Conclusions...

Family: The Lord has put so much emphasis on the importance of Family. I am very passionate about my family and intend to do whatever I can to help them and keep my family intact. I know that if I put the Lord first he will bless my family and me with the things that we need. I know that through Him we can find hope and solace through anything that we are facing. I intend to head the council of the Prophets and rely on Heavenly Father to help and support me in my efforts to care for my family.

Atonement: Words have no power to describe the way I feel about the atonement. Christ’s sacrifice was the ultimate gift that our loving Father in Heaven gave to us, His children.  Because of that gift we can be reunited with Him, we can live our lives free of past guilt’s; we can continue to strive to be better in all ways. No matter what happens to us we can have the comfort knowing that Christ has suffered what we are suffering, and on top of that he has suffered for the sins that we have committed. I will live my life striving to be worthy of this great gift.

Agency: Agency is another one of God’s great gifts to us. Agency is what this whole plan is all about, without agency there would be no plan, no purpose, and no life. I am so grateful for this gift and that I was able to fight for it in the pre-mortal life. Agency is sacred to Heavenly Father and he trusts us enough to let us have it, we should regard it with the same sanctity. I learned from the talks that I read that the only way that we can feel true happiness and joy is through agency and the atonement. We are responsible for our lives and the choices we make and thus can only be happy by using our agency to do good.

Pornography: Reading talks about pornography and the power it can have over us just made me feel so extremely grateful that I have not fallen into its trap and that I married a man who similarly has been untainted by pornography’s satanic influence. The talks that I read made me have a stronger conviction to keep this filth out of my family. They all had very good advice on how to protect our families and I will be implementing all of those ideas. The damaging effect that pornography has on the spirit is unmatched and I will do all that I can to keep my family and those I love away from it.

Temple Attendance: I chose this topic as my personal application topic because I have been very blessed lately to live in areas that have nearby temples. I attend the temple fairly often but not as often as I know I should. I wanted to be inspired more to go to the temple and receive those blessings. The talks that I read and the quotes that I gathered did just that. Going to the temple really has such a great healing effect on the spirit. Even if we are ‘sick’ in spirit, simply living in this world can and will taint our spirits. Going to the temple cleanses us and we are blessed for our sacrifices.

Setting Goals: I chose this topic because it is something that I am not very good at. My husband is a goal setter and he is very motivated to achieve his goals, while I am of the mindset of ‘if I don’t set a goal I cannot fail’. Reading that talks that I did made me realize that if I do not push myself and strive to achieve things that may not even be possible, I will grow in spirit and knowledge. A lot of the quotes I found on this topic were centered around missionary work (not surprisingly). The emphasis that I got was that we as members should always set and have goals to become better and to spread the gospel to everyone that we know. Even if we cannot succeed in many or most of our goals, at least we are trying and that in itself is noteworthy.

Charity: I love this topic mainly because it is something that I am striving to do better in. Sometimes I can be very selfish and prideful, but I am trying to be more like Christ and have more love for my fellow man. What I learned from that apostles was that really, it is our responsibility to be charitable and care for our brothers and sisters who need it. As members of this church, we are constantly representing Christ and our Heavenly Father, and because of that, we are obligated to care for others. Something that I previously had not pondered is my responsibility. Knowing this now will inspire me to be more charitable.

Scripture Study: I loved all the correlations between scripture study and personal revelation and getting answers to questions. That is something that is said all the time but it is something that I have not experienced a lot personally. I read my scriptures but I could do better at studying them. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had to take religion classes in college because I have learned so much and have had to study the scriptures. It is amazing what you can learn from other people’s insights! From the talks I read I have learned more of the importance of personal scripture study and I think that I will start studying by topic.

Patience: This is another Christ-like attribute that I have been trying to get better at in my life. Through the apostles addresses I have noticed that they emphasized being patient with ourselves and our human frailty as well as being patient with others because they are human. Sometimes I feel like learning should be so simple and easy, so then I get frustrated when I don’t or can’t learn something as fast or as easy as I thought it should be. We need to have patience with ourselves and remember that we are on the Lord’s errand in this life, and everything will come to pass in the Lord’s time.

Revelation: Revelation is such an important attribute to our testimonies. From the apostles I learned how to gain revelation and the importance of acting upon it. This is something that I struggled with as a teenager and came to the knowledge through trials and diligence. Something that is very important to me and that I have read the apostles say is that we need to trust in the faith that we already have and the moments of insight and revelation that have already occurred before we doubt. This is something that has kept me going through almost every trial in my life and I am so grateful for that knowledge!

Seeking Riches:  This topic is simply just an interesting one and I wanted to see how many of the apostles had spoken on a topic such as this one. As I had thought, not many apostles have, but the quotes that I did find I liked a lot! The apostles connected riches with being charitable, relying on the Lord, being wise, and being happy. 

Elder Holland.. Holy Moly

ELDER HOLLAND              

“Lord, I Believe” April 2013

This talk was directed to the young church members. He talked about being forgiving of ourselves for not knowing everything and to lean on our faith to continue to grow in knowledge.

“Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but first and forever fan the flame of your faith, because all things are possible to them that believe.”
Elder Holland, “Lord, I believe” April 2013 General Conference

“In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited.”
Elder Holland, “Lord, I believe” April 2013 General Conference

“Be as candid about your questions as you need to be; life is full of them on one subject or another. But if you and your family want to be healed, don’t let those questions stand in the way of faith working its miracle.”
Elder Holland, “Lord, I believe” April 2013 General Conference

“So be kind regarding human frailty—your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women. Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we.”
Elder Holland, “Lord, I believe” April 2013 General Conference

I feel like it is so important to remember that we and others are human and we make mistakes and we have doubts and that it is ok. We just need to remember the faith that we have, remember the confirmations that we have had and lean on those to bring us to a greater knowledge of the gospel. We need to try to believe and act upon that desire.

