It will never cease to amaze me the way that General Conference reminds me of the EXACT answers to things that have been on my mind for months.
How God is literally SO AWARE of what we need and is willing to give us the blessings we are searching for. Even when they weren't questions I even knew I had, but just things that I have been personally pondering about. Things I needed to be reassured and reminded of before I even knew I needed it.
First session Saturday morning, VERY FIRST talk:
Maybe some of you are at this exact
moment asking yourselves, “Elder Soares, I have been doing all these
things and have been following this model both individually and as a
family, but unfortunately, some of my friends or dear ones have
distanced themselves from the Lord. What should I do?” For those of you
who are right now experiencing these feelings of sadness, agony, and
maybe regret, please know that they are not totally lost because the
Lord knows where they are and is watching over them. Remember, they are
His children too!
It is hard to
understand all the reasons why some people take another path. The best
we can do in these circumstances is just to love and embrace them, pray
for their well-being, and seek for the Lord’s help to know what to do
and say. Sincerely rejoice with them in their successes; be their
friends and look for the good in them. We should never give up on them
but preserve our relationships. Never reject or misjudge them. Just love
them!
And then I picked my open mouth up off of the floor and thanked Heavenly Father for showing me just how much He loves every single one of His children and how mindful he is of me. But the insight and inspiration did not stop with the first talk. It was a theme throughout conference for me.
I also plead with you not to be critical of others making this same journey. “Judgment is mine, saith the Lord.”We are each in the process of growth and change.
-Becky Craven
"Trust the Lord to work His miracles. Understand that it’s not your job to convert people. That is the role of the Holy Ghost. Your role is to share what is in your heart and live consistent with your beliefs."
Believe. Love. Do
-Elder Uchtdorf
Don't give up. People change.
No one is too far gone, and it’s never too late for the Savior’s loving reach.
We must remember that it is never too late and no one has ever wandered so far from the path that he or she is beyond the reach of the infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ, which is limitless in its duration and scope.
-Elder Waddell
I had recently been asking myself other questions about prayer and God's role in answering them too. And there were more than one talk about those exact things!
The Father is aware of us, knows our needs, and will help us perfectly. Sometimes that help is given in the very moment or at least soon after we ask for divine help. Sometimes our most earnest and worthy desires are not answered in the way we hope, but we find that God has greater blessings in store.
When our worthy desires are not granted in the way we had hoped, it may actually be for our ultimate benefit.
And sometimes, the answer to prayer that we so righteously, desperately, and earnestly seek is not given in this life.
Sometimes He needs you to learn something, and so He doesn’t give you everything you want. Sometimes you have to wait. Heavenly Father and the Savior know best what is good for us and what we need. So They aren’t going to grant you everything you want in the moment you want it.
The activation energy needed for blessings requires more than just looking or asking; ongoing, repeated, faith-filled actions are required.
If a desired blessing from God has not been received—yet—you do not need to go crazy, wondering what more you need to do. Instead, heed Joseph Smith’s counsel to “cheerfully do all things that lie in [your] power; and then … stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the … arm [of God] … revealed.” Some blessings are reserved for later, even for the most valiant of God’s children.
-Elder Renlund
What is popular is not always what is best. Halting between two opinions brings no direction. Convenience rarely leads to things that matter. Fixation on a single voice or issue can impair our ability to see. And relying solely upon our own thinking can lead us into a hyperintellectual stupor of thought.
Answers are sometimes slow to come. This can be because it is not the right time, because an answer is not needed, or because God trusts us to make the decision ourselves.
The more diligently we seek His voice, the easier it becomes to hear. It is not that His voice gets louder but that our ability to hear it has increased.
-Elder Homer
I also plead with you not to be critical of others making this same journey. “Judgment is mine, saith the Lord.”We are each in the process of growth and change.
-Becky Craven
"Trust the Lord to work His miracles. Understand that it’s not your job to convert people. That is the role of the Holy Ghost. Your role is to share what is in your heart and live consistent with your beliefs."
Believe. Love. Do
-Elder Uchtdorf
Don't give up. People change.
No one is too far gone, and it’s never too late for the Savior’s loving reach.
We must remember that it is never too late and no one has ever wandered so far from the path that he or she is beyond the reach of the infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ, which is limitless in its duration and scope.
-Elder Waddell
I had recently been asking myself other questions about prayer and God's role in answering them too. And there were more than one talk about those exact things!
