October 2010 General Conference Counsel

Here is a list of counsel given during General Conference by the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles with a few extra notes of counsel following. A more personal note on General Conference to follow soon:

Thomas S. Monson• Continue to faithfully attend the temple.
• Every worthy, able young man should prepare to serve a full-time mission.
• Prepare for service to the Lord.
• Stay worthy.
• Maintain your health and strength.
• Attend seminary/institute.
• Study Preach my Gospel.
• Keep the commandments 100% of the time. It’s easier than doing so 98% of the time.
• Give thanks for all of the blessings you receive from God.
• Don’t focus on what you don’t have…focus on what you do have.
• Don’t wait until it’s too late to express gratitude to loved ones.
• Frequently express your gratitude…especially to those you love the most.
• When things are difficult, think of your blessings.
• Always reflect on your gratitude for the Savior.
• Follow Christ and emulate His perfect example of gratitude.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf
• Resist the temptation to get caught up in the franticness of everyday life.
• Simplify your life by slowing down and focusing on what matters most.
• Spend time alone with God in order to strengthen your relationship with Him.
• Be sensitive to others’ needs and serve them.
• Don’t criticize or belittle yourself.
• Get to know yourself better so you can see yourself as God sees you.
• Don’t be concerned with self-gratification in your callings from the Lord.
• Roll up your sleeves and help to prepare the world for the Second Coming. The work of the gospel is not about you.
• Don’t beat yourself up or withhold your talents in the name of humility. That is not humility.
• Think less about yourself, not less of yourself.
• Don’t complain when you are serving in “lesser” callings or tasks. Remember that you are tools in God’s hands.
• Reach out to serve rather than seeking recognition and praise of man.

Henry B. Eyring
• Do whatever is required to qualify for the Holy Ghost and then do whatever the Lord asks you to do.
• Never miss an opportunity take upon yourself the name of Christ through the sacrament.
• Be humble and recognize your need for the Holy Ghost.
• Pray for manifestations of the Holy Ghost in your service and for those you serve.
• Read, study, and ponder the words of Christ. Those are three different, distinct things.
• Magnify your calling by performing the service that pertains to it.
• Show your trust for God by showing Him your intent to learn and then go and do.

Boyd K. Packer
• Study the Family Proclamation as a revelation from God.
• Pay attention when God says, “Thou shalt…” or “Thou shalt not…”
• If you are bound by addiction, you must stop. Angels will coach you and priesthood leaders will guide you.
• You need to know that forgiveness means forgiveness. Forgive yourself.
• Once you’ve repented, don’t look back like Lot’s wife did.
• Delete from your mind any unclean thought that comes.

L. Tom Perry
• Follow the Holy Ghost and honor your priesthood. You will have access to the ministering of angels.
• Parents and Bishops: Teach Aaronic Priesthood holders their duties and the doctrine of the priesthood.
• Build your lives on a foundation of truth.
• Priesthood holders: Determine a day that you will honor your priesthood, advance in each quorum, prepare for the Melchizedek Priesthood, and prepare for full-time missionary service.

Russell M. Nelson
• Be an example of the believers in Christ.
• Every worthy, able young man should prepare to serve a full-time mission.
• Prepare to serve now by living with purity and doing good things.
• All members of the Church should prepare themselves to share the gospel with others.
• After you have had a gospel conversation, take the next step by inviting your friends to church.
• Reach out to those you don’t know.
• Every Sunday, find somebody that you don’t know at church and reach out to them.
• Invite others to prayerfully read the Book of Mormon.
• Explain that the Book of Mormon is not a novel or a history book, but a book of scripture that will bring them closer to God.
• Invite your friends to meet with the missionaries.
• Use Internet resources like Mormon.org to share the gospel.

Dallin H. Oaks
• All should be familiar with and use your two lines of communication with God: Personal line and Priesthood line.
• Don’t rely on priesthood leaders to make personal decisions for you.
• Don’t let your personal line of communication with God function independently from the priesthood line.
• You can’t communicate through your personal line if you are disobedient to the priesthood line.
• Don’t let the priesthood line supersede your need for a personal line.
• The priesthood line can’t function fully without your personal obedience.
Keep a healthy balance in relying on both the personal line and the priesthood line of communication with God.

M. Russell Ballard
• Stay away from Satan’s lures. He will try to enslave us.
• Carefully follow doses prescribed by doctors when taking prescription medications. Keep these out of the reach of others.
• Don’t relinquish your agency in any area—drugs, video games, texting, gambling, pornography.
• Escape addiction by fervently praying.
• Use priesthood leaders, professional help to assist you in overcoming.

Richard G. Scott
• Trust in God and His ability to provide you with help.
• Obey the commandments.
• Be sensitive to and apply the promptings from the Holy Ghost.
• Be patient in your faith.
• Be thankful that God sometimes allows you to struggle. It helps your faith to grow.
• Four principles for you to follow: Faith, Repentance, Obedience, Selfless Service.
• Always try to make decisions that will fortify your character.

Robert D. Hales
• Come back and repent when you find yourself limited in choices because of unrighteous behavior.
• Follow God now just like you did in the pre-mortal world.

