A Special Stake Conference

We were able to have Stake Conference in March. It was spirit filled, inspiring and humorous (Elder McKay from the Quorum of the 70 could've been a stand up comedian)! I am so grateful to have felt the Lord's love for me and all of us through those who shared and that some of my prayers and questions were answered here. We are so blessed to have leaders who love and lead. We only have to look up. Dave and I went to the Leadership meeting and Adult session together (hot Saturday night date night spot!).  Here's what I felt was most important and learned and feel I need to work on - 

President Pugmire - Minister the best you can. Love, share and invite. Be a positive influence on youth. 

Elder McKay - learn names of youth and compliment them.  Be a home guardian or sentinel for ministering families. "Do what she needs." -Sister Burton "Observe then serve." -Elder Bednar. Pray, love. "Do not underestimate the power of small things. Just be there." Get rid of the guilt and pressure of missionary work. This is happy work. Help others feel comfortable in and around the flock of our church. 

President Dearden - the wise man and the foolish man. Doesn't matter if we are on rock or sand, the rain is going to come. Hear and do - be deliberate. Don't let your foundation rock erode into sand. Help others on sandy foundations build. Be a home builder for an eternal home. The home is the most sacred. 

Kelly Cornell - Open your heart. 3 good things. Open the door. Open your scriptures. Open your hands in prayer. Open the gifts from Heavenly Father. Open heavens. 

President Nelson - Open that pavilion and receive revelation. Repent daily. Daily scripture study. See blessings and write about them. Tune out noise of the world. Try it for a week and listen to voices of prophets and apostles, good wholesome music. Contention - get rid of it. Seek and ponder. Be determined, do your homework, seek, think, effort.

Elder McKay - Whatever President Nelson says. Big dipper (Russell M.), little dipper (our own Chris Nelson) haha! Mind and will of the Lord for you. Personal revelation. Work for it. Ministering - more and better = Higher and holier. Practice what you preach and teach always through actions. Speak often of eternal life and the joy of the saints to your children. Do it quickly or you'll lose them. "Give God something to magnify." Don't let an offense or offended get between you and Jesus. Press forward at the pace and in the place. Never ending effort. Jesus did all and even died and was resurrected but He stills go on. Don't droop in sin. Repent and move on. Avoid and eliminate sins. Get out. Bury your weapons. Fill your life with that which is good. God does not give us doubts. Don't feed them. Whatever you feed will grow. Feed faith. 

Then we all got to go to the Sunday session. Here are my notes from that.

President Nelson - don't be deceived. Deception vs. reality. The prophet is the Lord's, they're not perfect. Counsel together in love and righteousness as couples and families. Equal partners, in this together. The family is the most important organization in the world. Youth - Mom and Dad make mistakes. This is the first time they've been parents. Parent's - this is the first time they've been kids, they're going to make mistakes. Live together in love, patience, and forgiveness. The most important organization we have. Do all you can to strengthen your family. You've got this, you can do this, you've got the tools. Youth - these are trying and difficulty times and trouble can find you. Embrace your divine identity and choose where you belong. You are prince and princesses, remind each other of that. Be engaged and use the strength of youth. Sisters - the Savior is yoked to you. The greatest generation of women. The most important message - the Lord loves you! 

Sister Addison Bennett (returned missionary from Brazil)) - there is joy in daily repentance. "Oh wretched man that I am." The Lord loves us first and wants us to repent. The second principle of the Gospel - that's how important it is. "Repentance is the key to progress." -President Nelson Jesus Christ can help us be who we want to be if we repent. A mission will change your life, just go. 

Brother Jeremy Brown (called to serve in the France Leon mission) - continue to read the Book of Mormon every day and ponder on it all day. Christ is mentioned 3,921 times in it. 

Patriarch Hughes (just released) - Fathers, give your children a blessing and they can be recorded. Rely upon Heavenly Father. Read your patriarchal blessing and pray over it often. 

Patriarch Dearden (just called) - Divine positioning. Look up to Christ. If the Savior stood beside me. The Priesthood power is there for us. 

Elder McKay - "You sang 'I believe in Christ' and He says 'I believe in you' or He wouldn't have come." Live those words and you'll be fine your entire lives. Do everything in your power to see that prophecies that are promised to you will be fulfilled. Holy things. The Holy One - He can make us holy. The Lord saves all.  If you don't think I save save Him or Her, you don't know me. He can make us holy like Him. He can change our natures, He can if we turn to Him. Repentance is a process, an earnest intentional increase in righteousness. The Holy One of Israel makes change possible. Holy times - the Sabbath. Recognize and remembered there is a difference between the things profane (ordinary) and holy. Sacrament, don't let it become ordinary. It is the most Holy part of the week - prepare, be ready. Gather oft. Don't profane the sacrament to let it become common. Every second of the Sabbath is sacred. Dedicate ourselves to Him. His emblems rest in peace within us. Draw others to Him. We literally are sanctified.  Holy Places - Temples. We work out our salvation before God and with God in the temple. "I was with you in the temple teaching daily and you laid no hold on me." Lay hold to the Lord as we go there. The temple is not more holy than the Sabbath, they are both His. He meets us in His time and His place. 

Emma and the early morning seminary kids sang "I Believe in Christ" and it was powerful. Elder McKay, the visiting authority said this after they sang and it hit me hard - "You sang 'I believe in Christ' and He says 'I believe in you' or He wouldn't have come." I am thankful He came for us and believes in us. I love the Savior for the atonement he gave for me so I and we can repent daily and try, try again and feel true joy. This is the picture that I have had as my screensaver for a while. It is called "Heavenward" by Yongsung Kim. Life is a struggle but the Savior always helps us set our sights higher and get better. All we have to do is look up. He loves us all in a very personal way. I know that!