did anybody else feel a different vibe this conference? It was even more powerful, even more uplifting, even more inspiring than it normally is... which i am completely fine with. the Brethren laid down of what are undeniably the most important aspects of the gospel which are:
1. Eternal Families
2. The love our Heavenly Father has for each one of us individually.
3. Repentance
4. Unconditional love to not only others around us, but for ourselves. (Not judging others)
5. The power of the Gospel in our lives
this conference actually made me extremely excited and anxious to bring children into this world and raise a family, rather than nervous and afraid. not to mention who i will be starting a family with... probably had a huge reason of why i am so excited.
this was mine and christian's first conference together. back in the first week of october, we both knew we loved each other, but we didn't know if the other loved us back... so it was at that awkward moment of asking each other if we wanted to watch conference together... but even then i knew i wanted him in comfy clothes next to me on the couch listening to the Prophet and His Apostles. which reminds me of a hilarious/adorable story that set our conference weekend off to an amazing start!
So thursday night-
Me: "C... does your family watch conference in their church clothes?"
C: "Yeah, why?"
Me: thinking he was joking... "No but serious... do you guys wear church clothes?"
C: "we really do!"
so saturday rolls along and i wake up to get ready for conference. i wake up to a text from christian saying "hey don't worry about church clothes!" so in my head i'm thinking... ok... either he really was joking yesterday... or he is just telling me this because he doesn't want me to feel obligated to wear church clothes just because his family does. so i put on my skirt anyway... being safer than sorry-er. :/
when i get to christian's house the first thing i hear from christian's brother, "christian are you serious!? why didn't you tell her you were joking!" Every single person in the family was in their comfiest of comfy clothes. normally people would be embarrassed or feel stupid... but i could only laugh. christian sat trying to defend himself saying that he told me not to wear church clothes, and in his defense he did! i just over-thought it. christian left the room... and i made myself cozy next to my future-sister-in-law ready to listen. the song was sung... the opening prayer given... and before the first speaker addressed us... my fiance walked back into the room, changed from his lacrosse shorts and t-shirt, wearing the nicest shirt and pants he could find... so that i wouldn't be the only person in church clothes. it is simple acts like this that make me fall in love with him all over again! he is so selfless, so thoughtful, and so concerned for my well-being that he would never want me to feel out of place, or alone in any situation. call me cheesy... but the moment i saw him in his light blue collared church shirt... i couldn't help but feel so lucky to be his... and to have him forever!
conference weekend gave me that "spiritual high" that i felt all last summer doing efy. it is just so incredible to be a part of something where leaders are just as concerned as our well-being as we are. to be a part of a church that if we simply work hard, obey, and show gratitude to our Heavenly Father, we are blessed beyond measure. and even at times in our life when we are struggling even when we are doing the right things, the gospel seems to always have all of the right answers to lift us up and help us to endure. if you are one reading this blog with any doubt in your mind about yourself, your family, your future, your God, or life in general... i challenge you to take time out of the next few days of yours, and listen to the talks of general conference found here! i promise you will not regret it, and you will feel of the light i have talked about!
here are some of the thoughts i wrote down.. most are just directly from talks, the ones *starred* are thoughts that came to me as i listened! my intent is NOT to preach... or to boast...or any other form of priestcraft... my intention in sharing my thoughts is to give hope to the hopeless reader, inspire someone who may need it in any form, and to shed light on the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is the center of everything in my life, and the reason i live... and what i live for. i included the direct links to each talk if you are interested in watching/listening! thanks for reading. =)
-happiness in the home=protected by the principles of the gospel.
-family time is sacred time and should be protected and respected.
-*as i live the gospel and i obey the commandments, i will be protected.
-*the gospel is the plan of happiness for the family!
-*the Spirit is Heavenly Father's way of letting me know He is aware of my circumstance, and telling me He loves me.
-when we understand the doctrines and principles of the gospel... it is revealed in our every day actions.
-how do lost sheep return?
-1. deepen understanding of diety
-2. focus on ordinances and covenants-discipline to obey
-3.unite the gospel with the church- *focus on the gospel and what it brings, rather than imperfect members and leaders in a perfect church.
-temple attendance gives us the visions and feelings of heavenly Father's love.
-*"sacrifice brings forth the blessings of Heaven."
-great challenges=giant opportunities-"all these things shall give thee experience and shall be for thy good."
-*my ground must be carefully prepared... to provide a foundation of faith... a solid holy ground that will uphold and withstand the storms and the floods that will prevail against me... and seek to destroy the grounds that i have worked so hard to build. by building my foundation on Christ, i am capable of overcoming all things. (Heleman 5:12)
-having faith in Christ makes the hardest and easiest of times our greatest blessings and triumphs.
-envy is a universal sin
-*Lauren, stop comparing yourself to others.
-we are not in a race against each other. the only race we are in, is the race against sin.
-DON'T DWELL ON PAST GRIEVANCES!
-it is not possible for you to sink lower than the power and light of the atonement!
and then Elder Holland said something so powerful and thought provoking... i will never forget.
"Do not delay... It is getting Late."
-crave the joy that comes from service.
-"his father had not forgotten him... his father was there waiting"
-if you stay on the Lord's side... you are under His influence.
-do good continually!
-*one of my greatest desires is to raise my children in truth and righteousness.
-replace judgemental thoughts with a heart full of love.
-"Don't judge me because I sin differently than you." -bumper sticker he saw
-haven't we all been beggars at the mercy seat?
-do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil by doing good!
-*be thankful for a healthy working, beautiful body
-*be thankful for spiritual gifts.
-a perfect body is not required to reach divine destiny.
-*lessons i have learned from the Book of Mormon: i am delivered from my sins, the Lord hears my cries, the Lord delivers me from mental, physical, and emotional bondage, i am guided by obeying the commandments of the Lord, confidence comes through a relationship with my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ.
-the Book of Mormon teaches us the power of the Lord's deliverance.
-*the most important cause of my life is Christian's and my future family.
-remove any fear with faith.
-to be fulfilled we must naturally and normally share the Gospel with others who are less familiar.
-give priority to the sacred... not the secular.
-secular: of or relating to the worldly or temporal
-*when we abandoned just one sacred thing, our mind is darkened a little bit.
-what thinks Christ of me?
-the Lord blesses us with customized direction through the Holy Ghost.
-ponder the truths that you've heard and may you become better than you already were.
