Sabbath Devotional :: Conference Sharing

I have been Covid-isolated all week, and haven’t had a chance to talk with anyone about General Conference. I would love to know what your favorite parts were. I’ve asked a few folks to start off the discussion. Please add your favorite quotes in the comments, and maybe a sentence or two about why they spoke to you.

For me, predictably, the best part of conference was the Saturday afternoon choir, and especially the (ever so slightly daring!) arrangement of Jesus, Once of Humble Birth by Timothy Johnson. (Did you know you can find all the conference music in the music section of the church website?
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/…/conference-music…)

Rachel Fisher Scholes

“Religion is not only about our relationship with God, it is also about our relationship with each other”. Alan Phillips

I often think we miss the important step of reconciling with people we hurt, opting to spend our energy reconciling with God. While this is important and definitely transformational, we rob the victim of the much needed healing that can come through apology, true repentance, and an effort to reconcile. I have found that I feel a closeness to and love from God as I create connections of love, sharing, vulnerability, and maybe even service with his children.

Megan Rawlins Woods

Emily Belle Freeman’s whole talk was meaningful to me. I chose this excerpt to sum it up:

“We must remember: it’s not the course alone that will exalt us; it’s the companion — our Savior. And this is the why of covenant relationship.”

Building a covenant relationship with Christ is transformative. It is how hearts are changed and sustaining testimony is developed. I feel a great tenderness in my heart when I think of covenants in terms of my companion. I choose him and I am grateful to know that he also chose me.

Megan Blood Seawright

From Ian S. Ardern:
“Despite our every effort, you and I won’t heal everyone, but each of us can be the one who can make a difference for good in the life of someone. It was just one lad, a mere boy, who offered the five loaves and two fishes that fed the five thousand. We may ask of our offering, as Andrew the disciple did of the loaves and fishes, “What are they among so many?” (John 6:9). I assure you: it is sufficient to give or to do what you are able and then to allow Christ to magnify your effort.”

I often find myself wanting to address/fix/solve every problem (both in my personal life and on a societal/global scale), but I personally can’t. I can do my small part, and then try to turn it over to the Lord to magnify my efforts because ultimate healing and peace come through him.

In the weeks leading up to conference, I had been thinking a lot about how to help my children have personal experiences with the Spirit. I’d had a few very distinct impressions about things I could do to help facilitate opportunities, including a very strong nudge to get tickets to go to General Conference. Then there were a few talks that really stuck out to me with some specific things I could do. One was Elder Stevenson’s, particularly his list of four things we can do to feel and recognize the spirit:
1. Stand in holy places
2. Stand with holy people
3. Testify of truths
4. Listen to the spirit