“Safety For the Soul” October 2009

This talk is in my opinion the most compelling, strong, irrefutable testimony of the Book of Mormon that has ever been.

“I ask that my testimony of the Book of Mormon and all that it implies, given today under my own oath and office, be recorded by men on earth and angels in heaven. I hope I have a few years left in my “last days,” but whether I do or do not, I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgment bar of God that I declared to the world, in the most straightforward language I could summon, that the Book of Mormon is true, that it came forth the way Joseph said it came forth and was given to bring happiness and hope to the faithful in the travail of the latter days.”
Elder Holland, Safety for the Soul, October 2013 General Conference

“would these men blaspheme before God by continuing to fix their lives, their honor, and their own search for eternal salvation on a book (and by implication a church and a ministry) they had fictitiously created out of whole cloth?

Never mind that their wives are about to be widows and their children fatherless. Never mind that their little band of followers will yet be “houseless, friendless and homeless” and that their children will leave footprints of blood across frozen rivers and an untamed prairie floor. ⁹Never mind that legions will die and other legions live declaring in the four quarters of this earth that they know the Book of Mormon and the Church which espouses it to be true. Disregard all of that, and tell me whether in this hour of death these two men would enter the presence of their Eternal Judge quoting from and finding solace in a book which, if not the very word of God, would brand them as imposters and charlatans until the end of time? They would not do that! They were willing to die rather than deny the divine origin and the eternal truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.”
Elder Holland, Safety for the Soul, October 2013 General Conference

 “Brothers and sisters, God always provides safety for the soul, and with the Book of Mormon, He has again done that in our time.”
Elder Holland, Safety for the Soul, October 2013 General Conference

Elder Holland’s talent with teaching and speaking in general simply makes this talk legendary. There are really no words to describe how this talk makes me feel. I so strongly believe every word in this talk and can only hope that others will feel the same as they read these words.

FULL TEXT HEREhttp://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/safety-for-the-soul?lang=eng&query=

Elder Hales

ELDER HALES

“General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony” October 2013

This Talk focused on the importance of general conference and how it can help us and how we can prepare for it.

““You must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right.” Conference messages come to us after prayerful preparation, through the Holy Ghost.”
Elder Hales, General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony, October 2013 General Conference

 “What is said is not as important as what we hear and what we feel. That is why we make an effort to experience conference in a setting where the still, small voice of the Spirit can be clearly heard, felt, and understood.”
Elder Hales, General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony, October 2013 General Conference

 “The greatest blessings of general conference come to us after the conference is over. Remember the pattern recorded frequently in scripture: we gather to hear the words of the Lord, and we return to our homes to live them.”
Elder Hales, General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony, October 2013 General Conference

I feel as a whole, we take general conference for granted. We get to hear answers to our prayers, personal guidance from our Heavenly Father through the voices of His loving servants. I am hugely at fault for not preparing as much as I should for conference. I have not received as much personal guidance as I could have every year but I will truly strive to do better and do as the Lord would have me do.

“Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ” October 2009

This Talk was about Heavenly Father and His nature. It quotes scriptures that explains His nature and how we can gain a testimony of Him and that He exists.

“The light of belief is within you, waiting to be awakened and intensified by the Spirit of God and the Light of Christ, which you are born with.”
Elder Hales, Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ” October 2009 General Conference

“I testify that the way to know the truth about God is through the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost, the third member of the Godhead, is a personage of spirit. His work is to “testify of [God]” and to “teach [us] all things.””
Elder Hales, Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ” October 2009 General Conference

“When we do not do what is right or when our outlook is dominated by skepticism, cynicism, criticism, and irreverence toward others and their beliefs, the Spirit cannot be with us. We then act in a way that the prophets describe as the natural man.”
Elder Hales, Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ” October 2009 General Conference

 “Cultivate a diligent desire to know that God lives. This desire leads us to ponder on the things of heaven—to let the evidence of God all around us touch our hearts.”
Elder Hales, Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ” October 2009 General Conference

I loved the references Elder Hales used to prove what he says about the nature of God. I really like that we have those scriptures so that we can really know our Father in Heaven. We are made in his likeness, that fact seriously just makes me feel more loved by Him. 

More Ballard and Scott

“Finding Joy through Loving Service” April 2011

This Talk focused on charity and why it should be such a focus in our lives. It also spoke heavily on missionary service.

“Brothers and sisters, the gospel of Jesus Christ is simple, no matter how much we try to make it complicated. We should strive to keep our lives similarly simple, unencumbered by extraneous influences, focused on those things that matter most.”
Elder Ballard, Finding Joy through Loving Service, April 2011 General Conference

“By treating each other kindly, speaking words of support and encouragement, and being sensitive to each other’s needs, we can create loving unity among ward members. Where charity exists, there is no place for gossip or unkind words.”
Elder Ballard, Finding Joy through Loving Service, April 2011 General Conference

“Through our heartfelt kindness and service, we can make friends with those whom we serve. From these friendships come better understanding of our devotion to the gospel and a desire to learn more about us.”
Elder Ballard, Finding Joy through Loving Service, April 2011 General Conference

“In all of our service, we need to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. The still, small voice will let us know who needs our help and what we can do to help them.”
Elder Ballard, Finding Joy through Loving Service, April 2011 General Conference

Much like the first talk, this one was also inspiring. It is great how Elder Ballard is so passionate about missionary work. Love should be our motivating factor in everything we do and it is what we should be focusing on improving in our lives, well mine in particular!

ELDER SCOTT

“For Peace at Home” April 2013

This Talk focused on how we can make our homes Christ-centered and the good that come out of doing that.

