Sunday, April 6, 2014

Live blogging #ldsconf April 2014

   This is something new to me; I'm going to try to live blog the Sunday sessions of LDS General Conference.  I've missed the start of the meeting, and started listening during the hymn by the choir, Let us All Press On.

Pres Dieter F. Uchtdorf (Second Counselor, First Presidency)

   Gratitude.  We should perhaps, not try to be grateful for what we have received, but cultivate a general attitude of gratefulness, regardless of how many blessings we thing we have received.
Use the bright light of revelation through the spirit to look past the bitter trials of life, and look to the glorious future the Savior has wrought.

   Three is something inside of us that seems to resist endings. Why?  Because we are made of the stuff of eternity.  Endings are not our destiny.  

Elder M. Russell Ballard (Quorum of the Twelve)

   64 years ago he returned from his mission, went to a dance, and met a girl named Barbara Bowen.  His mission taught him to follow up and be persistent, and that led to a date, and that date led to future dates.

   In Oct 2011, he gave a talk (The Importance of a Name) regarding the importance of calling the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by its true name, not as the Mormon Church.  He is following up.

   In Oct 2013, he asked members to find someone they could invite to hear the message of the restored gospel before the end of the year. Follow up.

   Inviting is part of the process, but there is more to missionary work than just that.

Jean A. Stevens. (1st counselor, Primary General Presidency)

   Our Father's Purpose is the help His Children.

Gary E Stevenson, Presiding Bishop.

   10 of the athletes in the recent Winter Olympic Games were member so fthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  3 of them won medals.  One was Noelle Pikus-Pace, who spent years preparing for the 4 minuts she would compete.  Her years of preparation paid off.  She knew that 4 minutes was all she had, so she prepared diligently.  (She wore her Young Women's medallion while she received her medal)  The Apostle Paul said to "Run the race, that you may win the prize."  We must prepare for the race of our life.
   The miracle of the Atonement can make up for

David A Bednar, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

   A friend of his, near the start his marriage, insisted that they needed a 4wd truck to go get milk for their children if there was a terrible snowstorm.  His wife replied that if they got that truck, they couldn't afford to buy milk.

Bearing a load is essential to the plan of salvation, but our individual load must be heavy enough to give us sufficient traction.