David A. Bednar
• Desire, seek, work, and live so you can receive the Holy Ghost.
• Three keys to receiving the Holy Ghost:
• Desire – Don’t be distracted by the cares of the world or daily routines.
• Invite – Make and keep covenants, participate in Scripture Study, Family Home Evening, keep good family relationships, think virtuous thoughts, worship God at home, church, and the temple.
• Obey – Do things like temple, church, scriptures, prayers, service, obedience. These things are not isolated tasks that w should randomly do. They are all designed to help us receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

Quentin L. Cook
• Do your best to preserve light and gospel values in your home and family.
• Cultivate consistent religious observance in your home—Family Home Evening, scripture study, prayers.
• Don’t let destructive influences interfere with your family life.
• Be a good influence to those in your community.
• Live these two principles: Honesty and respect for others.
• Don’t let your voice be silent. Be a light to the world.

D. Todd Christofferson
Become a consecrated member of the Church by doing these five things:
• Purity (Repent, do all God requires, put off the natural man).
• Labor (All honest work is from God. Develop strong work habits. Work to enjoy wholesome leisure activities).
• Respect for body (Don’t disfigure, debilitate, or defile your body with tattoos, drugs, or immorality).
• Service (Be about Heavenly Father’s business. Develop a listening ear for service opportunities from the Spirit).
• Integrity (Don’t take advantage of other people. Live your life with complete honesty).

Neil L. Andersen
• Try to obtain the believing heart of a child—become submissive, meek, patient, humble, full of love, and willing to submit.
• You need to develop deep roots in your testimony so when troubles come upon you or you are mocked for your beliefs you won’t fall.
• Don’t compare what we are to be with what those who haven’t made covenants are to be. “Where much is given, much is required.”
• Nourish your testimony so it can keep you safe.

Other important counsel
• Follow the prophet.
• Choose to have faith. Don’t doubt things you don’t understand.
• Don’t respond with laziness or rebelliousness when it comes to living the gospel.
• Make your home a place where the Spirit can dwell.
• Read For the Strength of the Youth and have meaningful discussions with your family about the principles inside.
• Make sure that the media you use is consistent with gospel principles.
• Don’t purchase clothing that is too tight, sheer, or revealing.
• Parents should not be afraid to say no to their children, let them stay out too late, be cautious about sleepovers, and not let children stay out too late.
• Beware of things that could destroy you from the inside-out.
• If something is right, do it. If it’s wrong, don't do it.

What was your personal favorite talk?
What goals do you have to follow the counsel given?

I want a seat...

"The men and women who desire to obtain seats in the celestial kingdom will find that they must battle with the enemy of all righteousness every day." -Brigham Young

Are you prepared for the battle today? Were your children shielded with armor as they walked out to battle this morning? It is a daily battle but a battle that we can win by putting on the armor of God and always being prepared for even the slightest blows by the adversary. Let us remember the seat that awaits us if we battle with all of our might. Good luck with your battle today...I'm going to go fight mine.

Our Spiritual Purpose

I have had a portion of this quote by Elder Bednar in the header to my blog for some time now and today I came across his following words and had to share:

"The gospel of Jesus Christ encompasses much more than avoiding, overcoming, and being cleansed from sin and the bad influences in our lives; it also essentially entails doing good, being good, and becoming better. Repenting of our sins and seeking forgiveness are spiritually necessary, and we must always do so. But remission of sin is not the only or even the ultimate purpose of the gospel. To have our hearts changed by the Holy Spirit such that 'we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually' (Mosiah 5:2), as did King Benjamin's people, is the covenant responsibility we have accepted. This mighty change is not simply the result of working harder or developing greater individual discipline. Rather, it is the consequence of a fundamental change in our desires, our motives, and our natures made possible through the Atonement of Christ the Lord. Our spiritual purpose is to overcome both sin and the desire to sin, both the taint and the tyranny of sin."

"Clean Hands and a Pure Heart," Ensign, Nov. 2007, 81-82

Wow...that could make you think for a minute. I think in many ways my goals might be set too low and I could and should be seeking the power of the Atonement more fervently as I strive to reach the higher goal of doing good continually not just merely repenting after I make mistakes but having no desire to sin. As Elder Bednar states, this is "our spiritual purpose".

Soul-Destroying Termites

In the past I have pondered the significance of doing the small and simple things which I have always looked at as the positive and important things we've been asked to do which isn't necessarily a bad thing but then I read this quote and saw small and simple things in a new light.

"Small and simple things can be negative and destructive to a person’s salvation. A series of seemingly small but incorrect choices can become those little soul-destroying termites that eat away at the foundations of our testimony until, before we are aware, we may be brought near to spiritual and moral destruction." - M. Russell Ballard

The choices may be small, they may be simple, they may be little, BUT then Elder Ballard says they are DESTROYING our souls.

Let us be watchful so that we may see when these destroying termites are lurking near and push them away with all of our might.

Let us follow the counsel of Mosiah 4:30: Watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord.

Is There an Echo In Here?

"Do I have to?"

"I'll do it later."

"In a minute."

"But I was going to play."

"I don't have time right now."

"After I watch this show."

Silence. "I'll just pretend I didn't hear that."

"I know I said I would, I just forgot."

Sound familiar? Of course, right? Coming from the mouth of your kids, oh uh just kidding, wait second, turn that finger around. Someone in my ward gave a talk and shared phrases like this about children and their responses to our requests and I thought, uh that's us. Not just kids. Anyone. Is there an echo in here?

Do you echo those types of phrases when the Spirit asks something of you?

