What General Conference Means to Me: Patricia M.

Thank you, Patricia, for sharing your thoughts!

Elder Bednar gave a talk in the October 2007 conference that particularly touched me. He spoke of repentance and renunciation of sin. In his way he set down the stepping stones upon which I could walk in order to make small, steady incremental spiritual improvements.

He says:

The gospel of Jesus Christ encompasses much more than avoiding, overcoming, and being cleansed from sin and the bad influences in our lives; it also essentially entails doing good, being good, and becoming better. Repenting of our sins and seeking forgiveness are spiritually necessary, and we must always do so. But remission of sin is not the only or even the ultimate purpose of the gospel. To have our hearts changed by the Holy Spirit such that “we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2), as did King Benjamin’s people, is the covenant responsibility we have accepted. This mighty change is not simply the result of working harder or developing greater individual discipline. Rather, it is the consequence of a fundamental change in our desires, our motives, and our natures made possible through the Atonement of Christ the Lord. Our spiritual purpose is to overcome both sin and the desire to sin, both the taint and the tyranny of sin.

The idea of walking in the newness of life to obtain the mind of Christ resonated significantly with me then as it still does today.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/clean-hands-and-a-pure-heart?lang=eng

What General Conference Means to Me: Shellie D.

Thanks for sharing your experience, Shellie!

One of my favorite parts of any of the camping trips David and I have gone on was watching the sunrise at Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park, Utah. We arrived at the arch early in the morning while the sky was still black and all we could see was a little bit of the trail in front of us. We had to wait several hours for the sun to peek out from behind the distant mountains and continue rising until the morning was bright enough to really see our surroundings. Definitely worth the wait.

Last April, Elder Bednar gave a talk called "The Spirit of Revelation." He started by describing two experiences we have all had with light. The first is the immediate illumination that happens when we flip on a light switch in a dark room; the second is the gradual increase of light as night turns into morning. He went on to explain that revelation can come to us in both of those ways, and while we tend to talk about the miraculous "light switch" revelations like those of Joseph Smith and Paul, those manifestations are actually far more rare than sunrise revelations. God teaches us "line upon line," and as I thought about my life, I realized that it was full of sunrises, and that's a perfectly okay foundation on which to build my testimony. Elder Bednar's talk helped me recognize revelations I had received and find peace in knowing that most of the major decisions in my life have been made "line upon line" as I just tried to do the right thing. It was reassuring to realize that, like Oliver Cowdery, "as often as [I had] inquired [I had] received instruction of [the] Spirit. If it had not been so, [I] would not have come to the place where [I am] at this time."

Elder Bednar continued,

"In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives, God requires us to do our best, to act and not be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26), and to trust in Him. We may not see angels, hear heavenly voices, or receive overwhelming spiritual impressions. We frequently may press forward hoping and praying—but without absolute assurance—that we are acting in accordance with God’s will. But as we honor our covenants and keep the commandments, as we strive ever more consistently to do good and to become better, we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps."

When I get discouraged because I can't seem to find an immediate answer, Elder Bednar's talk helps me remember the morning we watched the sun rise in the Canyonlands. I know Heavenly Father will make sure the sun rises all the way eventually; in the meantime, it's my job to press forward with the light I have been given and trust in His power to give me more.

What General Conference Means to Me: Amy E.

Today's thought is from Amy E. Thanks, Amy!

My current calling is Laurel advisor where my main responsibility is to teach weekly. In addition to the Young Women manual the church also publishes the Young Women Resource Guide with information to help supplement each lesson. I gain insight by reading the General Conference talks referenced in the guide that correspond to the lessons, and I "hope" that insight makes my lessons more meaningful for the girls. Through reading the talks I discovered I have a favorite speaker: Elder Uchtdorf! I love how he uses stories from the scriptures and from LIFE to illustrate the concepts he's conveying. One talk I especially enjoyed was "You are My Hands" from the April 2010 General Conference.

A story is told that during the bombing of a city in World War II, a large statue of Jesus Christ was severely damaged. When the townspeople found the statue among the rubble, they mourned because it had been a beloved symbol of their faith and of God’s presence in their lives.

Experts were able to repair most of the statue, but its hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be restored. Some suggested that they hire a sculptor to make new hands, but others wanted to leave it as it was—a permanent reminder of the tragedy of war. Ultimately, the statue remained without hands. However, the people of the city added on the base of the statue of Jesus Christ a sign with these words: “You are my hands.”

We are Christ's hands. Through service we can show our love for Him and our fellow brothers and sisters.

Elder Uchtdorf's talk goes on to describe the myriad of ways our hands can provide service. It is well worth a read or a reread; especially during this Easter season!

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/05/you-are-my-hands?lang=eng

What General Conference Means to Me: Jenna S.

