"This morning I speak about the power of the Book of Mormon and the critical need we have as members of this Church to study, ponder, and apply its teachings in our lives. The importance of having a firm and sure testimony of the Book of Mormon cannot be overstated.
We live in a time of great trouble and wickedness. What will protect us from the sin and evil so prevalent in the world today? I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His gospel will help see us through to safety. If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so. If you will read it prayerfully and with a sincere desire to know the truth, the Holy Ghost will manifest its truth to you. If it is true—and I solemnly testify that it is—then Joseph Smith was a prophet who saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
Because the Book of Mormon is true, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s Church on the earth, and the holy priesthood of God has been restored for the benefit and blessing of His children.
If you do not have a firm testimony of these things, do that which is necessary to obtain one. It is essential for you to have your own testimony in these difficult times, for the testimonies of others will carry you only so far. However, once obtained, a testimony needs to be kept vital and alive through continued obedience to the commandments of God and through daily prayer and scripture study.
My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives. I so testify with all my heart in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
-President Thomas S. Monson, April 2017 General Conference
I love General Conference. There is absolutely no where else on earth (save inside of the temple), that love and kindness (and faith and charity and goodness) is taught so thoroughly or so consistently. I feel bombarded on all sides with so much negativity and contention in the world. Tuning in to our Ladder-Day Prophets, Apostles, and Leaders and hearing such goodness come from them is such a balm to my soul and fills me with hope for a better world. I'm grateful for the faith, testimony, hope, courage, and love that fills my heart and our home during and after general conference.
Lydia asked if we were going to do our "Prophet Bags" again this year, so I made sure to do that. We filled bags with candy/activities for each of the 12 apostles and the first presidency. I made sure that the activities related to something that had to do with the person. (ex. President Uchtdorf and making a paper airplane because he loves flying airplanes.) A good number of apostles, including President Monson, love to go fishing, so we had lots of goldfish crackers and sweedish fish. :)
Each bag had a quote by that apostle and a whole bunch of information. I only shared one or two things with the kids, but I read through the rest and loved learning about them and reading their testimony in quote form. (Update: for Family Home Evening on the following Monday I pulled out Austin's little basketball hoop and a bunch of balls. When it was your turn, you'd shoot a basket, then get to pick one of the apostle papers. We'd read the quote at the top of the paper, then together as a family we'd repeat one line or phrase. I bore my testimony about prophets and it was awesome! The kids loved it and I felt like it was a huge success.)
The kids did really well and I was able to listen almost the entire four sessions, even though David had to work for both of the Saturday sessions. I have to admit that they pretty much just loved the candy from the bags and were pretty impatient if a speaker wasn't one of the 12 apostles. But I think it made it a good experience for them and it certainly gave me the time and ability to pay attention to conference. So a huge success. Plus, having the spirit fill my home so directly for two straight days was certainly a blessing.
President Monson spoke very briefly. But my eyes filled with tears as I heard our dear Prophet bear testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ and of the power of the Book of Mormon. His encouragement to keep our testimonies vital and alive through a study of the Book of Mormon hit my heart and I'm re-committing to making sure that both I and my family make the Book of Mormon central to our lives. I love President Monson. I love his goodness, his testimony, and his humor. I admire him and am grateful for his teachings. It's clear that his health is declining and my heart aches. But I'm also filled with a desire to be like him and to come to know my Savior as he does.
Also, President Monson announced a new temple in Saratoga Springs, UT!!! Only 10 minutes away from us! I can hardly believe how blessed we are to have to many temples so close to us. It makes me want to show that we are a temple-attending people and do my part to fill this new temple to the brim with Saints who are doing the work of the Lord. I don't know any details about the temple location or timeline, or whether we will be able to participate in the temple celebration, but I'm just so grateful to live in a time and place where the temple is so easily accessible and to make sure that I never take it for granted.
A few of my favorite quotes:
"Even in the most difficult and darkest of times, there is light and goodness all around us."
- Elder Bragg
"True disciples of Jesus Christ are willing to Stand Up, Speak Up, and be different from the people of the world. - Russell M Nelson
"Show respect to all and hatred to none." - Dale G. Renlund
"Come as you are, but don't plan to stay as you are." - Jeffrey R. Holland
"We may need to let for of the world, so we can hang on to eternity." - Gary B Sabin
"Children are great imitators, so give them something great to imitate." - Joy D. Jones
"A strong testimony of our Savior will help see us through to safety." President Thomas S. Monson
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