Quick Conference Observations, Sunday AM

I can’t believe how fast Conference is going. Not just the whole event, but each session. Only one more session left.

Here are a few thoughts:

I was hoping for the intro music before the broadcast started, they would use Black-eyed Peas “Let’s Get it Started.”

In my opinion, Let Us All Press On should never, ever be sung as a gentle sissy song. Bleck!

President Uchtdorf has an advantage – his cool accent makes me pay better attention to his talks. This one was good as usual.

I appreciated his perspective that we shouldn’t focus on being grateful FOR things, rather fostering an “attitude of gratitude” that stands independent of our current circumstances. That is some serious truth right there.

Being grateful in our circumstance is a demonstration of faith in God, and shows hope and testimony. Good stuff.

 

Elder M. Russell Ballard returned to his previous comments about how we use the name of the church. It is a tough transition he asks of us – to not use Mormon or LDS. I need to do a better job not defaulting to LDS, and spell it out.

I was glad that he said we could use ‘Mormon’ in referring to people and things. I was relieved. (He didn’t specifically mention my blog, but I think I saw him wink. It was really, really subtle.)

The Preach My Gospel is available for free online, or if you stop by my house, we seem to have dozens.

 

Sister Jean Stevens from the Primary Presidency sure nailed it with this quote:

“The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not a checklist of things to do.”  (So glad to be able to take that off my checklist.)

 

Bishop Gary Stevenson caught the attention of flagging men and youth with his Olympic themed talk. I appreciate his sense of urgency, “Your four minutes will pass quickly, and you’ll have eternity to think about what you did in this life,” and that it is never too late.

Her referenced the following scripture – which is always a good thing:   D&C 84:20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.

Elder David A. Bednar also cited that same scripture in his terrific talk. Anyone that has read my blog knows that I love finding Gospel principles in everyday life. His story of his friend being saved by adding a load to his truck was spectacular. It will stick in all of our minds.

I appreciated his thoughts about how we sometimes short-change the power of the Atonement in strengthening, and healing us. We often look at it merely as a vehicle for forgiveness.

There were echoes of President Uchtdorf’s talk on gratitude when he mentioned that we should stop praying to God to change our circumstances.

 

President Monson is all about love. And so was his talk. Favorite part: The story of the injured boy and the plane flight to Seattle.

Favorite quotes:  “Forgiveness should go hand in hand with love,” and “Blame keeps wounds open – only forgiveness heals.”

He also referenced one of the great ironies in family life – that sometimes we treat those we love much worse that total strangers.

 

I didn’t catch who offered the closing prayer, but she sounded like Paula Dean.

Have a great Sabbath!