It's funny how General Conference always seemed SO LONG when I was little, but now it feels way too short! I can't believe it's over already!
I took A LOT of notes. And since this blog is really more for me and my posterity more than anything else, I'm going to post them - all. It will be long, so bear with me...
Saturday Morning Session
President Thomas S. Monson Conducting
There was some re-organizing in the Relief Society General Presidency and Young Women General Presidency. I wrote down the new positions, but am not sure of all the spelling...
New RS President: Julie Beck, 1st Counselor: Silvia Allred, and 2nd Counselor: Barbara Thompson
New YW 1st Counselor: Elaine Dalton, 2nd Counselor: Mary Nielson Cook
Statistics as of December 31, 2006:
Stakes: 2745
Missions: 344
Districs: 630
Wards and Branches: 27,475
Church Membership: 12,868,606
Increse of Children of Record: 94,006
New Converts: 272,845
Full-time Missionaries: 53,164
2 new temples dedicated: Sacramento, California and Helsinki
2 temples re-dedicated: Santiago, Chili and Tahiti
Total Temples in Operation: 124
Richard G. Scott
"Sweet Hour of Prayer"
Prayer is a supernal gift from Heavenly Father
Pray vocally and in heart; public and private
No appointment necessary, no time limits
Prayer is most effective when we strive to be clean and worthy
Learn to ask the right questions, Honestly seek for what He wants for you
Never feel too unworthy to pray
There is a step-by-step process to learn how to receive answers to prayers.
It takes practice
Exercise faith in Heavenly Father's capacity to respond
What do you do when you can't seem to get an answer?
Proceed with trust.
The Lord trusts you that you will make the right choice. And when you make your choice, you will receive confirmation from Heavenly Father whether it's right.
Jay E. Jensen (of the Seventy)
Hymns have a converting power, they bear testimony
Musical numbers are not to be a performance, they should bring the spirit. When a musical number is a performance, it drives the spirit away.
Prelude Music - invites revelation and prepares us for the meeting
Hymns of the restoration are a course in doctrine
Sacrament Meetign would be empty without hymns of worship
Singing hymns and listening to appropriate music begins at home
Brings peace, love, unity
Sing hymns in Family Home Evening, on the Sabbath, during scripture study, as we work, travel, play, sing them as lullabies.
Strive to be punctual to meetings, listen to prelude music.
Exit reverently during postlude music
Sing the hymns during the meeting!
Choose hymns that are appropriate to the meeting and message
Use hymns in classes and lessons
Listen more at home to invite the spirit
Eliminate inappropriate music in our lives
Memorize and ponder the words to the hymns
D&C 25:12
John B. Dickson (of the Seventy)
Spoke to the youth:
Commit yourselves NOW to live righeously, it will give you strength.
The world is full of dangers - commit to the Lord what you will become.
Prayerfully study the
For the Strength of Youth pamphlet, decide NOW to live by it's pattern
Every commandment is designed for our eternal happiness and will help us to become more like Heavenly Father
Keeping the commandments is always easier when predetermined; Know how you will act!
Ponder and commit NOW
Jeffrey R. Holland
Faith works by words
With words, the mighteous gifts have been and will be done
*Caution* how we speak with each other and ourselves
James 3 is all about becoming perfect by learning to control our tongues.
Some things we say can be destructive; berates, criticizes, embarrasses, demeans, etc
How is it we can offer blessings and cursings out of the same mouth?
It's not what goes in your mouth, but what comes out of it that defiles a person.
Verbal and Emotional abuse - These things ought not to be!
Sin knows no gender
There is no place in your spirit for this kind of sin - including gossip and back biting
How we speak to a child is so important in shaping their view of themselves, us, and God
Don't compare children - no matter how good you think you are at it.
Praise individually
Negative speaking flows from negative thinking
The spirit of the gospel is optimistic
The opposite, pessimistic attitude draws AWAY from God
Speak hopefully and encouraging, including about oneself
Try not to complain
No misfortune is so bad that whining won't make it worse
Be ye kind, tenderhearted, forgiving
Try to be perfect in this one way now!
