Conference Report, October 2012
While the autumn months are bringing a passing of nature, General Conference this weekend compels every listener to make a fresh start. Cheesy sentence yes, but complex sentence? Also yes. Thank you English.
Anyway for those who have no idea what "General Conference" means, it is a worldwide Mormon event that occurs every six months. In it, the living Prophets and Apostles of this time speak to members of the Church and anyone else who cares to listen. Yes we believe in a living Prophet, but no he's not a dinosaur left over from the first century AD or anything. He's just a man called by God to be the Prophet, but that's a whole different topic. So General Conference is an event in Salt Lake City that is broadcasted all over the world and delivers inspiration and doctrine to those that watch. Each speaker at Conference is not assigned a topic and can pick to speak about whatever they feel needs to be spoken about. However, I find it interesting that common themes are seen throughout the weekend. Amidst the ever-changing world we live in, these inspired disciples of God discern a few key points that we would all do well to hearken to. I'd like to quote all the great speaker directly, but the text versions of all the speeches are not yet available, so I'll do a little summary. Check around here for audio and eventual video and text versions of all the speakers.
Service
A compelling theme from this conference was daily and continual service, spreading Christ-like love by serving our fellow man. M. Russell Ballard suggested that in our daily prayers in the morning we all ask for ways to serve someone else and lighten their load. His speech included an analogy concerning the work that honey bees do. They labor long and hard, flying many miles and pollinating many flowers, but in the end each bee produces only 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey per month. So, such a small impact seems insignificant and worthless. But when a whole colony of bees contributes their part over a long period of time, lots of honey is made.
Similarly, when we do little things like pick up someone's books or hold open the door it may seem like just that- a little thing. But the little things add up and if every single person found something nice to do, imagine how nice the world might be. Well isn't that nice?
But sometimes, we get the idea to serve someone and we quickly just forget it. Surely, we've got more important things to do. That person will be okay. And I myself am guilty of these thoughts. But President Monson related a story of such an occasion. He was simply swimming laps at a gym in Salt Lake City, when all of a sudden he had an urge to go visit a friend who was in the hospital. This friend had some complications and was in the hospital without any motion in his legs. President Monson could have just continued swimming and had a nice day, but he got out, changed, and went to the Hospital. After tracking down his friend, he found him in the pool room of the hospital at the deep end, just sitting in his wheel chair on the edge. President Monson called over to him and chatted a bit, then escorted his friend to his hospital room and went on his way. Later, President Monson learned that his friend felt very despondent that day and was contemplating riding into the pool and taking his own life.
Something this drastic may or may not happen to us. Bottom line, we can all do a little good in the world to serve our fellow man and make the world a good place.
Conversion
Another recurring theme this weekend was personal conversion. In the closing session of Conference, David A. Bednar talked about the relationship between personal testimony and personal conversion. Conversion is more than just accepting the Gospel, it's actually doing good works and becoming a follower of Christ. Conversion is acting on what we know in love and loyalty to make the fundamental principles of the Gospel part of us. Once we do this, we can see the true value of following the Gospel.
Conversion includes being true in big ways and in small ways. Robert C. Gay spoke about how when he was a boy, he would get 50 cents each week for an allowance. A movie ticket for 11-year olds was 25 cents and candy bars cost 5 cents a piece, so each week he would go to the movies and get 5 candy bars. But once he turned 12, he realized the tickets for 12-year olds were 35 cents. And that meant two less candy bars! So he reasoned that he look the same as last week and asked the ticket man for a 25 cent ticket and got his five candy bars. Elated, he later told his dad about his genius move. His dad was naturally, not as amused. He responded to his son, "Son, would you sell your soul for a nickel?"
True conversion is doing the right at all times. Whether it is just a little kid trying to get two candy bars, or a bigger kid trying to get an A on a test, we need to always do the honest thing. It may be hard, but this is the way we must go on. True loyalty to what we believe in is true love of that. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave an amazing talk on this that anyone who has not heard it, should hear it. It was excellent and my paraphrasing would not do it proper justice.
