Stand in Holy Places - President Monson

Morality is not passe.  Article from Rabbi Sacks.  Peace of being obedient and keeping the commandments.  5$ bill story.12 years old learns to pray.  Story of Brother Peter Mourik speaking at Temple Dedication.  Trust in the inspiration.

The Importance of a Name - Elder Ballard

The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is quite a long name -- 9 words.  Elder Ballard reminds us that this name was given by the Lord for His church on the earth today and that we should help people to know this name.  We should discourage the use of the name "Mormon Church".  It is okay for us to be called "Mormons" but we should help people to know that we are really members of the Church of Jesus Christ.  We get from Elder Ballard a definition and reasoning behind the long name and how concise it really is.  We also are provided with a little history as to why we have been called Mormons (provided by early detractors to the church). 

Love Her Mother - Elaine S. Dalton

Loving the mother of my daughters is the best way for me to raise them in this "toxic world".  I know that I must do a better job of loving and caring for my wife.  I must set her above all else. This will help my children, not just my daughters.  I will love her more as I serve her, and I will serve her more as I love her.

Sister Dalton talks through many other things that as a concerned father I should do to bless my sweet daughters.  Talking to them, interviewing them, being interested in their lives, knowing their friends, sharing my testimony.  

Waiting Upon The Lord: Thy Will Be Done - Elder Hales

Sitting in his chair and not looking as strong as we have seen him in the past, Elder Hales spoke to us of learning to wait upon the Lord.  What it means, and how we respond to it.  

The Opportunity of a Lifetime - Elder Waddell

What did we learn from our mission.  There are a list of questions that Elder Waddell asked his missionaries to answer.  This was no different than what President Hickman asked of me.  This is my reminder and i need to do it.

List of things the Elders should do to prepare to serve a great mission.
1. arrive with your own testimony
2. Arrive on your mission worthy of the Holy Ghost
3. Arrive on your mission ready to work.

The Power of the Aaronic Priesthood - Keith B McMullin

Bishop McMullin reminded the youth and the adults of the power of the Aaronic priesthood, but what it has been used for, how to develop it, how to protect it, and how it is used today.  He taught about the baptism of the Savior.  To develop our power in the priesthood we must learn and do our duty.  He reminded us that the Savior came to do the will of the Father and that that must be our effort as well. We were reminded of the fact that the authority of the priesthood has spread well but not the power of the priesthood.  I particularly liked the following quote:
"Quoting George Q. Cannon, President Monson said: “I want to see the power of the Priesthood strengthened. … I want to see this strength and power diffused through the entire body of the Priesthood, reaching from the head down to the least and most humble deacon in the Church. Every man should seek for and enjoy the revelations of God, the light of heaven shining in his soul and giving unto him knowledge concerning his duties, concerning that portion of the work … that devolves upon him in his Priesthood.”^12"

We Are All Enlisted - Elder Holland

We are asked to help spread the message of the gospel, by “unbinding our tongues”.  Joseph Smith’s tongue was bound when he was about to ask those special questions that would usher in this dispensation.  Elder Holland wants us to serve missions. We need to prepare in every way possible whether young or old to serve Him.

Senior couples have some additional helps, recently announced:
1. housing supplements when very expensive
2. variable length misssions (6 months even)
3. Ability to return home briefly for critical family events.
This is my purpose, I want to serve missions, I must and will make every day a day of preparation.

Redemption - Legrand R. Curtis Jr.

We all need saving, whether we are far from the path or doing our best to live the gospel each day.  Elder Curtis shares how in his service he shared a story of one person being invited to come back to church, receiving the blessings and changing his life.  That story was followed by an email saying that his father in law had a similar experience.  When these were shared in a subsequent meeting a similar email came.  The next meeting that Elder Curtis was at he shared all of these and someone came up afterwards and said those were his story.  It should be a similar story for all of us.  How do we choose to progress on an individual level and how do we help others to progress from a leadership standpoint?

It Is Better to Look Up - Carl B. Cook

This member of the Seventy taught us about relying on the strength that comes from Heaven.  My interpretation which may or may not hit near the mark is that the Savior has the power to heal, forgive sin, and lift spirits. Our problem is that we forget how central to our lives, and the world He is.  We think of him at the time of taking the Sacrament each week, but then how well do we think of Him during the week.  Each prayer is an opportunity to remember Him.  Everything for which we feel gratitude should be remembered as a blessing from Him.

Another point covered by Elder Cook is that Prophets direct us to Jesus.  Modern day prophets as well as those of the scriptures.  The more carefully I study the word the better I will see that.

Shared the story of the hellium balloons carrying away burdens just as the Savior can do for us.

A Time to Prepare - Elder Ardern

We are to spend our time on things that matter most and the things of God matter most.  We are to do pray and study and ponder, as we do these things we will be guided to not misuse our time.  One of the distractions we will be helped to not become victims to is technology's time wasting features.  

Children - Elder Andersen

Thoughts from this talk...The proclamation on the family is referenced more than once.  I am reminded as well that President Packer also referenced the proclamation.  We are taught that one a verse of scripture is referenced by multiple speakers that it is something for us to pay attention to and take to heart.  I'm pretty sure I heard Pres Eyring say this during conference this time.

Elder Andersen shared a few stories.  The story of the Masons and having another little boy, just after the Sis. Mason gave birth to a little girl.  The story of the young man who was set on medical school and Elder Kimball told him that keeping the commandments in faith was more important. The story of President J Scott Dorius who couldn't have children for years and then adopted when they were older.