Words full of faith, hope, charity
When Heavenly Father speaks to us, it will not be unkind but with love.
*Favorite quote from Elder Holland's talk... (Can you imagine Nephi bound and having to listen to his brothers complain and murmur? Can you imagin him just saying...) "Hit me again! I can still hear you!" LOL
David A. Bednar
"Parable of the Pickle" The process in which a cucumber becomes a pickle
Come Unto Christ - Be spiritually reborn
The steps in changing a cucumber to a pickle:
1. Preparing and cleaning - high standards for cleanliness
2. Immersing and saturating - the salt brine alters the composition of the cucumber.
3. Sealing, sterilizing, and purifying - all impurities are removed, the pickles are protected and preserved.
Requires time; you cannot hurry, cannot ignore or avoid any steps.
To be spiritually changed and transformed, Born again or Born of God
Come unto Christ, be perfected in Him, deny all ungodliness
"As we choose to follow the master, we choose to change; to be spiritually reborn."
The Lord has established high standards of cleanliness; proper preparing and cleaning are necessary
Be absorbed by and in the gospel - honor and commit to covenants; serve God with all mind, heart, and strength
Spiritual Rebirth is an ongoing process; line upon line, precept upon precept; it takes time, persistence, and patience
Romans 6:4Our souls need to be IMMERSED in the Gospel. Sporadic or shallow "dipping" or "sprinkling" cannot produce a spiritual transformation. Partial participation is not enough.
Omni 1:26,
Helaman 3:35,
D&C 76:50-53"Sealing" - binding on earth and in heaven by faithfullness, integrity, etc through the test of time.
Repent and be born again.
Thomas S. Monson
Live together in love. We miss those who are gone.
Death is an essential part of mortal experience.
It is foolish to think "to desire immortality is to desire eternal perpetuation of a great mistake"... (lol)
Death is like walking into another room - full of loved ones who have gone before and have been waiting for us.
Death has no hold on any of us because of the Savior
We laugh, we cry; we work, we play; we love; we live, we die.
Christ lived, taught, served, sacrificed, died... but He is Risen, he is not dead.
He lives and so shall we.
Saturday Afternoon Session - also includes the rededication of the Tabernacle
President Gordon B. Hinckley Conducting
Boyd K. Packer
The Lord speaks with a still, small voice. It is felt more than heard.
If I hearken to it, I will be alright.
Every president of the church except Joseph Smith, has been sustained in the Tabernacle
No stranger can come among us to lead the church astray
The Word of Wisdom is a shield and a protection for us
Satan uses music that drowns out the spirit so that we can't hear the still, small voice.
Anyone can receive a testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel, even little children.
The Tabernacle stands next to the temple as an anchor.
The Tabernacle Choir has been the voice of the church for many years.
Earl C. Tingey (of the Seventy)
Brigham Young, the 2nd latter-day prophet:
Built the tabernacle, was a pioneer, let the saints to the Salt Lake valley, established from scratch a city/society, built temples, colonized, started the perpetual immigration fund, established universities, loved Joseph Smith...
"This is the right place", "God is at the helm, this is the mighty ship Zion... She will outride every storm."
Gordon B. Hinckley, the current living prophet:
Has traveled the world, meets kings, queens, presidents, has commissioned more than 75 temples, built the Conference Center, spreads the gospel, values education, began the Perpetual Education Fund, General Conference is translated into more than 90 languages, loves the youth, loves Joseph Smith...
Both prophets linked together in prophetic visions, both prophets who have led with inspiration and revelation.
H. David Burton (Presiding Bishop)
"Don't do anything you shouldn't do. But what you do, do well and do right." - President Hinckley to Bishop Burton when telling him to refurbish the Tabernacle.
"If these old walls could talk..."
They would say "thank you", would recall all the history they've been witness to...
D&C 138,
FHE,
Bruce R. McConkie's testimony,
The Family: A Proclamation to the WorldExtraOrdinary building - a sacred reminder of the past.
Sister Bonnie D. Parkin (Former General Relief Society President)
Do you know of any place on the face of the earth where a woman can enjoy more priveleges than here in the church? - Eliza R. Snow (1870)
"Blessing Basket" - Gratitude
We frequently murmur, complain, criticize.
