Spiritual Feast

As I watched General Conference (if you want to watch or listen to any of it click here ) yesterday and today, I felt the Spirit speak to me through the words of the prophets and apostles. What a wise and perfect God my Father in Heaven is to call a living prophet and apostles in this day and age when we need God's word as much or even more than in the olden times. I thoroughly enjoyed all four sessions. My testimony was strengthened and my resolve to be a better person was renewed. I felt the Spirit touching me as I heard Elder Scott's talk about the importance of being good parents, and increasing our love and respect for our family as he shared personal tender and experiences with all of us. I enjoyed Sister Allred's talk about service and helping the sisters in Relief Society not just in word but in deed. I cherished Elder Parker's advice to be obedient to God's anointed, His leaders on earth, and to listen to the Spirit of Revelation. I agreed fully with Elder Oaks' talk about the importance of righteous desires. I kept notes on most of the talks, and look forward to reading them in the Ensign, as well as on the LDS site.

I would like, however, to share with you my favorite talk, that of our Prophet, President Monson about the importance of attending temples. He says in his talk:

"Some degree of sacrifice has ever been associated with temple building and with temple attendance. Countless are those who have labored and struggled in order to obtain for themselves and for their families the blessings which are found in the temples of God.

Why are so many willing to give so much in order to receive the blessings of the temple? Those who understand the eternal blessings which come from the temple know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings. There are never too many miles to travel, too many obstacles to overcome, or too much discomfort to endure. They understand that the saving ordinances received in the temple that permit us to someday return to our Heavenly Father in an eternal family relationship and to be endowed with blessings and power from on high are worth every sacrifice and every effort."

The happiest moments of my life have been when I have attended the temple regularly. While serving in Temple Square, we as missionaries were blessed with the opportunity to attend the temple every week. Every Preparation Day, I would take my district and we would do a session first thing in the morning and then do everything else. Was it a sacrifice? We never thought so. It was truly a blessing to be in the house of the Lord and know he walked within those walls. During our early years of marriage, while doing my Student Teaching and having a job on top of that, I resolved to work as a Temple worker. I did that for over a year till I got pregnant with Gillian. I remember that year as a year with hardships and trials, but I also remember it as a year when I was the most happiest as an individual and as a wife. Was it a sacrifice? It never felt that way. As years passed by, and we became busier with Graduate School and three children, I realized that I was letting the busy life and other excuses get on my way in attending the temple. Then, two years ago, when our life became even more busy with a new child coming into our family, with Elijah receiving a demanding calling, and my mother living with us,and then moving to California and adjusting to a new environment, Elijah started and never failed in attending the temple every week. Now, he is a Temple worker, and I'm sure he is the youngest there. What a blessing it has been to our family! I know Elijah has become a better man, father, and husband because of his service in the Temple of the Lord. Has it been a sacrifice for him? Maybe, but the rewards have been worth it. To serve the Lord and His children and to walk within the walls of the house of God has strengthened his testimony, has purified his soul, has increased his eternal understanding , and has given him faith in pursuing his righteous desires. I'm forever grateful for Elijah's example to my children and to me. He makes me want to be a better person and aim for higher standards. This is what President Monson said as he closed his talk about temples:

"The world can be a challenging and difficult place in which to live. We are often surrounded by that which would drag us down. As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation. In this sacred sanctuary we will find peace; we will be renewed and fortified."

I testify that what President Monson says it's true. I've felt the peace that temple attendance brings in my life and in the life of my family. I know the temple is the house of God. I'm eternally grateful to my loving Father in Heaven for his wisdom and love. I am thankful for a living prophet and the power of revelation. I know President Monson is the mouthpiece of God on earth. I know that, because the Holy Ghost has testified it in my heart and mind.

A living prophet

Every time I listen to General Conference, I feel rejuvenated and refreshed. I love the messages that the servants of the Lord have to share with us, but I especially enjoy the Spirit by which those words are uttered and transported into my heart. I'm grateful I live at a time when the gospel has been restored and we can all enjoy the blessing of a living prophet and apostles. It is an amazing miracle to have a prophet of God on earth today, who converses with the Lord, and serves as his mouthpiece to us. In a world of chaos and instability, I'm grateful I can rely on the Lord and his servants. I know they will not lead me astray. Here are some of my notes as I listened to them this conference:

Sister Wixon - To teach our children to walk on the straight and narrow path, we need to walk the path ourselves.

Elder Claudio Costa - The Lord's agents are not limited by man's reasoning. The prophet will say to us what the Lord wants him to say, and not what we want him to say.

Elder David M. McConkie - A teacher's attitude is not taught, is caught. Act on spiritual promptings without delay. The promptings of the Spirit are not to be delayed.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson - True success in this life comes from consecrating our lives to the Lord's service. All true work is sacred. Hard earned achievement brings satisfaction. A consecrated life is a life of integrity. Consecrated life is a fulfilling life.

President Uchtdorf - Overscheduling and ambition can become stumbling blocks. The 'to-do" list shouldn't show our worth. Milestones can become millstones. There is more to life than speed. The search for the best things leads to the fundamentals of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Turning our ways to God's ways is the beginning of simplicity.

Elder Richard G. Scott - Faith leads to righteous character, which leads to the capacity for more faith. Struggling for answers leads to character growth. A testimony is not an emotion - it is the result of correct choices.

President Monson - Sincere gratitude unlocks the doors of heaven. Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

Blessed children

We listened to General Conference today from home. We positioned the coach in front of the computer, printed conference activity books for the children, put Charlton down for a nap, and got situated to listen to our prophet and apostles. Charlton woke up in the middle of the second session. I quickly gave him some food, and got back into watching conference. The activity books worked great for our kids, and Elijah and I were able to really listen and enjoy the word of God. Here are but a few of the many coloring pages and notes that our children worked on during conference:

Gillian colored and kept many notes, but these pictures were my favorite.

James told me he wanted to use his imagination to color this picture of missionaries. There goes my Picasso!

Jefferson got tired of doing worksheets on the talks, and he had already colored his coloring pages during the first session, so he turned his attention to his favorite things to draw, cars, boats, and of course space ships.

When Elijah went to the priesthood session, I took the children to the park. A bunch of my friends had come up with this great idea of having the kids play and run at nearby playground around the time that our husbands attended their meeting. This was so good for all of us, breathing some fresh air, talking and letting the children talk, especially after telling them to be quiet during the first half of the day. Afterward, we got to go to Yogurtland and try some yummy frozen yogurt. We all enjoyed eating the different flavors, except for Jefferson, who had mixed them all up in one cup. This is very funny to me, because Jefferson is the one child in my household who doesn't like things mixed together. In an attempt to try every flavor, he had gotten some of each in his cup. It was okay in the beginning when the ice cream was still frozen, but when it started to melt it looked disgusting, and I'm sure it tasted disgusting as well. Oh, well, I hope he learned his lesson for next time. Here are some pictures of our kids enjoying ice cream and each other (I especially like the pictures of the little ones):