Letter From Mom on Conference to Morgan

my notes from General Conference, ignore my spelling :)

Saturday afternoon we went to look at cars for Ana's bday, ended up buying one, but it is a secret and a surprise so don't you dare say anything!! Her bday is Tuesday.  She still needs to drive 20 more hours before she can get her license but we are hoping that it will encourage her to drive!!!!!!  Hahaha, which reminds me have you mailed me your license information?  I guess it will take longer than a week :)

We had Margaret Young over on Friday night to talk about the things she is doing in the Congo.  That was fun, a handful of people came.  And we had tons of food left over, but it was neat and raised a bit of money.  I posted a couple of pics on facebook if you can look at my facebook..??  I also posted a few St. George pictures.
Love you babe, talk to you soon



Morning Session of General Conference

Elder Ulysses Soares   _-quorum of the 12
Help your family develop a relationship with Christ and the Gospel

Ethiopians ask how can I understand without someone to guide me?

parents have a sacred duty to teach their children of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.  Especially in this time of rampant pornography and immorality.

When Savior invites us to come and see we need to open our scriptures and study of him and learn to discern of His truth at all times.  Call upon God and learn how to bring God to the center of our lives.  We need our actions to be of those we teach.  People need to see us delighting in our beliefs.  People need to see us sustain our leaders/prophets. 

For those who are lost or don't believe: need to just love them, pray for them, keep living a worthy life so you can be an example of what you believe.  Hope is an important part of the gospel plan.


Becky Craven   - 2nd counselor YW Presidency
Are we careful or casual with our covenants/living

sign: Happiness 15$ = can't bring true happiness only relationship with savior.  Deep and lasting happiness comes from living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Train on the track:  we too are on a covenant path that will keep us moving to our eternal destination, but we have to stay on it.The world is laiden with things that lead us near the tree of life, Lehi's vision, but not too it.  mists of darkness are inevitable, for these times the prophet has encouraged us to get back on the covenant path and quickly.  We may not be perfect but we can be worthy.  Worthy to take the sacrament, worthy to

Youth theme: If ye love me keep my commandments
If we follow this can't we be a little more careful living the commandments:  are we careful with our temple covenants, are we careful with how we dress, are we careful in how we wear the temple garments, are we careful in what we read and watch, etc.

Invite each of us to seek the Holy Ghost in how we can become less casual in living the covenants.
We have been called a peculiar people, what a compliment.


Brook P Hales   - quorum of the 70
prayer

God knows all things, he works in us.
Answers to prayers
when our desires aren't answered as we hoped they may be for another purpose.
Story of son and overcoat that was too small and missionary who had been praying for a warmer coat.
Son didn't get a job, didn't understand until years later when prayers were answered for better situation
Girl losing her eyesight, set for surgery at age 10, but told her parents she would be blind. Lost sight at 15, she went on to get a masters and live full life. 


Dieter F Uchtdorf  -quorum of the 12
Saint of the Church, missionary work

Traveled to Rome, compared to Pauls travels
Growth across the world.  Overall membership continues to grow, but many are leaving.  Our call: go ye therefore and teach, baptize.  How can we fulfill that commission in our daily lives?

Every member a missionary:  some of us go forth and others avoid eye contact when it is brought up, maybe we feel timid or unsure how to do it.   the lord has never required expert missionary efforts, if you feel you have been dragging your feet when it comes to sharing the message to help gather Israel:
1.
grow closer to god.  Do I love and trust him?  the closer you draw
2.
fill your heart with love for others: try to see everyone around you as a child of God, laugh with them, joy, heal, lift, rejoice with them, love them
3.
strive to walk the path of discipleship.  As love deepens for Christ you will grow in confidence and courage with a teachable and humble heart.  takes practice... don't give up, you will eventually become better and more authentic and talking with others of your faith it will become natural.
4.
Share what is in your heart.  always look for opportunities to bring up your faith in natural and normal ways, stand as a witness at all times and when necessary use words. confidence, courage and humility are Christlike, let your life shine.   Invite them to come and see and then invite them to come and help.  pray that you will find those who are ready
5.
trust the lord to work his miracles.  its not our job to convert people, that is the role of the holy ghost, our job is to share what is in our hearts and to live like christ


believe love do

Courage to be recognized as a member of the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints, humility


