General Conference Lessons

A little over a week ago was Fall General Conference.  The older I get the more I look forward to conference knowing that I am going to hear straight from the prophets mouths on what the Lord would have us do in these modern times not only brings comfort but a sense of importance to what is said.  This year as conference approached my sister and I decided that we would go into conference with a prayer in our hearts to hear what we needed to hear on an individual basis for our own lives and struggles that lay ahead and then after conference we would share what we had learned.  It was so great for me to do this as so often conference comes and goes and I listen and feel the spirit and feel inspiration but then life comes and with it a mountain of tasks and somehow the inspiration fades and is forgotten.  I was also surprised by the fact that some of the inspiration had nothing to do with what the speaker was talking about but that because I had opened my heart to hear the Lord knew he could finally speak some of what needed to be taught.  I don't remember all the speakers and when the inspiration happened specific to talks for the most part but here is what I felt:

• Interesting enough one of the first impressions I got from conference was to cherish and love my wife with everything I have.  To make her feel loved and never to question that I would come to her aid or defense.  To make her feel that she is my everything and my first thought is her happiness.  What a great reminder because I have been blessed to have her in my life and too often I find myself trapped in the trap of nit picking when I should be seeing everything that she does for me.  What a blessing!

• As often happens in conference you start to hear themes.  Although the speakers aren't given topics they surely pray about what to discuss and I'm sure are lead to the things that we are supposed to hear in that moment.  One such theme I felt this conference was to watch out for those who need help.  Elder Holland (the Lord's secret weapon) gave a great talk about this.  I have been feeling for some time that Anna and I need to do more to give back...if only my actions were as good as my intentions.  I really want to look for opportunities to give back and help more.  

• Okay....this bit goes hand in hand with two talks.  The first talk was AMAZING and probably one of my favorite all time talks ever.  Elder Uchtdorf gave the talk "Lord, Is it I? in the priesthood session of conference and spoke about how we often overlook where we need improvement and rather focus on what others could be doing better.  He goes on to talk about the twelve apostles and how at the last supper Christ told them that one of them would betray him and instead of looking at their neighbor with suspicion or judgement they each asked the question "Lord, is it I?".  How beautiful is that!  The second talk was given by Elder Carlos Godoy titled "The Lord has a plan for us".  In this talk he spoke about how he was happy and living comfortably in his life when a friend asked him if he was living his life and doing things that would allow the Lord to fulfill his patriarchal blessing and give him those promised blessings.  This struck me and I thought...am I putting myself in situations or on the right path that the Lord can in fact fulfill the blessings promised in my blessing.  Too often I have only thought of worthiness being a factor for those blessings to be fulfilled and this opened my eyes to more responsibility on my part.  So I am going to start asking the question...Is it I? and I am going to re read my blessing to see what things I may need to change in order for blessings to be fulfilled (as in maybe I should start looking into family history).

• I also got the impression that I need to work on and build a solid relationship and friendship with my brother Rick.  I love Rick and always have but to say that we have a solid friendship would be an understatement.  We have different interests and honestly he hasn't lived close enough to call spur of the moment to do things but now he does so I am going to foster that.  He loves family history maybe that can be a start for us.

• I felt very strongly that I need to start having daily personal prayer with the Lord (gasp...that is right I haven't been doing this)  I talk to the Lord all day in my head and often out loud and we have family prayer every morning before our family squeeze.  But again, how interesting that these are all connected, my patriarchal blessings says that I should talk to the Lord as if he is kneeling by my side and I haven't been doing that.  Can you imagine if I did what doors may open up if I stopped to listen and who I may be directed to in order to help and bless.

• Lastly, I also got the prodding that I could do better.   Mainly that I needed to do my home teaching.  (I know gasp again...close your mouth before swallows make a nest in it and realize I have a long way to go).  My main reason (besides understanding home teaching in theory and all but hating being home taught and doing it myself) is that I am literally terrified of my companion.  We are as opposite as night and day....no even more than that!  He is a rough construction worker who is all man and gruff...he uses nails instead of toothpicks and i'm sure sites in a den covered with animal heads mounted on the wall.  I on the other hand want...well let's just say I have never been what you may call manly.  He scares me to bits and he said..."I don't ever teach the lesson" and he only wants to visit on Sunday which I HATE...that is my family day!  BUT....I am changing right.  So I am going to duck tape boards to my knees so they won't shake and go and talk to him and see what we can do...wish me luck.

I love that we aren't left on our own to find our path and that the Lord continues to speak to prophets in our day.  I am so blessed to have that knowledge and to live in a time when their messages can be heard and shared.