General Conference

This General Conference was, of course, awesome. We had our traditional get together at Dave and Rachel's house to watch it . Stella did so well while we watched. I’m VERY excited that there are going to be five more temples (!!) (another one in the Philippines, the first one in Portugal, the first one in Indiana, the first one in Connecticut, and another one in Mexico. ) That will bring the total to 134 operating, eight under construction, and15 announced. This is the first time that I didn’t have a favorite talk because they were all just so good, and they all spoke to my spirit. I guess if I absolutely had to choose one it would be from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (I have to admit he’s my favorite.)

Of Things That Matter Most

~If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most.

~Let’s be honest; it’s rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. They flood the open spaces in their time with lists of meetings and minutia—even during times of stress and fatigue. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives. It is said that any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice. Over scheduling our days would certainly qualify for this. There comes a point where milestones can become millstones and ambitions, albatrosses around our necks.

~Leonardo da Vinci is quoted as saying that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

~My dear brothers and sisters, we would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most

~Brothers and sisters, diligently doing the things that matter most will lead us to the Savior of the world.

~As we turn to our Heavenly Father and seek His wisdom regarding the things that matter most, we learn over and over again the importance of four key relationships: with our God, with our families, with our fellowman, and with ourselves

~Let us simplify our lives a little. Let us make the changes necessary to refocus our lives on the sublime beauty of the simple, humble path of Christian discipleship—the path that leads always toward a life of meaning, gladness, and peace.

I also have to add that my favorite quote from conference is from President Monson:

“This is a wonderful time to be on earth. While there is much that is wrong in the world today, there are many things that are right and good. There are marriages that make it, parents who love their children and sacrifice for them, friends who care about us and help us, teachers who teach. Our lives are blessed in countless ways.”

This quote brought instant tears to my eyes because I think that we often forget to count our blessings. There is so much going on in the world today, but if we choose to be grateful and look at the good, we too will come to that same realization that it IS a wonderful time to be on earth.