There’s that word again: happiness. Have you noticed how many talks have been devoted to the topic of finding or having happiness and joy? Even in our day when all things are in commotion? It is possible and it can happen for each of us. That is the important thing to remember. Continue reading
LDS General Conference Talks
General Conference thoughts: The Second Great Commandment
The love for others is manifested through acts of service. The church’s welfare program is a model for those of us born with a selfish heart. There is a simple enough way to give. Give through Fast Offerings. Continue reading
General Conference thoughts: Deceive Me Not
I have a personal theory. You can place someone in a room with a million people and each of those million people tell that one person a good quality about him or her that one person may feel pretty good about themselves for a short time but will give in to self-doubt and a negative self-image within a few days. In other words, that person will not see the positivity in herself that others do. Confidence must come within. Continue reading
General Conference thoughts: The Savior’s Touch
Years ago, in an institute class, the teacher made a comparison I still remember to this day. In the 1982 movie, The Man From Snowy River, there is a dramatic scene of a cowboy riding his horse down the side of a mountain. Even for someone unfamiliar with horse back riding I can tell it is quite the feat. The teacher pointed out the reason the cowboy could do this ludicrous act is because the horse had been broken. The horse trusted the rider even when the rider spurred him to do something impossible. Continue reading
General Conference thoughts: Your Great Adventure
The meme makers went crazy over this talk. Don’t let the lighthearted analogy deter you from the profound truths in this talk. Elder Uchtdorf offered some hefty soul-meat at his table. Continue reading
General Conference thoughts: Finding Joy in Sharing the Gospel and Knowing, Loving, and Growing
I don’t know about you but missionary work is a topic I don’t like to discuss. It’s one of those that when the word is mentioned in class I try not to make eye contact. Let’s just say, there is plenty room for improvement in my life. So, I have a tough time making a connection with this topic because my feelings of guilt thump loud in my ears. But here’s the thing, we make it more difficult than it needs to be. Continue reading
General Conference thoughts: Covenant Belonging
It might be an innate desire to want to belong. I have no statistics to back me up only a personal hypothesis but we tend to seek out a niche we can call home. Some kind of ownership where it is okay to be our true selves. The gospel offers that sanctuary and the only price is our covenants with God. Continue reading
General Conference thoughts: Covenant Women in Partnership with God; Two Great Commandments; and Spiritual Treasures
If only there were a few more Sundays I wouldn’t have to combine talks. But there aren’t so I combined the First Presidency’s messages today. It’s interesting to see the topics chosen for the Saturday evening session. If a woman doesn’t feel empowered reading or listening to any of these talks she must be listening wrong. Continue reading
General Conference thoughts: Standing by Our Promises and Covenants
In a book (and later a movie) called Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, the heroine, Ella, receives a very unhelpful blessing which quickly becomes a curse. She must obey any command given to her by another person. Imagine if we had a similar blessing given to us except with a twist. We would have to do anything we ourselves pledge to do. Any pledge that comes out of our mouth would require immediate and literal action by us. Would that curtail the things we speak? Continue reading
General Conference thoughts: After the Trial of Our Faith and Honoring His Name
I don’t teach Relief Society but if I did and I happened to be leading a discussion of a combination of these two talks I suppose I would start with an object lesson of sorts. First, I would call someone by name to come to the front of the room to help me. I would then ask her to follow a set of directions as I give them – one direction at a time. After she reached the end, I would ask her if it would have been easier to know the destination beforehand so that she would know the outcome of all the smaller actions. Continue reading
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