What does this mean for me?  Amanda and I have at times felt strongly that we should not have more children and at other times we have felt like we should consider having more children.  Regardless of the answer I think we need to be certain through prayer and fasting. Maybe we are afraid to ask because of what the answer will be.

You Matter to Him - Pres. Uchtdorf

This is one of those talks that has more of an outline that I want to list out.  I also want to note that the thought occurred to me as I read and listed to Pres. Uchtdorf that I feel to ask this question of Father, do I matter to him?  I know the answer but long to feel the answer, over and over again.  Questions of pride and trying to fill that gap of knowing whether we matter or not also are answered in this talk.  As we look around do we find ourselves or others seeing themselves as above the rest because of ability, birthright, or social status.  How do we tame those thoughts and feelings in us.  How do we remove the desire to see that elevation.  Here are the things we are taught to help us keep that balance:
1. We are less than we suppose
2. We are greater than we suppose
3. The folly of pride
4. We are not forgotten
5. The last shall be first
6. You matter to him
     a. God loves the humble and meek
     b. God chooses the weak and simple to proclaim his gospel
     c. no matter the humility of our circumstances we are not invisible to Father
     d. what we see and feel now is not what forever will be

Doing the Right Thing at the Right Time, without Delay - Elder Jose L Alonso

Elder Alonso teaches us that we don't always need a counsel to know how to go and act, how to serve others. He tells the story of his son who was out of sight from them in a busy street and their fear at losing him.  They did not stop to discuss whether they should go look for him they hurried and prayed in their minds/hearts as they went and looked for him.

This is one of those things that is in my mission statement.  I desire to be more able to see another's need and act without delay in serving them in anyway that I can.

One of the challenges I face in my family is this idea that if I spend time outside of the home to serve someone else that I am taking away from family time.  I think I need to do a better job of involving family members in serving others as I see the opportunities arise. This example will do more to bless my family than staying home and not doing anything.  

As We Meet Again - Pres Monson

President Monson greets with a simple "Hello".  He continues by mentioning some dedications and the celebration at the Atlanta Georgia temple dedication.  He then announced these temples for new construction:
Provo Tabernacle as a new temple
Durban South Africa
Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Star Valley Wyoming
Paris France

He prays that we will feel the spirit as we listen to conference so that we can learn the things the Lord would have us know.

Choose Eternal Life - Randall K. Bennett

Elder Bennett shared the story of swimming in the ocean with the currents pulling him away.  In the talk he references 'drift' - one of the themes I've been interested in lately.

Missionaries Are A Treasure of the Church - Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita

I enjoyed Elder Yamashita's talk He tells the story of Elder Swan that had his father's coat.  He also tells of the missionaries that helped in his conversion.

He gives three points that he wants missionaries to continue to develop in preparation to be great missionaries.
1. Desire to preach the gospel
2. A firm testimony
3. Love others.

Teaching After the Manner of the Spirit - Matthew O. Richardson

This is really a great talk, I guess I feel that way about most of the talks, maybe even all of the talks I hear at conference.  I love the words that carry the Spirit, and since so many of the words of conference were written and prepared under the Spirit most of them carry that same Spirit to us, if we are open and ready to receive them that way.

Elder Richardson tells the story of being recognized as a "Real" missionary.

He also tells a story of his daughter holding to his pockets and stepping in his footsteps.  We must follow in the footsteps of the Savior and teach with the spirit.

I do enjoy listening to conference while I write in my journal by my attention is not very focused.  I need to do better to find time again later in the day when possible to listen to that talk one more time so that I can capture more of the thoughts and principles.  There is no way for them to be in my mind and heart unless I really learn them.

However, I do like the fact that I hear some each day as I'm writing, it's a good start and better than nothing.

Stand in Holy Places - President Monson

We have heard quite frequently from Pres Monson how concerned he is that the morale compass of the world has turned in a direction different from the that of the church.  The chasm grows.  For some reason I have felt concern this morning as I have listened to Pres Monson as he shares some specific points about how the world's beliefs about moral righteousness has deteriorated and the congregation has laughed.  I know Pres Monson intends to be humorous but at the same time I hear what he is saying and feel concern for all of us and our ability to stay true to the commandments and wonder if people are hearing what he is really saying.  Will the time come when President Monson has to be more specific and not so humorous and say, "Repent".

I enjoyed his stories about following inspiration and our need to continually pray.  His phrase about never missing a day to pray to Heavenly Father has stuck with me.

The Importance of a Name - Elder M. Russell Ballard

I really enjoyed E. Ballard's talk about names.  His focus was on our need to use the "revealed" name of the church.  It was given by the Savior to His church.  Who are we to propagate the name given by detractors, "Mormons".  We can accept this name now as a description of those that are members of the church of Jesus Christ.

Using the name itself will help us to have more discussions with others about the church.

Love Her Mother - Sis Elaine Dalton

Sis Dalton speaks of daughters born to her sons.  She needed to answer her son's question of "how do I raise a daughter?"  She taught him and us that we need to love our daughters mother.   Our kindness and love towards our wife will show our daughters what to expect.  She said that when our daughters come home late from a date, that we are to go get them.  She will be angry about how we are ruining their social life but they will know that we love them.

We are to interview our daughters, know their friends, and know their boyfriends.  I desperately desire to be a good father and I know I have much to learn.