General Conference Report

Lap top in the shop. Luckily we have just 4 of us, so Glen pulled the big, comfy chairs into the office so we could watch General Conference on our office computer. It was great. The set up and the conference.

We each choose a word for Conference, and when that word is said we can take a candy, if we want. Usually the candy is skittles, but we also had nerd bumpy jelly beans and Wonka's bottle caps to choose from, as well.

I listened to the Priesthood session today and it was AWESOME. So sisters, make sure you catch it.

Our chosen words and my count from all 5 sessions of conference this weekend-- but not counting the Young Women's broadcast last week--(disclaimer--the count cannot be considered totally accurate, but it should be close as 4 sets of ears were listening at most times):

Hope (Glen's word)--35 times
Temple (Alex's)--34 times
Atonement (Heather's)--25 times
Remember (my word)--15 times
Key(s) (Hannah's)--12 times
Lost (Eric's)--7 times
Grace (Ryan's)--5 times
Sealing (Andrew's)--3 times--but they talked about it a lot without using the actual word "sealing"

So, we are on a sugar high...especially since some of us ate the candy whether a chosen word was said or not (love those root beer bottle caps).


The sessions can already be viewed at the church's website, but it'll take a few days to get the printed version, otherwise I think I would have put in President Packer's poem on aging.

Some of my take aways (this is what I wrote in my notes and they aren't necessarily direct quotes):


Saturday Morning Session:

Pres. Boyd K. Packer--Tolerance is a virtue, but don't get caught up in the tolerance trap.

Elder Craig A. Cardon--The Savior wants to forgive us, but it must come with repentance.

Elder M. Russell Ballard--watch the leadership online training with the family

Saturday Afternoon Session:
Elder Richard G. Scott--teach your children how their actions affect each person in the home
--don't worry that you can't do simultaneously all that is asked of us to do as there is a time and a season for everything

Elder Stanley G. Ellis--how we raise our children is more important than where we raise them

Elder David A. Bednar--Heavenly Father wants us to be together in the light and filled with hope. Satan wants us alone and in the dark without hope.
--Sin is a spiritual wound that causes guilt. Guilt is to our spirit as pain is to our body. It's a warning of danger so as to protect us against additional damage

Sunday Morning Session:
Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf--Spiritual light rarely comes to those who merrily sit in the darkness waiting for someone to flick the switch.
--Healing comes when we walk away from the darkness and walk toward the light.
--Start where you are. You don't have to wait until the finish line to receive the reward.

Elder Neil L. Anderson--Let the desire to share the gospel take you to your knees.

Sis. Rosemary M. Wixom--The short note that Prisoner of War Jay Hess was allowed to send home to his family:
 “These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year." (which story, by the way, President Monson shared in Conference in 2008)

Elder L. Whitney Clayton--Marriage is a gift of God to us. The quality of our marriage is our gift to God.

Elder L, Tom Perry (can you believe he's 90!)--Obedience to law is liberty.

Pres. Thomas S. Monson--There are rules and laws to help ensure physical safety. There are guidelines and commandments to help ensure spiritual safety.

Sunday Afternoon Session:
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland--When facing the challenge of faith, assert your strength first. In moments of fear, hold the ground you have already won. Stand strong until additional knowledge comes.
--Don't hyperventilate.
--What we know will always trump what we don't.

Elder Enrique R. Falabella--In order to contend you need two people, and I will never be one of them.

Elder Erich W. Kopischke--Having the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is the ultimate [proof] of being accepted by God.

Priesthood Session:
Elder Robert D. Hales--Sometimes we are a lightening rod and must take the heat, but if we are grounded, it is OK. The Savior was rejected of men, too.

Pres. Tad R. Callister--With increased vision comes increased motivation.
--Revelation is not a substitute for hard work and home work.

Pres. David L. Beck--To minister is to do what the Savior would do if He were here.

Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf--We are not perfect, but don't use that as an excuse to lower your expectations.
--The Atonement makes us like Christ, but we are not all the same. We are united in testimony and commitment, but diverse in other areas (cultural, etc).
--If we fail to perform, the symphony will go on, but if we perform, we will receive a blessing that there won't be room enough to receive it.

Pres. Thomas S. Monson-- respond, work, serve, adjustment, sacrifice, prayer (and others I missed) leads to eternal joy