Conference Chat

Posted by Michelle L. | April 5, 2010 | 27 Comments

It’s true, the General Authorities and Presidencies are not assigned topics for their General Conference talks. Yet, every conference there are topics that are addressed repeatedly. There can be little debate about the overriding theme of this conference– parenting, teaching youth, nurturing, devotion to home and family.

As a parent and youth leader I felt encouraged by the messages, but also overwhelmed– “How can I do it all? How can I BE it all?” I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. I’d also like to hear from those of you who don’t have children– did you see a different theme in conference? What was your favorite talk? Which talk are you the most anxious to read and ponder?

Category: Daily Special

Comments

27 Responses to “Conference Chat”

KShaw
April 5th, 2010 @ 9:41 am

I loved Elder Holland’s talk in the Saturday 2dn session! and I loved loved loved President Uchtdorf’s talk on Sunday! That man can speak! And I also loved the talk by Elder Ballard specifically to the women and girls of the church. It full was things that I really needed to hear, and it put many issues that I had to rest!
I can’t wait to be able to sit and read them, I get so much more from reading, then I do from listening.
cindy baldwin
April 5th, 2010 @ 9:42 am

I don’t have children yet, and won’t be able to for awhile due to health-related issues. I DEFINITELY noticed the theme in the conference. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever noticed a theme emerge quite that strongly. For awhile I wondered, “What does it have to do with me?” I know that motherhood is in my future, but certainly not right away.

As the conference went on and I continued to ponder my question, I was eventually impressed that this counsel applied very much to me – both as a future mother, and as a woman who wants very much to be a mother. I felt as I listened that all of the counsel given COULD be meaningful to me, as a way to prepare my heart (and my home) for eventual children.

And my favorite talk, hands down, was Sister Beck’s. After she had finished I turned to my husband and said, “Well, I guess conference can end now!” She singlehandedly answered most of the questions on my conference list. I also really liked Elder Ucthdorf’s Sunday talk on love. I heard great things about Elder Holland, but that was one of the only talks I missed, so I guess I’ll have to wait till the archives come online!
Jennie
April 5th, 2010 @ 9:53 am

We don’t have TV and conference down here isn’t on the radio, so I missed all of Saturday’s sessions due to a busy day running around. I’m excited to read everything! I love Uchtdorfs talk about love on Sunday morn. I get really tired about everyone complaining about how all the bad things in the world are proof that God doesn’t exist. When really it is ourselves who are at fault because we are not serving each other enough. I love the idea of a Christ statue with no hands.
Giggles
April 5th, 2010 @ 9:56 am

You can already watch all of the talks on lds.org or youtube.

The other theme I noticed was “it’s how you react to the trial that’s important.” I wrote that down in my notes four separate times in one form or another. Definitely something to think about.
bth
April 5th, 2010 @ 9:57 am

For the women who don’t have children I couldn’t help but think of a sister in our ward who befriended my children and had them calling her grandma in no time. She talked to them often and always had a little something for each of them before sacrament meeting. She remembered their birthdays and knew what each one liked and disliked. Every ward needs people like that, without “youth callings” who serve the youth in their own way.
Michelle L.
April 5th, 2010 @ 10:12 am

You’re so right Giggles. “It’s how you react to the trial that’s important.” came up over and over. I’ve been trying to internalize that. My hubby also said that Elder Uchtdorf’s Priesthood talk addressed the same idea. Off to listen to that!
April
April 5th, 2010 @ 10:46 am

It seem to me that “Faith” was a theme of conference also. That our leaders are aware of the trials of daily living and that as we cling to our faith that we can find joy and peace.
I think the theme of family pertains to everyone. We all come from a family, belong to a ward family and hope to be part of an eternal family. I think we can apply these lessons to all of these areas.
Tasha
April 5th, 2010 @ 10:56 am

Conference was so amazing! I felt a huge emphasis on returning home and strengthening the family. And after reading this earlier talk by Sister Beck, I can see why.

http://www.lds.org/pa/rs/pdf/CES_2009_Beck_eng.pdf

I also felt a little overwhelmed by all that I need to do to improve. But that is the beauty of having General Conference on Easter Sunday – we receive inspiration for how we can improve, and the hope that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we truly do have the ability to become all that God wants us to be. As Elder Scott has said, “when the call comes, the ability follows.” That was a big message of conference for me – hope that despite the challenges we face, we have our God to help us. And He will never leave us alone.

