general-womens-session-top-10-list/ https://www.ksl.com/?sid=39080293&nid=1284https://www.ksl.com/?sid=39080293&nid=1284” class=”bbcode_url”> http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/2016/03/april-2016-womens-meeting/ ” class=”bbcode_url”> http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/2016/03/april-2016-womens-meeting/ I so appreciate the direction and upwardness of this session of Conference. Yet I find myself holding back my full enthusiasm – and this topic is directly up my personal alley. I spent the past two days trying to understand my reluctance, the best analogy I could come to was abuse. I fear throwing my heart behind this only to find that it’s a mirage or a mere moment. In six months from now will we return to rhetoric meetings, will we have gone too far from “temple worship, and daily scripture study” and need to be called to repentance. With all my heart I want to shout loud Hosannas from this conference. In my dreams it will be the perfect leak in the dike to create the flood of Charity that I think this church is lacking. I would love the ideas of this conference to have a decade full of talks, conversations, articles, videos and more to move us into “loving our fellow man” as “Jesus would have us do”. It will take more than one session of conference and one action item to change us. We are creatures of the habits we have been raised with. Temple first, FHE, early morning seminary, fulfilling ward callings, Sabbath Day Seclusion, HT and VT – then when there is time – then we serve beyond ourselves. And often there just isn’t time or ease to do so.
My final hold out is – Women only? I was so glad that we were admonished as women to not burn ourselves out or do more than we could. I
lovedthat we were invited to seek out our personal missions/callings and follow that. I have been bitter to the lack of the suggestion for 20+ years. Ever since women were moved back into the home by ETB, we stopped being our best selves (IMO). But – This invitation should be open to families, to men, to youth etc. I hope it will be. I hope during conference and onward it will be trumpeted as a God like pursuit that all should do. For me, I tuck my fondest hopes in the back of my soul. I will still do what I feel is best, I will invite others to do so – to live up to the better angels of our nature, and I will pray with might that this is the beginning of abundant healing waters for so many. For all the refugee’s of life.
if the talks contain real inspiring gospel messages, it provides me with quotes I can bring back to my ward in sunday school discussions to emphasize more than just “obey” and “scripture study” and “temple worship”. I hope they do. I hope this weekend has good stuff.
I don’t expect it to be edgy, but I hope it is uplifting, even to me.
I plan to go to SLC to watch it live. I think that will add to the value for me.
I can’t hold the rest of conference to this session. That would be an unrealistic expectation that could lead only to disappointment and frustration. However, I can celebrate a stunning session that couldn’t have been better. I only hope there are enough similar messages, at least in tone and uplifting result, to overshadow the others that inevitably must exist. Opposition in all things and all that jazz.
mom3 wrote:I so appreciate the direction and upwardness of this session of Conference. Yet I find myself holding back my full enthusiasm – and this topic is directly up my personal alley. I spent the past two days trying to understand my reluctance, the best analogy I could come to was abuse. I fear throwing my heart behind this only to find that it’s a mirage or a mere moment. In six months from now will we return to rhetoric meetings, will we have gone too far from “temple worship, and daily scripture study” and need to be called to repentance.
Will future talks be less than welcoming? Almost certainly. How’s that for a pick-me-up? The less than welcoming talks that are sure to come can’t erase the good talks, it’s like light that chases away darkness. My bags only have but so much room, I have to be choosy about which things I take with me. P.S. I even bag up some of the bad ones so I can have something to complain about. It’s cathartic.
:angel: I do know that we need opposition in all things. I am pretty fair minded about addresses and sessions, but I think my well has felt so empty and so depleted, that nothing I did was really quenching the thirst. So went it came I drank till my stomach hurt and I still want more. Not just for me, but for a lot of people. My best choice is to fill my canteen’s full from this and march forth. Wagon’s Ho.
mom3 wrote:I so appreciate the direction and upwardness of this session of Conference. Yet I find myself holding back my full enthusiasm – and this topic is directly up my personal alley. I spent the past two days trying to understand my reluctance, the best analogy I could come to was abuse. I fear throwing my heart behind this only to find that it’s a mirage or a mere moment. In six months from now will we return to rhetoric meetings, will we have gone too far from “temple worship, and daily scripture study” and need to be called to repentance.
I too feel this from time to time. I write it up as cynicism from past experience. I don’t want to get my hopes up too high as having them smashed down is more painful than never lifting my hopes very high.“I Feel My Savior’s Love” Good way to start, musically.
Pres. Eyring: “Come to feel inspiration.”
We gather in Jesus’ name, even when only two or three are gathered.
The purpose of GC is to help members draw closer to Jesus Christ.
He mentioned specific examples of members with faith crises. Parable of the Sower: Not sure if I will like this application or not. It is okay-good so far. “All of us have our faith tested” in various ways. Limited examples, but I like the focus on nourishing the word of God.
