General Conference Spring 2012, Saturday Afternoon

136 operating temples at the end of 2011

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

· Parable of the Laborer – workers hired at different times during the day, but paid the exact same amount

· Why should you be jealous because I choose to be kind?

· Don’t be hurt or envious when good fortune comes to another person

· The race we are really in is the race against sin

· Envy is a mistake that just keeps on giving

· Coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your standing

· The formula of faith is to hold on

· Don’t hyperventilate about something that happened at 9:00 in the morning when the Lord is trying to bless you at 6:00 in the evening

· Surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is being merciful

· There is nothing you have done that cannot be undone.

· Even if you are the last laborer at the 11^th hour, the Lord of the vineyard still stands beckoning

· To the husbands and fathers: Awake and arise from the dust, and be men. Brethren, step up.

· It is never too late, so long as the Master of the vineyard says there is time.

Elder Robert D. Hales

· Parable of the Prodigal Son

· We should strive to come back to ourselves and to the ones we love

· How do we strengthen our desires to repent, become worthy? How do we help our youth?

· We become converted and spiritually self reliant as we serve others, worthily take of the sacrament, become worthy to obtain a temple recommend

· Ponder on the atonement during the sacrament, not just think about the ordinance

· We can help youth experience the sacrament by studying the atonement

· Worthiness to hold a temple recommend gives us the strength to obey our temple covenants

· All of us have the duty to assist the youth by helping them become self-reliant

· The saddest words are “What might have been”

Elder David S. Baxter

· Message to single mothers in the church

· Whatever your circumstances, how blessed are you

· You cannot change the past, but you can shape the future

· Your children will grow up and call you blessed

· In the kingdom of God, there are no second class citizens

· To the weary mother who thought she could not do it and wanted to come home to HF just for one night, she heard Him say, “You cannot come to me now, but I can come to you.”

· Single parents, I testify that Heaven will smile upon you

Elder Ulisses Soares

· Whatsoever a man soweth, that will he reap

· Let us not be weary in well doing

· In order to avoid bad influences, we must be continually sowing in the Spirit

· Let all bitterness and wrath be put away from us

· The promises from the Lord are conditional upon our obedience

· If we will stay on the Lord’s side of the line, we will be protected

· Do my actions place me in the Lord’s or the enemy’s territory?

· Banish any influence that would take our focus away

· You can’t be right by doing wrong, you can’t be wrong by doing right

Elder Quentin L. Cook

· The world has become more secular

· We recognize how busy you are, we know it is common to render long hours of devoted service

· This service extends through the entire membership

· God loves all of his children, He desires all of them to return to Him

· It is not up to us to judge

· Rescue those who have become inactive

· The family is the most important unit in all of eternity

· What we are speaks so loudly that our children may not hear what we say

· Praying with our children may be more important than any other example

· 2 Nephi 25:26

· “And it came to pass”

· Reading the Book of Mormon every day with our families: Persistance is the answer, and a sense of humor helps

· Reading the Book of Mormon: Regardless of the challenges you face, do not become discouraged

Elder Richard G. Scott

· The Holy Ghost communicates important information

· Those who have gone on are aware of us and our struggles

· The separation is temporary

· Why does the Lord want us to pray and to ask? Because that is how revelation is received.

· Be cautious with humor. A good sense of humor helps revelation, loud laughter does not.

· Careful quiet speech, good health practices can all help revelation

· Revelation can also be given in a dream.

· Recording can help enhance remembering revelations

· When we serve others, the Lord can piggy back directions to our lives

· If you feel God is not answering your prayers, ponder the scriptures, then look at your lives and see if He has not already answered you

· Should choices be wrong, they can be rectified through repentance

· As you continue to live righteously, you will always be prompted to know what to do

· Communication with our HF is not a trivial matter, it is sacred

General Conference Spring 2012, Saturday Morning

President Thomas S. Monson

· Your questions will be answered

· Change your lives

President Boyd K. Packer

· You are holding a nation in your arms

· Children should have 2 parents – a father and a mother

· Life was not mreant to be easy or fair

· Husband and wife first calling is to each other, then to children

I made the comment a few weeks ago that I would gladly kill all my children so they could go to the celestial kingdom. I would take the punishment and spend my life in jail and eternal damnation if it meant they would be okay. President Packer’s talk helped me to realize that I don’t have to do that. Christ already gave up his life so my children could return to the celestial kingdom. They just have to accept his atonement and sacrifice for them.

Sister Cheryl A Esplin

· Teach our children to understand the doctrines

· It’s more than just importing the doctrine, it’s helping them pull it into their very being

· As children learn, their understanding is expanded, which leads to more learning and more understanding

· They will become more self reliant and more responsible

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom

· It is possible to be active in the church and less active in the gospel

· Activity in the church is the outward appearance

· Activity in the gospel are less visible and less difficult to measure, but they are of greater eternal importance

· 1 – deepen our understanding of Deity

· 2 – focus on the ordinances and covenants

· 3 – unite the gospel with the church

· If we comet o our meetings to be taught, we will never be disappointed. If we come to be entertained, we will be disappointed

Elder Paul E. Koelliker

· How do we help our children feel the spirit? How can we help them have the desire to follow the gospel?