The Lord counsels not to murmur because it makes it difficult for the spirit to speak to us.
Gratitude inspires happiness
Thou shalt thank the Lord, thy God in ALL things - it is a commandment to be grateful!
The Ten LepersExpression of gratitude is an expression of faith, it acknowledges the Lord's hand in our lives.
Tribulations are frightening but the Lord says, "Be of Good Cheer"
Gratitude in the face of tribulation takes a broken heart, contrite spirit, humility, and submissiveness.
Marlin K. Jensen (of the Seventy)
When he was going to speak for the first time as a General Authority (in the Tabernacle), he was scared. L. Tom Perry leaned over to him and said, "Relax! We haven't lost anyone at that pulpit in years!" (lol)
"Remember"... a fundamental, saving principle of the gospel.
Prophetic councel to remember are calls to action.
"Remember and perish not"
Remember: history of church and it's people
We keep records to help us remember - the Lord commanded Joseph Smith when organizing the church to keep a record.
President Hinckley loves history, shares church, family, and person history with us.
Always remember the Savior. When we do, we are blessed by the spirit - which Heavenly Father sends to bring things to our remembrance. *A circle of remembrance*
James E. Faust
(Was baptized in the Tabernacle Font)
By the time the Kirtland temple was finished, it was already too small to accomodate all the saints who wanted to attend the dedication.
Joseph Smith ordered a canvas tabernacle to shelter the saints when meeting together. Because of persecution, the saints had to leave before it was built. They brought the canvas with them on the trek to the Salt Lake valley. May have been used as tents and wagon covers.
Joseph Smith envisioned the tabernacle, and Brigham Young made it a reality. It was intended for Nauvoo, but built in SLC.
The Tabernacle is just one way that the Lord meets the needs of the members.
Thomas S. Monson
Many significant events in his life took place in the Tabernacle (including his baptism).
Just as the Tabernacle is being rededicated, we should rededicate our lives to the Savior's work.
President Gordon B. Hinckley
The Tabernacle was modified soon after it was originally built, adding balconies... now it has been refurbished again.
It has been a centerpiece for this community for many years.
It is the only one of it's kind in all the world - a "peculiar" building
It was built with faith.
Skeptics said that when the scaffolding was removed, the roof would come down... but id didn't. It has since withstood decades of all sorts of weather.
President Hinckley offered the Dedicatory Prayer
Sunday Morning Session
President Gordon B. Hinckley Conducting
James E. Faust
"The Healing Power of Forgiveness"
Talked about the October Amish Schoolhouse murders
The Amish people were hurt, but had no hate; there was pain, but no anger
The Amish offered love, forgiveness, and support to the family of the gunman
True Forgiveness
How could they forgive?... Disciples of Christ desire to follow Him.
The natural response is anger, a desire to "get even".
Forgiveness is putting energy to better use than by feeling anger and harboring negative feelings.
Don't wait for an offender to repent.
It is easier to forgive when we have faith in God and trust in His word. It enables us to look beyond ourselves, enables to forgive.
We don't always understand.
"God knows what we do not know and sees what we do not see."
Every trial is necessary.
Forgiveness is a liberating gift that people can give themselves.
It is a commandment to forgive.
Healing and peace come from forgiveness.
Recognize angry feelings, pray and ask Heavenly Father to help us forgive.
Mercy cannot rob justice... let justice take it's course... and let it go.
We need to forgive so we can be forgiven.
Dallin H. Oaks
Divorce
The concept of marriage is in peril.
Divorce is easier to obtain than ever.
Modern prophets warn against having such a casual view of marriage and divorce.
To the righteous members who have had a divorce:
Sometimes it is necessary
Sometimes people are in situations that are worse than divorce, so for them divorce is better
Though a caution, some who divorce, even for a good reason, regret it later.
Those who are married and considering divorce:
First consider repentance
Divorce often aggrivates conflicts, not solve them
Children are the first victims
See your bishop and receive his counsel and help
Marriage is a precious, living thing - like life. If we are sick, we seek healing.
