Okay, maybe I am speaking out of turn, but LDS General Conference is fantastic! I love it. My boys, for the first time in the 8 and 9 years, loved sitting and learning and watching as our beloved Prophet and Apostles spoke, with many others, including members of the Seventy and General Auxiliaries of the Church.
It was heart-wrenching this morning, watching President Thomas S. Monson go from standing at full stature, to sinking lower and lower as he finished his message to the members of the Church. He is an incredible man who has inspired and motivated members of the Church for decades. It is painful to see him in distress and discomfort.
It was amazing to hear the messages prepared for us, for our time, for our people, for our circumstances. I am reminded during Conference of the Savior's love for us and his concern for our well-being. I am so grateful for the wonderful men and women who lead and direct our Church according to the will of our Savior. I know that there is refuge from the storms of the adversary in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and I am eternally grateful for that.
One of our favorite talks from Conference today was delivered by Devin G Durrant (possible relative?). He shared two important ideas -- 1. Put a little money away for saving each week. 2. "Ponderize" one specific scripture each week.
The first will help us temporally, the second, spiritually. His words were uplifting and inspiring (just like the others) and he shared the blessings that would come from familiarizing ourselves with and MEMORIZING passages of scripture. I don't think I've memorized a Scripture since Seminary!
Tonight the kids and I sat down and talked about "Ponderizing" and decided that we would choose a scripture as a family. That may change as the years go by, but for now, we'll do it together. Mason insisted that we take a scripture from Moroni 10, because he already has memorized verse 5. He thought that would work. He was wrong. We took a scripture from Moroni 10, alright, but not verse 5. We chose verse 18. I love it. It reads "And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ." It is on our fridge and the boys are working hard at memorizing it. Me too.
Again, I am so grateful to be part of an amazing Church. I am grateful for the love, kindness, goodness, charity, and faith that is increased and strengthened in my life because of it and the people who serve within it. I wish everyone felt the way about the Church as I do and I hope that somewhere, someone will be interested and forever changed because of my ever-growing testimony.
If you would like to hear the talk referenced in this blog, please visit:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch/2015/10?lang=eng&vid=4531487647001&cid=4