“One of the greatest blessings we can offer to the world is the power of a Christ-centered home where the gospel is taught, covenants are kept, and love abounds.”
Elder Scott, For Peace at Home, April 2013 General Conference

“Be certain that every decision you make, whether temporal or spiritual, is conditioned on what the Savior would have you do. When He is the center of your home, there is peace and serenity. There is a spirit of assurance that pervades the home, and it is felt by all who dwell there.”
Elder Scott, For Peace at Home, April 2013 General Conference

“The prophetic counsel to have daily personal and family prayer, daily personal and family scripture study, and weekly family home evening are the essential, weight-bearing beams in the construction of a Christ-centered home. Without these regular practices it will be difficult to find the desired and much-needed peace and refuge from the world.”
Elder Scott, For Peace at Home, April 2013 General Conference

“Be obedient to the prophetic teachings Christ would have you follow. Don’t rationalize away future happiness by taking shortcuts instead of applying sound gospel principles. Remember: little things lead to big things. Seemingly insignificant indiscretions or neglect can lead to big problems. More importantly, simple, consistent, good habits lead to a life full of bountiful blessings.”
Elder Scott, For Peace at Home, April 2013 General Conference

“Greater peace will come as you couple your efforts to be obedient with serving those around you. So many individuals who have what they perceive to be meager talents humbly and generously use those talents to bless the lives of those around them.”
Elder Scott, For Peace at Home, April 2013 General Conference

“As you center your home on the Savior, it will naturally become a refuge not only to your own family but also to friends who live in more difficult circumstances. They will be drawn to the serenity they feel there. Welcome such friends into your home. They will blossom in that Christ-centered environment. Become friends with your children’s friends. Be a worthy example to them.”
Elder Scott, For Peace at Home, April 2013 General Conference

“We need to trust in the Lord and in His timing that a positive response to our prayers and rescue efforts can occur. We do all that we can to serve, to bless, and to submissively acknowledge God’s will in all things. We exercise faith and remember that there are some things that must be left to the Lord. ”
Elder Scott, For Peace at Home, April 2013 General Conference

“We need not worry if we can’t simultaneously do all of the things that the Lord has counseled us to do. He has spoken of a time and a season for all things. In response to our sincere prayers for guidance, He will direct us in what should be emphasized at each phase of our life. We can learn, grow, and become like Him one consistent step at a time.”
Elder Scott, For Peace at Home, April 2013 General Conference

“The Joy of Redeeming the Dead” October 2012

This Talk focused on the responsibility we have to do our own ancestors work in the temple.

“Any work you do in the temple is time well spent, but receiving ordinances vicariously for one of your own ancestors will make the time in the temple more sacred, and even greater blessings will be received. The First Presidency has declared, “Our preeminent obligation is to seek out and identify our own ancestors.””
Elder Scott, The Joy of Redeeming the Dead, October 2012 General Conference

“temple Worship: the Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need” April 2009

Elder Scott is very passionate about this topic. He talked about temple attendance and why we should make it a priority in our lives, and what we can do to make our temple attendance more meaningful.

“When a temple is conveniently nearby, small things may interrupt your plans to go to the temple. Set specific goals, considering your circumstances, of when you can and will participate in temple ordinances. Then do not allow anything to interfere with that plan. This pattern will guarantee that those who live in the shadow of a temple will be as blessed as are those who plan far ahead and make a long trip to the temple.”
Elder Scott, Temple Worship:, April 2009 General Conference

“I encourage you to establish your own goal of how frequently you will avail yourself of the ordinances offered in our operating temples. What is there that is more important than attending and participating in the ordinances of the temple? What activity could have a greater impact and provide more joy and profound happiness for a couple than worshipping together in the temple?”
Elder Scott, Temple Worship:, April 2009 General Conference

“What I am trying to teach is that when we keep the temple covenants we have made and when we live righteously in order to maintain the blessings promised by those ordinances, then come what may, we have no reason to worry or to feel despondent.”
Elder Scott, Temple Worship:, April 2009 General Conference

Personal Realization thanks to Elder Ballard

ELDER BALLARD

“Put Your Trust In The Lord” October 2013

“the Lord is hastening His work. In our day this can be done only when every member of the Church reaches out with love to share the truths of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Elder Ballard, Put Your Trust In The Lord, October 2013 General Conference

“Make the decision to do what Jesus Christ has asked us to do.”
Elder Ballard, Put Your Trust In The Lord, October 2013 General Conference

“It is impossible for us to fail when we do our best when we are on the Lord’s errand. While the outcome is a result of the exercise of one’s agency, sharing the gospel is our responsibility.”
Elder Ballard, Put Your Trust In The Lord, October 2013 General Conference

“You don’t have to be an outgoing person or an eloquent, persuasive teacher. If you have an abiding love and hope within you, the Lord has promised if you “lift up your voices unto this people [and] speak the thoughts that [He] shall put into your hearts, … you shall not be confounded before men;”
Elder Ballard, Put Your Trust In The Lord, October 2013 General Conference

“ I realize that some of you may feel heavy laden, but I pray that none of you would ever feel that reaching out in normal, pleasant ways to share the gospel would ever be a burden. Rather, it is a privilege! There is no greater joy in life than being anxiously engaged in the service of the Lord.”
Elder Ballard, Put Your Trust In The Lord, October 2013 General Conference

This talk was really inspiring! I have had missionary opportunities before and kind of did my best for the church, but for some reason it just clicked that the reason that we should be wanting to do missionary work is because of love! I know this is super old news and everyone knows that, but it really just hit me. And it made me realize that if I was more loving and my friends knew that what I do is out of love, I would be more successful. For some reason I have a hard time putting my thoughts and feelings into words (vocal words more so than written). Because of this, I have a hard time expressing my feelings, whether it be of apology, gratefulness, love, etc. This is probably why I do not share the gospel as much as I should! This talk made me realize that Heavenly Father will help me if I try. That is all we need to do, try.