So anyway, good weekend! No matter you believe in, if you're dedicated and if you serve daily you will see blessings in your life!
Anyway for those who have no idea what "General Conference" means, it is a worldwide Mormon event that occurs every six months. In it, the living Prophets and Apostles of this time speak to members of the Church and anyone else who cares to listen. Yes we believe in a living Prophet, but no he's not a dinosaur left over from the first century AD or anything. He's just a man called by God to be the Prophet, but that's a whole different topic. So General Conference is an event in Salt Lake City that is broadcasted all over the world and delivers inspiration and doctrine to those that watch. Each speaker at Conference is not assigned a topic and can pick to speak about whatever they feel needs to be spoken about. However, I find it interesting that common themes are seen throughout the weekend. Amidst the ever-changing world we live in, these inspired disciples of God discern a few key points that we would all do well to hearken to. I'd like to quote all the great speaker directly, but the text versions of all the speeches are not yet available, so I'll do a little summary. Check around here for audio and eventual video and text versions of all the speakers.
Service
A compelling theme from this conference was daily and continual service, spreading Christ-like love by serving our fellow man. M. Russell Ballard suggested that in our daily prayers in the morning we all ask for ways to serve someone else and lighten their load. His speech included an analogy concerning the work that honey bees do. They labor long and hard, flying many miles and pollinating many flowers, but in the end each bee produces only 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey per month. So, such a small impact seems insignificant and worthless. But when a whole colony of bees contributes their part over a long period of time, lots of honey is made.
Similarly, when we do little things like pick up someone's books or hold open the door it may seem like just that- a little thing. But the little things add up and if every single person found something nice to do, imagine how nice the world might be. Well isn't that nice?
But sometimes, we get the idea to serve someone and we quickly just forget it. Surely, we've got more important things to do. That person will be okay. And I myself am guilty of these thoughts. But President Monson related a story of such an occasion. He was simply swimming laps at a gym in Salt Lake City, when all of a sudden he had an urge to go visit a friend who was in the hospital. This friend had some complications and was in the hospital without any motion in his legs. President Monson could have just continued swimming and had a nice day, but he got out, changed, and went to the Hospital. After tracking down his friend, he found him in the pool room of the hospital at the deep end, just sitting in his wheel chair on the edge. President Monson called over to him and chatted a bit, then escorted his friend to his hospital room and went on his way. Later, President Monson learned that his friend felt very despondent that day and was contemplating riding into the pool and taking his own life.
Something this drastic may or may not happen to us. Bottom line, we can all do a little good in the world to serve our fellow man and make the world a good place.
Conversion
Another recurring theme this weekend was personal conversion. In the closing session of Conference, David A. Bednar talked about the relationship between personal testimony and personal conversion. Conversion is more than just accepting the Gospel, it's actually doing good works and becoming a follower of Christ. Conversion is acting on what we know in love and loyalty to make the fundamental principles of the Gospel part of us. Once we do this, we can see the true value of following the Gospel.
Conversion includes being true in big ways and in small ways. Robert C. Gay spoke about how when he was a boy, he would get 50 cents each week for an allowance. A movie ticket for 11-year olds was 25 cents and candy bars cost 5 cents a piece, so each week he would go to the movies and get 5 candy bars. But once he turned 12, he realized the tickets for 12-year olds were 35 cents. And that meant two less candy bars! So he reasoned that he look the same as last week and asked the ticket man for a 25 cent ticket and got his five candy bars. Elated, he later told his dad about his genius move. His dad was naturally, not as amused. He responded to his son, "Son, would you sell your soul for a nickel?"
True conversion is doing the right at all times. Whether it is just a little kid trying to get two candy bars, or a bigger kid trying to get an A on a test, we need to always do the honest thing. It may be hard, but this is the way we must go on. True loyalty to what we believe in is true love of that. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave an amazing talk on this that anyone who has not heard it, should hear it. It was excellent and my paraphrasing would not do it proper justice.
So anyway, good weekend! No matter you believe in, if you're dedicated and if you serve daily you will see blessings in your life!
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