Be Still

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday morning session of the October 2009 conference.

This year my children will be ages 36 to 27. Hardly seems possible! They were raised in a home where we didn't watch broadcast television. We had a TV but used it to watch VHS, then DVD movies. They were homeschooled and didn't get cell phones until they were on their own, earning their own way. (Once a 16 year old son having been told no, he couldn't have his own computer, asked accusingly, "Well, how old were you when you got your own computer?" My answer stunned him into silence, "Forty.") I read to them at bedtime until they were at least twelve. I tried to give them a good foundation of understanding that we all need quiet time to relax and listen. I not sure I did a very good job. All of them seem to be constantly on their phones, or computers, or gaming, or listening to raucous music while doing something else. To my eyes it seem that they never allow for stillness and quiet. 

Sister Vicki F. Matsumori, Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency had this to say about it:

If we provide a still and quiet time each day when we are not bombarded by television, computer video games, or personal electronic devices, we allow that still, small voice an opportunity to provide personal revelation and to whisper sweet guidance, reassurance, and comfort to us.

As I listened to that this week I reflected on President Nelson's admonition "But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost." (See Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives)

As missionaries we taught people how to recognize the workings of the Spirit through the many references in the scriptures. I thought I knew everything then; but I'm still learning, even now.

Sister Matsumori said, When we understand the whisperings of the Spirit, we will be able to hear Him teach us "the peaceable things of the kingdom" and "all things what [we] should do." We will recognize answers to our prayers and know how to live the gospel more fully each day. We will be guided and protected. And we can cultivate this gift in our lives as we follow those spiritual promptings. Most importantly, we will feel Him witness to us of the Father and of the Son.

I've tried hard to practice what I preach. Being quiet and still has sure helped me better hear instructional promptings, and to feel the comforting influence of the Savior through my grief and pain.

The Spirit is real and near if we'll just give Him the quiet and stillness He needs to get through to us.

Virtue

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the General Young Women Meeting of the April 2009 conference.

Sister Elaine S. Dalton gave me a big hug when we met at an early morning Young Women Devotional in Omaha, Nebraska. She's a wonderful woman.

During her time as Young Women General President her focus was on the quality of virtue. As I listened to her talk from this session of conference I reflected on how relevant it seems right now; which I have come to realize is a way to recognize eternal truths, they never sound dated or old-fashioned, they sound fresh and current.

I've long said that human nature hasn't changed since Adam and Eve. Technology, fashion, styles, knowledge and many other things have changed, but human beings haven't. Eternal truths apply to us as God's children whether we live today or five thousand years ago; and when we hear them they sound relevant to us and our times.

John Adams, one of America's Founding Fathers, said, "Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

I thought of that as I listened to Sister Dalton's talk. We need, as individuals and as a nation, to return to virtue, morality, and righteousness to defeat evil and be ready for the Savior's return. 

This is a critical time. You are being tapped on the shoulder. You are preparing now for that work which will be your finest hour. You are preparing for eternity.

 

Choices

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday afternoon session of the April 2009 conference.

One quote stood out to me as an answer to a question that I didn't even know I had.

Elder José A. Teixeira said, "Our Father in Heaven respects our freedom to choose and will never force us to do what is right, nor will He impede us from making mediocre choices."

I guess that is the mark of a mature and perfect parent: letting their (adult) children choose and then allowing them to face the consequences of their choices. Fortunately for us He is also merciful and doesn't punish us instantly. Rather, He gives us time and opportunity to repent and be restored. He also has the magnificent ability to make something good out of our foolishness. And for that I'm so grateful.

I Am Not Alone

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday Morning session of the April 2009 conference.

Many years ago with five young children I felt overwhelming loneliness because my marriage was falling apart, I lived across the country from other family members and I didn't have close friends around me. One day I couldn't cope any longer. While the children were busy playing I went into my small walk-in closet, knelt down and poured out my heart to God. I asked to feel loved and understood. Immediately I felt strong, warm arms around me, enveloping me in a loving embrace that comforted me and was so real I began to weep.

Almost thirty years later I can still call to mind that glorious feeling of being loved, understood, and not alone.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, "Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said, “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].”

What else do we need?

Doing A Great Work

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Priesthood session of the April 2009 conference.

"We live in an era of anticipation and preparation, entrusted by God to prepare ourselves, our families, our world for the approaching dawn--the day when the Son of God will 'descend from heaven with a should, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God' (I Thess. 4:16) and usher in His millennial reign."

So said then President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. This era stretches from Joseph Smith to Russell M. Nelson. As this is the last dispensation we (all who have lived or are living through it) are the ones to prepare for the Second Coming. 

"Our Heavenly Father seeks those who refuse to allow the trivial to hinder them in their pursuit of the eternal. He seeks those who will not allow the attraction of ease or the traps of the adversary to distract them from the work He has given them to perform. He seeks those whose actions conform to their words--those who say with conviction, 'I am doing a great work and cannot come down.' " 

In Relief Society there a long discussion about having time to study the gospel when "we are so busy from the time our feet hit the floor in the morning until our head hits the pillow at night." How are we to find the time? I didn't say much out loud, but in my head I was saying, "If you weren't so devoted to your careers/business/children's activities, etc., you'd have more time for the things of eternity. If you'd choose to stay home and actually be a wife, mother and homemaker, you'd have more time for the things of eternity." 

I loved what Elder D. Todd Christofferson said in the most recent conference, "One wise sister observed, 'I cannot think of a more profound way to worship God than to welcome His little ones into our lives and care for them and teach them His plan for them.' " What a profound observation! The things that the world tells us matter the most will matter the least in eternity, and conversely the things the world tells us matter the least will matter the most! But Satan has done a brilliant job distracting women from what matters most. The great work we are supposed to be doing is building the kingdom by welcoming children into our families, and rearing them in truth and righteousness. 

I wish I could have married at age 19 or 20 so I could have had five more children than I was able to. And I wish I could convince mothers to educate their children at home, avoiding satan's indoctrination centers. As hard as it was at the time I'm so grateful I was able to stay home to nurture and teach our children. I believe that the close relationships we enjoy now are the result of all the time we spent together when they were young.

My fondest hope is that in the economy of heaven motherhood will be the most important and honored "profession." It is certainly the greatest work I've ever done here, as well as the finest character builder ever devised.