General Conference

The Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was last weekend. Yay! Which talks did you like the best?? I wrote down a few important points on index cards as I watched (although during 3 out of 4 sessions there were noisy kids around us, in addition to ours). Here are the best of them:

Bishop Richard C. Edgley:

• "What happens to a few happens to all" - he meant particularly in your own neighborhood. Be visiting teachers and home teachers!
• Adversity can increase our gratitude for Christ's Atonement and for prayer, and "can bring us closer to God."
  
• We can each be more compassionate.
  

Mary N. Cook:

• The Young Women theme applies to ALL youth.
• "The Lord is depending on you to bring the blessings of the gospel into your family. . . Who in my family can benefit from my personal prayers?"
• Jesus Christ will bless our family.

Elder Enrique R. Falabella:

• Why am I a member of the only true church?
  

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf:

• Do we live with joy?
• The message of the gospel made all the difference for his family -- they looked around "with an elevated viewpoint."

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:

• Said that the contemporary Christian "trinitarian notion [was] never set forth in the scriptures because it is not true."
  

President Henry B. Eyring:

• Excellent talk on keeping a journal -- we must write down our spiritual experiences because in the future they will help someone who needs it! Write about general conference feelings.

Elder Quentin L. Cook:

• Live by faith, not by fear.
• "We can raise righteous children anywhere in the world."
• Preach My Gospel

Claudio R. M. Costa:

• Have "time for families" -- family prayer and Family Home Evening
• Express your love now

Sister Julie B. Beck:

• "Mothers who know desire to bear children."
• "Attributes you gain here will rise with you."
• During sacrament meeting covenants are renewed.
• Keep your home clean.
• "Plan for the future of your organization. . . . Maximize your influence where it matters most."
• For your kids, the "MTC [should] be a review, not a revelation."
• Do less. "Don't try to choose it all."

Christoffel Golden, Jr.:

• He and his wife read 1 chapter from The Book of Mormon together each day.
• Sacrament meeting is holy.
• The power of daily prayer.

Elder David A. Bednar:

• "Repentance is the sweet fruit that comes from faith in the Savior."
• Sacred covenants / recognizing the Holy Ghost
  
• "Clean hands alone will not be enough when" we stand before Christ.
• Deny ungodliness.

President Gordon B. Hinckley:

• We're a worldwide church.
• Our unique and true understanding of the nature of deity comes from Joseph Smith's First Vision.

Elder Robert D. Hales:

• We can receive personal revelation.

Claudio Zivic:

• Talked about his conversion . . . and how happy he was because of temple sealings.

Douglas L. Callister:

• Bear testimony!
• Early church leaders paid a great price to establish this dispensation. (Which reminds me that I still need to write in my journal about the Pioneer Trek we went on this past July.)
  

Steven E. Snow:

• As his mom was dying, he asked her what she regretted. She said, "I wish I had served more." He reminded her of service she had done throughout her life. Still she said, "I could've done more."