“Only the Holy Ghost can bring the blessings we seek.” The Holy Ghost is the key, and “as they speak by the Holy Ghost” is the qualification.
This is completely orthodox, and many / most will hear it that way, but it says clearly that the responsibility is on BOTH the speakers and the listeners. There is no guarantee that everything will be the word of God; the statement is that they all seek for inspiration, but they need to speak by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Pray for affirmation of “some truth” in each talk. I like that wording.
His testimony is focused on God, the Father, and his son, Jesus Christ.
The only reference to the apostles and the Church, explicitly, was in his testimony. This was an orthodox talk in many ways, but I like the way it was worded, overall.
Sis. Mary R. Durham: Story of father carrying daughter while swimming and starting to sink, feeling alone. All of us experience some degree of this feeling, in some way.
What weight can we shed? How can we “lay aside every weight”?
Our divine source of strength is the Holy Ghost. [It will help us understand what we need to shed to keep swimming.] We need to “receive” the Holy Ghost – to act and not simply be acted upon.
Help our children recognize the Spirit (example of Samuel); help children learn in the home (speak the language of the Spirit, so our children can be immersed in that language); help children recognize how they individually feel the Spirit, since they do so differently; teach children to act on feelings they identify as good. [This can be loaded, with implications beyond what she might realize, but I like it, as worded.]
Another orthodox talk, but I like the analogy and the emphasis on individuals learning their own spiritual language, if you will.
Bro. Donald Hallstrom (1st Q70): We are children of God is fundamental to our theology. ALL people are beloved children of Heavenly Parents. So basic that it can seem ordinary, but it is extra-ordinary. Central to faith in Jesus Christ.
The critical question is: Do we know we are children of God. Is our heavenly parentage our FIRST identity? [This is more fundamental to any other, including church membership. It implies that non-Mormons being children of God is more fundamental / important than us being members of the LDS Church.]
Life is hard for many reasons, including doctrine and history. What is our immediate, first response when we face difficulties? Remembering our heavenly parentage is important.
Liberia visit: Terrible situation there. Visited church in Monrovia. 4,100 attended church, mostly by foot. Elder Bednar spoke asked about “How Firm a Foundation”, and the members sang verses 1, 2, 3, and 7. “The soul on whom Jesus has leaned for repose . . . I will not, no cannot, forsake.”
We live in a world that can cause us to forget who we are. The Liberian saints have little materially, but they are rich spiritually, because they know they are children of God.
I really like this talk. There is a lot of potential power in it, especially in what it implies.
Elder Stevenson (Q12): Lost keys story. Not about prayer
Basic Mormon talk / lesson / testimony so far.
Priesthood = power and authority of God ; keys = governing of authority ; Jesus holds all keys and directs use
For young men AND women: prepare to USE the Priesthood and be blessed by Priesthood keys – 1) Prepare to serve a mission; 2) Attend the temple; 3) Go forward with faith.
Again, solidly orthodox talk, but with two good, subtle implications (women can use the Priesthood, and changes can be made in the authorization of actions, probably from Elder Oaks’ previous talk about the Priesthood) most members won’t catch.
Found keys miraculously, of course.
😳 Elder Kevin R. Duncan (Q70): We all are victims in some way at some time. Key is forgiveness. Example of sliver not fully removed.
Unforgiving hearts harbor unnecessary pain. Most want to forgive, but it is hard to do. We often think forgiveness robs justice that is deserved.
Remember we all are growing spiritually but at different levels. Try to see others as God sees them. We might even learn to love those who have offended us. Example of Saul / Paul. People can be Saul-like with Paul-like potential. We don’t see the whole iceberg of people’s situations. Forgiveness brings us understanding and peace. None of us should be defined by the worst thing we have done.
Mentioned rejecting / scorning people due to sports fanship, political affiliation, etc.
God looks not on the color of the jersey or political party.Let us win AND lose with grace. We all fall short and have need of grace, mercy, and forgiveness. We have to forgive to be forgiven. The Lord’s Prayer includes forgiveness, which is the very reason God sent his Son. The atonement is not just for those who need to repent, but also for those who need to forgive.
One more orthodox talk, but I love it – especially the explicit reference to political affiliation.
Elder Steven E. Snow (Q70): Hymns: 90 in the original; most from other religions. One new song is “Be Thou Humble”, written by convert who just passed away last year.
Humility brings great blessings, as little children and as adults. We don’t break their spirits; we teach selflessness, kindness, civility, joy in others’ success, etc. “Son, a little bit of humility right now would go a long way.”
“I’m sorry,” and other such statements are important. Life can be humbling.
Example of son’s accident and its effects. Powerful story.
We wondered how such a thing could happen to us, who had been so faithful.What if we could be humble before being compelled? “I Need Thee Every Hour”
An orthodox talk that teaches an important lesson in an excellent way. I love it.
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