The Father is aware of us, knows our needs, and will help us perfectly. Sometimes that help is given in the very moment or at least soon after we ask for divine help. Sometimes our most earnest and worthy desires are not answered in the way we hope, but we find that God has greater blessings in store.
When our worthy desires are not granted in the way we had hoped, it may actually be for our ultimate benefit.
And sometimes, the answer to prayer that we so righteously, desperately, and earnestly seek is not given in this life.
Sometimes He needs you to learn something, and so He doesn’t give you everything you want. Sometimes you have to wait. Heavenly Father and the Savior know best what is good for us and what we need. So They aren’t going to grant you everything you want in the moment you want it.
The activation energy needed for blessings requires more than just looking or asking; ongoing, repeated, faith-filled actions are required.
If a desired blessing from God has not been received—yet—you do not need to go crazy, wondering what more you need to do. Instead, heed Joseph Smith’s counsel to “cheerfully do all things that lie in [your] power; and then … stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the … arm [of God] … revealed.” Some blessings are reserved for later, even for the most valiant of God’s children.
-Elder Renlund
What is popular is not always what is best. Halting between two opinions brings no direction. Convenience rarely leads to things that matter. Fixation on a single voice or issue can impair our ability to see. And relying solely upon our own thinking can lead us into a hyperintellectual stupor of thought.
Answers are sometimes slow to come. This can be because it is not the right time, because an answer is not needed, or because God trusts us to make the decision ourselves.
The more diligently we seek His voice, the easier it becomes to hear. It is not that His voice gets louder but that our ability to hear it has increased.
-Elder Homer
I had also been asking myself how not only me, but my family can KNOW what is true. And of course the prophet and apostles addressed those concerns too! 3 for 3 guys.
“In this life, you have never settled for second best in anything. Yet, as you resist fully embracing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, you are choosing to settle for second best.
If you truly love your family and if you desire to be exalted with them throughout eternity, pay the price now—through serious study and fervent prayer—to know these eternal truths and then to abide by them.
“If you are not sure you even believe in God, start there. Understand that in the absence of experiences with God, one can doubt the existence of God. So, put yourself in a position to begin having experiences with Him. Humble yourself. Pray to have eyes to see God’s hand in your life and in the world around you. Ask Him to tell you if He is really there—if He knows you. Ask Him how He feels about you. And then listen.”
Now, as President of His Church, I plead with you who have distanced yourselves from the Church and with you who have not yet really sought to know that the Savior’s Church has been restored. Do the spiritual work to find out for yourselves, and please do it now. Time is running out.
-President Nelson
“In this life, you have never settled for second best in anything. Yet, as you resist fully embracing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, you are choosing to settle for second best.
If you truly love your family and if you desire to be exalted with them throughout eternity, pay the price now—through serious study and fervent prayer—to know these eternal truths and then to abide by them.
“If you are not sure you even believe in God, start there. Understand that in the absence of experiences with God, one can doubt the existence of God. So, put yourself in a position to begin having experiences with Him. Humble yourself. Pray to have eyes to see God’s hand in your life and in the world around you. Ask Him to tell you if He is really there—if He knows you. Ask Him how He feels about you. And then listen.”
Now, as President of His Church, I plead with you who have distanced yourselves from the Church and with you who have not yet really sought to know that the Savior’s Church has been restored. Do the spiritual work to find out for yourselves, and please do it now. Time is running out.
-President Nelson
"Our purpose must be to increase faith in God and in His divine plan of happiness and
in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice and to achieve lasting
conversion. Such increased faith and conversion will help us make and
keep covenants with God, thus strengthening our desire to follow Jesus
and producing a genuine spiritual transformation in us. This transformation will bring us a more happy, productive, and healthy life and help us to maintain an eternal perspective.
Parents have a sacred responsibility to teach their children the importance of God [and Jesus Christ] in their lives."
We should learn to discern the truth not only through our rational minds but also through the very still and small voice of the Spirit, which speaks especially to our hearts.
If we rely only on our rational mind and deny or neglect the spiritual understanding we can receive through the whisperings and impressions of the Holy Ghost, it is as if we were going through life with only one eye.
-Elder Held
We should learn to discern the truth not only through our rational minds but also through the very still and small voice of the Spirit, which speaks especially to our hearts.
If we rely only on our rational mind and deny or neglect the spiritual understanding we can receive through the whisperings and impressions of the Holy Ghost, it is as if we were going through life with only one eye.
