Truth

What was the theme of General Conference?  :)

For me, one of the themes was TRUTH - seek truth, find truth, defend truth, and just as importantly be true, be real.  As Sister Esplin said at the beginning of the General Women's Session, "The answers to our prayers may not come dramatically, but we must find quiet moments to seek greater light and truth. And when we receive it, it is our responsibility to live it, to share it, and to defend it."

Here are a few quotes I loved along this theme...

Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson:  "I would like to issue a challenge for all of us as women of the Church to be defenders of 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World.' Just as Marie Madeline Cardon courageously defended the missionaries and her newly found beliefs, we need to boldly defend the Lord’s revealed doctrines describing marriage, families, the divine roles of men and women, and the importance of homes as sacred places—even when the world is shouting in our ears that these principles are outdated, limiting, or no longer relevant. Everyone, no matter what their marital circumstance or number of children, can be defenders of the Lord’s plan described in the family proclamation. If it is the Lord’s plan, it should also be our plan!" 

Elder Dallin H. Oaks quoting Archbishop Charles J. Chaput:  “I want to stress again the importance of really living what we claim to believe. That needs to be a priority—not just in our personal and family lives but in our churches, our political choices, our business dealings, our treatment of the poor; in other words, in everything we do.”

Elder Wilford W. Andersen:  "If our children learn the dance steps without learning to hear and to feel the beautiful music of the gospel, they will over time become uncomfortable with the dance and will either quit dancing or, almost as bad, keep dancing only because of the pressure they feel from others who are dancing around them."

Elder Quentin L. Cook:  "It is important for members to understand the gospel in the language of their heart so they can pray and act in accordance with gospel principles."

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf:  "If Jesus Christ were to sit down with us and ask for an accounting of our stewardship, I am not sure He would focus much on programs and statistics. What the Savior would want to know is the condition of our heart. He would want to know how we love and minister to those in our care, how we show our love to our spouse and family, and how we lighten their daily load.  And the Savior would want to know how you and I grow closer to Him and to our Heavenly Father....I am here because I love my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ....Become humble, genuine disciples of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

Bishop Gerald Causse:  "On this special day, I bear witness that the wonders and marvels of the gospel are anchored in the greatest of all of God’s gifts—the Savior’s Atonement. This is the perfect gift of love that the Father and the Son, united in purpose, have offered to each one of us. With you, 'I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me. … Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!'  That we may always have eyes that see, ears that hear, and hearts that perceive the wonders of this marvelous gospel is my prayer."

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf:  "Are we like Simon? Are we confident and comfortable in our good deeds, trusting in our own righteousness? Are we perhaps a little impatient with those who are not living up to our standards? Are we on autopilot, going through the motions, attending our meetings, yawning through Gospel Doctrine class, and perhaps checking our cell phones during sacrament service?  Or are we like this woman, who thought she was completely and hopelessly lost because of sin?  Do we love much?  Do we understand our indebtedness to Heavenly Father and plead with all our souls for the grace of God?  When we kneel to pray, is it to replay the greatest hits of our own righteousness, or is it to confess our faults, plead for God’s mercy, and shed tears of gratitude for the amazing plan of redemption?  Salvation cannot be bought with the currency of obedience; it is purchased by the blood of the Son of God.  Thinking that we can trade our good works for salvation is like buying a plane ticket and then supposing we own the airline. Or thinking that after paying rent for our home, we now hold title to the entire planet earth."

Elder Robert D. Hales quoted the Prophet Joseph Smith: “I am bold to declare before Heaven that I am just as ready to die in defending the rights of a Presbyterian, a Baptist, or a good man of any other denomination [as for a Mormon]; for the same principle which would trample upon the rights of the Latter-day Saints would trample upon the rights of the Roman Catholics, or of any other denomination who may be unpopular and too weak to defend themselves." 

Elder Kevin W. Pearson:  "To 'hang in there' is not a principle of the gospel. Enduring to the end means constantly coming unto Christ and being perfected in Him."


The other theme that I loved and heard loud and clear was the importance of family - The Family is of God!  :)

Hopefully with all of this truth and family.....it's all filled with LOVE!  :)  (That's what else I heard.)  :)

I'm grateful for a living Prophet, for Apostles and leaders who teach us how to follow Jesus Christ, who teach us to follow the promptings of the Spirit and to turn to the Lord!  I know He lives, He loves us, He wants us to be happy....and we will be as we follow Him!  :)