Instant Conference Thoughts: Sunday A.M.

Note:  These are the instant, mildly-filtered things that ran through my brain and heart as I watched this session of General Conference. If you are looking for deep, spiritual analysis, this is not the place. Drive on. Please check back later for that, after I have had some time to process.

 

• President Thomas Monson highlighted two scriptures:  “Let your light so shine…” and “Be thou an example of the believers…”

 “We become examples of the believers by living the gospel of Jesus Christ in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith.” He then went on to illustrate each of these comments.

“A profusion of profanity.” (I love his alliterations) Keep our language clean.

“Being different is a good thing when we follow the Savior and keep His commandments”

 “Faith and doubt cannot exist at the same time, in the same mind, or one will dispel the other.”

(Second reference to dressing modestly this conference.)

Here is a link to the poem “Precious Flame” that he quoted.

President Monson is definitely giving it his all – you can see him getting tired, but his words still resonate with full power. It was sad, and inspiring a the same time.

 

• The first of the new Apostles, Elder Ronald Rasband started by quoting the words to “I Stand All Amazed.”  I’ll bet!

As he paid tribute to the departed apostles, I got teary. But I have to admit, Elder Rasband looks like he already belongs there, and is up to the task.

A very gracious talk thanking everyone from his EC, to his fellow Seventies, to his fellow missionaries.

His simple message: “Love one another, as I have loved you.”

 

• Elder Gary Stevenson started out by sustaining President Monson, and explained the process of how his call was extended.

“The Lord will qualify those he calls.” Thank heavens for that -for all of us!

(Interesting to me that the wives were not involved in the process of issuing the calls to the new apostles. I read a recent article that told the stories of 20+ apostles, and it appears the wives are rarely- of ever – involved when the calling is accepted.  Weird.)

He also spent much of his time expressing his gratitude to his wife, family and people he has served with.  (Spotting a trend here – these men understand gratitude.)

Great point: “Heavenly Father’s generous compensation for living in perilous times is that we live in the fulness of times.”

 Energetic man! He is going to be a lot of fun – in an Apostolic way.

 

• I have the exact same tie that Elder Stevenson was wearing. I think it was from JC Penney, so I have that going for me.

 

• Elder Dale Renlund started off paying tribute to his wife and daughter.

My youngest said, “He looks like an Apostle.”

He sure has the right perspective: “This calling isn’t about me. It’s about the Lord, His work, and Heavenly Father’s children.”

He is a cardiologist (like President Nelson) – and talked about developing an emotional distance because he saw so many people die. What an odd thing to bring up…

…but then he brought up a story about a patient named Chad – and how that “emotional distance” shattered when he saw his devastated parents, and saw Chad through their eyes.

In order to serve effectively in the church, we must see people through the eyes of a parent – Heavenly Father’s eyes: “Only when we see through Heavenly Father’s eyes can we be filled with ‘the pure love of Christ.'”

 Testified of Christ, the First Vision, Priesthood keys. Nice finish.

 

• President Russell M. Nelson (That sounds new) paid a very tender tribute to the three “treasured friends, these magnificent servants of the Lord.”

“I miss them more than I can say.” (Here come my tears again…)

He segued into speaking of the wives of Elder Packer and Scott, and of their devotion, strength and love.

 “The Kingdom of God is not and cannot be complete without women who make sacred covenants and then keep them.”

“We, your brethren, need your strength, your conversion, your conviction, your ability to lead, your wisdom, and your voices.”

“Women who can speak with the power and authority of God.”

(To those who feel that women aren’t respected, valued or needed in the Church might want to take a closer look at this talk.)

Two heart surgeons in a row talking about patients dying and how it broke their hearts. Tragic and fascinating.

As he was struggling with a particularly tragic loss, his wife called him out: “Are you finished crying? Then get dressed, go back to the lab, go to work. You need to learn more. If you quit now, others will have to learn what you already know.”

(Too much good stuff to take notes. Read the talk in the Ensign next month. It should be titled “Dear Kate Kelly.”)

(He did mention that women in the church need to be distinct and different – which is a bit of radical view, when you consider how much time and effort many women in the church spend in their efforts to look like the world.)

 

• Thank heavens for DVRs and pause buttons. I truly believe they were inspired inventions. And not only because I needed a soda from the fridge.

 

• Elder Gregory Schwitzer (Another doctor) spoke about speaking with clarity and being “true disciples.”

(For the record: Yes, we made our boys take piano lessons)

Here are some quotes he used to define being true disciples:

“True disciples of Christ are not looking to make excuses for the doctrine when it doesn’t fit the world’s current concepts.”

 “True disciples represent the Lord when it may not be convenient to do so.”

“True disciples desire to inspire the hearts of men–not just impress them.”

Nice thoughts on the Great and Spacious building. He thinks the building is growing, and a lot of people are wandering around its halls.

 “Those who mock try to drown out the simple message of the gospel by attacking some aspect of church history…”   yup.

Rally good, fast-paced talk. My youngest loved it, and I look forward to reading it.

 

• Elder Claudio Costa – great guy – Not a cardiologist.

Sacrament shout-out. Did a wonderful job of tying the Lord’s sacrifice back to the sacrament.

 “The sacrament is also a time for Heavenly Father to teach us about the Atonement of His Beloved Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.”

 “I love the Sabbath, the sacrament, and what it means. I love the Savior with all my soul.”

 

• President Henry Eyring spoke about receiving the Holy Ghost.  (I feel another sacrament shout-out coming on!)

OK, I’m wrong. It isn’t a Sacrament shout-out. It is a monumental discourse on the importance of having the Holy Ghost with us, and how the sacrament plays an integral part.

Simply quoting the sacrament prayer puts things into a better light. (I think we sometimes get numb to its power.) “Then comes the glorious promise: That they may always have his Spirit to be with them.”

 “The companionship of the Holy Ghost makes what is good more attractive and temptation less compelling.”  (I like that a lot- I need help in this area)

“The truth that matters most is only verified by revelation that comes from God.”

 “We live in a time when even the wisest will be hard-pressed to distinguish truth from clever deception.”

 “We need a constant influence of the Spirit of Truth to spare us moments of doubt.”

Here is a new and great promise from taking the sacrament: “If we partake of the Sacrament in faith we and our family will be protected.”

– Too much good stuff  to keep up.

(Note from me: I find it important that the sacrament is being mentioned in almost every single talk. Apparently it is crucial, especially in our day and age. If we all used it correctly, and were able to always have the Spirit with us, all the personal apostasy, and many of the issues that so many struggle with today, would simply vanish.)

• You can never go wrong closing with “The Spirit of God.”

• I can’t believe how fast these sessions, and this entire conference is flying by.

• One session left, and none of my predictions have come true. And I still haven’t been quoted. Yet. One last shot this afternoon.

• I’m going to go put the pot roast in to cook….