General Conference - Sunday Morning Session

Here are my notes from General Conference on Sunday:

1st Speaker: President Thomas S. Monson

• 7 years since he was first sustained as the prophet
• There are 144 temples in operation and about 20 more in renovation or under construction
• 3 new temples: Ivory Coast, Haiti, Thailand
• I sat next to an RM on the plane who served his mission in Thailand - I bet he is just totally pumped with this announcement
• He shared a great story about a YM who was worried about returning to the mission field after a medical leave. He was in the temple praying for comfort and guidance when an RM from the exact same mission came up to him and helped him through his worries and provided deep comfort to him. His prayer was answered! It was definitely an answer to his prayers - another convincing story that this work is REAL!!! God lives and he is watching out for each and every one of us! We just need to reach out in prayer and have faith!

2nd Speaker: Rosemary Wixom - Primary Presidency

• Spoke of the simple truths of the Gospel that are expressed and learned in Primary songs
• Told story of a young lady whose testimony was based on the simple gospel truths found in Primary Songs

3rd Speaker: Jose Texilica

• A great talk - speaks of the dangers of digital devices when overused
• Shows a photo of a girl on a train - looking at her phone. He mentions that her "message" to everyone else is that although she is physically on the train, she isn't really there - she's focused on her phone and the activity she is involved in - she's "unavailable". Interesting...
• We need to be much more sensistive about our use of electronics
• He guides us to subscribe to the Church's social networks so that we can receive the good teachings of the church!
• We should make time to set aside our electronics so that we have time to be with our family and build face-2-face relationships with our loved ones. We need to make a habit of setting aside our devices: life is not a 4" screen.

4th Speaker: Gerald Causse - Presiding Bishopric

• Special for Amy and I - this great man was the Stake President during our missions in Paris
• In no previous dispensation have there been so many missionaries, countries open to the Gospel, temples - gives us incredible opportunities to work on our personal conversion - to build our testimonies
• Message is to three things
• 1) Never tire of discovering or re-discovering the blessings and fruits of the Gospel. We should hunger and thrist after special Gospel experiences everyday! The Gospel is a fountain of knowledge that never runs dry!
• 2) Anchor you faith in the plain and simple truths of the Gospel. This should be our focus.
• 3) Seek and share the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Very important! Never do anything to lose this precious gift and companion!!
• These three points are meant to help us keep our "senses from becoming dull" to the magic and blessings of the Gospel. I definitely need this!!
• All of the gifts of the Gospel are anchored in the Atonement of Jesus Christ - this is the key to everything we do!

5th Speaker: Brent H. Nielsen of the Seventy

• Speaks of the parable of the prodigal son.
• Tells the story of his sister who left the church - she was led away by anti-mormon teachings about the early leaders of the church
• They tried many things to help her - but any active or direct help only pushed her further away.
• After prayer, they decided to just continue to love her and care for her, regardless of her feelings. They just continually loved her - didn't push her, but just loved her. She was always invited to family events.
• Family was also there to support her in her successes as well as her trials.
• After 12 years, things began to change - 3 years later, she watched General Conference and was touched by the messages of the prophets. She was re-awakened and she came to know what she was missing. Like the prodigal son, she has come home.
• It took 15 years, but with faith, patience, love - they can come home
• Great ending - he realized that he was also the prodigal son - our Heavenly Father is the father - we are all trying to come home and we are sinners and "prodigal" to some degree or another.

6th Speaker: Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

• Great story about 2 brothers rock climbing. The younger saves the older brother from dying
• On Easter Sunday - we should remember that our Brother - Christ - is there to save us if we will just let us!
• Adam & Eve - we can't talk about the Atonement and Christ's suffering for us unless we talk about Adam and Eve and their transgression
• After Adam & Eve - all men were desitined for death - to have children and then die - that was the next step without the Savior!!
• In Adam - all die, but in Christ - all live forever!
• On Easter - we celebrate the gift of victory - over every fall, every fear, every mis-step, every sin we've ever had! Christ has done this for each of us!!
• Again - an incredible talk from Elder Holland!!

7th Speaker: President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

• Thanks to the resurrection and Atonement of Jesus Christ - the grave has no sting and Satan has no lasting power!
• Although we will often (and should often) speak of Christ, prophesy of Christ, etc (2 Nephi 25:26), we should never stop being in awe of the miracle of the Atonement! The incredible gifts that come from such an awesome blessing!
• Topic is Grace:
• 1: Grace unlocks the gates of Heaven
• All of us are unworthy to enter the gates of heaven on our own. The law of justice is a barrier against us entering the kindgom of heaven without Grace!! Grace unlocks the gate!!
• To inherit the Kingdom of God, we need more than an unlocked gate! We need to change - we need to go through the gate!
• 2: Grace opens the windows of Heaven
• It is by God's amazing grace that we can overcome the quicksand of the deceiver!
• Through Grace - weak things can become strong!
• His Grace refines us - it helps us become our best selves
• Who are we most like? Simon - comfortable in our righteousness, checking off our "to-do" list of righteous deeds, checking our cell phone during sacrament? Or the Woman - knowing our weakness and the power of the Atonement and seeking to wash the feet of the Savior through service of others - with no thought of our own "gain"
• We are saved by Grace "after" all that we can do - not "because" all that we can do!! Great ending to make sure that we all understand - Grace is a gift from God - we get in no matter how great or weak our works are!