Be best friends, kind, considerate, partners; seek to make each other happy, forgive
Festering = Destrictive
Forgiving = Divine
Communicate, pray together
We cannot control others, we are not responsible for them.
The righteous will still receive eternal blessings
A good marriage happens not when two perfect people marry, but when a man and a woman are commited to strive together towards perfection.
Requires sacrifice, sharing, economizing, care, worry, children... but also brings the sweetest emotions.
Neil L. Andersen (of the Presidency of the Seventy)
It's true, isn't it? Then what else matters?
The Gospel is true. The church is a light to the world
How do we find a way through the many things that matter?
"This is life eternal"
Faith is not only a feeling, it is a decision. We must build and fortify faith. Then we will have the strength to take the right course.
Are we motivated by convictions of truth?
Are we becoming who we want to become?
Excuses can impede our progress. *Cute story about a 4 year old grandson who said, "I lost my CTR ring and now I can't Choose the Right." lol*
Do what's right, even when it's a sacrifice - requires faith.
Sacrifice brings blessings
Quiet acts of deep faith that are known only to God are recorded in Heaven.
"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God"
It is true, it does matter.
Sister Vicki F. Matsumoni (2nd counselor in General Primary Presidency)
Speaking to 1st Generation Members:
Are like the people of Ammon - grew up without the church but were taught later and accepted it.
The strength of the Army of Helaman began with the faith of the people of Ammon.
It begins with you as a first generation member - you begin the cycle now with your family.
How do we increase faith?
1. Scriptures. It can be hard to understand... be persistent. Learn of the heroes, learn of God and His tender mercies, learn of the Savior.
2. Prayer, personal and family
3. Make and keep covenants
As a first generation member, you have a responsibility to teach the children today. And if you do, they will become as the Army of Helaman.
Glenn L. Pace (of the Seventy)
Do you know Joseph Smith is a prophet of God?
The spirit of the Holy Ghost testifies.
When seeking a testimony, sometimes we look for spectacular experiences. But "lifers" have had the spirit near them the whole life - receiving a testimony may not feel "new" or "spectacular".
New converts find it new and different so it feels more spectacular.
Once you have felt it, you can never forget it.
We need to help the youth recognize the spirit.
It's like a spiritual "sixth sense"... and can only be activated by the Holy Ghost.
D&C 11:13-14,
John 14:26
M. Russell Ballard
The Bible is a miracle! It was protected through the dark ages and conflicts of many generations.
"Holy" - teaches truth, warns with the spirit, teaches to know God, testifies of Jesus Christ.
A gift from God to man. It didn't come to pass by chance or coincidence. Righteous men kept the record, other righteous men protected and preserved it, translated it - in the midst of intense opposition.
During the dark ages, there were no apostles, prophets... and the bible was not available, the clergy kept it
Honest, diligent study of the Bible makes us better.
We should remember the martyrs who made it possible for us to have it.
The Book of Mormon supports the Bible, and is not a substitution for it.
Love, study, revere the Holy Bible. It is the bedrock of all Christianity.
When new members join the LDS church, they do not give up faith in the Bible, but their faith in it is strengthened.
The Lord's words to His Children:
Old Testament, New Testament, and Book of Mormon... If you only have part, then you are missing some of the beauty.
Last General Conference, the bible was quoted nearly 200 times.
We are true and full believers in Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible.
The Bible is scripture that leads men to accept Christ as the Savior.
President Gordon B. Hinckley
The wind is blowing and he feels like the last leaf on the tree. But his health is very good, despite rumors. (lol)
"I do not know everything, but of some things I am certain."
1) God is the eternal father - we do not rely on man-made statements of deity, our knowledge comes from Joseph Smith who saw and spoke to God and Christ.
Heavenly Father is a real being, He is our father, we are His children. We can pray to Him. It is a conversation between man and God. Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, He will direct you to do good and will watch over you.
2) Jesus lives! The Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New Testament, creator of the earth, the only perfect man to walk the earth. He suffered in Gethsemene, made the atoning sacrifice, was crucified, resurrected, appeared to Mary, the apostles and others, appeared to people in bountiful as recorded in the Book of Mormon, appeared to Joseph Smith.