-Elder Held
I'm not just supposed to teach my children ABOUT God and Jesus Christ, but about WHY they are
important in their lives. They need to understand the core doctrine of
the plan of happiness and His Atonement in order to achieve lasting conversion
because a foundation built on anything else will not stand. Their own
personal experiences to rely on and knowledge of how to receive the
answers they need is essential. It's about focusing on what matters.
Learn. Live. Become.
If all you or I know about Jesus Christ and His restored gospel is what other people teach or tell us, then the foundation of our testimony of Him and His glorious latter-day work is built upon sand. We cannot rely exclusively upon or borrow gospel light and knowledge from other people—even those whom we love and trust.
Reading the experience of others, or the revelation given to them, can never give us a comprehensive view of our condition and true relation to God. Knowledge of these things can only be obtained by experience through the ordinances of God set forth for that purpose.”
-Elder Bednar
I have lastly been thinking a lot about what the doctrine or gospel of Christ is. What are the key elements that Christ's church needs to have? How do those things affect my life? Why are they worth considering? Does knowing what is true matter?
Joseph F. Smith said: “The true, pure, simple gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. The true, pure, and simple gospel is the “saving doctrines of Christ.”
“Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby [we] can be saved;
Brothers and sisters, do the best you can do day after day, and before you know it, you will come to realize that your Heavenly Father knows you and that He loves you. And when you know that—really know it—your life will have real purpose and meaning and you will be filled with joy and peace.
-Elder Ballard
Truth shows us the way to eternal life, and it comes only through our Savior, Jesus Christ. There is no other way.
No choice, no alternative that denies the companionship of the Holy Ghost or the blessings of eternity is worthy of our consideration.
He is the source of all truth that really matters.
-Elder Anderson
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ's church on the earth, more than ever I know this. It is built upon a foundation of apostles and prophets, leading us to Jesus Christ and reminding us of His Atonement and how He is our Savior. Because of Him there is always hope. He has saved us and how and what He saves us from is the most important thing anyone could ever know. "Our inability to "know it all" does not absolve the need to know what is knowable."
He lives.
So pretty much General Conference is the best. Getting answers, feeling the Spirit; all are the best!
Mango Sticky Rice is the best. Homemade chocolate with Reese's Peanut Butter Cup ice cream in a sugar cone is the best.
And all the good food we ate over the weekend including avocado egg rolls, bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers and Kyle's homemade, smoked french dip sandwiches- thee best!
Learn. Live. Become.
If all you or I know about Jesus Christ and His restored gospel is what other people teach or tell us, then the foundation of our testimony of Him and His glorious latter-day work is built upon sand. We cannot rely exclusively upon or borrow gospel light and knowledge from other people—even those whom we love and trust.
Reading the experience of others, or the revelation given to them, can never give us a comprehensive view of our condition and true relation to God. Knowledge of these things can only be obtained by experience through the ordinances of God set forth for that purpose.”
-Elder Bednar
I have lastly been thinking a lot about what the doctrine or gospel of Christ is. What are the key elements that Christ's church needs to have? How do those things affect my life? Why are they worth considering? Does knowing what is true matter?
Joseph F. Smith said: “The true, pure, simple gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. The true, pure, and simple gospel is the “saving doctrines of Christ.”
“Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby [we] can be saved;
Brothers and sisters, do the best you can do day after day, and before you know it, you will come to realize that your Heavenly Father knows you and that He loves you. And when you know that—really know it—your life will have real purpose and meaning and you will be filled with joy and peace.
-Elder Ballard
Truth shows us the way to eternal life, and it comes only through our Savior, Jesus Christ. There is no other way.
No choice, no alternative that denies the companionship of the Holy Ghost or the blessings of eternity is worthy of our consideration.
He is the source of all truth that really matters.
-Elder Anderson
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ's church on the earth, more than ever I know this. It is built upon a foundation of apostles and prophets, leading us to Jesus Christ and reminding us of His Atonement and how He is our Savior. Because of Him there is always hope. He has saved us and how and what He saves us from is the most important thing anyone could ever know. "Our inability to "know it all" does not absolve the need to know what is knowable."
He lives.
Mango Sticky Rice is the best. Homemade chocolate with Reese's Peanut Butter Cup ice cream in a sugar cone is the best.
And all the good food we ate over the weekend including avocado egg rolls, bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers and Kyle's homemade, smoked french dip sandwiches- thee best!
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