General Conference – Page 5

“The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a checklist of things to do…it lives in our hearts.” (Highlights from Sister Stevens, April 2014)

May 13, 2014May 13, 2014 Nurture Mama Leave a comment

“We can trust that He will help us, not necessarily in the way we want but in the way that will best help us to grow. Submitting our will to His may be difficult, but it is essential to becoming like Him and finding the peace He offers us.”

“I would never have asked for this trial, but I would never give it away. We were surrounded with God’s love.”

“The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a checklist of things to do; rather, it lives in our hearts. The gospel “is not weight; it is wings.”⁴ It carries us.”“Speaking to each of us, the Lord says, “Fear … not; … I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; … I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”⁵

Jean A. Stevens, “Fear Not; I Am with Thee”. April 2014 General Conference.

“The only things that really need to be accomplished in the home are daily scripture study and prayer and weekly family home evening.” (Highlights from Sister Reeves-April 2014)

May 13, 2014May 13, 2014 Nurture Mama Leave a comment

“Pornography is more vile, evil, and graphic than ever before. As we counsel with our children, together we can create a family plan with standards and boundaries, being proactive to protect our homes with filters on electronic devices. Parents, are we aware that mobile devices with Internet capacity, not computers, are the biggest culprit?”

“Brothers and sisters, how do we protect our children and youth? Filters are useful tools, but the greatest filter in the world, the only one that will ultimately work, is the personal internal filter that comes from a deep and abiding testimony of our Heavenly Father’s love and our Savior’s atoning sacrifice for each one of us.”

“How do we lead our children to deep conversion and to access our Savior’s Atonement? I love the prophet Nephi’s declaration of what his people did to fortify the youth of his day: “We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, [and] we prophesy of Christ … that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.”

“The only things that really need to be accomplished in the home are daily scripture study and prayer and weekly family home evening.”“Brothers and sisters, because I know from my own experiences, and those of my husband, I must testify of the blessings of daily scripture study and prayer and weekly family home evening. These are the very practices that help take away stress, give direction to our lives, and add protection to our homes. Then, if pornography or other challenges do strike our families, we can petition the Lord for help and expect great guidance from the Spirit, knowing that we have done what our Father has asked us to do.”

Sister Linda S. Reeves, “Protection from Pornograpy–a Christ-Focused Home”. April 2014 General Conference.

A powerful witness (Highlights from President Packer-April 2014)

May 4, 2014May 2, 2014 Nurture Mama Leave a comment

President Packer shares a powerful witness of Jesus Christ.

“Like most things of great worth, knowledge which is of eternal value comes only through personal prayer and pondering. These, joined with fasting and scripture study, will invite impressions and revelations and the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. This provides us with instruction from on high as we learn precept upon precept.”

“Parenthood is a sacred privilege, and depending upon faithfulness, it can be an eternal blessing. The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is that a man and his wife and their children can be happy at home.“President Boyd K. Packer, “The Witness”. April 2014 General Conference.

Priorities in participating in the restoration (Highlights from President Uchtdorf-April 2014)

April 29, 2014April 29, 2014 Nurture Mama Leave a comment

“Those who wholeheartedly turn their lives over to our Savior and serve God and fellowman discover a richness and fulness to life that the selfish or egotistic will never experience. The unselfish give of themselves. These may be small gifts of charity that have a grand impact for good: a smile, a handshake, a hug, time spent in listening, a soft word of encouragement, or a gesture of caring. All these acts of kindness can change hearts and lives. When we take advantage of the unlimited opportunities to love and serve our fellowmen, including our spouse and family, our capacity to love God and to serve others will greatly increase.”

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Everything else in life should be secondary to these two great priorities.”

“Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is not an effort of once a week or once a day. It is an effort of once and for all.”

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Are You Sleeping Through the Restoration?”. April 2014 General Conference.

Be grateful in any circumstance (Highlights from President Uchtdorf-April 2014)

April 27, 2014April 29, 2014 Nurture Mama Leave a comment

“But those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift instead the goblet of gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and understanding.

Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be.”

Great examples of people who showed gratitude in difficult circumstances: Nephi, Job, Mormon pioneers, Joseph Smith.

“We can choose to be like the Prophet Joseph Smith, who, while a prisoner in miserable conditions in Liberty Jail, penned these inspired words: “Dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.”^7“

“We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?”

“Endings are not our destiny. The more we learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the more we realize that endings here in mortality are not endings at all. They are merely interruptions—temporary pauses that one day will seem small compared to the eternal joy awaiting the faithful.”

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Grateful in Any Circumstances”. April 2014 General Conference.

