In general conference in April, President Nelson announced the end of visiting teaching and home teaching as we know it. It's changing to ministering, with no assigned lessons or times to visit. Just quarterly stewardship interviews with our ward RS or EQ presidency. I'm excited about the change because I visit sisters who don't really love a lesson and visit, so this easy format has been fun.
Just today I took sidewalk chalk to the children of my sisters because the last day of school was on Thursday and it's officially summer.
Much of the emphasis of conference was on ministering. I'll share some thoughts.
President McAllister, who I really like to listen to, said that President Nelson, even before he was an apostle was known to say "I put an ! after a prophetic proclamation, not a ?" I like that. President McAllister also spoke of his work in the steel industry and referenced Alma 34:29, a scripture about impurities and dross. He quoted his grandpa as saying "It's good to be good, but is he good for something?" Are we good for something? We should seek out spiritual alloys that strengthen us via fasting, temple attendance, and scriptures.
The stake RS president, Debbie (I met her recently while hiking, but can't remember her last name) spoke on being covenant keepers and that ministering should be simple. She suggested we be humble, submissive, gentle, and obedient.
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| Deon, my friend in the front, organized this. Debbie is in the visor in the back, with curly hair |
A ward RS president, Julie Ferry, likened the new ministering program to taking the training wheels off of a bike. We need to gain confidence by acting on revelation again and again. She referenced President Nelson's recent conference talk that talked of preparation, seeking help, listening, and following through.
President Livingston told us that the general leaders are focusing much of their efforts on the 11 western states. We are very strong. 1/5 missionaries comes from Utah. A high percentage of general leadership and monetary contributions come from Utah. Perhaps we are a great target for Satan with all that strength. Just my thoughts. He suggested we reduce structure and increase the spirit as we minister AMONG each other.
My impression is to use the To-Do list part of my planner to write impressions of ways to minister then make sure I do them if I can't do them immediately.
President Brinton, our home teacher, talked of Lehi's dream. He felt darkness and prayed before he saw that vision. He also shared it with his family. Alma 33:22-23 were referenced.
Sister Dimond, our stake YW president, suggested we expand our vision of who we are, what we can do, and who can help us (Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ). D & C 68:6.
Cameron Poulton, a recently returned missionary talked of the temple. He just returned from Samara, Russia, and told of the great sacrifice of the saints there to go to Ukraine to attend the temple. Soon they will have a temple in Russia. It still won't be easy. He said that through temple service, we can deepen our relationships with heavenly father and Jesus Christ and our capacity to love and serve others will grow. The blessings of the temple will flow into our lives.
Melia's friend and former soccer teammate, Jacie Robinson, spoke. She was very ill at the end of her mission in Romania. She was in a a coma and hospitalized for weeks. We fasted and prayed for her. Gratefully, she recovered and shared some thoughts with us. A few months into her mission, she was reading the Book of Mormon and read 3N27:27. What manner of men ought ye to be? She asked herself what kind of missionary she wanted to be. She wanted to know Christ and be like Him. She determined to read Jesus the Christ and study study study. When she told her mission president of her plan, he complimented her, but suggested she focus her study on the Book of Mormon. She implied that she was a bit disappointed. She already had a plan, but she decided to follow his advice. Just in the introduction to the Book of Mormon, she found something that shaped the remaining year and a bit more of her mission. She read that the Book of Mormon was written for everyone. She then saw people and thought "the Book of Mormon is for him" or "the Book of Mormon is for her." It's for everyone. Member, non-member, active, not active, everyone. She also suggested we be like Enoch and read, ponder, and ask (then trust she added). It was a great talk.
President McAllister's second talk was based on some things he heard his parents say many many many times. "Look for something to do and do it" and "You don't need a special invitation." He talked of the man who was sick of the palsy and men lowered him through the roof to be near and healed by Jesus. It must have taken planning, thought, change of course, unity, and concessions on everyone's part. I loved that.
President Livingston was the concluding speaker with the question "Has anything changed since our last stake conference?" I missed that one, but Elder Rasband was with us and he challenged us to:
1. Replace some leisure time with temple work
2. Do family history work on Sundays or other days
3. Be temple-centered
4. Stand in holy places
5. Redouble our temple worship
President Livingston referred to a talk by Elder Kim Clark where he asked himself "What am I not doing that I should be doing?" and "What am I doing that I should stop doing?" He suggested that we eliminate distractions. I was going to write reduce distractions in my notes, but I was told in my mind that eliminate was more accurate. Oh no. Get to work, Dana. Then he gave us 3 summer invitations:
1. Prayerfully study the Book of Mormon 15 minutes/day
2. Do weekly family history/temple work
3. Pray daily for opportunities to serve
It was a really good conference. Glad I was in town to participate.
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