Thoughts on Conference—October 2009
(including the Relief Society session, but not the Priesthood session)


It seemed to me that every talk wove its way in and around these subjects, forming a rich and full picture of a new way of living. It feels like a giant step forward in a really good direction. In short, focus on particular essentials and achieve a greater oneness with God, peace of mind and happiness. (And forward goes the church by leaps and bounds!)


ESSENTIAL THINGS
Julie B. Beck—get rid of non-essentials/put in place unstarted essentials
***** Ann M. Dibb—personal safety-prayer, scripture study
*** David A. Bednar—more diligent and concerned at home
Joseph Sitati—Family Home Evening, family prayer, family scripture study
Jeffrey R. Holland—Book of Mormon
Pres. Monson—loving, serving
LOVE
***** Pres. Uchtdorf—Love-of God and people around us-is a disciple’s defining quality
Dallin Oaks—God’s laws an evidence of His love
Pres. Eyring—Love the motivating principle that leads us to improvement
Silvia Allred—God’s love shines to other people through me!
David A. Bednar—Express and show love in home, sincerely and frequently
Pres. Eyring (R.S.)—Charity has its foundation in Atonement

CONNECTION TO GOD/PERSONAL GUIDANCE OF HOLY GHOST
***** Richard G. Scott—how to increase ability to be led by the Spirit
Boyd K. Packer—gifts of earth life-guidance by Light of Christ, communication with God
Russell M. Nelson—receiving personal revelation
Robert D. Hales—knowing God lives
Neil L. Anderson—Prayer-earnestly seeking acceptance of the Lord
Jorge F. Zabellos—we can live with God again/being whole
Joseph Sitati—all people can get same blessings from God/live celestially here
Barbara Thompson—close the gap between ‘believing’ you’re a daughter of God and ‘knowing’ you are a precious beloved daughter of God

SOFT HEART
***** Michael T. Ringwood—cultivate softness of heart, easiness of belief (leads to outpouring of spirit)
Dale G. Renlund—self-diagnose your spiritual heart to keep it soft
Pres. Eyring (R.S.)—legacy of Relief Society passed heart to heart

KINDNESS/SERVICE TO OTHERS
***** Pres. Monson—less busyness in our lives, more service to others
*** Quentin L. Cook—engage in kindness
Pres. Uchtdorf—Love at the center of everything we do in family and callings
Pres. Eyring (R.S.)—He lives! Serve others with Him.
Julie B. Beck—visiting teaching 2nd most important way to influence the world for good (#1 way is in my family)
Silvia Allred—invite those not involved in Relief Society to participate/exemplify being different in happy ways for growth of the church


FIRMNESS OF BELIEF
***** Jeffrey R. Holland—in the Book of Mormon; study it to avoid being deceived
*** Tad P. Callister—Joseph Smith-truths he learned
Barbara Thompson—mind the gap between ‘believing’ in Jesus Christ and ‘being valiant in testimony’ and following Him
L. Tom Perry—show our firmness with our work (like pioneers building temples)
Robert D. Hales—How can I know God lives in the face of secularism?
Jorge F. Zabellos—We can be whole without being perfect.

IMPROVING SELF (Misc.)
Pres. Eyring—It’s important to do!
*** D. Todd Christofferson—Moral discipline
Kent D. Watson—Temperance
H. David Burton—‘ity’ traits
David A. Bednar—Hypocrisy

TEACHING
***** Russell T. Ogusthorpe—how to teach to save lives
*** Vicki Matsumori—help others understand how Holy Ghost prompts their life
Julie B. Beck—improving visiting teaching
David A. Bednar—bear testimony in home
H. David Burton—teaching virtuous traits begins in home
Brent A. Nielson—prepare rising generation because they’re going forth to teach the nations
Michael T. Ringwood—people have times in their life when it’s easier for them to believe; teach them then
D. Todd Christofferson—instill faith and moral discipline in rising generation

HAPPINESS/PEACE OF MIND
***** Jorge F. Zabellos—Feeling good about ourselves without being perfect
*** L. Whitney Clayton—Burdens can be blessings; submit cheerfully, with patience
Barbara Thompson—need to be able to recognize the Lord’s approval
Kent D. Watson—Temperance leads to peace of mind, happiness
Neil L. Anderson—Repent, seek acceptance of Lord means happiness ahead
Julie B. Beck—feel love of God as you meet others’ needs
Pres. Eyring (R.S.)—We feel His joy as we serve others with him


***** Headlining talk on the subject
*** also a powerful and focused talk on the subject

Okay, this is a scrappy post. But look! I got picture on it! :)
The deal is that we went on a campus tour at BYU. Some of us rode in a large golf cart and everything, while some of the rest of us toured the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum with Andrew.
After the tour, Daniel and Paul and I watched a movie about the early days of BY Academy. I thought of Grandma Lewis and her short stint in Provo and her sorrow all the rest of her days for not being able to finish her education here.
I thought of her son being able to come to BYU. Then his children...and now the next generation.
I got so emotional. I think I believe that the righteous desires of our hearts and the sacrifices we make for good can influence our posterity for generations.
I believe that Grandma's dreams are coming true through her posterity and that she is so pleased. What do you think?
And how do I get my picture right side up?

Holiday thoughts

Halloween makes doing a paper route in the darkness of the early morning hours very interesting. Paul, my paper route buddy, was the first to mention it. Just about everybody has decorated their porches for the season. You've got to be careful when you throw the 'pape' so you don't break people's ceramic pumpkins or lose the newspaper behind the decorations. The biggest problem, tho, is trying not to jump out of your skin when you're surprised by a new full-size scarecrow or witch or grim reaper standing by SO many of their front doors.

If I were any good at this blogging stuff...and if I had a digital camera...and if I could talk Paul into it, we'd go to 2501 Peachwood Way (weekend paper only :) ) and pose him with an unsavory-stuffed-something perched in the middle of the lawn that was suddenly there one dark morning. And we'd post that picture with this blog. We'd title it, "I came this close to punching it right in the face, Mom...really!" :)

My totally unrelated holiday thoughts are these: When did we start having Halloween parties the first part of October? And parties every day the week of Halloween? When did everybody start stringing Halloween lights on their house and decorating yards and porches to the hilt? When did chains of temporary Halloween stores start popping up in abandoned retail buildings? What exactly are we celebrating with such fervor? and Who would ever buy 15-inch high zombie babies with glowing red eyes and heads that pop off?

It's starting to seem like the anti-Christmas to me...

REAL DAUGHTER!!!!!!!

This is my really real favorite daughter. When Alyssa is home she doesn't make any messes. She eats tortillas and cheese. I also don't have to nag her to be quiet and go to bed. She is the sweetest to her little siblings and loves to be a happy person. Alyssa IS my favorite daughter of all!!