Make and keep your covenants (Highlights from President Eyring-April 2014)

April 21, 2014April 27, 2014 Nurture Mama Leave a comment

A common theme in the remarks of President Eyring during the April 2014 session of conference was that of covenants. It came up in all three of his addresses. I especially appreciated the reminder to let God be the leader of my family. Things will work out!

“You hold in your hands the happiness of more people than you can now imagine. Every day and every hour you can choose to make or keep a covenant with God.” (leave a heritage of hope and faith for those who come after you)“Keeping our second estate depends on our making covenants with God and faithfully performing the duties they require of us. It takes faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior to keep sacred covenants for a lifetime.”

“Heavenly Father and the Savior are our perfect examples of what we can and must do. They never force righteousness because righteousness must be chosen. They make righteousness discernible to us, and They let us see that its fruits are delicious.” (how to be a parent)

“There are things you can do early, when those you love are young. Remember that daily family prayer, family scripture study, and sharing our testimony in sacrament meeting are easier and more effective when children are young. Young children are often more sensitive to the Spirit than we realize.”

President Hinckley and President Monson are optimists. They say “Oh, things will work out”.

“If you let Him be the leader of your family, things will work out.”

President Henry B. Eyring, “A Priceless Heritage of Hope”. April 2014 General Conference.

“It is our free choice whether we make and keep those covenants. Only a few of His daughters have the opportunity in this life to even learn of those covenants. You are one of the favored few. You dear sisters, each of you is a daughter in the covenant.”

“He sees that glorious potential in all of His daughters, wherever they are. Now, that puts a great responsibility on each of you. He expects you to treat every person you meet as a child of God. That is the reason He commands us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves and to forgive them. Your feelings of kindness and forgiveness toward others come as your divine inheritance from Him as His daughter. Each person you meet is His loved spiritual child.”

“While Satan may be attacking sisters at earlier ages, the Lord is lifting sisters to higher and higher levels of spirituality.”

President Henry B. Eyring, “Daughters in the Covenant”. April 2014 General Conference.

“You can be a great model, an average one, or a bad model. You may think it doesn’t matter to you, but it does to the Lord.”

“I have observed three common characteristics of the priesthood holders who are my heroes. One is a pattern of prayer, the second is a habit of service, and the third is a rock-hard decision to be honest.

(Great instruction on how to pray sincerely and with real intent. Describe to Heavenly Father the blessings you received that day, pray for forgiveness, thank God for his kindness…)

President Henry B. Eyring “The Priesthood Man”. April 2014 General Conference.

Love is the essence of the gospel (Highlights from President Monson-April 2014)

April 18, 2014May 4, 2014 Nurture Mama Leave a comment

“Love is the very essence of the gospel, and Jesus Christ is our Exemplar.”

“There are many attributes which are manifestations of love, such as kindness, patience, selflessness, understanding, and forgiveness. In all our associations, these and other such attributes will help make evident the love in our hearts.”

“To my mind come the words of the scripture: “Charity is the pure love of Christ, … and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”

“Brothers and sisters, some of our greatest opportunities to demonstrate our love will be within the walls of our own homes. Love should be the very heart of family life, and yet sometimes it is not. There can be too much impatience, too much arguing, too many fights, too many tears. Lamented President Gordon B. Hinckley: “Why is it that the [ones] we love [most] become so frequently the targets of our harsh words? Why is it that [we] sometimes speak as if with daggers that cut to the quick?”⁹ The answers to these questions may be different for each of us, and yet the bottom line is that the reasons do not matter. If we would keep the commandment to love one another, we must treat each other with kindness and respect.”

“Love is expressed in many recognizable ways: a smile, a wave, a kind comment, a compliment. Other expressions may be more subtle, such as showing interest in another’s activities, teaching a principle with kindness and patience, visiting one who is ill or homebound. These words and actions and many others can communicate love.”

“May we begin now, this very day, to express love to all of God’s children, whether they be our family members, our friends, mere acquaintances, or total strangers. As we arise each morning, let us determine to respond with love and kindness to whatever might come our way.”

President Thomas S. Monson, “Love-the Essence of the Gospel”. April 2014 General Conference.

Highlights from the March 2014 General Women’s Meeting

April 8, 2014April 8, 2014 Nurture Mama Leave a comment

The invitation for all women age 8 and up to view the General Women’s Meeting is an exciting change. My oldest daughter is now 9 years old and it was wonderful to watch that session together. I hope that she will remember what she feels as she hears the inspired messages, and be grateful to be a woman in the latter-days. The theme of making and keeping our covenants, and finding strength in our covenants, was the prevailing message I took home from the meeting. Here are my notes from the speakers.

