Years ago when we lived in Utah, we had a wonderful Stake President who took every opportunity to instill in us, the members of his Stake, a love and dependence on studying the talks of General Conference. He said that EVERY question/trial we have can be answered in either the standard works of the scriptures or the 2 most recent Conference Reports. I tried then to increase my participation in taking his advice, but it wasn't until I reached a personal deep trial that I truly took his advice to heart.
Our family has recently been dealt a trial that I wouldn't wish upon anyone. It came suddenly, yet is lingering around and not going away quickly. The heartache that has accompanied this trial has greatly weighed upon my own ability to find joy in my daily life. One day while recognizing the seriousness of my depression, I knew I needed to find a way out - a window that would somehow help me feel the warm sunlight of my Heavenly Fathers love. Unfortunately, personal prayer and scripture study alone were not able to do what I had hoped and desperately needed. However, I suddenly received inspiration to remember the council from our loving Stake President - to study the Conference Talks.
I've downloaded all of the sessions from last General Conference onto my phone and listen to them regularly. On nights that I cant sleep, I turn the volume to low and put it close to my ear so I can concentrate on the soothing voices from the pulpit rather than the negative voices inside my own head. There are so many talks that have taught me exactly what I needed to know. I didnt realize it at the time when first listening to them during the live broadcast, but I have come to love so many of them.
This morning I was listening to President Eyrings talk from the Sunday morning session. It's one of my favorites - probably because I think the stories about his dad are SO funny! I came across a part that I had never noticed before and it really spoke to me that what he was saying was true. It made me think of David, Ryan, my Grandparents, and so many other relatives that I never knew personally yet I have a testimony that they know me.
"Life in families will test us. That is one of God’s purposes in giving us the gift of mortality—to strengthen us by passing through tests. That will be especially true in family life, where we will find great joy and great sorrow and challenges which may at times seem beyond our power to endure them.
President George Q. Cannon said this about how God has prepared you and me and our children for the tests we will face: “There is not one of us but what God’s love has been expended upon. There is not one of us that He has not cared for and caressed. There is not one of us that He has not desired to save, and that He has not devised means to save. There is not one of us that He has not given His angels charge concerning. We may be insignificant and contemptible in our own eyes, and in the eyes of others, but the truth remains that we are the children of God, and that He has actually given His angels—invisible beings of power and might—charge concerning us, and they watch over us and have us in their keeping.”2
Oh how I have felt that same influence in my life over the past few years, especially the last few weeks. I have had specific moments where I knew He was sending angels to help me. I am so grateful for that knowledge and strength.
In primary today, Savannah (age 6), said they learned about Heaven. She said she got to hold on to one end of a looooong string and someone else held the other end on the opposite side of the room. She represented Earth and the other person represented Heaven. From what I could gather, the message was that even though Heaven is far away, we are still connected. What a wonderful gift our Heavenly Father has given us in the Plan of Salvation - even greater, is the gift our Savior gave through the Atonement.
May we remember those gifts as we approach this wonderful season - General Conference AND Easter. I encourage everyone to learn from the Lords Prophet and Apostles next week as they teach us. Dont listen once and then forget about it. Study them and commit the lessons to your life. You will receive the answers you seek.
Love, Liz
P.S. my MOST favorite moment in last conference was the family choir singing I Know That My Savior Loves Me. I've probably listened/watched it a thousand times. I love it so much, I'm having our ward do a family choir sing it for Easter Sunday. Here it is...enjoy!
