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I am on a device that makes it hard to comment extensively, so I might not be providing extensive notes. Just as a note, in the letter read in Sac Mtg a couple of weeks ago, the Women’s Meeting was called a General Conference session explicitly. Also, Pres. Uchtdorf called this session the Saturday morning session, NOT the first session, in his opening remarks.
It also was interesting to see at least three apostles using hand sanitizer during the lead-up video. Adds a real element of humanity in a weird way.
Pres. Eyring is the first speaker. I recommend this talk highly. The love of the savior reaches out to all of God’s children. We succor him when we succor others. “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
The law of the fast, quoting from Isaiah. (I love this passage.)
Cool stories about the natural disaster in Vanuatu and the civil war in Sierra Leone.
Better to teach the principle of the fast and let children learn to observe it when they are old enough to choose. YES! – about this and other things.
Yes, pretty standard fair for a fast offering talk with the added personal experiences. Overall a nice talk. Oct. 2011 was the last time Pres. Monson did not give the first conference address.
Pres. Packer is next. (This is going to be one many here will want to skip. It is a standard Pres. Packer sex-related talk. Without the anti-gay marriage subtext, it would be different, but . . . Seriously, skip this one.. It isn’t worth the heartburn.) I am not going to add notes for this one, except to say that it is getting more and more difficult to understand Pres. Packer as he speaks. Someone just texted me wondering why apostles can’t have emeritus status and wondering if we could use subtitles for Pres. Packer.
Repentance leaves no scars, because of the atonement. That is a good message, and I am happy he said it.
Really loved the tithing talk. I’ve been sick, so I’m just barely getting out of bed and missed a lot already. My family is watching GC on the main TV in the living room right in range of my bedroom, and whereas I could understand the previous speaker from where I am, I can barely understand Pres. Packer. Just a low growly grumble. I tend to skip his talks anyway, though, so doesn’t really matter. I would fully support emeritus status for apostles.
At first blush I’d say most here will want to skip Sr. Burton as well. I left when she talked about being aware there are those who can’t meet the ideal but she wasn’t going to talk about that and instead talked about her ideal – the worthy husband who provides his family and all the other stuff from the Proclamation. The parts of BKP’s talk that I could understand were okay. He spent some time talking about how sins don’t leave scars, that we can repent and it doesn’t matter what happened in the past or how often it happened. At least I think that’s what he said, that’s what I decided to hear anyway. 
The talk that followed BKP (missed the name) is a skipper. Lots of family proclamation focus, probably creates some unintentional bad feelings among the singles, I think it even runs the risk of dividing homes where a PH holder has expressed doubt. A good nugget here or there but not the best talk.
Pres. Burton is next. (This will be controversial, because it implies stereotypes, but she talks about working with a spouse as an equal partner.) She started by acknowledging openly that many don’t have happy marriages.
Overall, this is a good message, but it will be hard for many here to see that. Most will want to skip it, as well.
I was walking past the TV when this speaker said “offended,” and I kept walking. I’ll be attending the live session for this afternoon, so I’ll probably have more viable comments to contribute then when I have no choice but to listen.
😆 Elder Oaks is next. (This is a good talk in many ways. It would be easy to dismiss it at first, with his mention of being offended, but it is a really good talk, overall.) What we must to do reform our personal lives. The parable of the sower, for those who have committed to be followers of Christ.
Anyone can have “no root in themselves” if not grounded in the Gospel. (He did not say “Church”.) Example of not taking sacrament seriously; “keyhole” view of focusing so narrowly on negatives and ignoring positives. Moderation is important.
Materialism is not good. He rejected the Prosperity Gospel openly and explicitly. Yeah!!
Cares of this life. Good examples. Moved to things that won’t be popular here, when talking about needing to stand firm in our beliefs. The principle he is teaching is important, but many here won’t like the examples he used.
How can we prepare to be good ground? Be converted to the Gospel; pray; study; take the sacrament; serve others.
Sorry, audio only. I don’t know who is speaking. Good talk, lots of interesting things being said if approached from a certain vantage point. (The talk about the plane crash). Elder Clayton’s talk is a very straightforward “believe in Christ” gospel centered talk (which could have done without the “choosing to doubt” reference). Overall a very nice talk, followed by a related hymn. Elder Clayton is next. (This talk can be powerful for everyone here, if we view it from our own perspectives.) See the light in the distance, and fight to reach it. We will have to face our own spiritual wilderness, no matter its nature.
We must have a desire to believe, first, and give place in our hearts. We must ask, seek and knock.
We face the test of our individual lives.
The Savior’s life and teachings can guide us. Choose to believe – in the Gospel and Christ’s message.
I hope nobody rejects this talk because of what might be assumed about it – or that it is interpreted traditionally. It doesn’t have to be an orthodox message.
“I have searched for him in my own moments of darkness.”
Yeah, I’d have to read the talk but there have been a few moments where he’s said something really good and could have left it there and things would have been fine but he added one extra comment on the negative side of the equation and spoiled the message a little. What I chose to take; belief is manifest by what we do. Essentially I believe the gospel when I’m living the gospel. I can live the gospel independently of believing in any particular truth claim that pertains to the church. I.e. if someone gives me grief about not believing that the BoM contains a literal history I can reference this talk heavily in saying that it doesn’t have anything to do with belief in the gospel.
Lots of other good stuff if viewed from our perspective!
Elder Perry (the Mormon pirate) is the concluding speaker. (This is a solidly orthodox talk about marriage. Those with heterodox views of marriage will want to skip this one.) Vatican colloquium on the family. Quoted Pope Francis about a culture of the temporary.
All do NOT agree as much as he says in this talk, even with his addition about the eternal nature of family being different. I am not summarizing more. Most here will want to skip it. There are a lot of good things that need to be addressed when it comes to marriage, and much of what he is saying is true and important, but dealing with those issues in an “us vs. them” manner is simplistic and doesn’t lead to deeper understanding.
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