General Conference--A Gift from Christ

What a tender gift our Lord has bestowed upon us this past weekend. The week before conference, I had butterflies in my stomach as I anticipated seeing and hearing our dear prophet and General leaders of the church. The only way I can describe my feelings is like comparing it to the excitement of Christmas when we are little. Only, this glorious event comes every six months! What a blessing.

Every talk (as always) addressed in some way or another, questions, concerns, and counsel I needed to hear. And to see President Monson make his dignified way across the conference center, waving at the vast crowd who love him dearly was a moment I cannot describe. It sent chills through me and I paused to contemplate how much our prophet is a type of the Savior. What a wondrous thing it will be to see our Savior majestically stand at the head of His church and address angels and saints alike when he personally reigns on this earth. It makes me want to make every sacrifice and change necessary to be worthy to stand among the hosts of disciples.

And I believe that this conference gave us so many valuable instructions on how to prepare for this glorious day. It truly is the winding up days of this dispensation. The children that we are raising will be key figures in preparing the earth for the advent of the Savior. The question is, will we help them reach their divine missions? To me, this conference theme centered around the first and great commandment: loving our God and our fellowmen. Love, service, and unselfishness were doctrinal threads that were laced through nearly every sermon. Mosiah 3:19 was repeated several times--reminding us how we can become disciples. Among other things we were exhorted to love, serve, bear testimony, be consistent, listen, feel, repent, submit cheerfully, become as little children, save lives, press forward, hold to the rod, teach, and become better.

It was also wonderful to hear Elder Bednar (who I deem to be a practically perfect apostle), speak of his family and the challenges they faced during family home evening and family prayer when their children were young. I could relate quite well. Our family home evenings consist of a lesson from the nursery manual that lasts approximately 2 1/2 minutes; our scripture study is usually accompanied by whining, crying, or outbursts from Easton upon realizing it's bedtime; and our prayers usually include struggling to keep Easton kneeling with his arms folded with small interjections from Easton telling Tate to close his eyes. But I know we can make it. Our family painting just might become a wheat field one day if we continue painting the brown and gold strokes consistently.

And now I simply wish to quote my favorite lines from President Uchtdorf's discourse. I have listened to his words over and over until they have sunk deeply in my heart. As mothers, we often feel so fatigued, downtrodden, and discouraged. May we take courage from President Uchtdorf's words:

"When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our walk as disciples of Jesus Christ becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning.

"…My dear brothers and sisters, don't ever get discouraged if you stumble at times. Don't feel downcast or despair if you don't feel worthy to be a disciple of Christ at all times. The first step to walking in righteousness is simply to try. We must try to believe. Try to learn of God, read the scriptures, study the words of His Latter-day prophets, choose to listen to the Father, and do the things that He asks of us. Try and keep on trying until that which seems difficult becomes possible. And that which seems only possible becomes habit and a real part of you.

“Now, how can we hear the father’s voice? As you reach out to your Heavenly Father, as you pray to Him in the name of Jesus Christ, He will answer you. He speaks to us everywhere. As you read God’s word recorded in the scriptures, listen for His voice. During this General Conference and later as you study the words spoken here, listen for His voice. As you visit the temple and attend Church meetings, listen for His voice. Listen for the voice of the Father in the bounties and beauties of nature, in the gentle whisperings of the spirit. In your daily interactions with others, in the words of a hymn, in the laughter of a child, listen for His voice. If you listen for the voice of the Father, He will lead you on a course that will allow you to experience the pure love of Christ. As we draw nearer to Heavenly Father, we become more holy. And as we become more holy, we will overcome disbelief and our souls will be filled with the blessed light. And as we align our lives with this supernal light, it leads us out of darkness and toward a greater light. This greater light leads to the unspeakable ministerings of the Holy Spirit and the veil between heaven and earth can become thin.

“….If we do not neglect the great laws, if we truly learn to love our Heavenly Father and our fellowmen with all our heart, soul, and mind, all else will fall into place. The divine love of God turns ordinary acts into extraordinary service. Divine love is the motive that transports simple words into sacred scripture. Divine love is the factor that transforms reluctant compliance with God’s commandments into blessed dedication and consecration. Love is the guiding light that illuminates the disciple’s path and fills our daily walk with life, meaning, and wonder. Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship. Love is the way of the disciple. I testify that God is in His heaven. He lives. He knows and loves you. He’s mindful of you. He hears your prayers and knows the desires of your heat. He’s filled with infinite love for you.

“What attribute should define us as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Let us be known as a people who love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and who love our neighbor as ourselves. When we understand and practice these two great commandments in our families, in our wards and branches, in our nations, and in our daily lives, we will begin to understand what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus the Christ.”

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf