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The Mother in Me: Real World Reflections on Growing into Motherhood
Editorial Spotlight
I was taken aback. Could joy be more than a fairy tale? Could it be alifestyle? And wouldn’t peace be sort of, well, boring? But in such strange and yet familiar surroundings, lulled by the soft rain of drumbeats and voices chanting music in a language I could not understand, I simply nodded, and repeated, “I want to see my beauty and feel my power as a woman.”
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See Your Beauty, Feel Your Power
By Angela W. Schultz
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« UP CLOSE: Online Life– General ConferenceTo thine own self be true (but you might be less happy) »
What an amazing General Conference. Inspiring words, concepts, images, and moments from these past two days have filled me with goodness, like the jar of boldly colored pompons President Monson received as a birthday gift. Elder Holland’s thundering testimony of the Book of Mormon! The richness of divine love, spilling like gold from President Uchtdorf’s words! Even a dark, drizzly Monday morning can’t dampen the lingering glow of the spirit within me. And I suspect most if not all of you feel the same way.
But we know the high won’t last forever. Now’s the time to capture those warm fuzzies with words (or at least try) so that they’ll be at our fingertips when we need them most. So tell me, what touched your mind, heart, and spirit this weekend?
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I was deeply moved by Elder Holland’s powerful testimony. Wow. His emotions were palpable and, while I always love his words, his language was particularly vivid. I know I’ll go back to that one again and again. (On a side note, is it disrespectful that my kids call him “Jeffy Bear”? It’s a term of affection and he’s a favorite. I think he just seems cuddly and approachable. But still. Maybe I should insist on Elder Jeffy Bear?)
Overall, I loved the tone of the whole conference and the emphasis on love and service. Looking forward to seeing others’ comments here. Thanks, Kathryn!
Really, how can you go wrong?
This weekend was SO inspiring. All of the talks you mentioned above, plus these three:
Russell T. Osguthorpe’s admonition to “aim high” and the story of the Tahitian laundry lady who helped tutor him on his mission. So many sweet teaching moments that “saved his life.”
Kent D. Watson’s talk on temperance as a divine attribute of the Savior, and his story of the tempered glass that left him without a scratch in that scary car accident. A divine gift available to all of us!
Boyd K. Packer’s talk from his chair. I found his thoughts on agency and spiritual communication very powerful. He reminded us that our minds are in charge, and that our bodies are but instruments of our mind. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth within you?”
Loved everything about conference.
My kids were still talking about the warm fuzzies today! I love the Prophet!
I loved the Warm fuzzies, and the stories of all the service done in honor of the prophet’s birthday! There was a talk that I particularily enjoyed on Saturday, but for the life of me, I can’t remember who it was, since I was fighting with my 4 kids, trying to get them to sit and listen… Ah, well, can’t wait for the Conf. issue of the Ensign!
This was a wonderful conference, and I am so glad to have the technology to listen to them over and over!
I was really struck by the overall message of love from Saturday (maybe the only talks I was really able to focus on were Bednar’s and Uchtdorf’s). Love others, love God, love ourselves. Love should be our guide and our motivation. It was a good reminder for me.
On Sunday I loved Monson’s message of communicating “heart to heart” and not just living side by side. That is something I am really struggling with lately. And I really liked the analogies from Renlund’s talk about our “new hearts” and what we have to do to keep them healthy. This, along with all the talks that focused on the gospel fundamentals (Packer, Eyring, Cook and Holland), really helped me to see what I need to be doing better in the day to day. Even when it was hard to pay attention amidst the squabbles, I felt the spirit of most of the messages reach out to me. Like they were telling me to listen better. This is one Conference that I am really looking forward to reading and I think I may even go back and re-watch a few of the great ones.
Corktree, I loved that line from Pres. Monson’s talk! I was already planning on getting that highlighted as soon as I get my Ensign. That is totally something I’ve been pondering on for the last 2 weeks, too, as I’ve struggled to figure out how to have more spiritual conversations with those close to me.