W Christopher Wadell   - 2nd counselor
minister to the one just as Christ did

Christ healed, fed, forgave and taught also wanted to give more than beyond the day to day


President Eyring   -1st presidency

Feeling in our home, one of being spiritually minded.  contention, pride and sin have to be kept at bay. 
4th Nephi: no contention in the land because of the love of God, could not be a happier people.  They were in one, the children of Christ.  After 200 years there was a decline, studying the pattern of decline shows that pride crept in.  They separated into classes, they began to hate, underlying cause is Satan

They began to diminish in their faith in Jesus Christ...  this is the key, help them grow in faith that Jesus is their loving savior.  As they feel grateful for what the Lord has given them, they will start to want to do good.  Building faith in Jesus Christ is the beginning to reverse spiritual decline in your home.  Family members need to see you grow in faith.

Your faith will wither if you don't continue to seek the spirit, pray and read the scriptures.  prayer in the family can reach across the whole world.  The family that prays together is together.  harsh words can be repented of quickly and sincerely with a simple I'm sorry.

our family members will grow in the gospel as they feel the joy of the spirit, take the sacrament, all won't serve missions, but all can share the gospel and teach forgiveness
Temples, visit or attend with families.  President Benson attend the temple the same day each week and did the work of an ancestor, example from his mother.

Blessing to you:  you live worthy of the celestial kingdom and the family will be more glorious than we can imagine in the hereafter.




Saturday afternoon session
missed first few talks


Elder jeffery R Holland
Sabbath day

respect the Sabbath, one hour of the week to worship christ.
silently take note of those around us who are suffering in sacrament with us. 


Sunday Morning Session

Elder Dale G Renlund   - quorum of the 12

Blessings- are based on action on our part, faith -- like lighting a fire, strike of a match sparks, but oxygen is needed to keep it going
How much energy does it take to look at something?  Israelite's all they had to do was look at the serpent on the staff,  we too must act, look, to be blessed

To receive blessings from God, we must act.  ex. pray with faith in Jesus Christ
push on, pray again...  story of settling Arizona - prayed received water and returned to slc

Cheerfully do all things in your power and then standstill and allow blessing from Heaven (?) joseph smith

Invites us to strike a match and light a fire, feed oxygen and then patiently wait on God


Sharon Eubank  - 1st counselor of RS
Christ heals wounds

How do we increase our faith so that we can transform our windows of stone to glass, rocks to light
We may temporarily go dark, have courage and keep your faith in Christ.  Ask your questions as  you work to melt rock into glass by keeping our covenants.  surround ourselves with good friends and family to help support, we can't do it alone.  God is also with us.  As we take steps on the covenant path the lights will come back on.

Quentin L Cook  -- Quorum of the 12
Charity and Love 

missionary work and love - sharing the gospel is based on a great love, preach my gospel - ch 6 on Christlike love is the most popular chapter - 
if we show love, kindness and humility many will accept our invitation to attend church, missionaries

family history and temple work are important in the home and on the Sabbath, extends to those on the other side of the vail. 
home centered gospel study are a great opportunity to prepare families to go to the temple  - we need to strive for meekness, humility and love as we perfect ourselves, make homes a refuge from the storms that surround us.  homes filled with joy are a delight

limit media use = make it a servant rather than a master.  wholesome, age appropriate, spiritual and full of love

these things will diminish Satan power

D Todd Christofferson  -- quorum of the 12
Beyond service we need to prepare the world for the second coming of Christ.

poverty and suffering will vanish when Christ comes again, He shall feed them, lead them to living waters, wipe the tears from their eyes.

Let us do all we can to relieve suffering now, but prepare for the 2nd coming
God assigned a man to judge us all, one who was raised form the dead, one to bare cruelty and injustice of all.

What can we do to prepare for the day Christ comes again?

