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.
• That sure went fast…
• Someone please give me a nudge when this song is over so I can listen to Elder Christofferson.
• Note: If you don’t know how to spell his name, think Christ + Offer + Son.
• Elder D. Todd Christofferson gave a basic primer on the restoration, organization and purpose of the Church.
We test each other with our personal idiosyncracies – (Idiotsycracies) (I test a lot of people)
Sabbath emphasis. (in the mouth of 15 witnesses?)
“We do not strive for conversion to the Church but to Christ and His gospel, a conversion that is facilitated by the church” (Winner)
(I sure hope no dummies try and use that quote to justify that the church is not necessary – I hope they keep reading this next part…)
“We speak of not just immortality, but of eternal life, and for that the church is necessary.”
The Church can protect us from some rather ominous prophecies.
• Devin G. Durrant – former BYU and NBA player. Had a sweet mid-range jumper back in the day.
He encouraged us to “ponderize” the scriptures. Ponderize? 80% extended pondering, 20% memorization. Nice.
All I can think about now is that I want a “Ponderizer” t-shirt.
He is sure having a good time giving this talk! His challenge is to ponderize a new scripture ever week. Sounds like a fun challenge.
• Elder Von Keetch. I was casually listening to him tell his story about the surfers and the sharks when he let loose with this stellar quote:
“Don’t be critical of the barrier – it is the only thing keeping you from being devoured.”
Boom!
“It is not enough to go through the motions… The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account.”
(I love it when commandments are taught as a blessing and protection, rather that as limiting forces in our lives. He is doing a great job of that.)
• My youngest just chimed in and said “There have been some really good talks today.” He is 13 and has been taking notes the whole time. Atta boy.
• Carole M. Stephens. Wait- what? Teaching is better than bribing? But what about all the people who bring cookies and candy to the church classes they teach?
Second witness to the idea that adherence to commandments protects us, and are given to us out of love. Obedience to those laws is how we show God we love him.
1) Trust God
2) Trust Jesus
* Another Sacrament shout-out
3) Trust the whisperings of the Spirit
4) Trust the counsel of living prophets
• I am running out of gas. Must find a snack during the rest hymn.
• Elder Allen D. Haynie. I thought digging a hole and filling it with water was mandatory for boys.
Getting clean is mandatory for all of us.
“His plan included the role of a Savior; someone who could help us become clean no matter how dirty we have become”
“Repentance is real and it works. It is not a fictional experience or the product of a frenzied mind.”
“Simple obedience brings the Spirit into our hearts.”
Good, solid doctrine.
• Glad this session has had some good allegories. They stick in my brain.
Elder Kim B. Clark – he was President of BYU-I, just like Elder Bednar.
We need greater spiritual power and eyes to see more clearly – where we are now is not going o cut it.
“We do not have to be perfect, but we need to be good and getting better”
(I like a little pressure – I don’t like when I hear “You are doing OK.”)
His father is named “Merliin” Hmmmm.
• Koichi Aoyagi (Recently released Seventy) told about his experience during the recent earthquake.
“Why do bad things happen? Why do I have to suffer?”
“The trials of this earth…are part of the plan of salvation….we must accept our trials with faith.
“The purpose of our lives is not merely to endure trials, but to endure them WELL.” (Eyring)
• I think I have reached my saturation point for this Conference, so I’m guessing I need to repent for my lack of capacity. Hopefully Elder Bednar will help. (Spoiler: He did.)
• Elder David A. Bednar looking fit and youthful, addresses ageism against church leadership.
His purpose: To explain why it is wonderful to have older men of wisdom and judgment at the top of the church.
Has been the youngest member of the Twelve for 11 years. Oldest average age of the Apostles in this dispensation. Average age = 77. Wowsa.
“When you can’t do what you have always done, then you only do what matters most.” Robert D. Hales
“Very factors many may believe limit the effectiveness of these servants can become some of their greatest strengths”
“Some have suggested that we need younger leaders – but the Lord doesn’t use contemporary philosophies of leadership to carry out his purposes.”
‘These men are not spared from affliction.” Multiple references to the GA’s personal struggles this Conference.
“Some people find the human shortcomings of the Brethren troubling and faith-diminishing. For me those imperfections are encouraging & faith promoting.”
Very touching as he listed the Brethren who have passed on. I miss all those men as well.
