We just enjoyed a thoroughly invigorating
General Conference—enriching, edifying, and enlightening. We spent most of the weekend at the cabin and listened to it, while looking at the brilliant fall colors layered over the great Uinta peaks.
The improvised words of President Monson, before his discourse in priesthood meeting, fortified my testimony of the divinity of this Church. He said that the First Presidency works in unity “under the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ.” The words overwhelmed me, and the Holy Ghost witnessed to me that this is Christ’s Church.
As the sessions went on I found my heart softened, bringing me to tears at times, and my mind opened, causing me to think so much my head hurt. Above all a fire sparked within in me to apply all the many amazing things I was learning from the Spirit and from the speakers. I then began to wonder, if the Church applied the teachings of this (or any) General Conference, what would happen to us collectively and individually? Here’s what I found out.
• We would be collectively pleading for doors to open for the Church around the world, which I believe would lead to open doors. (President Monson—Saturday Morning)
• We would have a place to go when stressed, and seek for a simplified life, recognizing the spiritual and physical essentials (Elder L. Tom Perry—Saturday Morning)
• We would write the people we saw converted in the mission. We would prepare our children for missions. (Sister Silvia H. Allred—Saturday Morning)
• We would know that God loves us, and we would continually seek for greater light and knowledge. We would record sacred experiences in “the chamber of our soul” for when times are tough. (Elder Niel Anderson—Saturday Morning)
• We would have sacrament meetings focused on the Atonement, producing internal and external results. (Elder Dallin H. Oaks—Saturday Morning)
• We would have hope, leading to good works; not despair, which pollutes the heart. (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf)
• We would seek the eternal in times of difficulty. (Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin—Saturday Afternoon)
• We would believe in angels, seen and unseen; moreover, we would seek to be them for others (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland—Saturday Afternoon)
• We would believe that the Lord deals in absolutes, and that there is no other way, except through Jesus Christ. We would choose Him. (Elder Lawrence Colbridge—Saturday Afternoon)
• We would “eliminate the poor among us,” among many other amazing things said in this talk. (Elder D. Todd Christofferson)
• We would pray more meaningfully as we a) counsel with the Lord in all our doings, b) pray more frequently in gratitude, and c) pray for others. (Elder David A. Bednar—Saturday Afternoon)
• We would be knit together as one, in families and in the Church. (President Henry B. Eyring—Saturday Afternoon)
• We would seek neither to aspire nor retire from callings. (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf—Priesthood Session)
• We would use the priesthood to bless others, particularly our spouses and those close to us. (Elder Richard G. Scott—Priesthood Session)
• We would know where to turn when feeling overwhelmed or stretched too much. (President Henry B. Eyring)
• We would defend the Church (on blogs and elsewhere) through testimony, meekness, and even silence, following the Spirit to know what to say and where. (Elder Robert D. Hales—Sunday Morning)
• We would see our challenges as great, without minimizing the trials of the pioneers. (Elder M. Russell Ballard—Sunday Morning)
• We would live in the now, and find joy in life. (President Thomas S. Monson—Sunday Morning)
• We would stick to values we know are true. We would believe in liberty and patriotism. (President Boyd K. Packer—Sunday Afternoon)
• We would defend the institution of marriage, and seek a celestial one. (Elder Russell M. Nelson—Sunday Afternoon)
• We would show love to those whom we teach, use the scriptures, and encourage pondering of the gospel truth (Elder William D. Oswald—Sunday Afternoon)
• We would be assured that the Savior shares our pain, afflictions, hardships and sins. (Elder Quentin L. Cook—Sunday Afternoon)
• We would reach to other faiths, live with integrity, strive to keep His commandments and seek Him in prayer. (President Thomas S. Monson—Sunday Afternoon)
I believe if we did this, we would advance in securing our exaltation, as well as hasten the Second Coming. The world would be better here and now collectively, as well as in the hereafter individually.
I loved this General Conference.
If you read this post in its entirety, you get an ice cream cone or a hot dog.