My faves did not disappoint: Uchtdorf, Bednar, Eyring, and Holland. Uchtdorf’s was my very favorite. I took a lot of notes on his and have already watched it twice. Very profound.
My kids (10, 8, 6.5) watched 2.5-3 sessions, which was amazing. As in, they sat quietly, listening and watching. A miracle! I’m hoping that we’ll be able to discuss a bit for FHE tonight. We’ll see how that goes.
I think the themes of this conference were love and personal revelation. About halfway through Sunday morning’s session, I realized it would have been interesting to count how many references there were to D&C 8:2 (tell you in your mind and in your heart). That may have been the most-quoted scripture in the conference.
But some of my favorite parts were outside of the wonderful, ponder-worthy talks. I loved the version of “Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise” sung Saturday afternoon. That has been on repeat in my house ever since.
Sunday afternoon, I had the feed up several minutes before the conference started. I was enjoying listening to the happy buzz from the Conference center when suddenly, the room went silent. I looked up to the television, and the camera moved to show President Monson entering the room. Amazing.
I continued watching the feed after several of the sessions, and it touched my heart to see the wives of the apostles, who apparently sit on the side of the stand, join their husbands before they both leave the room. It was all so orderly, but beautiful as each husband and wife reached for each other when their turn came.
The talks from this conference were amazing. I am grateful I took notes, and I look forward to studying and applying the teachings in the future. I am also grateful for these small moments and the way they warm my heart as well.
We sent warm fuzzies (love notes) to each other at girls’ camp, so it was fun to hear that term again! My conference listening was hit and miss due to toddler, but I was also deeply moved by Elder Holland’s testimony of the Book of Mormon. He is amazing. Other talks, too . . . but already the specifics are fading. Can’t wait to read it!! (Also, knowing I never finished last conference’s talks and also missed a lot of it, I’m making a goal to read them all before the November Ensign comes out).
I love the way Elder Holland always helps me stay awake on the Sunday afternoon session. It was especially the case this time.
Your words caught it best for me. Ditto to everything you said. Thank you!
I loved it all!
Humble. Beautiful. It filled my home with the Spirit. I think the most intense session for me was the Saturday morning–I just wept and couldn’t tear myself away from the screen.
I also loved the man from South Africa, the guy who talked about serving in Finland and his son serving in Russia (in the exact city he had prayed for and that his mission president’s wife was from). And of coarse all the biggies like Holland, President Monson, Bednar and Uchtdorf. What is it about that man? I gotta tell you–if I was ever going to have a crush on an apostle–he’d be it!:)
I liked Elder Oaks’s talk from Saturday afternoon. I’m going to have to bookmark it somewhere to pull out when my kids are half-grown and behaving badly.
The most exciting to me, a resident of South Florida, was to hear a temple announced for Ft Lauderdale, FL. I cried tears of joy for most of the Saturday am session.
I rememeber the days of having a temple 24 hours away in Washington DC, then 12 hours away in Atlanta, then 3 hours away in Orlando. I did not think I would ever hear of Florida having TWO temples.
The message I needed to hear the most was Elder Bednar’s.
The message that will stay with me for years to come…Elder Holland’s.
The message I will use at Girls Camp….The Warm Fuzzies…there are so many possibilities. Loved President Monson’s remarks.
I really loved that the theme of this conference is love. I loved it all. Like many other commentors Uctdorf, Holland, and Bednar are favorites, but the most powerful one for me was Elder Oaks. Finding that balance between obedience and forgiveness, tolerance, love, and expectations for others was so meaningful.
The highlight of conference for me was that magnificent rendition of “O Divine Redeemer” at the beginning of the Sunday afternoon session, followed closely by Elder Holland’s powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon. Wow. That was electrifying. My (very observant) 16-year-old son remarked that sometimes there almost seems to be a disconnect between the rhetorical style and delivery of the speakers at General Conference and the content of their messages, but NEVER in the case of Elder Holland.
