Sunday, September 18, 2016

Preparing for General Conference

 I have started preparing for the October 1st-2nd Semi-Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.   Each year I look forward to hearing from men I believe are apostles and prophets, seers and revelators. Part of my preparation includes revisiting the previous conference and remembering what touched my heart, and what promptings I received, and which promptings I forgot to act upon.

Another step in preparation is thinking about questions and concerns in my personal, professional, mental, physical, and spiritual life that I'd like answers for and peace of mind in.

Sometimes I pull this preparation off well. I bring good thought out questions and have a Spiritual feast. Sometimes it sneaks up on me and I forget to prepare. Conference still fills me with peace in those instances, but I feel like I could have had more if I came asking and seeking.

This year, although my life is full of much joy, I find that my mind is heavy with burdens. I have friends on my mind with health concerns, financial crisis, and crisis of faith. I have the presidential election that is causing daily anxiety. I have a health concern of my own. I have faith that much of these burdens will be lightened as I actively participate in conference by saying "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief". I look forward to feeling the peace the word of God always brings.

Here are a few good talks I've enjoyed in my preparation journey...


"In this Church that honors personal agency so strongly, that was restored by a young man who asked questions and sought answers, 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."


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