· Feel the desire in our hearts

· As we understand our HF plan for us, we desire to help others understand

· When we live the gospel, our ability to help others increases

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

· Christ offered the ultimate sacrifice, His precious blood he freely spilt

· The atonement is at the center of the plan of salvation

· We must make sacrifices of our time and resources

· Our sacrifices as Latter-day Saints are among the most of Christians

· How do we persuade others to serve? We just ask them.

· Those who understand the gospel know that no sacrifice is too great

· As you sacrifice for each other and your children, the Lord will bless you

President Henry B. Eyring

· Prayed for a trial, received a confirmation that Heavenly Father heard his prayer

· All these things shall be for thy good and give thee experience

· Why do trials come?

· The Lord has promised he will not desert us

· Our foundation of faith must be carefully prepared to withstand the storms of trials we will endure

· Personal integrity and correct choices prepare the solid ground

· The metal framework is the gospel of Jesus Christ, serving God and others persistently

· Acting on even a twig of faith allows God to help it grow

· You receive no witness until after the trial of your faith

· Trials make clocks seem to slow down or even stop. God just wants us to be polished and be ready for Him.

· In all conditions, we can choose the right.

· We can live with perfect hope.

· We are never alone. The Savior has promised angels on our left and on our right.

March Madness

This year my Dad and Mom invited all of his children to participate in March Madness with them.  But not the basketball kind.  The Book of Mormon kind.

The challenge?  Read the entire Book of Mormon in one month.  It averaged out to 7.7 chapters a day, or 17.1 pages a day. 

When I started, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to keep up the pace.  And there were a few times that I got behind and then had to catch up.  I think what really saved me is listening to it on my phone while I crocheted.  The crocheting was repetitive, so I could concentrate on the scriptures.  I really enjoyed listening to it in big chunks at a time.  I understood the people and the stories so much better because I was getting more of the story at a time.

When I got near the end, I didn’t want to put it down.  I read the last 5 days worth in 2 days.  I was enjoying it, and I was excited to finish it.  I finished 3 days early while I was at the swimming pool for the Princess’ swimming lessons. As I sat there, I closed my eyes and prayed and got a confirmation that it was true. I have really gained a love for it over the last month.

I am so very glad that I did this. I think I want to make it a yearly tradition. I also realized that I do better with scripture reading when I have a schedule and have to stick by it. Then I can't just blow off a day. I have to be accountable for it.

Sunday Quote

Our Heavenly Father doesn’t usually offer explanations.  If we come to understand why things happen in this life, that’s a bonus.  Usually we have to wait.

Driving

Anyone who knows me, knows that I get road rage.  It’s not pretty.  I really try to control it, but when I get behind the wheel, I seem to turn into a different person. 

Goofy Motor Mania

But after The Teenager got 2 speeding tickets in 3 weeks, (“But I was only going 20 over, and the cop reduced it down to 10!”), resulting in $270 in fines, plus $40 for a defensive driving course to get some of the points off his record, I realized that I needed to be a better example. 

So yesterday, I decided to try something completely new to me.  Something so wild that I thought I was going crazy.

I drove the speed limit the whole day.  The whole day. 

It was so liberating!  I was relaxed, I didn’t yell at anyone, and when I arrived at work, I wasn’t stressed out!  I couldn’t believe that just by obeying that simple law, I could rid myself of the road rage.  I am truly amazed and humbled.  I am going to try and drive the speed limit from now on. 

Oh, and another thing I discovered?  I thought drivers would be racing around me and getting mad at me.  Nope.  Most people drive the speed limit too!  Who knew?!?!

A Mission is a Strange Experience

A mission is a strange experience
It is a trial and a test
A mission throws you at the worst
Yet teaches you the best

I’ve never been so happy
I’ve never been so depressed
I’ve never felt so forsaken
I’ve never felt so blessed

I’ve never been so confused
Things have never been so clear
I’ve never felt my Heavenly Father so distant
He’s never been so near.

I’ve never been so discouraged
I’ve never been so full of hope
I feel I could go forever
I think I’ve come to the end of my rope

I’ve never had it quite so easy
I’ve never had it quite so tough
Things have never been so smooth
Things have never been so rough

I’ve never traveled through more valleys
I’ve never ascended so many peaks
I’ve never met so many nice people
I’ve never met so many freaks

I’ve never had so many ups
I’ve never had so many downs
I’ve never worn so many smiles
I’ve never worn so many frown

I’ve never been so lonely
I’ve never had so many friends
Boy, I hope this is over soon
Gosh, I hope it never ends

Sunday Quote

My life is but a weaving between my God and me,

I do not choose the colors, He worketh steadily.

Ofttimes He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside.

Not till the loom is silent, and shuttles cease to fly,

Will God unroll the canvas, and explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful, in the skillful Weaver’s hand,

As the threads of gold and silver, in the pattern He has planned.

 

Benjamin Malachi Franklin

Who are the Mormons?

Sunday Quote

“If God be before us, who can be against us?”

Romans 8:31

Knock, Knock

There is no law that says if someone knocks on your door or rings your doorbell, you have to answer it.  If I don’t want to answer it, I don’t.  I am speaking of solicitors.  I just let them stand there.  I know that they have a hard job, but I don’t want to deal with it.  That is my right. 

Sunday Quote

You know who’s jersey you have chosen to wear, so get off the bench and keep fighting.  In the meantime, keep the faith.