Elder Nelson

ELDER NELSON

“Decisions for Eternity” October 2013

This Talk focused on the effects of the decisions we make, the importance of our decisions, what should influence our decisions, and family.

“Recently I heard a chorus of children sing the beloved song “I Am a Child of God.” I wondered, “Why haven’t I heard that song rendered more often by singing mothers or faithful fathers?” Are we not all children of God? In truth, not one of us can ever stop being a child of God!”
Elder Russell M. Nelson, Decisions for Eternity, October 2013 General Conference

So true! We are all dearly loved children of our Heavenly Father and we should never forget that! It is not only children who benefit from being children of God but it is all of us!

“Each time you look in the mirror, see your body as your temple. That truth—refreshed gratefully each day—can positively influence your decisions about how you will care for your body and how you will use it. And those decisions will determine your destiny. How could this be? Because your body is the temple for your spirit. And how you use your body affects your spirit. Some of the decisions that will determine your eternal destiny include: How will you choose to care for and use your body? What spiritual attributes will you choose to develop?”
Elder Russell M. Nelson, Decisions for Eternity, October 2013 General Conference

Seeing our bodies as temples can help us make beneficial decisions for our temporal and spiritual health. Sometimes it is hard to see our bodies as temples because we often only see the imperfections and wish that our bodies were different somehow but this precious gift from God should be seen as just that, precious! Seeing your body as a gift and then treating it as such can and will have great positive effects on our health and spirituality!

“God implanted strong appetites within us for nourishment and love, vital for the human family to be perpetuated. When we master our appetites within the bounds of God’s laws, we can enjoy longer life, greater love, and consummate joy.”
Elder Russell M. Nelson, Decisions for Eternity, October 2013 General Conference

Desires are not bad! They are divine! We just need to “master our appetites” which is possible with help from the Lord and through the atonement!

“We can change our behavior. Our very desires can change. How? There is only one way. True change—permanent change—can come only through the healing, cleansing, and enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He loves you—each of you!”
Elder Russell M. Nelson, Decisions for Eternity, October 2013 General Conference

I feel like this is something that is very difficult for us humans. Permanent change. But the atonement is there for us if we will use it! Heavenly Father wants to see us succeed so He will help us through our difficult times if we ask him. We cannot be above asking for help, we all need it at one point or another!

“My dear brothers and sisters, each day is a day of decision, and our decisions determine our destiny. One day each of us will stand before the Lord in judgment. We will each have a personal interview with Jesus Christ. We will account for decisions that we made about our bodies, our spiritual attributes, and how we honored God’s pattern for marriage and family. That we may choose wisely each day’s decisions for eternity is my earnest prayer in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
Elder Russell M. Nelson, Decisions for Eternity, October 2013 General Conference

                               

“Living by Scriptural Guidance” October 2000

This talk talked about why we need guidance, where we can get it, and how we can achieve it. The scriptures were the answer to all of these questions.

“He provided a guide—a spiritual road map—to help us achieve success in our journey. We call that guide the standard works, so named because they—the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price—constitute the standard by which we should live.”
Elder Russell M. Nelson, Living by Scriptural Guidance, October 2000 General Conference

Heavenly Father loves us so much, He did not just send us down here to fend for ourselves, He sent us down here with a map. I feel like often, mankind is just like that, men, who never ask for directions and thinks that maps are beneath them. Being humble and putting our pride aside is a huge factor in our general success in this life.

“In your journey through life, you meet many obstacles and make some mistakes. Scriptural guidance helps you to recognize error and make the necessary correction. You stop going in the wrong direction. You carefully study the scriptural road map. Then you proceed with repentance and restitution required to get on the “strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life.””
Elder Russell M. Nelson, Living by Scriptural Guidance, October 2000 General Conference

                               

“To feast means more than to taste. To feast means to savor. We savor the scriptures by studying them in a spirit of delightful discovery and faithful obedience.”
Elder Russell M. Nelson, Living by Scriptural Guidance, October 2000 General Conference

Feast! I know I do not do this enough! Yeah sure I read the scriptures every day, but do I feast? No. Should I be feasting? Absolutely. Especially in a spirit of delightful discovery! I love that phrase! No matter how many times we have read the scriptures and think we know what is in them, we simply do not.

“As you ponder and pray about doctrinal principles, the Holy Ghost will speak to your mind and your heart. From events portrayed in the scriptures, new insights will come and principles relevant to your situation will distill upon your heart.”
Elder Russell M. Nelson, Living by Scriptural Guidance, October 2000 General Conference

Such a great promise! We all need insights relevant to our own situations. We can gain those insights from the events portrayed in the scriptures!

“Time for scripture study requires a schedule that will be honored. Otherwise, blessings that matter most will be at the mercy of things that matter least.”
Elder Russell M. Nelson, Living by Scriptural Guidance, October 2000 General Conference

                                Just do it!