I also loved President Uchtdorf’s talk on Divine Love. Powerful, powerful stuff. Elder Oak’s talk on the relationship between Love and Law was also powerful.
I enjoyed Elder Bednar’s talk. As someone else commented, he said what I needed to hear. But I especially enjoyed hearing about his sons’ antics during family home evenings, etc. I love “real life” stories that give me hope that consistent efforts to be obedient will pay off.
Sharlee, I’m with you on “O Divine Redeemer.” If I’d been wearing socks, they would have been knocked off. And of course Holland’s testimony was so very powerful, and it was thrilling for me to see the African General Authority, Elder Sitati, speak.
My favorite talk was Uchtdorf’s. I told my family last night that there are some apostles (like Bednar, for example) who make me feel like DOING something specific, which is a good thing, of course. The funny thing is, Uchtdorf’s talks don’t necessarily spur me to write up a “to do” list–they simply fill me with the spirit, that feeling of “the church is true, it’s true, it’s true.” I love Pres. Uchtdorf for that. It’s talks like his that remind me over and over again *why* I’m a Mormon and that (in the words of Emma Lou Thayne) I’d be “cosmically orphaned” without the church.
The emphasis on personal revelation was really important to me this weekend. My overall takeaway was this: provide yourself and your children with opportunities to feel the spirit. Don’t get overwhelmed with programs and activities and end up missing the mark. Earning Scout merit badges and memorizing the Articles of Faith and attending Enrichment (ack–RS meetings?) are all well and good–and can be vehicles for feeling the spirit–but all these programs and ideas are not an end in and of themselves. There are many different means to the all-important end that is providing ourselves opportunities to feel the spirit. Stand in holy places (at church, at home, out in nature–so many places are holy). Allow your children the chance to stand in holy places and point out to them what it feels like when the spirit is present. This is the foundation of a personal testimony that can’t be shaken.
I needed to hear that.
I almost missed my favorite talk, it was the very first! Elder Scott’s talk was Saturday morning and I caught it only because of The DVR. We were shopping and I came in late. It was a spur of the moment decision to watch it from the beginning or just watch it from that point on.
Many of my personal concerns were answered in Elder Scott’s heartfelt address. How blessed we are to have such righteous and sincere leaders that care so greatly for us.
Nani Lii Furse — I needed Elder Bednar’s FHE/Scripture Study examples, too! Sometimes it gets so discouraging, but I KNOW we need the blessings!!! So I keep trying, no matter how trying the kids may be
.
Jendoop — My prayers were answered by Elder Scott’s talk, too! On to more fervent praying AND better listening to the Spirit!
I know that these leaders seek the Lord’s guidance in what they say! I know He guides them! And I know it blesses us — I’ve seen it too many times to deny it!
Ok, ladies, this is your Lutheran/Quaker checking in. It sounds like a wonderful conference – and i do know what one is.
i went to the site and will watch and read much, thank you so much for the instructions how, they were vague before. i did read the talks on Relief Society and was very touched by that – such potential, such beauty.
can’t wait to read this conference- you all sound soooo excited, that i am happy for you!
I love you, Traci! What a tremendous example you are to all of us.
“But we know the high won’t last forever.” That was the thought that kept coming to me this weekend. I always feel a spiritual resevoir filling up with Conference, but this time I felt a desire to keep that resevoir filling up all the time. I’ve committed to studying the talks over the next six months.
My favorite part of the Conference was President Monson’s Sunday morning talk followed by that breathtaking rendition of “Have I Done Any Good in the World Today”. My five kids had been very squirmy that session, but we required them to sit down, put away all the toys & crayons and listen to the prophet. How thrilled I was that he spoke so much about children and what good they can do! My children sat and listened attentively to the prophet of God. What a spiritual feast!
