conference notes... April 4 AM session

I thought it might be fun to have a good conference discussion. I'm taking notes this year. It's been a long time since I've been able to actually sit down and ponder during conference, throughout the whole thing. I'll post about Saturday Morning session... maybe someone else would like to post their thoughts for Saturday Afternoon, and then someone could post for sunday morning, sunday afternoon, etc?

These are just the notes I took, of statements that stood out to me from each talk on Saturday morning.

Conference April 2009

Saturday Morning Session

President Thomas S. Monson:

Elder Neal M Andersen sustained as member of the quorum of the 12.

Perpetual Education fund: 18,900 finished training. On average, increasing income by 3-4 times.

Those who are addressing us have sought heaven's help and direction as they have prepared their messages.

Hymn: Israel, Israel, God is Calling.

Elder Robert D. Hales:

Elder Thomas S. Monson's Service. J Reuben Clark advised, be kind to the poor and look after the widows.

Times of economic uncertainty-- what we learn now can bless us and our posterity for generations to come.

Excessive debt and addictions, choices which have led to lessened freedom of choice.

Turn to the Lord and follow his commandments, want more than anything else to change our lives, to become free of excessive debt and addictions.

Our challenges, including the ones we create with our poor decisions, are a part of our test in mortality. Each test is to strengthen us, not to destroy us. Adversary knows when, where, and how to temtp us. With the help of the Holy Ghost, we can recognize temptation. We can resolve to say, get the behind me Satan, when temptation comes, instead of yielding.

Obtaining this assistance helps us to become provident providers for ourselves and others.

To provide providently we need to follow the principles of provident living.

keep the most basic commandment- thou shalt not covet. Our society is frought with feelings of entitlement. It leads us to buy things we do not really need, and cannot afford. Money we could have use to care for others must now be used to pay for debts.
The four most caring words for those we care for are, we cannot afford it.
When faced with the choice to buy consume or engage in worldy actvities, we need to say to one another-- we cannot afford to buy it, even though we want it. Or we can say, we can afford it, but we don't need it, and we don't really want it.
The foundation of the law of provident living is the law of the tithe. To willingly make sacrifices for others. The good, equitable law-- we pay ten percent no matter rich or poor. The cost of two consecutive meals-- fast offering.
Establish a family budget. Discuss it in family counsel meetings. Make goals to save for, help each other to reach that goal. By not satisfying our most immediate want, we obtain family memories that are unforgettable.
The addiction is the craving of the natural man, and it can never be satisfied. It is insatiable, an unfulfillable appetite.

We have to promise: I will do whatever it takes, in order to become free of these cravings and addictions.

The hunger of addiction can only be replaced by our love for Him.

Become provident providers for ourselves and others, both temporally and spiritually.


Margaret S. Lifferth.

We must cultivate in our homes and classrooms to cultivate respect and reverence. Respect for each other and reverence for God.

Our ability to have reverence for God, is cultivated in our showing respect for one another.

am I an example of respect in my home, by the way I teach others?
Do I show respect for the property of others as well as I take care of my own.

Reverence is profound respect, mingled with love.
Harshness in our training begets resentment, not reverence. Be kind, reasonable in our expectations. We are not only teaching our child his first lessons in reverence, but the child is exercising his own first efforts in self-discipline.
exemplify reverence as we pray reverently
hand scriptures reverently
show proper respect for general authorities and local priesthood leaders.
Reverence in chapels
Often the child that is most disruptive needs love the most. Explain lovingly, show discipline that is consistent and respectful to the child. President Packer: a quiet change will take place if we apply principles of reverence.

Michael A. Nieder: Young Men general second counselor.

We should become dedicated students. Of revealed principles and topics. Priesthood leaders must do their homework.

Allan F. Packer.

We can have full and satisfying lives even as we face challenges. Prophecies are being fulfilled, time to prepare for the Savior's return. Time to work out our own salvation.

WE must know how to receive spiritual revelation. We must know, and know that we know.

