From Within the Shadows of the Everlasting Hills

Gorgeous picture taken from http://www.listentech.com/media/Main_lds_conference_center.jpg

Wasn't Conference so AWESOME?! I love the spiritual outpouring that we get to experience for the ENTIRE weekend twice a year during General Conference.  It really refreshes us and refocuses us on what we need to do.  So, here are some themes and highlights that I picked up on:

1) Share the gospel!
There was a lot of focus on this topic during the Saturday sessions.  President Monson began conference by telling us that now is the time for members and missionaries to work together!  I especially appreciated Elder Ballard's talk which addressed several of my own concerns with sharing the gospel.  It's natural to be apprehensive.  Pray for opportunities and don't be afraid of what you'll have to do.  Elder Nielsen of the 70 shared a lot of animation and enthusiasm about missionary work and sharing the gospel.  We should all be just as excited as he was!

2) Endure to the end!
There was a huge emphasis on this during the Sunday sessions.  Elder Scott talked about losing ourselves in service to others to help us endure and hold fast to the rod, like Elder Hamilton of the 70 reminded us.  President Monson reminded us that we truly need him every hour, whether rain or shine.  Elder Eyring mentioned that this life is to polish us to return to the presence of God.

3) The Law of Chastity
I really loved the laying down of the law by Elder Oaks on what exactly is allowed and that nothing else is appropriate.  Loved it.  SO much.  And Elder Nelson continued that theme, but with a different approach.  Both were extremely wonderful and extremely insightful.  If you have questions regarding what Mormons believe about marriage, homosexuality, and chastity.  Read/watch them.  They both hit it right on the head.

4) The Priesthood
If you know anything about what's happening in the church right now, then hopefully you loved Elder Andersen's talk as much as I did.  I was reminded of a lesson in one of my religion classes when my teacher (Anthony Sweat, if you're interested) taught us about the difference between Priesthood Power and Priesthood Offices.  We all have access to the power of the priesthood, simply by keeping his commandments and honoring our covenants.

I encourage everyone, LDS or not, to watch conference and learn what our modern day prophets and apostles have said and warned us against.  I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true.  I know that President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God and and he and the apostles speak with authority and revelation from God.  I know where I want to go and what I need to do to get there. Do you?

A Gathering Of Societal Members Who Provide Relief in A Religious Sort of Way

(pasted from http://www.ldschurchnews.com/media/photos/2012/60493-m.jpg)

Yesterday was the LDS General Relief Society Meeting!  It. Was. Phenomenal.  My lovely presidency and I got tickets to actually go to the conference center!  (Squee!!) So, at 3:30 we piled in my counselor's car and started our journey up to Salt Lake, which is only about an hour drive.  But it was quite the adventure ...

So we're cruising along down the interstate, and we're about 15 minutes away from Salt Lake, when our driver all of a sudden gets a nose bleed.  We then cross four lanes of traffic to stop at a McDonald's in South Jordan and try to get it to stop.  It took us 45 minutes ... 

Then we were off again still thinking we would be just fine on time, as it was 5 pm when we left the McDonald's which is, again, only 15 minutes away from Salt Lake and the broadcast didn't start until 6.  Only ... there were TWO accidents on the interstate.  TWO!  (We checked on the way back; it took us half an hour to go what should have taken us two minutes)  

By the time we had pulled in to Salt Lake and found our parking spot, it was 5:56 pm.  We started booking it for the conference center.  We got there and had to stand in line for probably about 5 minutes and then we were finally in!  By the time we found seats and got to actually sit down, it was 6:20 pm.  And it was an amazing meeting.  Just phenomenal.

Those ladies who were called and sustained at the last general conference to be our general relief society presidency?  They're inspiring, outstanding, and just grand.  

If you didn't get the opportunity to watch the broadcast, I strongly encourage you to do so.
Click here to watch the broadcast.

Oh yeah, another funny story.  There were these ladies standing on the corners of the crosswalk right across from the conference center handing out tissues.  They looked super nice and had name tags on, so we each grabbed a package of tissues.  I thought it was so nice and super sweet, and wondered if they did this for every conference.  I was so impressed, I took a picture of it:

Once we were in the doors, about to have our bags checked, we learn that they were not full of tissues as one would have supposed.  They were full of Anti-LDS literature.  These ladies had taken time to unwrap thousands of tissue packages and alternate the tissues with hateful and inappropriate words, re-wrap the packages, and then seal them with a ribbon and hand them to the thousands of women journeying to hear the words of our beloved presidency and prophet.  

I was so amazed that someone, anyone, would take so much time and effort to attempt to destroy a woman's faith in her religion!  I am still shocked that people go through such great efforts to try and tear down what you know to be true.  While members of the LDS faith do proselyte and send missionaries out, we do not attack any one's religion or beliefs.  If you believe something different than I do, then I respect your views; I don't try to prove them wrong.  I might try to teach you what my religion is all about, but I will not disrespect your religion nor will I tell you that you are wrong and I'm right.  You have the freedom to believe whatever you want; I think all men should be allowed that same privilege.  America was founded on the concept of freedom, particularly that of religion.  Why should LDS members be denied that privilege?

I know that the gospel is true and I will not be moved from it.  I will stand true to the faith that my parents, grandparents, and ancestors have cherished and suffered for.  I know it's true and whether you think it is or isn't doesn't change what I know.