This Weekend

Posted by Justine | April 6, 2008 | 10 Comments

I should preface this by saying that my husband is out of the country — has been for a week, and will continue to be for another week.

It’s been a stressful 7 days.

Saturday morning, the music swelled and the choir began singing at exactly 10:00 a.m. At approximately 15 seconds after 10:00 a.m., I was bawling.

Those dang choir members. I just needed one good solid E major augmented chord to open the floodgates, and they sure provided. I think I just stopped crying about 10 minutes ago. My kids think I’ve totally lost it. They may have sent an emergency email to dad, I can’t be certain.

I can easily qualify my experience this weekend as magnificent — weepy sure, but magnificent.

Highlights? I want to hear them from you.

Mine were
–the Solemn Assembly
–Elder Eyring staring me right in the eye and telling me he knows that Christ lives.
–Brother Amado reminding me that I don’t have time to be offended if I’m busy serving the Lord.
–Elder Scott, well, wow.
–Elder Perry telling me that enduring to the end is not a do-it-yourself project.
–Elder Uchtdorf’s really amazing olive branch extended to the entire world.
–Elder Ballard telling my kids to do the dishes.
–And President Monson. Dang, I’m getting weepy again just thinking about him. What an amazing servant of the Lord. He said, “The storm stops at the front door.” I want that. And he made me believe that I could do it.

So, let’s hear it. What about you? Was there one overriding talk that stood out? Or was it, like President Monson said, “I’ve never felt quite as richly blessed as during this session.”

Category: Daily Special

Comments

10 Responses to “This Weekend”

Emily M.
April 6th, 2008 @ 10:54 pm

Elder Ballard. I felt so much respect for young mothers from him… respect and wise counsel. I didn’t feel… patronized, the way I do sometimes in Mothers Are Great talks. I felt like he honored my struggle and frustrations, and offered help and support so that I can be better. It was exactly what I need in a mothering talk.

And President Monson’s final talk. Wow. He is the prophet. It was an answer to my prayers, that talk. I needed a witness, and I received it.
Claudia
April 7th, 2008 @ 9:03 am

Eldler Ballard said everything that needed to be said on the subject. Jeffery Holland speaking plainly. Elder Oaks about testimony. All of the talks that included diversity and undersanding for differences. What a wonderful conference.
Wendy
April 7th, 2008 @ 9:57 am

Both of Pres. Monson’s talks were exactly what I needed, what I prayed for. Elder Ballard’s was another favorite talk. I’m anxious to get the Ensign.
Miggy
April 7th, 2008 @ 10:14 am

Sister I-can’t-remember-her-name’s talk on family traditions–made me think about what I want our family traditions to be. Elder Bednar’s talk on prayer and action…loved it. Elder Scott’s talk on abuse. And of course the talk I hoped I would hear but convinced myself I would be OK if I didn’t…Elder Ballards talk on mothers, especially young mothers. As I sat feeding my baby he introduced his topic and the tears came a rolling…good times.
Angela
April 7th, 2008 @ 1:10 pm

I loved Elder Wirthlin’s gentle talk on Saturday. (“I’m not aware of a sign on our door of our church that says, ‘Restricted entry: Perfect people only.’” So great.)

And Elder Ballard’s talk was wonderful. I agree, Emily. And he quoted Anna Quindlen. Maybe Anna Quindlen can become the modern female version of C.S. Lewis? (Somehow I doubt that ). But his talk was respectful and uplifting and made me feel like I wanted to do better and be better without making me feel ashamed or exhausted. And he wasn’t patronizing, either. Although I believe that some of those General Authority’s wives “never ever complain”–sometimes it’s hard to hear that time and again. So hooray for Elder Ballard.

And President Monson’s talks were powerful and funny and moving. My testimony was strengthened.
brittney c.
April 7th, 2008 @ 5:36 pm

i loved elder wickman for making something beautiful from the ugliness of war.

i loved the look on the prophet’s face during his last address. writing this i just teared up. like emily m., i needed a witness. it made me feel small to ask. but God is gentle and so kind. i cried through his talk and my husband held my hand. i haven’t felt the spirit like that for years.
Justine
April 7th, 2008 @ 5:43 pm

Brittney c, I haven’t felt it like that in a long time either. It was really an astounding weekend for me. I’m really grateful for it, too. It came at a much needed time of increased blood pressure.
sara
April 7th, 2008 @ 6:27 pm

I agree about Pres. Monson’s final talk. I really felt like he is the prophet; he has taken on a new mantle and the change over him is obvious. Then, I loved Elder Holland’s talk (as one of only a few I could listen to thoroughly without too much chaos from the 4 little kids running around here) because although I know that faith is not about logic, I love hearing such logical arguments for the things we believe in: continuing revelation, open canon, the nature of the godhead, etc. Love your summary and I look forward to listening to all of the talks with greater attention.
Sally
April 8th, 2008 @ 2:46 am

I have never enjoyed listening to Pres. Monson as much as I have other apostles. I always felt like he was talking to children. But Sunday afternoon – wow. I don’t know if I changed, or he did, but I felt such depth and emotion from him. Truly he had the mantle of prophet. I now love listening to him.
m&m
April 11th, 2008 @ 12:46 am

I just wrote on my blog about a simple phrase that stuck out to me from Elder Christofferson: spirit to spirit (talking about how revelation came to his spirit, from the Spirit, in a way that surpasses words). That, to me, describes the sublime wonder of true testimony, the essence of my conviction that comes drop by drop.

Elder Ballard, Elder Worthlin, Elder Bednar, Elder Scott. So many talks were so phenomenal. I could list more….

I loved the Solemn Assembly and standing up on my couch (I was sitting there, so I just stood up right there) to raise my hand to sustain the prophets of God (I missed it Saturday, so I did it all by myself while my husband watched on. It moved me to tears. I just HAD to do that, to make my support of them formal and real and physically manifest. I love that we get to do that every year at every level of conference, but this was especially awesome, to stand and do it.)

I could write about so many more things…can’t wait to devour it all again now that transcripts are up. I LOVE CONFERENCE!