“Perfection Pending” October 1995

“We all need to remember: men are that they might have joy—not guilt trips! We also need to remember that the Lord gives no commandments that are impossible to obey. But sometimes we fail to comprehend them fully.”
Elder Russell M. Nelson, Perfection Pending, October 1995 General Conference

“Mortal perfection can be achieved as we try to perform every duty, keep every law, and strive to be as perfect in our sphere as our Heavenly Father is in his. If we do the best we can, the Lord will bless us according to our deeds and the desires of our hearts.”
Elder Russell M. Nelson, Perfection Pending, October 1995 General Conference

“No accountable individual can receive exaltation in the celestial kingdom without the ordinances of the temple. Endowments and sealings are for our personal perfection and are secured through our faithfulness.”
Elder Russell M. Nelson, Perfection Pending, October 1995 General Conference

“Meanwhile, brothers and sisters, let us do the best we can and try to improve each day. When our imperfections appear, we can keep trying to correct them. We can be more forgiving of flaws in ourselves and among those we love. We can be comforted and forbearing. The Lord taught, “Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now … ; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected.””
Elder Russell M. Nelson, Perfection Pending, October 1995 General Conference

Elder Oaks

“Followers of Christ” April 2013

“Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice but a continuous commitment and way of life that applies at all times and in all places.”
Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Followers of Christ, April 2013 General Conference

I love this. It is a direct call to do better in our lives. We should be constantly emulating the light of Christ. It should be on our minds in every choice we make and every action we make. That is a tall order but it is possibly and we need to do our best.

“In our efforts to rescue and serve, we follow our Savior’s unique example and tender teachings about love: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:39). He even commanded us to love our enemies (see Luke 6:27–28). And in His great teachings at the end of His mortal ministry, He said: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34–35).”
Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Followers of Christ, April 2013 General Conference

Charity is the pure love of God. Which is what we should always strive to emulate. We are human, thus it is sometimes hard to love our neighbors. But Christ loves us and sees our eternal potential and we should at least try to see others as their Father in Heaven sees them. I also love the last part, people we know that we are Christians by the way we treat other people. They will know us by our fruits.

““We are the children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:16–17). This means, as we are told in the New Testament, that we are “heirs … of eternal life” (Titus 3:7) and that if we come to the Father, we are to “inherit all things” (Revelation 21:7)—all that He has—a concept our mortal minds can hardly grasp. But at least we can understand that achieving this ultimate destiny in eternity is possible only if we follow our Savior, Jesus Christ, who taught that “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).”
Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Followers of Christ, April 2013 General Conference

I love these references stating that we are children of God and will inherit all that he has. Elder Oaks is so right when he says “A concept our mortal minds can hardly grasp” I have thought that phrase so many times. It is just mind blowing to think about the possibility of our eternal future! Our Heavenly Father loves us so much and we have the opportunity to live with Him again if we only follow Christ and what He has taught us! It’s fantastic!

“When we worthily partake of the sacrament, we are promised that we will “always have his Spirit to be with [us].” To qualify for that promise we covenant that we will “always remember him””

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Pornography, April 2005 General Conference

I love this quote because I never really put two and two together. If we always remember Him, we will always have His Spirit to be with us! Because obviously if we are remembering Him, We are not going to be doing sinful and stupid things. We will do what is right, and thus have His spirit with us!

“But the good news is that no one needs to follow the evil, downward descent to torment. Everyone caught on that terrible escalator has the key to reverse his course. He can escape. Through repentance he can be clean.”
Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Pornography, April 2005 General Conference

                                Yay Atonement!

Seeking Riches

“Our prosperity brings some real challenges because many are getting rich, more of us are waxing fat, and as a result of greed, selfishness, and overindulgence, we could lose the Spirit and literally kick ourselves out of the Church. Money and material things are on the minds of almost everyone. As Morris Chalfant wrote: “The great [question] of the twentieth century is, ‘How can I acquire wealth?’ No question occupies a larger place in the minds and … hearts of … people today than this. … This is true of men in every station and in every walk of life.”
Elder Joe J. Christensen, Greed, Selfishness, and Overindulgence, April 1999 General Conference

“If we are to be self-reliant and in a position to share, obviously we must acquire some resources. If we live within our means and avoid debt, resources can be accumulated. There are those with average incomes who, over a lifetime, do amass some means, and there are those who receive large salaries who do not. What is the difference? It is simply spending less than they receive, saving along the way, and taking advantage of the power of compound interest.”
Elder Joe J. Christensen, Greed, Selfishness, and Overindulgence, April 1999 General Conference

“The more our hearts and minds are turned to assisting others less fortunate than we, the more we will avoid the spiritually cankering effects that result from greed, selfishness, and overindulgence. Our resources are a stewardship, not our possessions. I am confident that we will literally be called upon to make an accounting before God concerning how we have used them to bless lives and build the kingdom.”
Elder Joe J. Christensen, Greed, Selfishness, and Overindulgence, April 1999 General Conference

“You need not be either rich or hold high position to be completely successful and truly happy. In fact, if these things come to you, and they may, true success must be achieved in spite of them, not because of them. It is remarkably difficult to teach this truth. If one who is not well known, and not well compensated, claims that he has learned for himself that neither fame nor fortune are essential to success, we tend to reject his statement as self-serving. What else could he say and not count himself a failure?”
President Boyd K Packer, The Choice, October 1980 General Conference

President Uchtdorf

“We see baptism as the starting point in our journey of discipleship. Our daily walk with Jesus Christ leads to peace and purpose in this life and profound joy and eternal salvation in the world to come.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Come, Join with Us, October 2013 General Conference

I love how it all starts with baptism.  I have never really thought about the fact that our whole discipleship begins with baptism, and leads to joy and eternal salvation, who wouldn’t want that? It may not be an easy journey, actually it never will be an easy journey, but the answers are easy. We just have to stick to it.

“In this Church that honors personal agency so strongly… we respect those who honestly search for truth. It may break our hearts when their journey takes them away from the Church we love and the truth we have found, but we honor their right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience, just as we claim that privilege for ourselves.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Come, Join with Us, October 2013 General Conference

This is an interesting concept that I never really thought about before. I guess it is hard to think that someone who has been in the church, did not find what they were looking for. But it happens! I am not one to judge them, I don’t know their life, but I do have to honor their agency no matter how sad it may be for me and for their future.

