"Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings on us!"

It was a beautiful (rainy) weekend!!!...which was so appropriate, because as President Uchtdorf reminded us Saturday evening at the General Women's Meeting, "Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings on us!"  This was one of my favorite quotes of the night, but I was inspired by all the messages and the chance to gather as sisters and learn and feel the Spirit.

One of President Uchtdorf's main messages to me was to "discover your real self."  We need to get rid of selfish desires and ambitions and remember that we are children of God!  That truth teaches us of our origin, our purpose, and our destiny.  It can inspire us to accomplish remarkable things and bring us unfathomable blessings as we faithfully keep all the commandments.  The sweet international version of the opening song was probably what helped me remember and discover my real self the best today - I Love to See the Temple.

I loved the messages about the temple - preparing ourselves for the temple, making our homes like the temple - a place we can feel the Spirit - by consistently making correct choices.  I thought this was a really profound statement by Sister Jean A. Stevens, "Covenants with God help us to know who we really are."  We should focus on the temple and our covenants.  The best way to strengthen our homes is to keep covenants and "it is through His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, that every hope, every promise, and every blessing of the temple is fulfilled."

One other quote that I loved was one that Sister Marriott shared from President Thomas S. Monson, "If you want to give a light to others, you have to glow yourself."  Sister Marriott challenged each of us to add gospel light and truth to our lives and to defend it, live it, and share it with others!  That which is of God is light.  "Truth shineth" like temples....and so can we!  Just as every temple lessens the power of Satan on the earth, we have a similar purpose to push back the darkness and reflect the Savior's light!  She bore a powerful testimony of Christ with a clear and urgent call for us to do the same!