Women's Conference

The last two days were a spiritual feast for me. From 9-5 I listened to inspired messages with talks specifically for women. So many classes were offered. The hard part was choosing which ones to go to. Some of my favorite speakers were Sister's Virginia Pearce, Ann Dibb, Mary Cook, Julie Beck, Bridgette Server, Mary Edmunds, Susan Bednar and also Elder David Bednar.

Some thoughts or highlights that inspired me were:

1-Prayer rests on the principle of faith.
2-Prayer is an expression of agency
3-What legacy will I leave behind? How will I be remembered?
4-Be a guardian of VIRTUE by... 1-Knowing my Identity 2-Strengthening my testimony and 3-Being worthy of the Spirit.
5-Focus less on marrying the right person...BE the right person!
6-Do not get distracted or diverted from my noble responsibility as a woman.
7-Our responsibilities are non-negotiable & will not change because of worldly views.
8-When I remember HIM, it's easier to remember I don't need a rest from my duties.
9-It is more then benevolence, it is becoming like the Savior!
10-The greatest battle of life is fought in the silent chambers of the heart.
11-Being a faithful disciple is the purpose behind every calling in the church.
12-Frankly Forgive. Desire, decision, & determination are the 3 D's of success!
13-The Lord ministers one by one, and accomplishes by small and simple means.
14-Measured steadiness is more efficient then spurts. We need to become intelligent drip irrigators in our own lives.
15-Spiritual patterns are essential in avoiding Satan's power.

So rewarding, so exhausting, and so worth going!

Emptiness

Yesterday I was talking to a friend about bad habits or worldly things. The kind of things we fill up our lives with to make us temporarily feel better. Examples being drugs, alcohol, TV, food, shopping, etc... I was touched that he was so passionate and said all of those things make you feel empty...the only thing that fills us is the gospel of Jesus Christ. I had never thought of it that way before, but it has continually crossed my thoughts today.

Emotions have haunted me a lot lately. Maybe I am trying to fill that void, figure out happiness, I just don't know. I read in Mosiah 5 this morning...

"Under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives."

What a great promise! I would love to be made free of so many things. Taking the name of Christ upon me has only brought happiness, peace and contentment in my life. So why do I try to fill it with other things?

Happy Easter

I woke up early this morning with gratitude in my heart for the Atonement of my Savior! The song "How Great Thou Art" kept running through my head. Without the sacrifice of Jesus Christ I would not be able to repent (which I need to do so badly everyday), have my sins forgiven, be strengthened through my trials, and feel how much He truly loves me. I was very humbled to think that I really cannot comprehend everything He went through for me! I love Him so much!!! The version of "How Great Thou Art" below by Carrie Underwood may express a little of what I feel.

Even more important is the Easter message below. I cannot stop watching it, I love it. This Easter I feel a little more closer to my Savior because I have been working so hard on strengthening my relationship with Him. May I never take for granted the gifts He has given me by serving my fellow man and loving all.

Our way or His way

"Clearly anyone who thinks Jesus taught no-fault theology did not read the fine print in the contract! No, in matters of discipleship the Church is not a fast-food outlet; we can’t always have it “our way.” Some day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ and that salvation can only come His way."
-Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Read the fine print in the picture, pretty entertaining too. Love, love, love this quote by Elder Holland!

Worth

"Neither professions nor possessions should define identity or self-worth. The Savior, for example, was a humble carpenter, but that hardly defined His life."
-Elder Lynn Robbins

The Golden Rule

Recently I have been bugged by something. I'm sure a lot of you are also bugged by this. I truly believe if I were with the Savior I would have His full attention...that is why I really liked this Mormon Ad.



I also really liked the scripture shown in the video, Matthew 7:12 "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." I am not perfect, therefore I guess I need to keep this golden rule scripture in mind when it comes to how I should also treat others.

Plain Words

Conference was such an uplifting event. I love the renewed feeling I get when I listen to the words of the Prophet and Apostles. I think it is really important to remember why we have conference and are given counsel. Right after conference I read 2 Nephi 25, which taught about this.

This is Nephi, the Prophet, speaking of Isaiah's prophecies...

"...Behold, my people, ye are a stiffnecked people; wherefore, I have spoken plainly unto you, that ye cannot misunderstand. And the words which I have spoken shall stand as a testimony against you; for they are sufficient to teach any man the right way; for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law.

And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out."

Each of the speakers so eloquently testified of Christ and exhorted us to believe in Him and to Repent. I think it's amazing that there are no assigned topics and each speaker can teach people in different ways because of the Spirit. Some speak very plainly, while others require a dictionary to comprehend. I am just glad my testimony of Jesus Christ was strengthened and I also figured out what I need to work on.

For the Beauty of the Earth

Today when I was running I couldn't help but notice how gorgeous Spring is! It made me think of the songs All Creatures of our God and King and For the Beauty of the Earth. I love the first two verses of For the Beauty of the Earth...



1. For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,

[Chorus]
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

2. For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flow’r,
Sun and moon, and stars of light

I recently started reading the Bible again and was reminded of how good God's Creation's are. "And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."



Some of my favorite things about Spring "goodness" are:
1-Lily of the Valley, they smell divine (Pictured to the right)
2-Blossoming trees with snow on them
3-How green the grass is
4-The magnolia trees that are on BYU campus that to me always said, "It's almost the end of the semester!"
5-Noticing the Forsythia Bushes on fire because of my Mom
6-Having my bulbs, that I planted actually bloom
7-The daffodils that grow wild in Missouri, especially near my grandma's house. I was always jealous that Utah didn't have "wild" daffodils

So what are you waiting for? Get out there enjoy God's creations!