“first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.⁸ We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Come, Join with Us, October 2013 General Conference

I love this! When we have doubts we always doubt our faith first! We give the credit to our doubts rather than our beliefs which doesn’t really make sense. We should question our doubts before our faith. It does keep us prisoner from the joy and love we can experience in our faith from Heavenly Father and Christ.

“If you expect to find perfect people here, you will be disappointed. But if you seek the pure doctrine of Christ, the word of God “which healeth the wounded soul,”⁹ and the sanctifying influence of the Holy Ghost, then here you will find them.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Come, Join with Us, October 2013 General Conference

This is a common thing, people think they k now Mormon beliefs so they judge us according to what they have been told, and when we make any sort of mistake they take that to being that the church must be false. How does that even make sense? People who want to know docrine rather than perfect people will be satisfied with the church.

“there may be times in our lives when rising up and continuing on may seem beyond our own ability. That day on a snow-covered slope, I learned something. Even when we think we cannot rise up, there is still hope. And sometimes we just need someone to look us in the eyes, take our hand, and say, “You can do it now!””
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, You Can Do It Now!, October 2013 General Conference

I love this statement of hope. Hope is something that I strongly believe in, and when we lose it, we lose out motivation, our happiness, our drive, our reason for being, so hope is a huge thing. We should all strive to be the one that helps others get up and when the time comes that we need it ourselves, Heavenly Father will bless us with angels of friends and family to help us get back up.

“our destiny is not determined by the number of times we stumble but by the number of times we rise up, dust ourselves off, and move forward.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, You Can Do It Now!, October 2013 General Conference

Patience and endurance in the faith are what help us get up on our own. These two principles are things that I personally need to hone and improve upon. Our ‘destiny’ is something that we choose. We have the agency to get up and keep pressing forward or to stop and give up. We just need to make the right choices

“there is an important difference between the sorrow for sin that leads to repentance and the sorrow that leads to despair.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, You Can Do It Now!, October 2013 General Conference

I just feel like this is an important thing to remember. Growing up, I probably would not have made this differentiation. But it really is so important. When we are in sorrow it can be productive or hindering and I feel like many people just get depressed and never end up repenting and knowing the goodness and joy of being clean again. If only they knew!!!

“when guilt leads to self-loathing or prevents us from rising up again, it is impeding rather than promoting our repentance.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, You Can Do It Now!, October 2013 General Conference

               

“We have a champion, a Savior, who walked through the valley of the shadow of death on our behalf. He gave Himself as a ransom for our sins. No one has ever had greater love than this—Jesus Christ, the Lamb without blemish, willingly laid Himself on the altar of sacrifice and paid the price for our sins to “the uttermost farthing.”⁷ He took upon Himself our suffering. He took our burdens, our guilt upon His shoulders.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, You Can Do It Now!, October 2013 General Conference

I love the vivid words here, it paints such a great picture of Christ and what He went through for us! He is the ultimate example and repenting is just one thing that we can do to attempt to repay Him for what He has given us, which is everything! The potential for everything!

“If we see healthy eating and exercise as something only our doctor expects of us, we will likely fail. If we see these choices as who we are and who we want to become, we have a greater chance of staying the course and succeeding.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, You Can Do It Now!, October 2013 General Conference

This never really crossed my mind before, I am not a very avid goal setter (I know I probably should be) but it is interesting that we really have to want success to our goals in order to achieve them. I mean yeah we all want to get fit, or get healthy but our actions are what really say what we want. If we want the potato chips more than we want to be healthy, we are going to eat them.

“God’s light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things.¹ It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls. In the furrows of despair, it can plant the seeds of a brighter hope. It can enlighten the deepest valleys of sorrow. It can illuminate the path before us and lead us through the darkest night into the promise of a new dawn.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, The Hope of God’s Light, April 2013 General Conference

The power of Heavenly Father’s light is incredible. It can bring peace and happiness to the most desolate situations and lives. It is the letting the light in that I feel like people struggle with. With so much to gain and nothing to lose, what would stop anyone from letting the light in? It is healing, the atonement is part of the light and it can heal our wounds, mend our hearts, give us a future worth living. I personally love light!

“Nevertheless, spiritual light rarely comes to those who merely sit in darkness waiting for someone to flip a switch. It takes an act of faith to open our eyes to the Light of Christ.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, The Hope of God’s Light, April 2013 General Conference

This is an important principle. To take a step of faith does not require that we know something or believe something, it requires a STEP. Acting to get to believing or knowing is how that works, it doesn’t just happen or appear, we have to do something.

“Yes, we will make mistakes. Yes, we will falter. But as we seek to increase our love for God and strive to love our neighbor, the light of the gospel will surround and uplift us. The darkness will surely fade, because it cannot exist in the presence of light. As we draw near to God, He will draw near to us.⁶ And day by day, the hope of God’s light will grow within us, “brighter and brighter until the perfect day.””
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, The Hope of God’s Light, April 2013 General Conference

                I love that we don’t have to be perfect, we just have to strive for it. It is comforting to know that I am not the only person who makes mistakes, fails, has to start over. Because of the light of the gospel I know that whatever happens, no matter how many times I fail, I get get back up and the Lord will help me succeed.

“patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Continue in Patience, April 2010 General Conference

I like the “active waiting” phrase to describe patience. Waiting seems like such a boring and pointless thing, but active waiting, I can definitely see how that can be productive and good for us.  It requires work, hope and faith. Those are all key to patience. We obviously need to work because we can’t get anything if we don’t work for it. Hope is so important because like I said earlier, hope is what gives us meaning. Faith, faith is what helps us rely on our Heavenly Father who knows what is best for us and wants so desperately to give it to us. Endure well!

