Sunday Afternoon General Conference

 Elder Eyring: THE LORD WILL SUCCOR US

The Lord knows how to succor us in whatever trial we face. 

How does the Lord succor us?

    He will remind us to remember Him and to come unto Him

    Feast upon his words. Be baptized and keep covenants

    He sends the Holy Ghost to be our guide. This is how He guides us to safety

    We get guided to the next step. Rarely do we see far into the future. (My experience January 2020)

Notice the tribulation of others and try to help. As we lift another's burden, we sense a light in the darkness.

Elder Jaggi: COUNT IT ALL JOY

Elder Jaggi is a friend of Jenny and Scott's. He served as mission president in Ogden

Told of brother's untimely death. His brother lived 30 minutes from their mission home. They had been called to Ogden from Southern California BEFORE the cancer diagnosis. 

They found comfort in the scriptures, temple attendance

"The Day Dawn is Breaking"

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations

James 1:3 The trying of your faith worketh patience

Exercise faith to increase our patience. This leads to joy. 

Thanks to the elders and sisters who have worked so diligently through the pandemic. 

Elder Stevenson: HIGHLY FAVORED OF THE LORD

Mission in Japan and excited about going to Tokyo to hear President Kimball speak. Ended up that due to distance, he and his companion couldn't go. 

Personal disappointment. Tokyo temple had been announced at that meeting

Paul, in stocks and in house arrest, taught and baptized. Alma and Amulek bound and confined. Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail, feeling abandoned and forsaken. These things shall be for they good. God shall be with thee forever. 

Missionaries can continue to do their work. 

How have I been highly favored of the Lord during Covid?

Come Follow Me was already in my life

Revelation regarding ministering in a higher and holier way - we've had chances to contact in unique ways

Find heightened joy in the return of temple ordinances - story of sister missionary going to the temple at 2:00 am before catching an early flight to her mission. This made me cry. Such a sweet story. These missionaries have made such sacrifices. Sierra Trump, who is serving in Arizona, hasn't gone through the temple yet. When she does go, Maria and John might fly out to join her. 

One day, we'll look back at cancelled events and loneliness and we'll see increased testimonies and blessings during it all. It will be "for our gain."

Elder Camargo: ASK and DO

Ask and it shall be given unto you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.

Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses. Then listen and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. 

Personal revelation is necessary for our spiritual survival. Communication with our Heavenly Father lets us judge between what is true and what is false, what is important and what is not. 

It takes time to learn to listen to the voice. Record impressions. 

The Holy Ghost is real and His impressions are real - the big ones and the small ones.

To knock is to act in faith. The Lord will open the way before us. 

"Wake up and do something more than dream of your mansions above."

Do good!

Elder Renlund: BE CHRISTLIKE

Do better and be better. Am I doing enough?

Turn away from sin and toward God.

What is a just person?

Repents and keeps on trying. 

How to be Christlike

Elder Johnson: POWER

President Nelson has often spoke of power

Study and learn about the power with which we've been endowed

Elder Holland: BY and BY

2nd time Covid-19 has altered our proceedings.

We're tired of it. We want to pull our hair out. This has gone on much, much too long.

How long do we wait for relief from hardships?

Sometimes help seems so slow in coming. Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail.

Our prayers are heard and they are answered, though not at the time and in the way we expect.

Always answered in the way and in the time that God should answer them. 

He never sleeps or slumbers. He cares about our exaltation above all else. He is pure love, glorious personified. Merciful Father

Faith means trusting God in good times and bad, even if it includes some suffering

Christianity is comforting, but it is often not comfortable

By and by, the blessings will come. 

President Nelson: JOY AMID UNCERTAINTY and TEMPLE IN SANTA CRUZ!!!!!

The Lord wants us to feel optimism about the future

Look forward to the future with joyful anticipation

Don't spin our wheels in the past

Achieve our divine potential

"New normal" turn heart, mind, and soul to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ

    repent daily

    minister

    magnify callings

    live each day so you're more prepared to meet your maker

 6 New temples: Vanuatu, Kiribati, Lindon, Guatemala City, Sao Paolo, Santa Cruz Bolivia. 

Greater courage, joy amid uncertainty

General Conference October 3-4, 2020

It's another conference with social distancing. Covid-19 is still a thing. I remember last spring thinking this would be over by my birthday. Nope. 