Understanding God the Father is the father of all our spirits, and loves us.
Jesus Christ is the savior.
The Holy Ghost communicates with us through promptings.

Practice until the skills of receiving revelation and recognizing promptings becomes automatic.

Become acquainted with the voice of the spirit, the promptings, so that we hear them and can pick them out in a crowd. These promptings become the foundation of our testimonies, which can keep ups happy
and safe during troubled times.

First we must have the desire. The desire is the seed.

And if it is right, I shall cause that your bosom shall burn within you, and ye shall know that it is right.

Revelation: when you feel pure intelligence flowing to you. Give you sudden strokes of ideas. By learning and understanding the spirit of God, you may grow in the spirit of revelation.

Sometimes people feel they need to have an experience like Joseph Smith's vision... if we feel we need something, we miss answers that are quiet, reassuring feelings and thoughts, most often come after our prayers while we are doing something else. Be ready at all times to receive revelations.

Asking for a testimony of truth opens the window of revelation. Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.

By the power of the Holy Ghost we may know the truth of all things which are right, and expedient for us.

This is a great time to be alive. The Lord needs each one of us. Our Heaveny Father is the father of our spirits, Jesus Christ of our redeemer and Savior, and the Holy Ghost is the means through which we receive inspiration and guidance.

D. Todd Christofferson. (quorum of 12).

We have all we need-- temple blessings and the gospel. With the Lord's help, we can build again.

If we are faithful to our temple covenants, we become inherriters not only of our blessings promised there, and the celestial kindgom.

The new and everlasting covenant: doctrines and covenants of the gospel. “For God So Loved the World that He Gave His Only Begotten Son, That Whosoever Will Believe in Him Shall Not Die, But Have Everlasting Life.”

Making and keeping covenants gives us the power to smile through hardships, convert tribulation into triumph. Bring to pass much righteousness.

we enjoy a continual flow of blessings.
Those blessings provide the resources we need to act, rather than simply being acted upon.
Our participation in ordinances demonstrates our commitment to become...
endowed with power from on high
A message of Grace.

When we've entered into divine covenants the Holy Ghost becomes our comforter and our guide.

The Lord's promise: You shall not be confounded before men.
The Holy Spirit of Promise: seals God's promises upon you.
Divine covenants make strong Christians.

Seal all orrdinances you can, then faithfully fulfill your promises by covenant.

God will sustain you as you work and watch.

God will reveal himself in your life, “Here am I.”

God will bless you in good measure, pressed down, running over, and shaken together.

Hymn: Consider the Lilies.

Henry B. Eyering.

I've had a witness that he's called of God.
We have one challenge in common: we will all deal with adversity. The arrival of suffering can bring fear and sometimes, even anger, when long periods of comfort come to an end. Good health, financial security, etc.

“How could this happen?” Especially painful when the struggling are those whom we love. The distress can shake faith. Some of us have seen such doubt come to infect a whole generation of people, in times of war or famine. Until some may turn away from God, whom they charge with being “indifferent” or “cruel.”

My purpose is to assure you that the Savior and our Heavenly Father live and love all of us.
To walk as God walks and to think as He thinks. For us to have that gift and to be given that trust, we must be transformed by making righteous choices, for that is hard to do.

He knows from experience how to heal and help us. The Book of Mormon gives us the certain reassurance that He knows how to comfort.

Alma: And He shall go forth suffering pain and afflictions and temptations of every kind, that the word may be fulfilled:

that he will take upon them their infirmities that His bowels may be filled with mercy... that he may know how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Even knowing this, your trials may still test your faith and ability to endure. Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail.

“Things will work out.” Tragedy did not erode their faith; it tested it, and strengthened it.

One of the great trials of life: losing to death a husband or wife. Most of us know widows who need attention.

After ye have done all these things, and turn away the needy, and the sick, and impart not of your substance, your prayers are in vain. Ye are as hypocrites. Help anyone who has less, even if your own resources are scanty.

Comfort others in the midst of your own trials.

“I'm going to make it.”

Hymn: I know that my Reedeemer Lives.