Sister Wixom (Primary): *COVENANTS. Review the YW theme “We are daughters of a Heavenly Father who loves us, and we love him.” We make covenants. Baptism and the sacrament lead us to the temple. Hold fast to the covenants on the path. “Lift up your heart and rejoice, and cleave to your covenants” (D&C 25:13, revelation given to Emma Smith).

Sister Oscarson (Young Women): We are sisters who are united. Sisters take care of each other. When we compare ourselves to others we will always feel inadequate–so don’t do it! Women really need each other. *Be a Primary leader who loves children. Testify to others of the great blessings of RS.*As we look beyond our differences in age and circumstance to nurture and serve one another, we will be filled with the LOVE of Christ. I invite you to not only LOVE each other more, but LOVE each other better.

Sister Burton (Relief Society): our work is to be a disciple–come and follow him. Mormon declared “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ” (find scripture reference?) Being a disciple is a gift. The best way to strengthen a home is to keep covenants. *What does it mean to me to be a disciple of Christ? Help Wanted–step forward in righteousness and be a disciple.

“We are cov’nant [daughters] with a gift to give. We will teach the gospel by the way we live.With each word and action, we will testify: We believe, and we serve Jesus Christ.”

President Eyring (First Presidency): “Inasmuch as parents teach children in Zion…” (D&C 68:25-27). You are one of the favored few, a daughter in the covenant. Keep the commitment to comfort and serve. Heavenly Father sees not only what you are, but what you may become. Satan is attacking sisters earlier, while the Lord is lifting sisters to higher levels of spirituality. Follow the examples of great women–study Eve. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart…” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

To access full text and video of the General Women’s Meeting, click here.

April 2014 General Conference: Sunday Highlights

April 6, 2014May 6, 2014 Nurture Mama Leave a comment

General Conference was wonderful. I have much to think upon and am inspired to improve upon in my life. Here is my quick run-down of the talks from today. Note–my children were a little more antsy today (as to be expected for their age of course), so my notes are not as complete as I would have liked. But thankfully modern technology makes all of the talks readily accessible to study again in my own quiet time!

President Uchtdorf: GRATITUDE. Being grateful makes life sweeter. As disciples of Christ we are commanded to thank the Lord in all things. We should be grateful in times of trial, not just when things are going our way. Recognize God’s handiwork in the tapestry of life. *Study gratitude/thankfulness as an attribute of Christ.

Elder Ballard: Preach My Gospel teaches how to invite and follow-up–study this manual. Invite someone to hear the missionaries 4 times a year.

Sister Stevens: Heavenly Father accomplishes his miracles one prayer at a time, one person at a time. The gospel is not a checklist of things to do. It lives in our hearts. “Fear not, I am with thee, be not dismayed” (Hymn, and Isaiah 41:10)

Bishop Stevenson: stories of 3 LDS Olympians. This life is our “4minutes”-our day to perform our labors. “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). Make an action plan for family members and their next essential ordinance (ie. baptism, endowment…)

Elder Bednar: story of the man, the truck, and the load. Bearing a load is part of the Father’s plan. “Come unto me all ye that labor”. Making covenants yokes us with Jesus Christ, he will share our load. Alma and his people-burdens are made light through the load. *INCREASED CAPACITY-pray for this in my roles and responsibility. The atonement is for those who are trying to become better.

President Monson: LOVE is the very essence of the gospel, and Jesus Christ is our exemplar. Other attributes of love. Recognize someone’s need and respond. Everyday we are given opportunities to show love and kindness. “Charity is the pure love of Christ”. *Love should be the very heart of family life. Be compassionate and encouraging. *Rise in the morning determined to respond with love and kindness to whatever may come that day.

President Packer: gaining a testimony.

Elder Walker: every member should know the conversion stories of their ancestors. *Research these stories and compile them for my children-this would be the greatest gift. Stay true to the faith.

Elder Perry: obedience is a choice.

Elder Corbridge: story of Joseph Smith. The truth will always be opposed.

Elder Teh: we need to recognize when enough is enough (in temporal things). “For where your treasure is, there will your hearts be also”. *Where do I devote my time and treasure? *Study and understand the doctrine of Christ.

Elder Aidakaitus: one should not roam through garbage. Revelation is knowledge.

Elder Christofferson: account of Christ’s resurrection. The grace of Christ is real. It is only through him that we are saved.

President Monson: nourish our testimonies constantly that they may be a strength to us. *May we ever be found doing the work of the Lord.