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.
• It’s good to hear from the prophet. President Thomas Monson. He announced four new temples – the most surprising of which was the Zimbabwe temple.
He spoke about the importance of our choices. “If we chose Christ, we will have made the right choice.”
“May we ever choose the harder right, instead of the easier wrong.”
(I know a few people who should “follow the prophet” when it comes to giving shorter talks.)
• Never thought that “If There’s Sunshine in Your Heart” could lull me to sleep. I was wrong.
• Sister Bonnie Oscarson: “Do you Believe it, or Not?”
“Are we ever complacent about being offered the greatest gift we can receive in this life?” Umm. Yes?
“We believe that this Church is more than just a good place to go on Sundays and learn how to be a good person.”
“True conversion comes when we search the scriptures instead of searching the internet.” Boom!
She spent a lot of time talking about the “Great and Spacious” and how we need to ignore them. Really good stuff.
“It is a choice we make daily—to choose faith over doubt.”
I feel like Sister Oscarson gives consistently good, solid talks. Almost every line is quote-worthy.
• Bishop Christopher Waddell: Quoting a disruptive kid: “Sometimes it’s just hard to think about Jesus!”
Want peace? Learn, Listen and Walk.
Learn of me . Go to the temple.
Listen to my words. Voice of servants is the same.
Walk; “However far we may wander from the path, the Savior invites us to return & walk with Him.” Repentance is part of that walk.
Our commitment to the Lord & His servants cannot be a part-time commitment”
“In every ordinance in which we participate and in every covenant that we make, we are pointed to Jesus Christ.”
Looks like Bishop Wadell and Sister Oscarson were on the same wavelength when writing their talks – both dealt with the mockery of the Great and Spacious.
• Elder D. Todd Christopherson. Fatherhood – and the focus on the good that men can do.
“We believe that far from being superfluous, fathers are unique and irreplaceable.” (Always glad to hear that I’m not superfluous.)
“As a church we believe in fathers. We believe in the ideal where a father puts his family first.”
“Fatherhood is much more than a social construct of a product of evolution.”
He went through a laundry list of things that a father is supposed to do. Depending on what kind of father you are, this talk could be seen as a wonderful praise – a tribute, or it could be perceived as a big guilt trip, or a kick in the pants to do a better job.
“For men, fatherhood exposes us to our own weaknesses and our need to improve.”
D&C 121 Sighting! – Reproving betimes with sharpness…
“Loving the mother of his children—and showing that love—are two of the best things a father can do for his children.”
Listening to a talk about fatherhood, while sitting next to your kids is a curious thing. You can’t help but wonder what they’re thinking.
…Sorry – I kinda stopped taking notes and just soaked it in.
• Elder Quentin Cook. Temples. “My challenge this morning is for each of us, no matter where we live, is to see ourselves in the temple.”
He talked about how our prosperity, the prophets, and our technology are all in place to get the work of the temple done, and how this is a very blessed time to be alive.
“There is no more important goal for you to work toward than being worthy to go to the temple.”
“Please don’t see the temple as some distant and perhaps unachievable goal.”
“We know that righteousness and sanctification are essential parts of preparing for the temple.”
“Everyone is equal in the temple.” (I have always liked that symbolism by how we all dress the same.) “All sit side by side with a desire in their hearts to be worthy sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father.”
“I pray that each of us will honor the Savior and make any necessary changes to see ourselves in His sacred temples.”
• President Uchtdorf up next.
(Can you imagine the reaction if the men of the Church fawned over one of the women leaders like some of the sisters fawn over President Uchtdorf.? So disrespectful.)
“Rattle and Hum?” Did I just hear a U2 reference?
Talked about the destruction of Dresden during WWII.
“If man can take the ruins, rubble and remains of a broken city, and rebuild an awe-inspiring structure that rises towards the heavens, how much more capable is our almighty father to restore his children who have fallen struggled or become lost?”
“There is no life so shattered that it cannot be rebuilt.”
He then pivots to a talk about the Good Shepherd, and how he will rescue his lost sheep. Nicely done.
“The sheep is worthy of divine rescue simply because it is loved by the Good Shepard.”
“Start with hope and a desire to believe. Then, acting on that hope, reach out to your Heavenly Father.”
“Obedience is not a popular word these days, but it is a cherished concept in the Gospel off Jesus Christ.”
Then he busts out the German and calls it the Celestial Language. Hilarious. One of the few light moments this conference.
“Obedience is the lifeblood of faith. It is by obedience that we gather light into our souls.”
“Obedience is the process by which we discover what we are truly made of.” God’s spirit children.
He finished by bringing it back around to a life in ruins that can be rescued by the Good Shepherd.
(During the talk he put this painting by Minerva Tiechart on the screen. I like when they bring visual aids.
• And a special shout-out to my friend in Virginia. Thank you for the sweet note, and I hope you are feeling better
Rest up – one more session to go!
Somehow my daughter was confused by Elder Quientin’s talk about the temple…she wondered what the going rate was for a temple sealing! It is all a matter of perception.
I appreciate your comment on how many women speak of President Uchtdorf ((Can you imagine the reaction if the men of the Church fawned over one of the women leaders like some of the sisters fawn over President Uchtdorf.? So disrespectful.) Thank you!! One of my blood sisters does this and it really bothers me.
I think Sister Oscarson and Elder Bednar were both channeling Elder Packer.
My husband served in the Zimbabwe mission- we are beyond thrilled for the people there! (And selfishly a nice excuse to go visit…..)
We’ve been noticing how often the Living Christ and the Family Proclamation are being quoted. Nearly every talk.
Great instant thoughts. I have many of the same things written down in my notebook. I also, thought my sons when the talk was being given on Fatherhood. My heart was happy that my husband has been and continues to be a very engaged, and loving father who continues to teach principles and loves his family. And the disruptice child? Reminded me of a story we still joke about today. When my youngest was about 3 or 4 (just barely into Primary) he didn’t want to go one Sunday. When I asked him why, his response was “All they wanna do is learn ya about Jesus”. That is a family joke still to this day.
Love your insights
I’m going to steal that story.
My brother just got called to the Zimbabwe Harare Mission this week! It’s so awesome that they are getting a temple. I love the people he will be serving already.