"We cannot expect the Holy Ghost to keep helping us if we ignore His promptings. Even if the answer is not what we want or if the effort He asks of us seems too great, we must be willing to do as He directs. Otherwise, we risk losing contact with the Holy Ghost and thus His comfort and direction. "

I had a wake up call when I realized my children and I shared those responses. Time to act quickly, to not ignore, to respond as instruments, and to respond cheerfully and willingly.

No more echos. I will do it. I will do it now. I will make time for this because it is important. I did hear that and I won't forget do respond. I will do it now or write it down.

I really shouldn't have made everyone turn their finger around because maybe you are really good at this. Do you have an experience when you listened to a prompting and were blessed? Or even maybe an experience that taught you because you didn't follow through?

Counsel from Sunday Afternoon Session

Elder Russell M. Nelson:
* God invites us all to bring about exaltation for our families.
* We have a duty to seek out our deceased ancestors.
* Members of the Church should become familiar with family history practices to help their deceased ancestors receive the essential ordinances of the temple.

Elder Robert D. Hales:
* Parents and youth leaders should lead by example.
* Leaders should make priesthood/scouting activities meaningful by taking time to talk with the youth.
* Parents should take the time to talk with their children. The greatest influence in the world comes from parents.
* Make sure every child is home and present for dinner.
* Parents: Listen, Listen, and then Listen some more.
* Parents and leaders should participate in Duty to God and Personal Progress with the youth.
* Parents should teach their children the gospel by helping them to fully participate in the Church.
* Hold family home evening, family councils, meaningful gospel conversations, say “I Love You,” and let children know Heavenly Father loves them.
* It is not enough for our youth to know the gospel. They must do.
* Understand that the greatest missionary service you will ever give will be in your own home.

Elder Bradley D. Foster – of the Seventy:
* Remember that nurturing is a part of a woman’s spiritual heritage.
* Remember that a distraction doesn’t have to be evil in order to be effective.
* Never give up when your loved ones stray.
* Parents—especially mothers—have a major role in rescuing their children if they go astray.

Elder James B. Martino – of the Seventy:
* Seek an eternal perspective through your trials.
* We should learn from the Savior’s last hours on earth in his trials:
1) He sought not for His will, but only for God’s will to be done.
*Just like a vaccination, realize that a small amount of pain now can protect you from more pain/suffering in the future.
2) Did not complain/murmur during trials.
* Ask yourself: What can I learn? Or What can I change?
3) Sought greater help from God.
4) Learned to serve/think of others during trials.
5) Forgave others & didn’t pass the blame of the situation on them.
Elder Gregory A. Schwitzer – of the Seventy:
* Don’t judge (condemn) others, but use good judgment instead.
* Don’t use worldly judgment for spiritual decisions. You’ll miss out.
* Put your standards in alignment with the gospel.
* Adults should live the standards in For the Strength of the Youth.
* Listen to the counsel of the prophet.
* Cultivate a relationship with the Holy Ghost. Listen externally (by turning off electronics) and internally (by turning off sin).
* Keep the commandments.

Elder Francisco J. Vinas – of the Seventy:
* Teach “things pertaining to righteousness” so you, your family, and people that you share the gospel with can have a lasting conversion.
* Pray regularly.
* Study the scriptures.

Elder Neil L. Andersen:
* The rising generation is the best ever, but we’ve been placed in troubled times and have great responsibilities.
* Parents shouldn’t just create a spiritual core in their children, but fan the flame that’s already there.
* Each young person needs his/her own independent conversion.
* Share the stories of Jesus to help you have faith/testimony.
* Embed the stories of Jesus into the lives of your children.
* Parents should help their kids think of Jesus when they are faced with their own difficult decisions/situations.
* Youth: Live up to your responsibilities and capacity.
* Youth: Read the Book of John (St. John) & discuss it with your parents.
* Speak more frequently of Christ in your families. You will feel the power of the atonement as you do.
* Fathers: take part in talking to your children about the Savior.
* Parents: Don’t despair and give up if your children aren’t listening. If you’re diligently striving, they will come back.
* Speak of Jesus at home, in the car, at dinner, in late night conversations, and any chance you get.

President Thomas S. Monson:
*Study the messages and ponder the teachings from this conference, the APPLY them to your lives.
* Look to the lighthouse of the Lord. The world has slipped into more dangerous wickedness, but look to the Lord to get through.
* Let the massages of this conference find expression in that which you do.

Counsel from the Saturday Morning Session
Counsel from the Saturday Afternoon Session
Counsel from the Priesthood Session
Counsel from the Sunday Morning Session

Counsel from the Sunday Morning Session

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf:
* As members of the Church, our hands should always be Christ’s hands.
* Be welcoming to all of God’s children, even if they live, look, dress, speak, or do things differently than you do.
* Bestow compassion, and charity on new and returning members.
* Don’t condemn others. You cannot measure the worth of a soul like God can.
* Stretch your heart and hands out in compassion.
* Understand that it is unworthy to think that those who suffer deserved their suffering.
* Let us love at all times and be there for our brothers and sisters during their times of adversity.
* Seek others’ happiness and love them as you love yourself.
* True love requires action. Don’t just speak of it…show it.
* If we are Christ’s hands, those who we reach out to should be better off than they were before we were with them.