We may prepare ourselves - The people need to be gathered and believe in Christ, Zion, to receive the lord when he returns.  Build up Zion should be our greatest object.  One heart and mind, refuge from the storm on the earth, gather oft and partake of the sacrament

We want to know about the Lord, we want to know the Lord.  prophesied all will know Christ, four corners of the world, for Him to come again.  Book of Mormon is the instrument of the gathering and was the signal that the gathering has begun.


Tad R Callister

Atonement of Christ  - events in Gethsemane, led to cross, to rise again.  make it possible to return to god

First must overcome
physical death
spiritual death
afflictions and infermities
our imperfections

Man jumping from a plane, law of justice is like the spiritual parachute - we do our part and pull the ripcord so that we can land unharmed.
Christ didn't descend to your sin/positions, he descended below it.  Remember sin, but when we repent we are born of God and are anew and don't need to suffer the pains anymore

 President Russell M Nelson  -- Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
 Where is my family?

Loss of daughter Wendy 3 months ago.  She is doing work on the other side. 
Christ's arms are out stretched still, All will be resurrected, salvation is an individual matter, but exaltation is a family matter.  To qualify for this privilege we have to make covenants with God, we made the same covenant as those before us, Adam and Eve, etc. 
Many ignore the call of Christ to Come Follow Me. 
Pour out your heart to God, serious study, fervent prayer to know these eternal truths.  Put the work in now, so you can have a mansion in Heaven with your family. 



Sunday Afternoon Session

Dallin H Oaks  -- first counselor of the presidency
We are all sinners who can be cleansed through repentance

We begin with faith, because it is through Christ that we are saved.  All man must repent, no one is exempt - need to repent of our actions or in-actions.
have we achieved a mighty change of heart?  This comes through repentance

Final Judgement. they who are righteous will be righteous still, unless you repent, they will stand against you at the last day.  If we press forward feasting on the word of Christ we shall have eternal life

Juan Pablo Villar  -- of the 70

Went to visit his brother while he was on his mission (before he joined the church), no clue he would end up tracking/teaching for 10 hours...

We cannot receive spiritual gifts without seeking, praying, searching for them in our lives.  I give men weakness that they may become humble.  We want to increase our faith then we need to do things that will increase our faith. Exercise our faith in christ.

Gerrit W Gong  -- quorum of the 12
Christ's sheep, Christ's Church

counting sheep, worry about missing one...
Our shepherd, Jesus, calls us and seeks us by name.  In his own name he doth call you  -As we listen we seek to do good, serve, etc
Our Shepherd gathers us into one fold  -- Our Savior reaches out to the one and the 99 a the same time, delivers us out of all places.  Christ invites the church to receive all who hear his voice to come into the fold and be baptized by water.  Come find love, healing, in him.
As Shepherd of Israel He exemplifies how to minister in love.  Feed my sheep/lambs.  Shepherd in Israel must not slumber, but strengthen and heal
Our Shepherd sacrificed himself for us. 
Have faith on the lamb of god, come and fear not.

He invites all to find peace, purpose, healing and joy, come to your shepherd


David A Bednar  --Quorum of the 12
Adjustments in the Lords restored church

Home Centered and Church Supported: Ask in our church meetings, what did you learn in home this week?


Kyle S McKay  -- quorum of the 70

patience is key, God's timing is not our timing.

people of Zarahemla, recognized the immediate goodness of God, they cried out in thanks


Ronald A Rasband  --quorum of the 12

Fortress provide security and safety.  Homes are fortresses for us.  To help us stay on the covenant path, read scriptures and pray in our homes.  We need that strength to deflect the temptations of the adversary.

Our homes are only as powerful as we are spiritually in our own homes.

Satan knows his time is getting shorter, so his battle for our souls rages on.  We need to build a fortress that protects ours souls.
We need to be obedient.


President Nelson  -- Prophet
Study the talks
Homes become a sanctuary
162 temples
Responsible to care for the pioneer temples, major restoration.
St. George, SLC and temple square (april 19 announcement), Manti temple
Samoa, Okinawa, Tonga, Tooele Utah, ___ Washington, Honduras, Chile, Budapest Hungary,