General Conference!!

Here's some of what I got out of the Saturday sessions:
1. When we are being told by numerous speakers how important the Spirit is in our lives I think we need to sit up and pay attention! I thought Richard G. Scott's comments on needing to struggle to learn how to be lead by the spirit were good (too often we seem to think it should come easy!) I also really liked his comment that "The Lord will not force you to learn." It's always our choice. We also need to be careful because "strong emotions overcome the delicate promptings of the spirit."
2. Still on the subject of the Holy Ghost was Sister Matsumori's counsel that we need to create an environment where we can listen to the spirit. We need to turn off the tv, radio, video games, electronics, etc. and have quiet time so that the spirit can reach us. This is becoming more and more important in our lives today.
3. L. Whitney Clayton reminded me of the perspective that our burdens can become blessings, but it's often not apparent until much later. Burdens also provide opportunities for us to practice virtues. Sin is among the heaviest burdens we bear, but Christ helps relieve us of that burden through repentance and forgiveness.
4. I loved the comments by Russell T. Osguthorpe: When we receive the truth we will be saved by it if we act on it. Learning and teaching are not optional, they are both a necessary part of the gospel.
5. I think David A. Bednar's talk was a good reminder that we need to practice the virtues of love at home first. Saying "I love you" has never been hard for David, Aimee and I, but I think we needed the counsel to make sure our love is reflected through words AND deeds. We should never assume that someone knows we love them- we should work to show them. I also appreciated the counsel to be consistent and avoid hypocrisy. Growing up I saw a lot of hypocrisy in some of the adults in my life and I always found it hard to listen to their counsel when I could see that they didn't live it... I love the reminder that I need to be careful of doing the same.
6. Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk on what we, as members, want to be known for. He had a couple of statements that really hit home for me: What we think and do determines who we are and what we will become. This is something that I've known on a certain level and have been working on, but the way he said it and in the context of this talk touched me. I also loved the statements: that at the heart of joy is the love of good things, and "though we are incomplete God loves us completely; though we are imperfect God loves us perfectly."
7. Neil L. Andersen's talk on Repentance was such a beautiful reminder that the Savior is able and eager to forgive our sins. Repentance is a journey and not a one-time event. It is a turning away from bad things and turning instead to good things and to God.
8. Boyd K. Packer's statements to "keep our mind clean of the clutter of the world" and that "Prayer is your personal key to heaven and the lock is on your side of the door."

There were a lot more great moments and incredible counsel but I can't write notes fast enough to accurately record them. I can't wait for next month's Ensign to show up in the mail so I can go over the talks again and pick out more of the parts that really touched my heart. I'm grateful that as I was listening to many of these talks I heard counsel given that was very pertinent and specific to challenges that my family and I have been facing. What a huge blessing! I can't wait for tomorrow!

If you would like to listen to counsel from a modern day Prophet, Apostles and leaders, go to: http://www.lds.org/broadcast/gc/0,5161,8870,00.html or watch it on BYU-TV. It's on at 12:00pm and 4:00pm Eastern time.