 “As the Lord is patient with us, let us be patient with those we serve. Understand that they, like us, are imperfect. They, like us, make mistakes. They, like us, want others to give them the benefit of the doubt. Never give up on anyone. And that includes not giving up on yourself.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Continue in Patience, April 2010 General Conference

I like connecting these two things. The Lord is patient with us, so we (taking His perfect example) should be patient with others. I feel like we are all innately a little selfish so we don’t always think about other people and what they might be going through, how similar they are to us, the mistakes that they have made similar to our own.  Again, the example of the Lord is key. Patience can help us think more and help more and be more selfless and kind to those who may be in need of our help.

“We must learn that in the Lord’s plan, our understanding comes “line upon line, precept upon precept.” ⁶ In short, knowledge and understanding come at the price of patience.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Continue in Patience, April 2010 General Conference

As frustrating as this can be at times, it is true and it is important. If we got all of the information that we wanted at once, we would not be able to handle it and our brains would freak out! Again, this is Heavenly Father doing what is best for us even though we don’t understand it so we don’t agree sometimes.

“Patience means staying with something until the end. It means delaying immediate gratification for future blessings. It means reining in anger and holding back the unkind word. It means resisting evil, even when it appears to be making others rich.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Continue in Patience, April 2010 General Conference

                                Amen.

New quotes from President Eyring

“We are under covenant both to lift up those in need and to be witnesses of the Savior as long as we live.”
President Henry B. Eyring, Come Unto Me, April 2013 General conference

I feel like this is an important fact that we should not forget, as I often do. We are under covenant to give service and to witness of the Savior. In this time I feel like most people are simply concerned with their day-to-day lives and Christ is a separate part of life. When really, everything in our lives should center around Him. Everything we do should be with Christ in mind.

“You can depend on the Lord to draw closer to them as you serve Him in faith.”
President Henry B. Eyring, Come Unto Me, April 2013 General conference

              I love this promise from the Lord. We all have loved ones who are struggling in faith and we want to do more for them. The best thing that we can do is to serve the Lord in faith. He will bless us as well as our families for the service that we willingly offer to Him.

“My promise to you who pray and serve the Lord cannot be that you will have every blessing you may wish for yourself and your family. But I can promise you that the Savior will draw close to you and bless you and your family with what is best. You will have the comfort of His love and feel the answer of His drawing closer as you reach out your arms in giving service to others. As you bind up the wounds of those in need and offer the cleansing of His Atonement to those who sorrow in sin, the Lord’s power will sustain you. His arms are outstretched with yours to succor and bless the children of our Heavenly Father, including those in your family.”
President Henry B. Eyring, Come Unto Me, April 2013 General conference

              I know this Is a long quote but this is what stood out to me from the entire talk. Not only is it a promise but it is a direct call to action as well. We need to serve the Lord and His children. We need to offer the cleansing of the atonement to those in sin. We will be sustained and He will bless us with what we need for ourselves and our family.

“We sanctify ourselves and fulfill our individual duties to the commandment to take the gospel to all of our Heavenly Father’s children.”

President Henry B. Eyring, We Are One, April 2013 General Conference

               I love how President Eyring says that we need to help ourselves before we can help others. How can we successfully bring the gospel in to other people’s lives when we ourselves do not yet have it engrained into our being and way of life? We need to be able to preach with confidence to help others. We need to know doctrines before we can teach them. We need to work on ourselves.

“it was not so much the duty anyone performed but the way they all became one in their enthusiasm to bring people into the community of Saints that had brought them such happiness.”
President Henry B. Eyring, We Are One, April 2013 General Conference

               I think that this is so cool that it was not the fact that they did the job but they did it enthusiastically and that is what brought their success! They became one in purpose and then expanded and invited and brought others into their happiness. That is just beautiful!

“It was the love of God and the love for their friends and neighbors that unified them to serve the people. They desired to take the gospel to everyone in their part of the world. And they prepared their children to be worthy to be called by the Lord to teach, to testify, and to serve in other parts of His vineyard.”
President Henry B. Eyring, We Are One, April 2013 General Conference

              Charity unified them. They loved Heavenly Father and they loved their friends and wanted what was best for them and that is what inspired them to do missionary work. I know of no better inspiration and not better cause to be inspired for!  I too have had this desire to bring the gospel to every person that I possibly can. I will prepare my future children to serve by preparing myself to be able to do whatever the Lord wills  when He wills it.

“It is only with the companionship of the Holy Ghost that we can hope to be equally yoked in a marriage free from discord. I have seen how that companionship is crucial for felicity in a marriage. The miracle of becoming one requires the help of heaven, and it takes time. Our goal is to live together forever in the presence of Heavenly Father and our Savior.”
President Henry B. Eyring, To My Grandchildren, October 2013 General Conference

             I love how he mentions that we need to keep our eternal goal in mind. The purpose behind everything. The reason we want a happy and successful marriage is so that we can live with our families and Heavenly Father forever. Having the companionship of the Holy Ghost is so important for our success that I would wager that it is nearly impossible without him! We need to stay close to the Lord and close to our spouses.

“Heavenly Father has perfect foresight, knows each of us, and knows our future. He knows what difficulties we will pass through. He sent His Son to suffer so that He would know how to succor us in all our trials.”
President Henry B. Eyring, To My Grandchildren, October 2013 General Conference

               This is just a simple quote that I feel like we need to remember. This is something that we should have posted on our walls and mirrors. Christ has gone through everything that we have gone through and we can take comfort in that and have hope for a brighter future because of Him. Heavenly Father knows what we will pass through and He knows that we can get through it. We need to remember that while we in the midst of a trial.

“there is joy guaranteed for the faithful.”