Elder Richard G. Scott:
* Ponder the reality of the redemption that can come through Christ.
* Repent of any disobedience in your life.
* It is vital that we each learn what we can about the Atonement.
*”I encourage you to establish a study plan of Jesus Christ’s call as our personal Savior and Redeemer.”
* Attend the temple consistently.
* Ponder and meditate on scriptural passages.
* Parents: Encourage your children to live the gospel.
* Be sure that every decision you make considers what Jesus would have you do.
* Make Christ the model of who you will pattern your life after.
Elder Donald L. Hallstrom – Presidency of the Seventy:
* Remember that no matter the size of the issue, how people respond can set the course of the rest of our lives.
* Many things can happen that could cause us to be bitter or more righteous. It’s your choice of which outcome is going to happen.
* If you feel like you’ve been wronged by anyone or thing, deal with it directly and with all of your strength.
* Don’t give up in dealing with difficult matters. Turn to the Lord.
* Never let an earthy circumstance disable you spiritually.

Sister Cheryl C. Lant – Former General Primary President:
* Seek the face of the Lord. This requires a lifetime of effort.
* Love the Lord and His children.
* Strive to live the gospel and become a worthy example. You have to know the way before you can show it.
* Teach your children the gospel and help them know how to apply it to their lives.
* Be diligent in keeping the commandments.

Elder Quentin L. Cook:
* Think about what your path to discipleship will require of you, then do it.
* Remember and reverence the Sacrament.
* Show love to those around you and to God.
* Be civil and respectful in your interactions with others.
* Consider that how you conduct yourself when you disagree is a large measure of who you really are as a person.
* Find time to slow down, ponder, pray, and live worthily of the Spirit.
* Avoid “low spiritual ground.”
* Seek the refuge and eternal protection of the temple.
* Listen and adhere to the teachings of our prophets.

President Thomas S. Monson:
* Appreciate that knowing the purpose of life helps you to understand the reasons for death.
* In your days of sorrow, you can take comfort in knowing that “He is Risen.”

Counsel from the Saturday Morning Session
Counsel from the Saturday Afternoon Session
Counsel from the Priesthood Session

Counsel from the Priesthood Session

Elder Dallin H. Oaks:
* Remember that there are three methods of healing today: Medicine, Prayers, and Priesthood Blessings.
* As the world grows more calamitous, it will become essential that priesthood holders are prepared to use their priesthood power.
* Those performing blessings and those who are blessed shouldn’t “boast of these things before the world.”
* After receiving a blessing, you don’t need to ask for frequent subsequent blessings. The priesthood has already been used, now utilize the other important aspect of the blessing: your faith.
* Sometimes priesthood holders will know the will of the Lord in a blessing, other times they will know the mind of the Lord. Priesthood holders should always live in a way that they know the mind of the Lord.
* Remember in a blessing that if faith is present, the Lord’s will ALWAYS will be done, whether the words are spoken in the blessing or not.
* Remember also that the priesthood cannot cause an outcome contrary to the will of the Lord. Sometimes people aren’t healed during blessings, because that wasn’t the Lords’ will.
* Priesthood holders must always trust in God.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband – Presidency of the Seventy:
* The Lord needs EVERY young man to prepare and recommit to serving a mission.
* The most important thing you can be doing right now is proclaiming the gospel.
* Prepare now and live worthily.
* Missionaries need to know they are called of God. Not of man.

David L. Beck – YM General President:
* Start working on earning the new Duty to God award as soon as it becomes available to you.
* Take a journey through the scriptures to discover the magnificence of the Aaronic Priesthood. You’ll be amazed.
* Never think you are too young to do significant things with the priesthood.
* Your greatest priesthood duty is to strengthen and bless your family.
* Reach out to your friends who aren’t in the Church or have lost their way.
* Be a force for good in all circumstances you are placed in.
* Seek to be completely clean. * Respect every young woman. * Respect your parents. * Strive to become more like the Savior.
* There is an urgency for you to fulfill your duty to God—not just the award, but your actually duty.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf:
* Parents: Don’t indulge your children’s every desire.
* Realize also that children aren’t the only ones who spoil easily.
* Be patient. That doesn’t mean be passive. Patience requires work.
* Realize that the world doesn’t revolve around you. Don’t seek gain at the expense of others, but be patient!
* Use patience in your priesthood service.
* Never give up on anyone, including yourself.
* Understand that your spiritual knowledge and understanding will come at the price of patience.
* Delay instant gratification. * Keep at hard things (patiently). * Hold back and resist anger. * Accept that which can’t be changed. * Be firm and steadfast in keeping the commandments all of the time, even when it’s hard.
* Sometimes we grow the most when we’re WAITING, not RECEIVING.
* You can continue in patience until you’re perfected.

President Henry B. Eyring:
* Think of Christ when you are performing priesthood service.
* Understand that the priesthood is an invitation for you to become like Christ.
* Learn your duty from the Lord, then act in diligence.
* When you get distracted from priesthood service, give yourself the following rally cry: “Remember Him!”
* Become what God wants you to become through your priesthood service.
* Pray to know the nature of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.
* Pray to know what God wants you to do, and then promise that you will do it.
* Ask for help to do what God wants you to do, then thank Him.