I rejoice in the knowledge of my Savior, the prophets, and the strength that General Conference has given me. How blessed we are to have the Gospel in our lives!
Lauren
April 5th, 2010 @ 11:05 am

Amen to all that’s been said already. And we did have one of those spontaneous teaching moments the brethren talked about so much as a result of a new word my 6-year-old daughter learned from Bro. Holland’s talk:

“Mom, what’s lust?”
jks
April 5th, 2010 @ 12:01 pm

I think it is important to remember that the talks about parenting and teaching children aren’t necessarily for the benefit of the PARENTS, but for the benefit of the CHILDREN. God doesn’t love parents more by teaching them about parenting.
It is like public education. We don’t contribute taxes for public education for the benefit of parents. We provide free education for children for the benefit of each individual citizen to grow up and become an educated adult.
Does that make sense? I hope the childless can see that distinction and care about the rising generation enough to not be envious of the supposed “attention” paid to parents.
PaulM
April 5th, 2010 @ 12:55 pm

Can someone please explain why everyone is raving about Sis. Beck’s sermon? I barely remember that she spoke and can’t think of anything noteworthy in what she said. I’m not being snarky– I genuinely don’t know what I missed.
Sue
April 5th, 2010 @ 1:32 pm

My unmarried son watched conference with us, and he was the first to mention that a major theme seemed to be family and responsible parenting. In fact, he had watched the Saturday conferences with a group of young adults who had felt that message coming through rather strongly as well.

I loved many of the talks, but my favorites were probably the ones by some of the Seventies…Donald Hallstrom (reacting to adversity) and Gregory Schwitzer (withholding judgment because you don’t know the whole story). I especially loved the Mary/Martha example that pointed out we needed to understand the rest of Martha’s story rather than jump to conclusions about her. I was also touched by Bradley D. Foster on motherhood.

Great talks, all. And President Monson’s was a particularly poignant Easter talk, while Elder Holland did his usual great job of addressing a difficult subject with articulate wisdom. I also enjoyed Elders Uchtdorf and Bednar quite a bit.

Sheesh. I’d better stop here before I list the names of every speaker. And I could, too! I liked Sister Beck, for example, and I am so glad she does not use what I not-so-fondly call the ‘primary voice.” Like Sister Dew, she speaks stridently and with some power behind her tones.

=)
TA
April 5th, 2010 @ 1:36 pm

PaulM

“The ability to qualify for, recieve and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life”

That, and it was a talk about woman, not as mother, wife, or helpmeet, but as a whole person, as a disciple of Christ, as a worthy individual all on her own. At least that’s what I felt as I listened to it, and I was very grateful for it.
wendy
April 5th, 2010 @ 1:51 pm

Paul, here is another quote from Sister Beck’s talk. She was quoting Eliza R. Snow:

“Women should be women and not babies that need petting and correction all the time. I know we like to be appreciated, but if we do not get all the appreciation which we think is our due, What matters? We know the lord has laid high responsibility on us and there is not a wish or desire that the Lord hasn’t planted in our hearts in righteousness but will be realized and the greatest good we can to do ourselves and each other is to refine and cultivate ourselves in everything that is good and ennobling and qualify for those responsibilities.”

Her talk was invigorating to me . . . another call to live better. And I’m with TA and what she said.
Michelle L.
April 5th, 2010 @ 1:56 pm

Paul– Sister Beck gave an exceptionally powerful talk on the role of women. She spoke repeatedly of revelation– “As they seek and qualify for personal revelation, the Lord will pour out His Spirit upon His handmaids in these latter days.”

She said that the ability to receive and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life, “Qualifying for the Lord’s Spirit begins with a desire for that Spirit and implies a certain degree of worthiness.”

I also loved it when she told women to stop worrying about validation and to simply get to work.
mormonhermitmom
April 5th, 2010 @ 1:59 pm

I don’t remember who was speaking at the time but she said something about a mom only helping three of her daughters to complete Personal Progress and actually doing it with her fourth daughter and regretting not participating with her older daughters… I got a little overwhelmed with that. It sounds like something I SHOULD do with my almost 13 year old daughter but… I hated doing it when I was her age and I never really wanted to do it AGAIN. So is this my punishment for not having a better attitude the first time around? or did I not “get it” the first time around? Hm.

I really liked Elder Holland’s talk. He tells it like it is and doesn’t care who gets offended. “You shouldn’t be serving tea anyway!” I loved that.
m&m
April 5th, 2010 @ 2:44 pm

I think it is important to remember that the talks about parenting and teaching children aren’t necessarily for the benefit of the PARENTS, but for the benefit of the CHILDREN.

Hm. I know why you said this (parents are not more ‘special’ than those who are currently childless, and I agree with that). But I actually disagree with this conclusion. I think that what we are taught about the important role to nurture is as much about *us* as it is about the children…not that we are more loved or special if we are parents, but that WE need the growth that nurturing can bring into our lives, too.

I think that that reality applies to those who are parents and those who are not. When we look for opportunities to nurture, we are opening ourselves up to tap into heaven’s power as we seek to be instruments in God’s hands. I feel the power of God most in my life when I am seeking to reach out to His children, whoever they may be — whether they be my own children, the stranger at the store, the child across the street, a RS sister, or the rowdy children in a school class that make me want to pull my hair out.

I think that while there was a lot about parenting, much about nurturing that was taught was more broadly applicable than just to women who have their own children. Sister Beck has talked more than once about why personal revelation is so important – so we know when and how to serve and how to best use our time. That’s the core of nurturing, imo — being like Christ in serving and reaching out to others. That role and responsibility is not limited to parents.
Jennie
April 5th, 2010 @ 2:48 pm

I wanted to find a picture of that statue that Pres. Uchtdorf was talking about and it seems that this story is a bit of an urban legend.