3) The Atonement of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Without it, life would be meaningless. The sorrow of death is softened by the resurrection. The would be no Christmas without Easter.
4) The restoration of the Gospel. The Priesthood is restored. Temples offer blessings found nowhere else. Families are sealed for eternity, vicarious work for the dead.
Sunday Afternoon Session
Thomas S. Monson conducting
L. Tom Perry
Powers of the Priesthood
The Gospel is restored for the blessing of all those who will listen and obey.
The Godhead are seperate beings; God and Jesus Christ have physical bodies
The First Article of FaithThe Book of Mormon is a record of a fallen people and a testament of Jesus Christ
The translation of the Book of Mormon is a miracle in and of itself
In translating, the importance of baptism was made clear. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery prayed, John the Baptist appeared and the Aaronic Pristhood was given. Joseph baptized Oliver and then Oliver baptized Joseph. Later, the Melchezedic Priesthood was restored and then the church was organized.
The Church of Jesus Christ is again on the earth today to bless it's inhabitants.
It is the dawn of the dispensation of the fullness of times.
The Fullness of the Gospel has been restored to the earth, The Keys of the Priesthood have been restored, The Power to seal for eternity has been restored.
This is the day that the Bible referred to as the "latter-days".
Henry B. Eyring
"Someday"... Delay=Danger
"
This day is a precious gift of God."
The thought "someday", can be a theif.
Do not procrastinate. Procrastinating repentance and obedience will cause the spirit to withdraw.
Choose you THIS day... Serve the Lord, without delay!
Seek the Lord EARLY to find Him.
Pray to know what the Lord wants you to do - to do what matters the most.
It's not always easy to do what the Lord wants, but everyone can do it. We have the Savior to help us, to make it possible.
There is a lot of temptation to delay, we can feel complacent or overwhelmed. We feel there is plenty of time or that we've already done enough.
If you ask, God will reveal opportunities for you to do what you can.
"I've done my part" - is a temptation. There is a danger in "taking a rest".
We don't know how many days we have, but know we will have "days enough" if we use them wisely.
Pray to know what you can do, even if it isn't much. Don't wait until you think you can do more - you can always do something.
Promises for choosing to serve THIS DAY:
*No matter how bad your circumstances are, if you choose to serve this day, your circumstances will be better in the future.
*Will feel His love and grow to love Him more, come to know Him better.
We do not want to delay these blessings. Choose to feel joy and peace by serving today.
Gary J. Coleman (of the Seventy)
We are a Christian church, centered on the Savior.
Restored truths only found in the LDS church:
1) The true nature of the Godhead - physically seperate. God is the father, Jesus Christ is His son, the Holy Ghost is a spirit and can be our constant companion.
2) Reality of additional scripture and revelation - The Book of Mormon, another Testament of Christ. We continue to receive guidance from Heavenly Father.
3) Restoration of the Priesthood Authority - the power to act in God's name.
Charles W. Wahlquist II (of the Yound Men General Presidency)
To youth/parents/leaders/YSA:
The Youth today are a chosen generation - and have a great work to do.
"Whose on the Lord's side, who? Now is the time to show."
1 Ne. 3:7,
the story of David and Goliath... taking note that when David when to meet Goliath, he didn't do it hesitantly, he RAN towards him.
Modern day Goliaths: profanity, drugs, alcohol, immorality
Suggestions on how to overcome them:
1) Never forget who you are: "I am a child of God". We have our Heavenly Father, our families, our church leaders, and especially the Holy Ghost - we are never alone.
2) Learn to control your thoughts. There will always be temptations. It is easier to keep the commandments when we can control our thoughts. Memorize hymns and replace inappropriate thoughts with the words of the hymns.
Satan can only succeed if he can keep you way from your places of safety - including your thoughts.
D&C 121:45
Yoshihido Kikuchi (of the Seventy)
Tithing -
Malachi 3:8-10The Lord is saying, Test me - see if I don't bless you!