Paid a beautiful tribute to the departed by highlighting one of their quotes they gave late in their ministries. Very sweet and profound stuff.
— This is so tender that I’m just going to sit here and cry instead of taking notes. Sorry.
“What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” D&C 1:38
—–
• I testify of the same thing: These are men on God. They speak for Him. I am grateful that I live in a time and place where I get to hear God’s voice through them.
I will miss Elders Scott, Packer and Perry terribly, but know the work will accelerate with the new Apostles standing as witnesses of Christ.
• I’m out. Have a wonderful Sabbath.
Here
The whole “donated to the LDS Missionary Fund” was added today when they received criticism over profiting from a family member’s General Conference talk. It was not their earlier today. And the site went live on August 27th. The whole thing is…distasteful, and I hope Elder Durrant was unaware of his son’s plans to capitalize on his spiritual message.
Yes, I am watching “Princess Bride” right now on BBC America.
I was surprised that no one here spoke of the Prophet collapsing and repeating words and slipping at the same time. It was the noon Conference today (Sun) I had a stroke a few years back and he was having an episode, even the color of his face turned pale, quite as I had. Then as Conference ended, instead of standing, the men surrounded him then the camera went off. I thought, is his Mission over? The changes made, the pleading way his talk and Testimony was intense. I understand he has been in better health before but Spring Conference, he was struggling. I thought maybe it is just me, but as i write this, my Brother saw what I did……MMM, what is your thought on this? The Spirit was very strong and the 3 new Apostles were/are very impressive. Truly an inspired choice. Had Pres. Monson made the changes to prepare for the next Prophet to continue with what he will be Ordained to fufill? This was just a concern after seeing what happened. He miss’s his EC . If he is needed “Home” to continue Eternity, What a Welcome. As i said, I wasn’t the only one to see, I thought someone here could have realized what they may have seen, Going to pray now . God Speed everyone, and remember Him and his family.
Even though the cameras seemed to stay away from him for the rest of the meeting after he spoke, the cameras did show him walking out after the session ended. Maybe your feed cut out before that? He looked tired as he walked out, but not as weak as at the end of his talk.
Karen, thank you, I pray you are right. Prayed for him.
Thank you MMM for all of your comments on all 5 sessions. I feel so blessed to be a part of this incredible gospel of Jesus Christ. The Conference was so wonderful and I, too, am looking forward to getting to know our 3 new Apostles. I was moved by each of their testimonies.
3 of my early morning Seminary class drove from our small town in Oregon to attend Conference with a loving Bishop and youth leaders. I can’t wait for tomorrow morning to hear all about their experience.
Your humor (Inigo Montoya, the Commodores, Sail On, Boom! etc.) have me laughing out loud and I do love to laugh.
I admire you and think it is so cool your youngest spoke up about enjoying certain talks and taking notes, wow!
I feel “filled up” and re-energized for another 6 months. Love that!
AuntSue
I loved all the sessions of this conference. The talks were all so inspired and powerful. Usually, I find the talks of the Apostles the strongest, but this time, all the talks were spiritually powerful. Our three new apostles did not fumble, but spoke with great spiritual power.
My beloved father has mild dementia, and usually finds it difficult to follow conversations, but this summer he said something very interesting. My cousin was visiting from out of state, and talking with my mother (the genealogist of the family) about how two new Apostles would be called at October Conference. My Dad spoke up, “There will be three.” My father may not grasp current events, but spiritually, he knows.
Argg the treats on Sunday. Our stake President said it perfectly when he said “What you’re telling your class is that you’re such a horrible teacher that if they sit through your class they get a reward.” Ouch! And amen.
(It was so bad in our stake that a few years ago my 5 year old kept telling me over and over that the whole reason to go to church is to get candy from as many people as you can.)
Wow, my Sunbeam class knows when it’s Fast Sunday, so we won’t be having a snack. They tell each other in Sharing Time. We’ve talked about the special Sacrament meeting with all the people giving testimonies and they remember.
What a great weekend! I missed so much, due to visiting in a house with 10 little grandchildren (conference bingo, anyone??), but I get so much from reading them, too, that I look forward to the written word. (Clarification, two daughters with their total 5 kids and I are visiting another daughter who has 5 of her own, and pregnant with a 6th, who put a house under contract 2 days ago, so our weekend also consisted of cleaning out closets, toys,….!) Busy! But the Spirit persevered and we felt it.
