As you can probably guess by now, I am a fan of General Conference. Over the years it has come to be a very important weekend for me. Only twice a year do I spend 10 hours listening to, and learning from, the Lord’s servants. I take notes, and try and discern how the Lord wants me to improve myself, and to serve others. It is a brief opportunity for a “spiritual tune-up” that I am grateful for.
I know that I’m not alone when I talk about a “Post-Comference spiritual high.” By time Sunday evening rolls around, I feel good, and hopeful. I have a new list of things I am going to work on to make life better, to become better, and to please God more.
I am “pumped-up” in a spiritual sense. That spiritual high can last days, weeks, or even longer.
Or not.
“Spiritual High, I would like to introduce you to Monday, Monday morning.” (If you listen closely, you can hear the rapid deflation of the previously pumped-up man.)
You too? Usually it takes a while, but not this time. What about you? Did you wake up feeling cruddy? Kids sick? Out of milk? Car won’t start? One of the kids suddenly remember that they did, after all, have homework? Or perhaps on your way to work you got a phone call telling you that someone you love dearly had left something running since Friday, which flooded your office and it is a disaster? (Is that too specific?)
And did it get worse from there?
One day? IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK for one day of post-conference peace? Apparently. It doesn’t take long for all the worthy goals and inspirations from a weekend of focus to be swept away in the current of normal life. Old habits die hard. Change is difficult. It doesn’t take long to find myself in the same patterns and habits that I was churning in the week before Conference.
The challenges and problems that were in my life last Friday are still there. With new ones piled on top. The relationships that need improving are still right here in front of me. The sins that I cling to so tightly are still intact. My habits and vices are still my habits and vices. My weakness is still apparent.
As I dragged myself home yesterday, I knew I had already returned to normal. The feelings from the wonderful Conference had already faded. Wow. That was fast – and I felt cheated.
However, I do know that a loving family can replenish the soul, and what better day to have an evening set aside to be with that family that the infernal day we call Monday. (aka Return to Babylon Day.)
A kiss from my EC, family dinner, family scriptures, FHE, and ice cream and conversation can do wonders for the heart.
Afterwards, I sat down with my Conference notebook – I had run out of space and had to re-write the Saturday morning session into my new, handy, dandy notebook.
As I read, I began to notice a theme throughout the Conference that had eluded me.
Hope.
Talk after talk made reference to the simple truth that God loves me, and He knows I am trying.
“Isn’t it wonderful that we don’t have to be perfect to experience the blessings and gifts of our Heavenly Father?” President Uchtdorf
“Even with the multitude of sins occasioned by the weakness of mortality, as often as we repent and seek forgiveness, He forgives, again and again.” Elder Cardon
“Simple acts of obedience bring us closer to the Savior.” President Eyring
“We need not worry if we can’t simultaneously do all the things the Lord has counseled us to do. He has spoken of a time and season for all things. In response to our sincere prayers for guidance, He will direct us in what needs to be emphasized at each phase of our lives.” Elder Scott
“Satan would rather you define yourself by your sins, than by your divine potential. Don’t listen to him.” President Uchtdorf
“I don’t believe in a God who would set up rules and commandments only to wait for us to fail so that He can punish us.” President Uchtdorf
“You have more faith than you think you do.” Elder Holland
“We need not fear the future, nor falter in hope and good cheer, because God is with us.” Elder Porter
And there are more. Everywhere I looked I found evidences of hope, and of God’s love for me. I found gentle reassurance to keep trying, to keep searching for that peace that is only found by spiritual means.
Monday knocked the “Conference high” right out of me. But, a little time spent with my family, and the words of the prophets from the weekend Conference, and I could feel my soul begin to re-inflate – and the hope return.
With time on my knees, and hope in my heart, I’m ready for another day.
Bring it on, Tuesday.
Thanks!
And thanks for taking the time to read my blog as well. I was pleasantly surprised to see your comment today.
God Bless you and your family!
I love your insights!
This was my FIRST General Conference, as I was only baptized 2 weeks before the first day.
I am STILL on the post-confirmation “high”… so I am not looking forward to that ending.
