I am still in the blissful glow of General Conference and Easter weekend. I always feel so inspired, renewed and encouraged after General Conference. And what changes with the Priesthood Quorums being combined and Home and Visiting teaching being changed for “ministering”. We are being asked to live the spirit of the law and “not to be compelled in all things”. My husband and I were talking to each other about how inspired change can be, like when we were asked to bring our own temple clothes to the temple instead of wearing special clothes for the initiatory. We were saying, “That is such a practical change, saving so much energy and money!”  Anyway, we are also excited for  two new apostles, a new Prophet and my lovely friend Michelle Craig was just made 1st counselor in the new General YW Presidency. I also loved how President Nelson waited until his closing remarks to announce 7 new temples being built. Boom!

I read this article on ldsmag.com which is Meridian Magazine,  and it captured exactly what I have felt this week.

“The Exciting Part of Conference No One is Talking About”

Joni Hilton is the author and she said she would hear someone say, “I didn’t hear it, but I got the gist.” She went on to say:

“No, my friend, you did not “get the gist.” You got the headlines. You got the news that would pique the interest of the mainstream media.’

“You kind of missed everything. Yes, I gasped along with the rest of the membership as these new changes were announced. We were all happily surprised, I think. But that didn’t begin to compare to the goosebumps, the tears, and the heart-pounding moments in our leaders’ talks, as their inspired words went straight to our souls and brought us closer to Christ.’

“Yes, all the news announcements were dramatic and thrilling. But the lessons within the talks had the most power to change our lives and exalt us. I mentioned that one of the talks focused upon the power of simple things. And the entire General Conference illustrated it: A simple message, a single moment in a talk when an idea resonates. That’s what we miss if we miss even part of General Conference. It was super exciting, but for many more reasons than the headline stuff.”

This really captured to me what conference was about. Deep illumination for me, over and over, the Spirit touching and changing me. Here are some gems that spoke to me:

“Together, our covenants and our Savior’s Atonement enable and ennoble. Together, they help us hold on and let go. Together, they sweeten, preserve, sanctify, redeem.” Elder Gerrit D. Gong

“Brothers and sisters, from the bottom of my heart, I testify that the prophets speak by the power of the Holy Spirit. They testify of Christ and His divine mission on earth. They represent the mind and heart of the Lord and are called to represent Him and teach us what we must do to return to live in the presence of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. We are blessed as we exercise our faith and follow their teachings. By following them, our lives are happier and less complicated, our difficulties and problems are easier to bear, and we create a spiritual armor around us that will protect us from the attacks of the enemy in our day. Elder Ulisses Soares 

“I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that “if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.” President Russell M. Nelson

One friend told me her stake president in Arizona challenged each stake member to read each conference talk six times after one General Conference so they could really study the inspired words of the prophets and apostles and women leaders and see personal revelation happen in their lives. Another friend put a spiral binding on her conference issue of the Ensign and laminated the cover to make it more sturdy so she could really study it. I have done the binding thing and it helps keep the magazine together so I am doing it again for this time.

I can’t wait to read and study each talk. Which one was your favorite?

https://ldsmag.com/the-exciting-part-of-conference-no-one-is-talking-about/