President Thomas S. Monson:
* Priesthood holders: Keep in mind that you’ve attended one of the finest priesthood sessions of President Monson’s life.
* Young men: Prepare for your service as a missionary now.
* Study For the Strength of the Youth to help you become familiar with God’s standards.
* Utilize all of your resources (Church, seminary, parents, etc…)
* Date appropriately – quoted directly from FTSOY.
* Dress appropriately – quoted directly from FTSOY.
* Choose good friends – quoted directly from FTSOY.
* Treat everyone with kindness and dignity.
* Remember that honesty is always the best policy. Be honest with yourself, others, and God.
* Use appropriate language - quoted directly from FTSOY.
* Read, listen to, and watch only things that are “virtuous, lovely, or of good report.”
* Avoid pornography at all costs - quoted directly from FTSOY.
* Keep your temple (body) clean by obeying the Word of Wisdom - quoted directly from FTSOY.
* Your music should be appropriate - quoted directly from FTSOY.
* Keep yourself sexually pure - quoted directly from FTSOY.
* Remember that prayer is the passport to spiritual power.
* You can always repent - quoted directly from FTSOY.
* Don’t put your eternal life at risk. Keep the commandments.
* Live in a way that you can “touch heaven” and be blessed.

Counsel from the Saturday Morning Session
Counsel from the Saturday Afternoon Session

Counsel from the Saturday Afternoon Session

Elder L. Tom Perry:
* Never devalue the importance of teaching in the home.
* Parents—not teachers, not leaders, or anyone else—have the ultimate responsibility of teaching their children.
* Family prayer, scripture study, home evening, songs, books, and meals all go a long way to making a difference in the family.
* Teach children while they’re young…by word AND example.
* It is especially critical for mothers to understand their nurturing roles in the family. They have the most influence.
* You have a sacred duty to do your very best.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson:
* Remember all of the people who sacrifice so much (including their lives) to get the scriptures here.
* There is today a growing scripture illiteracy because we will not open our own personal copies of the scriptures.
* Study the scriptures so you can come closer to the Holy Ghost.
* Consider the fact that not only do you have the Bible + about 900 pages of modern revelation, but you also have the words of living prophets. What would the people who came before us have said if they saw that you didn’t even use them after they sacrificed so much to get them here?

Elder Koichi Aoyagi – of the Seventy:
* Always be willing to offer the Lord’s children a helping hand. That is the mark of a true disciple of Christ.

Elder Bruce A. Carlson – of the Seventy:
* Consider three reasons we don’t keep the commandments: 1) We feel that a certain commandment does not apply to us; 2) They seem unimportant/trivial; 3) They seem too hard.
* Strive to be obedient to EACH of God’s commandments every day.

Elder David A. Bednar:
* Be aware of “spiritual early warning signals” that can be detected within your family and protect it from harm.
* Be watchful and discerning right now.
Do these three things to help you recognize warning signs early:
* Read and talk about the Book of Mormon as a family.
-Remember that reading the Book of Mormon brings you and your
family closer to God than any other book, and will help you resist
temptation better than any other book.
* Bear testimony spontaneously.
-Parents should be vigilant to bear their testimonies. The less
regimented/structured the testimony is, the more likely it will edify.
-Understand that a testimony does not always have to begin with “I
would like to bear my testimony” in order to be real.
* Teach children as gospel learners to act and not be acted upon.
-A child is NEVER to young to begin learning how to “seek learning by
faith.
-Parents: Help your kids learn by doing.
-Learning by faith requires physical/mental exertion, not passive
participation.
-Imagine a family home evening where children are invited/expected
to be prepared and ask questions and not just passively sit there.
-The best family home evenings are never results of download or
purchased lesson outlines or questions.
-Parents: Do you let your children wait to be spoon-fed the gospel?
-Understand that spiritual knowledge can never be spoon-fed. It must
be earned.
* Promise: Following the principles in this talk will allow parents to more effectively be watchmen on the tower for your families.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:
* Understand that pornography can create a crater in the brain that can last forever.
* Also understand that males are not the only people afflicted by pornography. It is not targeted towards everyone.
* Beware that pornography is not just an Internet commodity. It is becoming widely available on cell phones, iPods, and video games.
How to guard yourself against temptation:
* Separate yourself from people, circumstances, and places that may be harmful to you or put you in a situation where you are likely to fail.
-When fleeing temptation, don’t leave a forwarding address.
-Pray without ceasing for help/ask for priesthood blessings.
-Put a filter on your computer.
* Exercise Self control.
-Turn off the TV, walk out of the room.
-When impure thoughts come to your mind, don’t invite them in and
offer them tea and crumpets. You shouldn’t be serving tea anyway.
-Imagine the faces of those who love you.
* Cultivate an environment where the Spirit of the Lord is present, such
as your home or the temple.
* Always remember Christ. Doing so will help you avoid thinking of impure things.
-Remember that when we sin, we hurt him and you’re putting yourself
in a situation where you cannot be rescued by him.
* “Give place no more for the enemy of your soul,” just like Nephi did.

Counsel from the Saturday Morning Session

Counsel from the Saturday Morning Session

My husband always likes to write down the words of counsel spoken in General Conference and so I will be posting each session's counsel over the next few days (some words of counsel may have been missed as there is a lot given during each talk).

I love to read through and only see the things that they are urging us to do in our lives minus the stories and other thoughts. I love seeing in clear view the themes of the conference and the direct words of guidance and instruction to apply to our individual lives.

I hope you enjoy!

Saturday Morning Session

President Thomas S. Monson:
* Reach out to new converts and those who are coming back into the Church.
* Share your resources, time, talents, and expertise to help those who are in need.

