179th Semi-Annual General Conference

This weekend was the 179th Semi-Annual Conference for our church, where our leaders speak to us on what they feel would be most useful to us, and what will better us.

Whenever I was to write about this, I always feel weird, because I feel like "What more can I say to expound on these talks? Enough has already been said." But I also feel that if I don't record what it means for our family, that I'm ungrateful for what I've recieved, and that I won't keep those feelings from the conference with me.

So, I will share a little bit of my feelings on the conference, and my favorite highlights, and if you haven't seen it, then I'll post a link where you can see them for yourself.

This was actually the first conference since Josten and I have been married that we actually just watched it at home. We usually go to a stake center, or down to Utah to watch it. My reason for doing this was that Josten was gone this weekend with the Army, so I didn't quite feel up to doing it all on my own this year, plus Sienna was sick. It was nice hearing the messages in my home, because I felt like I was in the actual place where i would need to apply these principles I was being taught. Kind of like on the job training...

Well I absolutely enjoyed all four sessions of conference. I missed Josten not coming home from priesthood and giving me a report of that, but I suppose we can read it in the Ensign. It seemed like there was an overall theme of bringing us back down to the simplicity of just listening to the spirit, and being worthy of that spirit.

I feel like this was stressed because we need to apply that now, more than ever. We live in a world that is decreasing it's moral values by the second, and calling what used to be considered moral values ridiculous, or even evil! There's so much that goes on, so much that fills our brains, and so much forced into our brains from so many different directions these days that it is now more important than ever to find time to strengthen the Holy Spirit's influence in our lives. It is such a time where every value is debated both in the world and within the church, that it is absloutely necessary to have the Spirit with us to help us make the right decisions, and to help us distinguish between what actually is right, and what is wrong. The Spirit will never lead astray.

I had so many favorite talks, as I usually do, but 2 that stuck out most to me were President Monson's talk on Service on Sunday morning, and of course, Elder Jeffery R. Holland's fiery testimony of the Book of Mormon.

President Monson is such a loving person, and he delivers his messages in such a way that you feel his love and concern for you personally. No one is MORE qualified to speak on service than he. I was so touched by all of his examples, and insights. I want to always remember the things he said, and to practice them in our home.

There's not much I can say about or add to Elder Holland's testimony, other than ask you to watch it, if you missed it. This is something to be seen, though the words will be powerful in written form as well, to really appreciate this, it needs to be seen!

I loved this conference because Breck is finally old enough to listen a little bit and participate. He loved hearing President Monson open and close conference, and his beautiful talk on Sunday morning. He sat still and listened everytime President Monson spoke until he was finished. He loves the prophet so much, and was so anxious to see when I told him that "the prophet was going to speak to us today!" Sienna was sick, and not quite at that age to sit still, but hopefully she could feel the spirit that these leaders brought with their words!

If you missed it, I strongly encourage you to see it. You can go to byu.tv and view it there. There will be a little box in the upper right hand corner that says "Watch General Conference". It was amazing, and I'm so grateful for Leaders called by God Himself, so intune to the spirit as to actually know what each of the church's members need to hear. What a wonderful weekend!