Lessons from Conference

It's hard to believe that another six months have passed, but there they went! General Conference was again a spiritual feast. On the 75th anniversary of the creation of the Church Welfare Program, the Saints were admonished to serve more fully there fellow man and woman. We were taught to do so in love and kindness, and let the blessings flow thereafter. I was personally grateful for this admonition, as I was reminded of the essence of existence. We were also again reminded that learning takes place not in a single flash, but "line upon line, precept upon precept." this goes for our testimonies, and for any other inspiration that we receive via the Holy Ghost. Here are some other talks that I found particularly impactful:

Elder Dallin H. Oaks--On Desires

On Saturday Afternoon Elder Oaks spoke of our desires. He outlined some basic desires that we all have, and how our actions are often framed by our desires to fill basic needs like hunger, shelter, and sleep. Elder Oaks then explained that sometimes we can override these desires, as long as we have faith in blessings that can come as we do so. He laid out a diagram for human behavior, noting that desires dictate our priorities, which dictate our choices and subsequent actions. Because of this pattern, it is ever so important that we have a vision of what we can become when we continually live the Gospel, that we have a strengthened desire for righteousness.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf--The Road to Damascus

President Uchtdorf's talk given in the Sunday Morning Session was a serious talk that enlightened me as I try to procure the blessings that the Lord has in store for me. He said that the heavens are open, and we should acknowledge that truth; but how often do we sit idly by, waiting for some sort of miracle to happen, going through the motions? Are we waiting on the road to Damascus for the Lord to visit us in a vision or other powerful manifestation? President Uchtdorf said, "those who diligently seek to know the Christ will eventually come to know Him, piece by piece, until we recognize the grand beauty of it all." He went on to tell us that revelation often does not come personally to us as we might expect, but through trusted friends and family members who serve as instruments in the hands of the Lord. President Uchtdorf illustrated that such opportunities abound, but it is when we are thinking of ourselves that we miss them. He stressed the importance of serving others, for "by becoming the answer to someone's prayer, we come to find the answers to our own."

President Thomas S. Monson--Priesthood Session

Although all the talks were great, I was most struck by the words spoken by our prophet in Priesthood Session. In this talk he was probably more glib than I have ever remembered, speaking his mind about some observations over the last six months. He noted that the world's "moral compass has gone to the 'almost anything goes' position," and it is our job to turn the dial back to the principles of righteousness. He spoke to the young single men of the Church, saying that too many of us are hanging out in packs, not desiring courtship or marriage. He showed that this problem is not new, that even Harold B. Lee spoke of the malady so pervasive among the young single adults. He counseled us to take the initiative, "choose [our] love, and love [our] choice." He told us that it's not so much about marrying the right person, but being the right person for a happy marriage. He also counseled that thereafter that divorce does not have to be the outcome, and that most often if couples just truly remember their covenants made to each other, that they with the Lord can overcome any hardship.

Again, we were richly fed this weekend. We were also richly admonished; no one who has heard the words of the prophets of God should say that they were unwarned. Tougher times are ahead of us, where it will not be easy or popular to be a Latter-day Saint. Now is the time to raise our standard of living. We should not let those around us from influencing us to think otherwise. Let us in renewed effort be Saints, made holy through the Atonement wrought by the Savior of all mankind, even Jesus Christ.