President Boyd K. Packer:
* We are to go forth and preach the gospel, even though our numbers are few compared with the world’s population.
* Everyone (men and women) should understand what is required of priesthood holders.
* The people who run Church programs should do nothing that would supplant (replace) the home…Everything should support the home.
* Fathers should be the presiding authority in the home.
* Priesthood holders should be awakened to the POWER of the priesthood (don’t just think you have authority, you have power).
* All saints should go forward with confidence in the power of the priesthood.
* The power of the priesthood needs to be activated throughout the earth. It will stand as a shield between Satan and families.
* Remember that all things in the Church are designed to protect and perfect the family.

Sister Julie B. Beck – Relief Society General President:
* We should all understand that there has never been a greater need for strong sisters.
* Sisters: Resist messages that you are entitled to more time away from your responsibilities.
* Strive to qualify for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.
* Spend time in the scriptures every day!
* Pray daily.
* Put yourself in the right places where you can be worthy of the Spirit.
* Put your trust in the Spirit to give you guidance.
* Live in a way that will prepare you for eternal life.
* Women should be women, not babies who need petting and correction all of the time.
* Women of the Church should and will be distinct and different in happy ways from women of the world.

Bishop Keith B. McMullin – Presiding Bishopric:
* Take comfort in the promise that God will protect His people.
* Keep God’s commandments and pattern life after the Savior.
* Your duty is to keep your covenants.
* Honor God by doing good in the world.
* You have a duty to pray.

Elder Wilford W. Andersen – of the Seventy:
* If you’re going to build your home you must build your faith.
* Faith grows by work. You must work to keep the commandments.
* Put your trust in the Savior to overcome feelings of depression.
* Those in despair must remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer that we must build our faith.

Elder M. Russell Ballard:
* Sisters: Don’t be led by the women of the world. LEAD the women of the world.
Suggestions for Young Women:
* Look to your faithful mothers as examples. * Listen to her. * Love her. Trust her. * Be kind to her. * Be patient with her imperfections.
Suggestion to mothers:
* Understand that daughters usually act like their mothers, so set a proper example for them to follow. * Teach your daughters in righteousness. You are their first defense. * Even when you think she’s not listening, understand that she’s watching to see if your actions match your words. * Teach your daughters the joy that comes from bearing children. * Teach them to not gossip/be rude. * Have the courage to counsel, correct, and love them. * Teach your daughters the importance of making covenants, and show them how to keep them. * Have frequent, open discussions that teach the importance of living chaste and dressing modestly. * Your daughters need to CLEARLY and REPEATEDLY hear the chastity/modesty talk and SEE it demonstrated. * Teach them about what it feels like to feel the Spirit. * Point them to the scriptures. * Teach them that keeping covenants is the safest (and ultimately the only) way to happiness. * Teach them that they can repent when the make mistakes.
* It is critical that parents and children listen to and learn from one another.
* Remember that the home is the most important place to prepare the youth of the Church.
* Teach, nurture, and prepare one another within the walls of the home.

President Henry B. Eyring:
* Children should be strengthened early and rescued quickly.
* If children are strengthened while they are young, they’ll be less likely to need rescuing during their teenage years.
* Leaders: Rise to what the Lord requires of you to help young people.
* Help youth feel your confidence in them that they can succeed.
* Counsel/correct young people with love so they can feel that love in your words.

A Little Experiment

Right now it is NO TV WEEK at our house. It has been interesting and good and thought provoking (I'll share more on this when our experiment is complete). Since we've started I found this quote and boy is it good and once again thought provoking.

"Who is the most important person in your home? How do you tell who is important? Is it the person who earns the most? Is it the person who has the best room? Is it the person you love the most? Is it the one who gives you the most of his or her time? Who is the most important person in your home? You might say, “Everybody is important in our home.” I wonder if that’s really true.

Let me ask you another question. How is the TV treated in your home? Does it have its own room? What about the computer? Do you like it better than your brother? How about your mother? Do you like it better than your great-grandfather? Or your children? Does it get much rest?* Do your parents spend more time with it than they do with you? Do you spend more time with it than your children? Do they spend more money on it than they do on you?

Do you follow the TV’s opinions more than your parents’ ideas? Does it tell you what to eat for breakfast? Does it come to dinner? Often? When it does, does it get the best seat? Do you have to keep quiet when it is talking? Does it ever cause fights in your house? Do you ever get sent downstairs when it does? Who’s the boss in your family? Is it the TV? Does it tell you when to get up and when to go to school? Does it tell you what to do? How about on Saturday morning? Does it tell you what to do then? Does it tell you when to go out and play? Does it talk during prayers? Does it tell the home teachers when it’s time to go? Does it ever keep you from going to church?

How about on Super Bowl Sunday?

Is the computer your best friend? Would you be lonely without it? Would you cry if it broke? Would you miss it more than your brother? If your house were on fire and you could save one thing, would you save the TV? What if you could only save two things? Could you live without TV for a week? How about a month? Who is your favorite teacher? Is it the TV? Do you like TV better than Mutual? How about Sunday School? Does TV teach the same things as your Sunday School teacher? Does it teach different things? Does TV agree with your Sunday School teacher? Who is right?

Does TV make you want things you don’t have? Does this make you happy? Does it ever make you mad at your parents? What about when they won’t buy you something you have seen on TV? Who do you want to be like when you grow up? Does TV always tell the truth? Somebody once said TV was chewing gum for the eyes. You think about that" (F. Burton Howard, “A Question of Time,” New Era, Jul 2002, 38). Words in RED added.

So if your family is a tv watching family or if you are a tv watching parent I think these questions give a lot to think about. So maybe you'd like to join me in my experiment or a whole slew of others who take part. I just discovered that there are two official no tv watching weeks one coming up very soon , April 19-25 and the other September 19-25. And of course we can always hold a TV week whenever we so desire.

