Smith Family Ice Cream Scoop: Weekend of Blessings

Monday, October 06, 2008

Weekend of Blessings

As most of you who read my blog know, it was General Conference this past weekend... and I have to say that it was exactly what I needed. I've been so entrenched in this political stuff, and feeling more and more stressed and despairing. There is nothing like Conference to bring a sense of peace, hope, and love into my life. I love that my Heavenly Father knows me and can give me insight into my life and dilemmas through His prophet and apostles. We were also blessed to have Brandon's parents spend the weekend with us. We had a wonderful time, and I learned so much from them this weekend, too! I feel as if I have been filled to overflowing, and I am so grateful for all that I have.

Just in case you missed conference, or you can't remember, here is MY conference, in a nutshell:

LAUGHTER instead of anger... Simplify... I don't have to know everything, I just need to know enough... Christ is there for ME... Atonement is for trials too... No Revenge, be Anchored in Revelation... Look at YOURSELF first... Find JOY in the journey NOW... Harmony... make pleasant memories for the future... make the most of Today... Welcome to our Homes and Hearts our Savior... See the truth you share, not the differences... LINK Morning and Evening Prayer... SHOW LOVE... Unity... Return to Virtue... Come What May and Learn to Love it... don't overreact... Spiritually Strong... speak generously of others... No Contention... Is it I? ... The will to win means nothing without the will to PREPARE... listen...

8 comments:

Shannon said...: I loved your take of Conference in a nutshell. Everything about Conference was perfect and greatly needed and felt. We are so blessed!; 2:57 PM
Amy said...: I am glad you gave me conference in a nutshell, between traveling and kids I really didn't get to listen to it at all. I am looking forward to reading them. It sounds like a great conference!; 4:45 PM
Charlotte said...: Thanks Mindy. I missed most of Conference (given the circumstances, you know) so it's nice to get a brief little re-cap!; 5:43 PM
Alison said...: It wasn't for you it was totally for me. I LOVED CONFERENCE! Anyway, I didn't know if you had done the quirk tag but you do them so I put you on there!!! Yep, it was you.; 8:43 PM
Annalee Kelly said...: I love your summaries! That is such a good idea-- I needed your summaries. Perfect little gems of truth. thank you...; 8:52 PM
The Oylers said...: Conference was amazing wasn't it? It always is though. I love you.; 7:02 AM
Brenda said...: Glad you had a nice weekend. We missed you at the baby shower! :); 8:21 AM
Rachel Holloway said...: You did a great job summing that all up...You should print all that out and hang it up as a beautiful reminder...I might. :); 11:29 AM

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To Do Today

* Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks. The covenant with God to which you are true enables you to become enlightened by him, and nothing is impossible for you.
* When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away from yourself and direct them, in gratitude and love, toward God.
* In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God and therefore make you stronger, or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you take.
* First and foremost, you are a spirit child of God. If you neglect to feed your spirit, you will reap unhappiness. Don't permit anything to detract you from this awareness.
* You cannot communicate with God unless you have first sacrificed your self-oriented natural man and have brought yourself into the lower levels of meekness, to become acceptable for the Light of Christ.
* Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.
* Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for him, you appreciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in his Church.
* God knows that you are not perfect. As you suffer about your imperfections, he will give you comfort and suggestions of where to improve.
* God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen, and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that he makes to us--everything will fall into its place.
* Avoid any fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin.
* When you cannot love someone, look into that person's eyes long enough to find the hidden rudiments of the child of God in him.
* Never judge anyone. When you accept this, you will be freed. In the case of your own children or subordinates, where you have the responsibility to judge, help them to become their own judges.
* If someone hurts you so much that your feelings seem to choke you, forgive and you will be free again.
* Avoid at all cost any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm. On the road toward salvation, let questions arise but never doubts. If something is wrong, God will give you clarity but never doubts.
* Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet. Be aware of that as you enter places of worship.
* Be not so much concerned about what you do, but do what you do with all your heart, might, and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction.
* You want to be good and to do good. That is commendable. But the greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. Then he will teach us what is really good and necessary to do.
* The pain of sacrifice lasts only one moment. It is the fear of the pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it.
* Be grateful for every opportunity to serve. It helps you more than those you serve.
* And finally, when you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson, God wants to give you something better.

from "Unleashing the Dormant Spirit by F. Enzio Busche