D&C 64:34In an Idaho stake, they were suffering from a severe drought. The resevoirs were less than 30% full, farmers couldn't grow their crops. While Elder Kikuchi was visiting, he told the stake to:
Pay a full and honest tithe, Have family prayers, hold family scripture study, keep the sabbath day holy, attend the temple, sustain and follow their church leaders, and fast as a stake.
They did. And while they were in the temple, it started to rain - even though the forecast said it would be dry for days. When it stopped, the resevoirs were nearly full.
2 Chronicles 7:14"Tithing is paid with money but more importantly by faith." - President Hinckley
The Lord allows us to use all that is on the earth, and asks for only 10% back.
Tithing is a token of gratitude, it increases our love of the Lord.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"The point of safe return" - when a flight is going a great distance over an ocean, it eventually reaches a point where it can no longer turn back and return, it must go forward to it's planned destination. Sometimes called "the point of no return"
Satan wants us to feel this when we sin. That it's too late to change.
What is the Lord's plan for our safe return?
Love, hope, mercy - the Atonement. Corrects and overcomes consequences of sin. Christ came to save us.
Sin is NOT a point of no return.
Plan of happiness, mercy, redemption, salvation. Designed by the most supreme being in the universe.
When we follow His plan, there are beautiful consequences.
Divine reconciliation and forgiveness.
Repentance and forgiveness can be as real as sin.
Salvation comes to none except through repentance and faith - through the atonement.
How do we repent?
Strong faith in Christ - changes our thoughts, beliefs, behaviors that are not in harmony with God's will.
Remorse - Godly sorrow.
Confess
Stop doing things that are wrong and start doing things that are right.
The blessing of forgiveness - Peace.
"Wickedness never was happiness"
How do we know when God has forgiven us?
Peace of conscience. Burden of guilt is taken away. The Holy Ghost will verify it.
Satan tries to make us believe we aren't forgiven because we can still remember. HE IS A LIAR!
We remember to help us avoid the same mistakes.
We remember but memory will no longer distress and torture us.
Extending forgiveness is a precondition to receiving forgiveness.
Never is a soul more noble and courageous than when extending forgiveness - including to ourselves.
Lip service is not enough. Purge our hearts and minds of negative feelings.
There is ALWAYS a point of safe return! You are the captain of your life and God has a plan for you, to see your safe arrival home.
Russell M. Nelson
Is there hope? Is there a way out of hopelessness?
Yes - Repentence, and don't procrastinate it!
Repentance is as old as the Gospel.
References are throughout the bible and there are even more in the Book of Mormon.
To repent is to turn from sin, to feel regret and sorrow.
It's not easy to repent, but the prize is worth the price.
Repent with full purpose of heart - full forgiveness will be given.
All need to repent. Not only for sins of commission but also sins of ommission.
Repent = change your mind, knowledge, spirit, and even breath.
"Breathe grateful acknowledgment of Him who gives you breath."
Change our ways - total change - to be like Him.
Repent fully is to convert completely to the Lord and His work.
"Have you experienced this mighty change in your hearts?"
Those who are repentant are more resiliant and able to overcome.
The natural man is an enemy of God unless we yield to the enticings of the spirit and put off the natural man; becoming as a child, willing to submit to the Lord.
Those who are dead can also repent. All can repent and receive forgiveness.
Temple work creates a bond between generations.
"Jesus wants me for a sunbeam... and as a bonding blacksmith!"
President Gordon B. Hinckley
We have had a wonderful conference and rededicated the Tabernacle.
Use the May Ensign in Family Home Evenings to review the talks.
The talks we have heard imparts knowledge to inspire us to stand a little taller and be a little better.
Husbands, love your wives. Wives help your husbands - "they need all the help they can get".
Be kind to your children. They are our hope.
It started on Saturday morning when we went to a ward breakfast and egg hunt. I didn't get pics of the egg hunt because it happened so fast and was kind of crowded. We had gotten rained out so it was inside of the building instead of at the park. Of course, I don't think the kids really cared. They had fun anyways. :)
he will be moving to Hawaii tomorrow and wanted to say goodbye.)