This entire conference was a feast. Saturday was jam-packed with lessons in love and personal revelation. I thought it couldn’t get better. However, I had some favorites Sunday. When the choir sang “O Divine Redeemer” I felt transported to a place more holy and serene than earth. That song was sung at my dad’s funeral, as it was his favorite, and hearing that arrangement drove home the power of the message and I knew why he loved it.
Elder Renlund’s talk on caring for a new heart was the number one message for me. This summer I experienced a change of heart that left me feeling soft, pliable, and seeking the Lord’s will in all things. This past month I have felt calloused, stiff-necked, and driven by pride. Just this week I was wondering how I could have fallen so fast and realized I had little desire to do the work to attain that change again. It just seemed too hard. Elder Renlund’s talk really helped me understand the need to maintain a change of heart by caring for it daily instead of rejecting it in exchange for natural man easiness. I felt renewed hope after his talk and had one of “this was just for me” experiences.
I am so thankful for Tivo. I love going back again and again.
This is the first General Conference I have attended since my husband and I were baptized in May. We had been to a session or two prior to baptiism, but this time I saw all of the sessions (minus Priesthood of course). It was so inspirational and moving. I had so many open prayers and questions. Many of them were answered, and some of them were quite blatant.
One of my favorite moments was the one about the Warm Fuzzies. Now when I do something nice for someone, I think WARM FUZZY! It’s the child in me coming out. I want to implement this in our home.
First of all, Traci, I’m so glad you are here on our blog discussions! I hope you find Conference enriching.
)—I agree with Angela, that he makes me feel so glad and grateful to be a member of this church. And Elder Bednar’s talk was wonderful, as always, and I loved Elder Oaks’ talk, as well—so much to think about there. And there’s one line that Pres. Monson said that has been resonating with me all day, about how too often we are caught up in the “thick of thin things.” How often I have fallen into that trap? And I loved the emphasis on love and service throughout the Conference. And I loved, loved, loved watching Elder Sitati speak—it gave me chills.
I loved the whole weekend, as well. I can’t wait to take a few quiet moments to read and ponder those talks. Like many of you, I LOVED Elder Holland’s talk. While he was speaking, my kids said, “Whoa, this is intense.” And intense it was—just electrifying. And I loved Elder Uchtdorf’s talk (Merry Michelle, do you want to start a fan club?
This morning my eleven-year-old said, “I can’t wait until April, when we get to watch Conference again.” Amen.
I loved Bishop Burton’s talk on the -ity virtues. It was so timely. So often the world seems to move away from things like integrity, humility, and responsibility. It will definitely be a FHE lesson in our house.
I loved Sunny’s description of how she felt during “Divine Redeemer”…the music was absolutely glorious in all four sessions!
My favorite talk was also Elder Scott’s specific directions on receiving specific personal revelation. I thought it was interesting that he included a powerful warning against pornography in his talk on personal revelation. It reminded me that having a pure mind and heart is essential to receiving pure revelation.
I also loved Osguthorpe’s talk on parents and teachers being messengers from God.
I read all the talks on temperance available on lds.org after it was mentioned in several priesthood blessings. As a recovering perfectionist, I think Kent D. Watson’s talk on temperance is now the best talk on that subject.
My second favorite talk was Boyd K. Packer’s talk on the power of prayer. The story of the mother waking up in the middle of the night and telling her husband, “Bud’s in trouble. We need to pray” was very comforting to me as the mother of adult children. I also loved when President Packer’s son prayed, “Please bless Bossy Cow” to save the life of the family cow who had received a death sentence just before President Packer left for a speaking assignment. It reminded me of Melissa M’s recent post when President Packer said he made the mistake of telling his out-of-state audience that his son “must learn that we don’t get everything we ask for so easily…” But then Bossy cow did live and instead, President Packer learned a different lesson — the power of a little boy’s prayers. I loved that!
I’ve also enjoyed reading all the comments. Thanks!
I, like jendoop, found some very specific answers about revelation in Elder Scott’s talk. Amazing.