I have just started writing a few of my observations as a new convert in the middle of my life at: SlightelyMormon.Blogspot.com
Slightely…. is not misspelled. It is my name 🙂
I hope you feel God’s blessings on the rest of your week!
Margaret Slighte
Congratulations Maggie! Thanks for letting us know. Welcome to this wonderful adventure.
And the beauty is, we can re-watch the talks as often as we want. I;ve started incorporating that into my own personal scriptue study (pick your jaw up) and LOVE it!
Technology is a wonderful thing indeed!
With the “spirited” boundary testing phase ALL of our kids seem to be in. I heard very little of Conference. I felt super grumpy DURING the weekend because I really needed to listen and feel renewed…and knew what I was missing. Even without the spiritual high from actually hearing Conference Monday came crashing down. I was grumpy on an epic level! The kids were naughty on an epic level! I was full on defeated. The quotes you shared above are wonderful…there is hope after all. Maybe I’ll pull one talk up each day during nap time till I can actually hear them all…
Aww,you are normal after all.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I had all the Conference sessions on, but with a 4 year old and week-old newborn, I didn’t exactly hear so much of it or get to write much down. The quotes you shared gave my morning a much-needed boost, and a taste of the Conference high I’d been missing.
I see you have watched Blue’s Clues too! Once we gave our son his own handy dandy notebook to “write” his notes in. I’m sorry you had such a rotten Monday. Sunday will come!
You should never dare Tuesday.
That was good. Thank you.
Wow – beautiful. That you for reminding me – or pointing it out so specifically. Hope – a beautiful wonderful things!
Exactly what I was thinking…why can’t the conference high last longer? But, so nice to refer back and be uplifted. Thanks for your positive and funny and honest posts.
I loved the hopeful messages of this conference. I know there is a lot I can do better, but somehow I feel like maybe I’m not so bad, after all.
But tomorrow’s a new day and I’ll try a little harder again.
Going back and reviewing notes is always a good idea.
Sometimes it can be such a relief knowing that someone else is feeling the same way. I recently started a new job (I’m a teacher) and it’s been a little rough, but I had been on an upswing. During conference, I received so much help and guidance to help me with my students that I love. And then came MONDAY…ugh…It’s just like you said, I left everything in my conference notebook and I was the same, but grumpier. But then I had YSA FHE and it was amazing and I felt so uplifted. There is always hope. Thanks for the post!
Sometimes I go to LDS.org and pull up a talk and listen to it all over again. Not the same as 2 days worth of conference, but a little bit to remind me of what I heard and what I need! I can also catch the talks that I missed while dozing a little bit.
Happy Tuesday.
Thanks for the post. I felt pretty defeated by dinner time yesterday. After conference I feel so good I forget it is going to take more than one day to improve. My husband reminded me my desire to change and every effort I make is progress.
How is it you always express MY feelings and thoughts better than I can? Now I can go wash my face again and see if I can see through these teary eyes. Thank you once again for the beautiful post.
wonderful post! it was my FIRST conference and i LOVED it. i felt loved and rejuvenated, as you said. but then, yesterday i was unprepared for the post-conference let down i would feel returning to work. i was anti-social and withdrawn. i hid in my office most of the day. monday evening my hubby and i spent the entire evening talking about the conference talks and what we learned. it was fantastic! today, i’m on clouds again. like you said, regular life inevitably creeps back in. we’re human, doing our best. God loves us no matter what. your post was a perfect post-conference wrap up for me. thanks!
That was a lovely post. Thank you!
Elder Porter’s quote is exactly what I got from the hymn, “Oh Say What Is Truth.” Not political, but reassurance. I am peaceful and happy. Bring on the week!
I thought Monday was infernal because Satan is always on our backs, trying to spoil FHE by making us soooo mad at each other. When the attitude starts to fly, I think, ‘Oh yeah, it’s Monday…’
But I think that that hope you are talking about is spot on–crappy things will still happen, but we will be fine if we do what we need to to have His help. Yep yep yep. Phew, it’s Tuesday!