So I really can't wait to turn on the tv this weekend :). Whoo-hoo, no tv week will be over. The tv will be on at our house for a good 8 hours and I am excited to be a full on couch potato for all 8 of them. Join me in this tv watching marathon whether it is at your stake center or on your couch because General Conference is going to be good. If you are in Utah you can watch Conference on channel 5 or you can watch it online HERE.

How do you regulate TV time at your house?

Sister Scriptorians

"We want our sisters to be scholars of the scriptures. … You need an acquaintanceship with his eternal truths for your own well being, and for the purposes of teaching your own children and all others who come within your influence.”3

“We want our homes to be blessed with sister scriptorians—whether you are single or married, young or old, widowed or living in a family. … Become scholars of the scriptures—not to put others down, but to lift them up!”4

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985).

I loved this quote from the March visiting teaching message. There are so many men (of course there are women as well) in the church who are known as scriptorians or scholars. I love this charge for all women to jump in and join them. As mothers we really need to be well acquainted with the scriptures, our children need it.

A World-Sized Swirly

As I was putting my little boy to bed last night I was thinking of my bout of Labyrinthitis and this post when I suddenly drew a conclusion...experiencing vertigo is like receiving several world-sized swirlies, not that I have ever experienced the typical head in the toilet kind myself. But really, it is like having your head stuck in your little world and then having that world just spin and spin around you. Honestly, I think I'd prefer to receive a good old fashion swirly in the bathroom thrown to what I have experienced with this whole inner ear problem. It has been a ride.

So two weeks ago today, I woke up at 5:00 am with the room just spinning around me. I thought it was weird but fell back to sleep when it stopped but then just 15 minutes later it started up again, but worse. I then began my vertigo ride of terror. It was horrid. I was spinning and whirling and swirling all the while having the garbage can as my only view. I was certain that something was really wrong, terribly wrong. As my husband went to the computer in search of some clarity the thought seriously crossed my mind that I had a brain tumor and then he came back with a few options. He said it could be an inner ear problem and one more option that I don't recall and then he paused and said it also mentioned brain tumor. I was scared to say the least. While I whirled and spinned and lost my cookies several times I looked at my kids and my honey and cried. I really was scared, scared that what I had would cause me to leave my little family.

As we know the story ends much better than that - Labyrinthitis a deep inner problem, not a brain tumor or anything close to that in severity. I still think of this as the most horrible sickness I have ever experienced considering I get motion sick probably easier than anyone I have ever met. I can get sick driving in my own neighborhood if I am not paying attention. But with all of that said I would take a bout of physical vertigo any day over the spiritual whirlwind we can experience when we are selectively obedient.


" In the premortal existence, ours was not a selective obedience. We did not pick and choose which parts of the eternal plan to follow. I learned that lesson on our first night flying solo in pilot training when all of us were given the instruction: “Don’t fly acrobatic patterns at night. You are beginning pilots without instrument flight training.” Some time later, an otherwise good pilot and a great friend chose to disobey that command. As he flew loops and barrel rolls through the night sky over Texas, he looked through the cockpit canopy and thought he saw stars above him, but he was really seeing the lights of oil rigs below. He was experiencing vertigo: the g-forces on his plane made it seem he was right side up, yet he was upside down. As he pulled up on the stick to climb higher into the night sky, he dove toward the earth and crashed into the twinkling lights of the oil field below.

When you are flying an airplane, if you change your position by just one degree at a time, your inner ear cannot detect the change. Brethren young and old, when we practice selective obedience, we change our position relative to the Lord—and usually by only one degree at a time. As the deceptive forces of the adversary work on us, we cannot detect them, and we experience spiritual vertigo. While it may seem like we are going in a safe direction, we are in fact headed for disaster. In the preexistence, our decision to follow the Lord was all-or-nothing. Following that pattern through our mortal probation will get each of us back to our Heavenly Father" (Robert D. Hales, “To the Aaronic Priesthood: Preparing for the Decade of Decision,” Ensign, May 2007, 48–51).


Let us keep our "spiritual inner ears" strong so that we don't begin to lose our balance, to become dizzy along the straight path, and thus lead ourselves to a deadly spiritual fall caused my spiritual vertigo. Let us remember that we cannot afford to be selectively obedient. I have seen too many lose focus, begin to wobble, and finally spin out of control. Let us stay away from the world-sized spiritual swirly that Satan offers.

WOWW: Family Home Evening Blessings

“Regular participation in family home evening will develop increased personal worth, family unity, love for our fellowmen, and trust in our Father in heaven. It is our promise that great blessings will come to all who conscientiously plan and hold weekly family home evenings. I testify that this is as true today as it was almost 30 years ago.

If we go forward with our family home evenings, our homes will be enriched, our wards and branches will grow and prosper, our lives will be purified, and the gates of hell will not prevail against us."

James E. Faust, “Enriching Our Lives through Family Home Evening,” Ensign, Jun 2003, 2–6

Have you seen the blessings of Family Home Evening in the lives of you and your family?