Conference was so great yesterday. There were even 3 talks on preparedness. I honestly went to bed last night and didn't want to fall asleep. I didn't want the day to end because it had been such a great day. 

    Conference talks

    Decorating for Halloween

    Ice cream with Allie for my birthday

    Both the girls were here in the evening for the women's session

    Allie, Starlyn, and I went to Old Navy and I got some new pants that I love

    I helped Allie do some work for her sewing class

It was really a great day. I'm excited for more conference today. So, I'll just write my thoughts as the talks are given. 

Sunday Morning Session

Elder Ballard: PRAYER

Watch and pray always. 

Wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilences 

Things are in commotion. Many people fear the future. Many hearts are turned away from God. 

Life has been disrupted by the pandemic.

We are at a major crossroads in history. 

Please pray. Not about politics.

Best way to help the current situation is to turn hearts to God through prayer. Be humble and seek heaven's inspiration. 

God answers prayers in His own way, in His own time

REDOUBLE commitment to prayer. 

Sister Harkness: CHRIST IS IN OUR BOAT

Sometimes we cry for HELP. Christ is there. 

In me, ye might have peace. In the world, you might have tribulation. Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.

Tempest with apostles. Peace, be still.

When our faith is tried, it can also be fortified.

Experiment on the word of God. 

Forgive, rather than judge.

Repent, rather than rebel

Decreased fear and increased faith come as we hear and heed Christ's voice

Christ gave His life so we won't perish. 

Elder Soares: STRENGTH TO SAY "NO. GET THEE HENCE"

Christ's guidance keeps darkness away

Align our will with His, stand fast in the Lord

Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly. Holy thoughts and pure desires lead to righteous actions

Don't be consumed by lusts

Rely upon rock of salvation, our ability to control our thoughts will increase. Our hearts will change and we will become more like Christ. The influence of the Holy Ghost will intensify.

Following Christ's example can save us from many trials

Elder Godoy: AM I WILLING TO BE ONE OF GOD'S ANGELS?

I believe in angels

Angels are among us: missionaries, good friends, loving teachers who prepare with and share the spirit

The Lord is aware of our challenges and He will send angels. I will go before your face and mine angels will bear you up. 

The Lord is looking for angels willing to help.

Elder Andersen: TEACH OF CHRIST

Jesus is the Christ

A certain knowledge of that has made the uncertainty of the pandemic easier

We don't need to spiritually distance from Christ. Come unto me.

Study the Savior's life. It helped prepare President Nelson; it can help us.

If the world is going to speak less of Christ. Who is going to speak more of Him? We are. We and other good Christians.

Answer children's questions with the Savior's teachings

Focus our worship services on Christ. Everything in our worship should point to the Savior

As Elder Andersen finishes his talk, I'm adding my final thoughts to my final recorded lecture for SFL 340. I feel impressed to talk of the Last Supper. Christ gathered those He loved when He knew His time was near. They ate, then they partook of the sacrament and He served them and taught them to serve others. 

President Nelson: LET GOD PREVAIL

Doctrine of gathering of Israel has always interested him. 

The Lord is gathering those who will choose to make God the most important influence in their lives

The gathering has been prophesied of for centuries and it's happening RIGHT NOW.

Missionary, temple, and family history work. 

It also includes anything we do to help others make and keep covenants with God

We should avoid being myopic. Don't be near-sighted. Expand our perspective. Seek the eternal. There's a divine, eternal plan. 

The gospel net is expansive

Each of us is a child of God

God does not love one race more than another. His doctrine on this matter is clear.

I call upon our members everywhere to abandon the actions of racism

I mourn with our black brothers and sisters throughout the world

Are you willing to have your will swallowed up in His?

We can have courage as we let God prevail in our life

Decisions will become easier. Some issues will become non-issues as we let God prevail in our life. 

The Lord has promised that He will fight our battles and our children's battles and our children's children's battles.

As I read scriptures, watch for the promises that God gives to covenant keeping people.