Thank you for this. I was on my way home from conference today and so missed the two sessions. I’m going to go back and watch when I recover. Long drive for a weekend
The opening prayer in Sunday p.m., ‘not just endure to the end but enjoy to the end’. First of all, that is a lot harder. Second of all, it’s going to be a vinyl quote any day now.
April, your comment cracks me up– because while I have ZERO vinyl quotes in my house, I actually started a list of the quotes I am putting on our walls. It started with “Reach up” and just went from there. Guess I need to dust off the ol’ Cricut!
Yeah, I don’t have any either. But I am always looking for just the right one!
It’s been my habit to do an “Apostle check” on Conference Sunday morning (who has spoken, who have we yet to hear from) as I did this morning. I checked off the members of the “old guard” who had spoken (Nelson, Oaks, Ballard, Hales, Holland) and then set about thinking who of them was yet to come because it just felt incomplete… then I remembered – that’s all we have left. I was saddened and felt the loss of the testimonies of so many that have been an integral part of my experiences as far back as I can remember paying attention to Conference (somewhere in my teen years). In a training meeting with Elder Perry in 2013, he called Elder Packer “a lion of the Gospel” and indeed, this conference just seemed so incomplete without that direct, clear and powerful witness. But this loss was tempered by the power of the testimonies of three new Apostles. I’m really going to enjoy getting to know them as we have grown to know and love the other Apostles.
Some Apostles are great speakers, others maybe not so much but all have the Spirit and bear powerful witness. I hope I’m not misunderstood when I say that some Apostles “speak” to me more than others – simply because of their style and approach in speaking in Conference. Elder Holland is definitely in that category but I think that’s probably true for every living person on earth. Elder Christofferson, much like Elder Maxwell before him, really speaks to me but it usually takes multiple readings to digest. Elder Oaks always gives a clear, concise doctrinal declaration – as one would expect from a keen legal mind – but I also learned from a recent Stake Conference that he’s nothing like that in different settings. He’s actually quite funny and witty (duh) in person. He had the entire Stake in stitches during the Saturday evening and Sunday sessions. Based on their brief testimonies today with the full gravity and impact of their callings still sinking in, I can tell that I’m really going to enjoy hearing from these three new Apostles every six months (or more!). However, of the three, Elder Renlund really seems to have that special “it” factor in his approach to speaking for me. His comments in the Press Conference after the Sat PM session were especially poignant.
As was said by President Nelson in a Deseret News interview during this past week, President Monson knows how to get revelation from the Lord. That he does, that he does.
I am in awe of your writing and summarizing skills! ….truly… a talent I admire….but I’m guessing no one quoted you today…maybe next time.. (I can see you up at that podium one day! ) Today’s conference was so inspiring. The music was wonderful, the talks were exceptional and our dear Prophet was buoyed by Heavenly Father as he spoke to us. And as the hymn goes…. ‘I Stand All Amazed’.
Excellent summary of all the talks, actually. Appreciate your near real-time coverage. And I’ll never forget how to spell Elder Christofferson again! As for the ‘Ponderize’ tee-shirts: http://www.ponderize.us/
Someone was on the ball!
And I hope they reap the rewards they deserve for establishing a business on the Sabbath.
On their About page it states that Bro Durrant’s son and d-i-l set up the business a year ago when they starting to ponderize. Also all proceeds are donated to the LDS Missionary Fund.
I retract my previous statement.
The whole “donated to the LDS Missionary Fund” was added today when they received criticism over profiting from a family member’s General Conference talk. It was not their earlier today. And the site went live on August 27th. The whole thing is…distasteful, and I hope Elder Durrant was unaware of his son’s plans to capitalize on his spiritual message.
Greatly enjoyed your notes on all sessions… I am already wishing we could attend another conference next week. What amazing power of the Spirit is felt from all speakers. These are truly the Lord’s servants acting in His behalf!! thanks again for sharing your thoughts!
Thank you for the notes! It’s a great way to review and fill in some of the gaps of things I didn’t quite catch the first time around.
I greatly appreciate your notes. They are reminders to what I have heard so I can read, listen and absorb again and again. Girls dig holes too. We called them forts.
Sad that it’s over. The most personally satisfying Conference I have experienced. And yet I want MORE. Thanks for your notes and I look forward to the expanded versions as well.