I did find one photo of a statue of Christ with no hands (due to vandalism) but it said the picture was taken at a church in South Africa.

Kind of disappointing.
christine
April 5th, 2010 @ 3:57 pm

I was able to attend the Relief Society Auxiliary training a few days before conference and Sister Beck hit hard with personal revelation. I think I wrote it down 3 separate times and she repeated it several different ways. To hear her again on Sunday was powerful, for me personal revelation is challenging yet, it IS the most important skill we can learn. It is what makes the gospel universal and personal at the same time, the way we can take each message and make it a part of our own lives in the most meaningful way for us.
Sue
April 5th, 2010 @ 4:25 pm

Jennie:

Here’s what I’ve learned about this “He has No Hands But Yours” story:

“Several years ago I read the story and did some research on it. I’d heard a couple of apocryphal versions: one about a church in England bombed during World War II, the other about the Mainzer Dom (cathedral) in Germany. But then research and a phone call verified that the story originated at Christ the King Catholic Church in San Diego, California. At that time, the story was told on their website as well, but that site has since been closed. The statue did exist outside the church, but the hands were broken off by vandals around 1980, not by bombing. Instead of repairing the hands, the church decided to put up a plaque at the base that states, ‘I have no hands but yours.’ This is a reference to a poem by St. Teresa of Avila that begins: ‘Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours.’ The statue is still there, without hands.’”

Here’s the url of a picture of that statue:

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2008/jan/23/christ-king-catholic-church/

So, at least there’s non-urban-legend, truth-based elements to the beautiful story.

=)
Julie
April 5th, 2010 @ 5:28 pm

I’m at a point in my life where I’m finally coming to terms with the fact that I most definitely will not have children, and most likely will never be married. These realizations are very, very difficult for me to swallow, and have created the perfect storm of a major crisis of faith.

I watched all but the Saturday afternoon session, and loved Elder Cook and Pres. Uchtdorf’s talks the most–I needed to hear everything they said. But I find it interesting that I can’t seem to remember the talks on parenting. I know they were there, I even teased my sister a little about the number of parenting talks. But while they were happening, and even today, I don’t remember those talks. Usually, I at least think to myself, “Another talk that doesn’t apply to me,” and I listen, trying to find one or two statements to take away. That didn’t happen this time.

I’ve been struggling with the very basic idea that God knows and loves me, and as heretical as it may sound, I think the lack of remembrance/impact on me of those talks that were so specific to parenting was a definite lifting of burden/demonstration of love from a Heavenly Father who is trying to comfort me in a time of some serious doubt and grief.
m&m
April 5th, 2010 @ 5:54 pm

I think the lack of remembrance/impact on me of those talks that were so specific to parenting was a definite lifting of burden/demonstration of love from a Heavenly Father who is trying to comfort me in a time of some serious doubt and grief.

Isn’t it interesting the many ways that He will work in our lives for our help and welfare? I don’t think it sounds heretical at all. I think it sounds consistent with God’s personal care and intimate awareness of what we need individually. That realization is what gets me through hard times — when I recognize the tender mercies, even as they may come in unusual ways.

I’m so sorry for your grief. May you feel wrapped in the Savior’s love.
Carol
April 5th, 2010 @ 7:39 pm

One of my favorite talks was by Elder Gregory Schwitzer about not judging others unrighteously. I wonder how often we do that to ourselves, not thinking we’re good enough or worthy enough when we’ve given our very best efforts to serve and love the Lord.

I wonder how much peace we would find if we allowed the Lord to carry our burdens and then allowed Him to sustain, strengthen and comfort us.
Michelle L.
April 6th, 2010 @ 5:53 am

Julie– I love your thoughts! We hear the words we need to hear!
Sage
April 7th, 2010 @ 4:34 am

I love this sharing of conference inspiration. I love conference too. We are indeed blessed to have an outpouring of spiritual counsel twice a year–beyond our weekly communion.

Sis. Beck is right.(and every other speaker) Personal revelation is vital to living the gospel.

Thanks, Segullah, for your faithfulness and inspiration.
Pam Morgenegg
April 10th, 2010 @ 11:11 pm

I was looking for a picture of the statue Pres. Uchdorf was referring to and in all my searches came up with a wedsite http://www.happinessis shared.com. Page 6 of her blog. A mom who thinks she found it, with a picture! I love it! I think this is the one Pres. Uchdorf had in mind. It is beautiful.
Steph @ Diapers and Divinity
April 12th, 2010 @ 3:54 pm

I think the answer to you question about feeling overwhelmed was answered beautifully in Sister Beck’s talk where she told us that we’ll never be able to do all that our heart wishes to do, and that’s why we must rely on prayer and receiving personal revelation to set our own priorities and focus on what matters most FOR US. In response to some of the earlier comments, I don’t think the speakers would ever want us to walk away from conference with a burden of guilt for the many things undone, but rather to feel a sense of hope and encouragement about our future and a desire to be a little better.