October General Conference 2011 (Saturday)

I just wanted to write some of my own notes about this bi-annual conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

For readers who may not know, this is a conference satellite broadcast from Salt Lake City (where the church headquarters are) which goes all over the world and is particularly viewed in meeting houses of the church across the globe. The speakers are chosen from amongst the leaders of the church- most notably, members of the Quorum of the Twelve and the First Presidency. Today I watched it at home with Mom, Dad and my boyfriend, attaching my computer to the TV to do so. As a member of the church, I feel very privileged to be able to get this direct instruction. As one of the talks today so eloquently expressed: "Prophets redirect our focus to look up." (Carl B. Cook)

After watching the Saturday sessions (5-7pm GMT, and 9-11pm GMT) I wanted to record some of the pearls of wisdom I have received so far:

Saturday Morning (MST) session 

Richard G. Scott spoke on the scriptures and their power to guide us in life. He said that through memorising scriptures we gain enduring friends that can help us through our challenges. When we ponder the scriptures we get the guidance of the Holy Ghost and at new challenges scriptures become of greater worth to us. He talked about how each of the standard works (Old Testament, New Testament, Doctrine and Covenants and Book of Mormon) have wonderful truths and inspiring messages in them for our benefit. I really want to finish the Book of Mormon again before Christmas, and I'm grateful that his words reminded me of that.

Barbara Thompson spoke on receiving personal revelation to guide our lives. She talked about a need to have a desire and soft heart leading us to ask in faith and that as we commit to keeping the commandments we will receive guidance. It made me think about Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk in the Relief Society session about forget-me-nots and how the revelation we receive might not be a massive bloom but beautiful little flowers that need to be nurtured.

L. Whitney Clayton spoke about the gospel going forward and filling the earth. I have to say that the notes I wrote during this talk were more just my thoughts than his words. For example, he talked about going into a Palace in (I think) South America and how he had seen it from the outside and wondered what it would be like within until finally he found himself in a position to go there. It made me think a lot about how it will feel to be allowed back into the presence of our Heavenly Father.

The announcement for temples to be built was then made by Thomas S. Monson.

José L. Alonso spoke next, quoting the scripture from Mosiah that when we are in the service of our fellow beings we are only in the service of our God. He said that in serving there are three main things to get right: Do the right thing, at the right time and without delay!

Boyd K. Packer spoke next and he directed much of it at the 'young crows', quoting a poem to explain that he, as an 87 year old gentleman, might have something worth saying to the youth! He relayed a memory of first hearing that Pearl Harbour had been bombed and America were at war with the Japanese; followed by a memory of the American involvement in World War II. He talked about how there are wars in our lives today but how we can have happiness in life by adhering to the gospel and our family values. He told the youth to assert their agency to keep morally clean.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf was the final speaker in this session and, true to form, he spoke about flying through the night's sky and looking up and seeing the stars. It helps us to realise how endless God's creations really are. Yet, somehow, we are significant amongst stars that outnumber grains of sand on the earth. He quoted D&C 18:10 and Moses 1:39 . God loves us and though compared to Him we are nothing, He sees our value. Satan tries to either make us feel that we are everything and trap us in pride or he tries to make us feel that we have no value at all. He talked about how it doesn't really matter where we are but that we are doing the best we can and that our hearts are towards Him.

Saturday Afternoon (MST) session

David A. Bednar talked about priorities and particularly how one of the priorities we should have as members of the LDS church is in the sealing powers restored to the earth by Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6) and the correlation to family history and temple work. He specifically addressed the young people who are adept at using computers and technology and he gave specific promises based on them taking up this challenge. 

Neil L. Andersen spoke next about parenthood and the responsibility that is on us to keep adhering to the Lord's commandment to 'multiply and replenish the earth'. He talked about how individuals need to prayerfully make their own decisions about family. He recounted a story of a newly married man in medical school who had decided with his wife that she would work until he qualified and they would delay having children until after that time until he read in the ensign that it was a responsibility to keep this commandment. He spoke to Spencer W. Kimball who asked him where his faith was and told him that he could achieve a family and a medical degree. I have to say that this story was personally interesting for me, as a medical student myself. He also read from a blog from a Christian lady who said, "Motherhood is what God gave you time for." 

Ian S. Ardern talked about using our time wisely and ceasing to be idle and procrastinate. He quoted Alma 34:32-34. 

Carl B. Cook related an experience that he had in a lift. He was feeling burdened and was looking down at his feet when someone else got in and he heard the words, "What are you looking at down there?" Realising it was President Monson asking the question, he looked up replying, "Oh, nothing." President Monson's response was to say, "It's better to look up." He talked about how prophets redirect our focus back to God. Either the things that we worry about are insignificant, or God will help us with them. 

LeGrand R Curtis Jr. talked about names given to the Lord and how we relate to them because we know what a saviour is and that we also know about 'redeeming' from everyday events. He told stories about men coming to him and telling him that they were brought back to the church by an invitation to serve which had helped them turn their life around. He called them 'stories of redemption'. 

D. Todd Christofferson talked about anti-Christs in the Book of Mormon and the need for repentance today. He said when we speak of repentance it should be with a smile because it is a wonderful and essential gift. He said that invitations to repent are an expression of love, that repentance is striving to change and make weaknesses into strengths, that we need to not only abandon sin but commit to obedience with our might, mind and strength, and that we need to persevere through the pain of repenting. Finally, he taught that the cost of repentance is swallowed in forgiveness and that the morning will help us to forget the pain of the night. 

L. Tom Perry spoke about temple open-houses and how as members of the church we are often in plain view and can help by being an example of the believers; and that we need to let our light shine. 

I would encourage everyone to listen to the incredible talks given today again and again- sometimes it's not in the words, but in the silence that we hear the things and feel the things that we need to feel most! I am so excited for more talks tomorrow!