Thoughts Before Conference

I wondered what I should study this morning before general conference starts.  What I could I think about or read that would allow me to feel the spirit and be prepared to receive the words of our leaders.  In particular I have been thinking about how each one has spent considerable time seeking the Lords spirit as they write and re-write their talks, as they practice and pray over what they would teach.  And I am sure that they all have plead with the Lord for His spirit to help them to deliver the message in a way that would touch our hearts and help us to change.  I pray for the spirit to receive these messages in the way that they were meant to be received. D&C 50. 2 NE 33:1.

So for my study I opened new.lds.org and choose a topic from one of the rotating banner messages. It was on marriage, from a recent conference talk on celestial marriage.  It was a powerful talk and addressed very directly things that I have been thinking about for me and Amanda. What follows are a few review thoughts from that talk as well as some additional ideas for how I want to prepare for and receive conference today and tomorrow.

I think the two most important thoughts I had from E. Nelson's talk were the overall value the sealing.  That I should desire this marriage to work more than almost anything else in my life, second only to being worthy of my own salvation.   Second, that no marriage is easy, two imperfect people working together for perfection is a handicap. The way for us to be in harmony is for both of us to work at it, for both of us to minimize our selfish pursuits and for both of us to maximize our efforts to serve each other and outside of ourselves.

So here is where I get hung up and need further light and knowledge, I feel like I'm willing to do this but that the more I serve her the more selfish she becomes.  How can my efforts to become more selfless help her to become more selfless if she chooses not to make the effort.

Amanda and I spoke about this this morning and we know we must improve our marriage together.  We'll continue to work together on it.

2 conferences ago, the theme for me was receiving the the spirit and personal revelation .
Last conference theme for me was parents duty and responsibility to their children and families to raise them in righteousness.
I want to capture some themes from conference