Reading through all of these comments, though, is just a reminder about how amazing the whole conference was. SO much there…sort of like a fire hydrant feeling. A part of me wants to just stop life for about a week and just ponder, pray, write, and decompress.
p.s. If any of you have some fun pics that capture what Conference weekend is like for you, over at mormonwoman.org, we are going to do a photo essay on Friday to try to help people not of our faith get a visual glimpse of all that Conference weekend means to us as Mormons — from tents in the living room to favorite recipes to fall walks in the canyon…please share! (gmail, username mormonwoman)
My husband is not LDS, and in going on 14 years together, he’s learned to tolerate my twice-yearly “Sermon Weekends” with good grace. Though he won’t admit to actively listening, his comments during and after let me know he does hear, and think about, a good bit of Conference.
I’m always eager to hear what catches his heart… this year it was “O Divine Redeemer” (“Now THAT is music!!” and he was interested to learn I can sing that one), and Elder Holland (“THAT is passionate belief. I believe he does mean what he says. That’s the best sermon I’ve heard in years.”) I’m looking forward to reading out bits and pieces, and discussing them, in the coming months.
My husband may be extremely resistant to proselytizing–he’s been through over 16 sets of missionaries, and none have gotten past the first discussion–but I’m very glad to have Conference as a huge tool in sparking faith-based discussion in my home. We don’t often do a formal FHE, but having family-wide discussions of gospel topics is really the whole point of that, so Conference helps me out tremendously every time.
And now I’m going to plug in the headphones and listen to O Divine Redeemer before trotting off to bed.
I am planning to watch all of the sessions that I missed this week. The afternoon sessions are on late into the night in England and I was in bed by then. I can already anticipate which will be the ones to watch out for by reading your comments.
M&M, you expressed it perfectly–I am suffering from a profound fire hose feeling. I was so personally nourished this weekend, but there is far too much to comment on or process very quickly. I am grateful for the almighty DVR so that I can watch and rewatch at my leisure before the transcripts are even available. I don’t want to lose this feeling in the rush to make school lunches and find clean socks. I love Selwyn’s idea to download mp3s and think that my running playlist will change drastically these next six months. I had the ultimate pleasure of attending the first session in the conference center for the first time ever. And I found myself UNABLE to sing the congregational hymn–We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet–for sheer emotional gratitude that the Lord blesses me with such a vibrant lifeline to Him. With each passing day and each tender mercy heaped upon tender mercy, I ‘doubt not the Lord nor His goodness.’ Now on to making necessary changes and keeping the vibrant feelings alive this time around!
for sheer emotional gratitude that the Lord blesses me with such a vibrant lifeline to Him.
So well said. Thanks, Angie.
I loved so many talks – Oaks, Bednar, Holland, Monson, Uchtdorf. So much about love, our relationship with Heavenly Father, and our ability to be guided by him. Elder Holland’s testimony was so powerful. As I listened I thought, “wow, after hearing that (and feeling the spirit with it) how could you not have a testimony of the Book of Mormon?” I know it strengthened mine.
Two favorite quotes: Pres. Ucthdorf: “Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, he loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely.”
And Elder Oaks: “There is no area of parental action that is more needful of heavenly guidance or more likely to receive it than the decisions of parents raising their children and governing their families. This is the work of eternity!”
This was a conference par excellence, and it would be hard to single out a single talk, but some of my favorites were Elder Eyring on trying to be like Jesus and President Monson and the following hymn, “Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?” Elder Bednar is always a favorite of mine, as well. I just like the way his mind works, and he never ceases to offer me a new perspective on a thought, principle, or scripture…often one I haven’t though of before, which I greatly appreciate.
And President Holland was powerful in his defense of the Book of Mormon. He is just getting better and better in the last couple of years…almost S. Dilworth Young-like in his testimony of the gospel and all things related.
I’m also fond of Elder Uchtdorf, and on and on and on.
=)