WOWW: Weightier Matters

This week has been a typical week at our house, a week like many of stay at home mothers...trying to spend time with and raise my children, amidst the chaos of a messy and getting messier house, all the while getting little and even littlier amounts of sleep. This week has been normal other than my total break down on Monday night. :) My husband was gone to class and thus had been gone all day and I was at my wits end. Really, I was just a time bomb waiting to blow. I could go on and on about the reasons why I blew (some of which included pans banging in the kitchen and digging through the garbage can) but I'm sure many of you could make a list of your own and could relate quite perfectly (although your story might not end in a dramatic cry fest, or maybe it would. Please tell me it would, so I can convince myself I am not in need of some therapy). ;)

It was a dramatic evening to say the least and quite exhausting. I determined one, that I need more sleep and two, that my life needs more balance and then an email came from my Grandpa with this quote:

"Gradually, eternal principles can get lost within the labyrinth of 'good ideas.' “ This was one of the Savior's criticisms of the religious 'experts' of His day, whom He chastised for attending to the hundreds of minor details of the law while neglecting the weightier matters (see Matthew 23:23)."So how do we stay aligned with these weightier matters? Is there a constant compass that can help us prioritize our lives, thoughts, and actions?". . . The Savior revealed the way. When asked to name the greatest commandment, He did not hesitate. 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,' He said. 'This is the first and great commandment' (Matthew 22:37, 38). Coupled with the second great commandment—to love our neighbor as ourselves (see Matthew 22:39)—we have a compass that provides direction not only for our lives but also for the Lord's Church on both sides of the veil." Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Love of God," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 21

I have determined that I have become trapped in the idea of attending to hundreds of minor details and am convinced that too often the weightier matters are getting set aside. My priorities are in need of a good check. Thinking on this I was directed to Luke chapter 10, which reads.

38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Just like Martha I have been careful and troubled about many things but not necessarily the needful things. It is time for a change. It is time I remember what will be my constant compass in keeping my priorities in check - 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,' It is time to choose the good part and spend the majority of my time attending to the weightier matters even if that means dishes are sometimes left in the sink and my family is happier and closer.

WOWW: A Parent's Example

The prophet Brigham Young said: “We should never permit ourselves to do anything that we are not willing to see our children do. We should set them an example that we wish them to imitate.”

On Sunday during one of the talks a sister shared a quote that stuck out to me. I don't recall exactly how it went or what the stat was but here is the idea: A lot of the time (a percent was given) when we get after our children we are disciplining them for something that they have seen us do.

The week prior to this I had a random conversation with a lady working at the cash register at Wal-mart about this very topic. I am not even sure how it came up. She told me about how she has a pet bird that loves to be squirted with a water bottle so one day when her granddaughter was over she let her try it. She loved it. Later she heard her son say, "who taught her how to work a spray bottle." The grandmother confessed. The reason for the questioning: the little girl got a hold of some Windex and now knew how to work it. Ooops!

On another occasion the granddaughter said to her, "Shut up, Grandma." She got after her and wondered where she got it from. Just a few minutes later her dog started barking and she yelled, "Shut-up, Spot!" (can't remember the real name) We truly do teach our children or other's children when we don't even realize it.

Wow! Wake-up call! I am recognizing even the smallest things that transfer over to my son. Sometimes the things that I do are not bad or wrong but when imitated by a toddler they are not the best. Example: I wiggle my little girls hands to help her dance to music so of course my son wants to do this but I get after him for being to rough. Now looking at it boy does it seem so unfair that he is getting in trouble. Was that really his fault...No! he watched Mommy do it.

Let us be good examples to our children. Let us think before we act. Let us be examples in word and deed. Let us be able to say, "Do as I say and do" and not "Do as I say not as I do". Let us think before we discipline our children, they might just be doing something just like Mom or Dad, maybe we are the ones who need a little correcting. Just a thought.

Words of Wisdom Wednesday: Cheerfulness

Be cheerful in all that you do. Live joyfully. Live happily. Live enthusiastically, knowing that God does not dwell in gloom and melancholy, but in light and love. (Ezra Taft Benson (1899 - 1994), New Era, September 1979, p. 42.)

A few weeks ago I went to Target to buy an item or two and experienced something out of the ordinary. I waited in line for a few minutes to pay and then was greeted by such a cheerful women. I have never had such a pleasant check out experience in a store in my life. She so genuinely asked how I was and then when asked how she was doing she responded so happily so cheerfully that I just had to say something. I complimented her on her cheerfulness and smiled and went on my way. I left Target feeling lighter and happier and ready to face the rest of the day with a smile. She made my day.

I ended up returning to Target last week to return an item and to purchase another and I saw this cheerful women and I honestly was headed toward her line even though there were other lines that were much shorter. I was waved on by a worker that had no one in his line and my course was changed. I truly realized then the great impact that one's attitude and mood can have on someone.

Words of Widsdom Wednesday: Answers to Everything

Address to CES Religious Educators • October 14, 1977 • Elder Boyd K. Packer

"There is no question—personal or social or political or occupational—that need go unanswered. [The Scriptures contain] the fulness of the everlasting gospel. Therein we find principles of truth that will resolve every confusion and every problem and every dilemma that will face the human family or any individual in it."

Any thoughts or experiences?

You can read from the Scriptures HERE.

You can request a FREE copy of the Book of Mormon HERE (just scroll to the bottom of the home page).

Words of Wisdom Wednesdays: Faith-Filled Experience

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Lest Ye Be Wearied and Faint in Your Minds,” Ensign, May 1991, 88, 90.

“One’s life … cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free...Therefore, how can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, ‘Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!’ …Real faith … is required to endure this necessary but painful developmental process.”

Any Thoughts?