I'm a Mormon, and I Love it!! And Other Reflections on Today's General Conference

 Holy Cow!!! I love conference!! Its my favorite. And this was one of my all time favorites ever- so far, it can only get more awesome. 

So, I have had a friend ask me my opinion on the changes to missionary service ages, in that guys can now go on missions at 18, as opposed to 19, and sisters at 19, instead of 21. I think its awesome, I wish I could have gone when I was 19, but I am glad I went when I was 22, it was the right time for me.  So What do I think about this change, well I think the rising generation have to grow up faster than we did, I think they are ready for this. I think sisters serving at 19 will have less of a maturity gap, so they will be less irritated and frustrated with their Elders immaturity. With the sisters still being a year older, it will help them be less likely to try to date each other than if the Elders were older, or if they were the same age. 
  I'll be honest, as a missionary cut off from dating  and even hugs from the opposite sex, sometimes it can make you a bit hormonal and wacky, so its important to still have some age difference with the sisters being older.  I think the option of going at 18 for the boys will be good because they can loose that awkward year gap between high school and a mission where some people just got lost out of sheer boredom and a lack of direction in life. I think this is a good thing all around. 
  Also, I think the rising generation will be prepared for this. I mean, Preach My Gospel came out in 2004- while I was on my mission. That is nearly a decade ago. When it came out it was Incorporated into Family Home Evenings and other such things, so these kids will have had PMG growing up, and hopefully will have the gospel more written in their hearts and souls.  I came out on my mission just as they switch from discussions to PMG and we came out on our missions ready and prepared by the Lord for that change. God is in charge of his missionary program, and directs his prophet how best to run it and when to make changes, this one is no different, so I am super excited for the missionaries that get to be a part of this. 

I have dedicated the bulk of my writing  to that, because I was asked a specific question, but some other talks that stood out  to me- First Elder Cooks talk was amazingly inspiring and comforting. He talked about repentance in a way that made it something everyone should want to do, and that was awesome. Loved IT! 

Sister Dibbs talk was the funnest most awesome talk ever from a YW general presidency member, and I am a Mormon, I know it, I live it , and I love it! 'Nuf said. 

I was grateful for the comforting talk to those who have lost children, I hope this was comforting to my friends who have lost children or that have sick children. I love them, and their sadness makes me sad too.  

This afternoon I really loved the last two talks. Especially Elder Oaks on Children and protecting them and putting them first. I loved that he addressed the importance of the family, of Traditional family, but I also loved that his talk talked of treating those who struggle with same gender attraction with love and kindness, not hatred and bullying.  Its important to treat all of Gods children with love and we are all Gods children- as was said in another talk.
 I believe the previous talk was Elder Neil Anderson, on trials of faith, when he talked about the older single adults struggling with being older single adults for their various reasons, I appreciated that part. It was very cool to hear the faith of other single adults who wait faithfully and patiently on the Lord for the time they can have marriage and the family they desire.  It can be a fiery trial, but trials of faith really can bring us closer to Christ. I wish I could go through each talk. I loved Elder Nelsons explanations to non-Mormons about missionaries and what they do, and Mormons and what we believe. The whole day was just incredibly wonderful and I am so grateful to have heard every word that I did (some technical difficulties during Elder Oaks talk.)   I also loved Elder Hawks talk about the Book of Mormon and its importancs to the descendants of Lehi. AWESOME!! I loved the whole thing, and I can't wait for more. AMEN to everything that was said. To see any of these talks please visit  http://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2012/10?lang=eng

General Conference is my FAVORITE!!!!

 Since the time I was  at least 12, perhaps earlier, my family has had a fun tradition at the time for the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
  For those who aren't familiar with this, every six months in April, and in October  all of our church  in the world meets together (via satellite broadcast, Internet, TV broadcast, or for those  who can come live in the conference center in salt lake as obviously 14 Million plus people cant all be in one place at once) to hear the words of the Prophets, Apostles, and other leaders of our church. 
  So the fun tradition usually involved food. My mom said since we were having a spiritual feast, we would also have a physical feast. My earliest memories involve conference bingo with m&ms . we played bingo to listen for common words or phrases in conference, when it was over we ate the m&m markers. As I got older it evolved into everyone getting to pick their favorite food, and my mom would cook it and we would have a feast while we watched.  Over time I became more interested in what was being said, then in the food. But we always had a lot of friends over to our house to watch conference. I love this. I love being gathered with others to listen to the words of the prophet
  Now I live far from my family, and I still carry on the tradition of the double conference feast. I decided the words should be the most important part so i try to get the food out before so its not so distracting. But as I had my friends over i really enjoyed the time we spent together.  This weekend I loved listening to the talks as always, because as always it related to things that I knew me and my friends needed to hear. 
  There was a talk about single parents, especially single moms. I have a lot of friends that are single moms, and it was so neat to hear the words of support and comfort to them. I have a friend that has a 17mo old son who has a very aggressive cancer.(See http://ourbravelittlelion.org/)  there were many talks that talked about sickness, and trials and shared very similar and applicable  stories and council for those struggling like my friend with such trials.  I cried as I thought of my friend, and was grateful for the words mentioned in the talks.  There were a TON of talks about the importance of family. At least twice it was said that "Families are the most important unit in time and eternity"  As we see the break down and decay of society around us, the lack of frame work that comes from good families that love each other and work for each other is apparent.  They talked alot about Grace, Jesus Christ, and his atoneing sacrifice for us, to over come trials, sin, and also to forgive and love  others. That was another prevalent theme. My favorite talk on this subject was by President Dieter F Uchtdorf  of the first presidency of the church. His simple council was to love one another, forgive one another, and if there is hate, envy, gossip, or hurtfulness toward others simply to "Stop it". Sister Julie b Beck talked about the wonderful and amazing things that women can do if we will catch vision of what we are supposed to be. It was two days , six hours of talks and singing by the Mormon Tabernacle choir. The song Come Thou Fount  was one of my favorite sung, and filled my heart with joy.  
   I know these men and women are inspired by God, their messages, if listened to, and followed would add greater strength to families and societies all over the world if headed, by members of my church, and non members alike. If you haven't had a chance to hear any of these talks, Check it out  http://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2012/04?lang=eng.
 I know that last April the words at spoken at this conference changed my life, it made me a better, less selfish, more forgiving, more loving of my family and friends kind of person, and I hope that I will apply the words I heard this weekend to do even better.  I love you all, and am grateful that God does indeed still speak to his children and give us direction, love and truth today. And I am grateful that so many friends came over this weekend to watch, and to eat food from Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Croatia, and Poland with me. It truly was a feast in ever sense of the word.

hello

well this is for all my friends who like blogs. I always swore I would never do one of these , but i have decided now that I will. Today I am watching the General conference of the Church of Jesus christ of laterday saints. I will not talk long, but I would like to share what I have enjoyed so far today. Elder Cook told us Not to judge eachother, but that "our obligation is to love and teach and never give up" I really like that. I think that never give up can mean so manythings. first never give up on others, and their ability to change their lives for the better, and to come unto christ. Second - never give up on living the gospel of jesus christ. Third - never give up on yourself. so let us love, teach, and never give up.