President Henry B. Eyring, To My Grandchildren, October 2013 General Conference

             Oh what a promise! The answers are easy! The applications, not always. But we should always know what the answers are. Heavenly Father will help us and with Him on our side, who can be against us?

“The message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is that we can and must expect to become better as long as we live.”
President Henry B. Eyring, Our Perfect Example, October 2009 General Conference

               This Quote is and “endure To The End” quote and I love it. We can endure faithful to the end and to do so we must also become better along the way. We must be progressing because if we are not, we are growing farther away from our Heavenly Father. We should strive to do better every single day. For me this is kind of a stress causer but honestly it is true and nothing will make it less true. I know I just need to do my best every day and realize and repent of the shortcomings I have had daily. This requires constant communication with our Heavenly Father and constant humbleness. No one is perfect and I am far from it, but as long as I know that I am doing my best, I know I will be blessed.

“Love is the motivating principle by which the Lord leads us along the way towards becoming like Him, our perfect example. Our way of life, hour by hour, must be filled with the love of God and love for others.”
President Henry B. Eyring, Our Perfect Example, October 2009 General Conference

             Love, love is everything. Charity, the pure love must permeate our lives as it did the saviors. It needs to be our motivation, our goal, our reason for everything.

“You can pray for your children, love them, and reach out to them with confidence that Jesus reaches for them with you. When you keep trying, you are doing what Jesus does.”
President Henry B. Eyring, Our Perfect Example, October 2009 General Conference

              It’s hard, no one ever said it wasn’t. But as I said, we simply need to do the best we can, always.

“Because of His Atonement for you, your childlike obedience will bring a feeling of love of the Savior for you and your love for Him. That is one of the gifts that is promised to His faithful disciples. And this gift can come not only to you alone but also to the loving members of your family. The promise was given in 3 Nephi: “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” ”
President Henry B. Eyring, Our Perfect Example, October 2009 General Conference

              

Temple Attendance quotes

Temple Attendance -Personal Application Topic

“As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation. In this sacred sanctuary we will find peace; we will be renewed and fortified.”
President Thomas S. Monson, The Holy Temple – a Beacon to the World, April 2011 General conference

“My brothers and sisters, temples are more than stone and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies. They are sanctified by sacrifice and service.”
President Thomas S. Monson, The Holy Temple – a Beacon to the World, April 2011 General conference

“The saving ordinances received in the temple that permit us to someday return to our Heavenly Father in an eternal family relationship and to be endowed with blessings and power from on high are worth every sacrifice and every effort.”
President Thomas S. Monson, The Holy Temple – a Beacon to the World, April 2011 General conference

“there is no more important goal for you to work toward than being worthy to go to the temple.”
President Thomas S. Monson, The Holy Temple – a Beacon to the World, April 2011 General conference

new quotes

Patience

“My dear sisters, your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. It is simply there. It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.”
President Thomas S. Monson, We Never Walk Alone, October 2013 General Relief Society Meeting

Scripture Study

“As we read and ponder the scriptures, we will experience the sweet whisperings of the Spirit to our souls. We can find answers to our questions… When scripture study is combined with our prayers, we can of a certainty know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.”
President Thomas S. Monson, We Never Walk Alone, October 2013 General Relief Society Meeting

Setting goals

“The history of the Church in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times, is replete with the experiences of those who have struggled and yet who have remained steadfast and of good cheer. The reason? They have made the gospel of Jesus Christ the center of their lives.”
President Thomas S. Monson, I will not Fail Thee, nor Forsake Thee, October 2013 General conference

Charity

“Home teaching is more than a mechanical visit once per month. Ours is the responsibility to teach, to inspire, to motivate, and where we visit those who are not active, to bring to activity and to eventual exaltation the sons and daughters of God.”
President Thomas S. Monson,  True Shepherds, October 2013 General Conference, Priesthood Session

Blog Redirection

Now that my family relations class is over I will be switching the content of my blog to another class that I am taking! Teachings of the Living Prophets! So I will be using this blog to compile my quote book. I will have ten topics and a minimum of ten quotes per topic. 
My tentative topics are:
Family
Atonement
Agency
Pornography
Temple Attendance (me personal application one)
Seeking Riches
Setting Goals
Charity
Scripture Study
Patience

I am actually quite excited for this assignment because I feel like there is a lot I have to learn about all of these topics and I got to choose 6 out of the 10 for myself so it will mean more to me. Stay tuned!

Fathers/Finances

This week we only had one class, so that is cool. We did talk about Fathers and what their role in the family and in child development is. I always feel very strongly about the topic of fathers because I have read a lot of things and have heard all the statistics and I know that the father's contribution to the family is probably the most important, especially for the children. I know that my husband is going to be a wonderful father and I am so grateful that I know the things I do because I can encourage him to do the best he can to help our children become the best people that they can be.
We also talked about mother's working and having dual income families. I thought it was crazy that most dual earner households actually make less than they gain because of the inevitable additional expenses. I can think of a few ways around that to make it not so much of a bad thing, for instance, working at the school as a playground assistant or lunch lady. I would like to not have to work, but I am trying to prepare for the worst by getting my education. 
We also talked about the role of a housewife, we read a very "right" article about the subject and I definitely thought the article was interesting, and it brought up some ideas that I had not previously thought about. Of course depending on the field of work, being a homemaker can definitely be more intellectually stimulating than many jobs and careers! There are so many things that women can do to gain knowledge and expand their minds. It makes me excited because that is what I want to do, I want to be a homemaker so reading this article got me excited because I can learn and keep up on current things while I am doing what I love and being with my family. Homemaker's should find ways to be involved in the community and in the world, I liked Prager's ideas of a book club or volunteering. Women have so much potential and can do so many things especially when they aren't working and tied down by a career and a family. 
Anyway that is all the thoughts I had about this week! Happy 4th!