Thank you to Jenna for sharing her thoughts!

One of the past conference talks that I really enjoyed was "Continue in Patience" from the April 2010 priesthood session of conference by Elder Uchtdorf. I obviously wasn't able to listen to it first hand but was able to read it in the Ensign the next month. He talks about patience and how it is a much needed virtue especially in today's fast-paced society. He describes patience as 'active waiting and enduring...Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!' I love this because even if we are waiting for something, we can and should still do all we can to enjoy each day and make the most of what we have and what we're doing.

"Patience is a process of perfection. The Savior Himself said that in your patience you possess your souls. Or, to use another translation of the Greek text, in your patience you win mastery of your souls. Patience means to abide in faith, knowing that sometimes it is in the waiting rather than in the receiving that we grow the most. This was true in the time of the Savior. It is true in our time as well, for we are commanded in these latter days to “continue in patience until ye are perfected.”

Link to the entire talk:
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/continue-in-patience?lang=eng

What General Conference Means to Me: Staci W.

Our first contributor is Staci W.

In April 1995, I was single and living in Provo. When President Hinckley shared the following thoughts in conference, they resonated deeply with me. I had returned home from a mission over a year earlier, and I was still missing that sacred and special time in my life. My brother had unexpectedly passed away, and I was grieving alone, with my family far away. Compounded with this, few opportunities for marriage and family seemed on the horizon, and so I felt stuck in a sort of "useless" limbo as I went to school.

President Hinckley's words inspired me to make to do more than I was doing, to use what I was feeling to be more compassionate and more helpful to the Church, especially in light of the fact that I had no other family obligations to fill my time. For many years, his words have hung framed on my office wall. If you come to visit, you'll see them in the corner. My favorite line is the last: "We can do better than we have ever done before." Looking back on my life, I know that to be true. A person is constantly developing and can improve in who they are and how they interact with others. I am a better person today because of General Conference, April 1995 (as well as many other General Conferences that have inspired me, of course).

These are the words that inspired me:

"My beloved associates, far more of us need to awake and arouse our faculties to an awareness of the great everlasting truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each of us can do a little better than we have been doing. We can be a little more kind. We can be a little more merciful. We can be a little more forgiving. We can put behind us our weaknesses of the past, and go forth with new energy and increased resolution to improve the world about us, in our homes, in our places of employment, in our social activities. We have work to do, you and I, so very much of it. Let us roll up our sleeves and get at it, with a new commitment, putting our trust in the Lord… We can do it, if we will be prayerful and faithful. We can do better than we have ever done before."

Thank you, Staci! Below is a link to the entire talk.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1995/04/we-have-a-work-to-do?lang=eng

What General Conference Means to Me: March 26-30

As we prepare for General Conference this weekend, I've asked a few sisters from our Relief Society to share a moment from a past conference that held special meaning for them. I will be posting one each day so please check back this week! Hopefully reading these experiences will remind you of inspiration you have received in the past and prepare us each to receive more to come.

Relief Society Birthday Par-tay

Our Relief Society Birthday Party last weekend was a hit. It was a great morning of visiting and learning, completed by a tasty lunch and delicious cakes. Thanks to everyone for their hard work and participation.



For those who inquired, here are the recipes from the lunch.
Chicken Salad
Sicilian Salad
Spinach Apple Salad

And to brush up on your knowledge of everyone's favorite women's organization, try a round of "Relief Society Jeopardy"

Cool Off with a Minty Shake!

Last week's brief snow flakes are now a distant memory. Apparently, now it's time for flip flops and ice cream treats. So in the spirit of St. Patty's Day this weekend, here is a simple recipe for a shake like that one big fast food restaurant has at this time of year.

Shamrock-ish Shake- 2 shakes

3 cups good quality vanilla ice cream
1 3/4 cups 1% milk
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
Green food coloring, if desired

1. Blend.
2. Enjoy!

Warm Up with an Easy Soup

Were those snowflakes I saw earlier today? Enjoy the last few weeks of winter with this simple and delicious soup. You may already have the ingredients on hand...

Winter Veggie Bisque
from Family Circle magazine.

1 large onion, peeled and halved
1 granny smith apple, peeled and cored
3 carrots, trimmed and peeled
2 TBS unsalted butter
2 packages frozen cooked squash, thawed
3 cups vegetable broth
2 TBS sugar
1 tsp ground ginger
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp cayenne
1/2 heavy cream (this is really optional- or at least substitutable)

Shred veggies. Heat butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add shredded veggies and cook until softened, about 7 minutes.

Stir in squash, broth and spices. Bring to a boil on high heat then reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes.

Puree using an immersion blender or a regular blender. Return to pot and add cream (or not). Gently heat though and serve.