It's important to us that we create a culture of Living and Loving the Gospel in our home. We want Christ to be our center and have our kids grow up with a firm foundation that will keep them steady and safe through their life. General Conference is one of the favorite weekends of the year because: 1, candy; 2, fort building; 3, David home all day; 4, general conference bags; 5, climbing on the roof to put on or take down our Christmas lights, and 6, listening to conference. I hope that the kids can take these positive feelings with them through their life and that it will serve them well.
Although not related to conference at all, this has been a good organizational pattern that we've gotten into to make sure that our Christmas lights get put on/taken off by conference weekend.
In the spirit of complete honesty for this blog post - this was not my favorite General Conference. I struggled with some of the things discussed. There was a women's session held Saturday night that I was asked to be in charge of facilitating at the stake center (setting up chairs, tables, cookies, etc...). The beginning started out so hopeful but by the end I was so discouraged, hurt, and overwhelmingly sad that I ended up in the primary room, sobbing. I was just so sad about the way that Heavenly Mother was spoken about, so sad for the lack of compassion directed at those who are searching for answers and asking the leadership of the church for more answers. In short, I felt like it didn't fit well with the framework that we are a church with a living prophet and living in a continual restoration of the gospel. I was just SO sad; sad about my role as a female, sad about the others who I knew this would be so hurtful for, sad about the lack of compassion, sad about the lack of "doctrine" that was discussed after it was alluded to in the opening statement, just so overwhelmingly sad. I called my mom and dad on the way home, and appreciated their testimonies of the gospel even if they couldn't understand why I was so sad. David was so loving and supportive, but the night just left me feeling so utterly... sad. I know that I need to go back and study the women's session with an open heart to learn the things that can be learned, but for now, I'm still just so sad. And I think it's important to note that here - that even though I love the Gospel and am trying to make it a priority for my family (celebrating General Conference like a 2-day holiday for example), there are hard things to navigate and sometimes that is difficult. But I am moving forward with faith and I'm determined to do my best.
One of our favorite traditions is to go to the Saratoga Springs temple between the Sunday Sessions and watch the building process. I wrote about this in my Stake Speaking assignment this month and I'm going to attach it here.
This talk includes some of my takeaways from conference as well as my thoughts about watching the Saratoga Springs temple be built. It was difficult to find words that felt genuine and true after having such a hard time with the women's session on Saturday night, but I feel like I was able to take the fact that Heavenly Father WAS mentioned, and pull in some valuable insights for myself.
April 10, 2022 – PL 2nd Ward
Topic: Purpose: Promise Stake members that in the next 6 months if they will make General Conference messages a part of their scripture study they will find:
a) Joy and Happiness b) Protection
c) Feel the love that your Heavenly Father and Savior for you individually
Resources:
General Conference–share what the Spirit told you personally during General
Conference
Good morning Brothers and Sisters,
I am Shantel Peaden, the Stake Primary President. One of my favorite responsibilities I have as I serve in this Stake Leadership capacity is to visit different wards and testify of Jesus Christ and the love that He and our Heavenly Parents have for each one of you. I also have particular love of the Primary Children and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to those that serve them and are so influential in guiding them as they build their foundations on the Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for what you are doing for them and for their futures. Children, you are SO very loved. You have an incredible amount of power for Good in your own lives and in the lives of those around you.
I have four children of my own and watching them learn and grow is one of the greatest joys of my life. When the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple was announced by President Thomas S. Monson on April 2, 2017, my husband and I felt like it was a unique opportunity for our children to become connected to the temple.
I was able to attend the broadcast of the Saratoga Springs Temple groundbreaking with my daughter, Lydia. One of the speakers at that meeting spoke to my heart. He talked about how we may wish that we could build the temple with our hands, or be an integral part of the building process (making me think of the pioneers who labored with their might and sacrificed things like their treasured China to break up and put in the plaster to add to the majesty of the temple) but that our role is different now.
He invited us to have a personal and spiritual groundbreaking in the soil of our hearts so that as this temple is being built, we can also be building ourselves a Temple Life.
My thoughts travel to a story my Mother-in-law tells about the building of the Jordan River Temple. They were young and poor, barely making ends meet, but had decided that it was important to them for their children to take piano lessons. They had been saving a small amount each month (basically their only savings) for a piano. When the Jordan River Temple was being built, their Bishop called them in and asked them if they would donate a certain amount of money for the building of the temple. Exactly the amount that they had in their piano savings account. They faithfully gave that money knowing that they would not be able to buy a piano, but also giving with gratitude that they COULD give because without that savings they wouldn't have been able to. The Lord knew exactly the amount and what their sacrifice would be. Several years later, and still no piano, Sue's parents decided that their grandchildren needed a piano more than they did and they sacrificed their own instrument so that their grandchildren could have lessons. That Piano has now been passed to us and Lydia is learning to play on those very same keys.
.
Faith. A Temple. Building a life centered around Christ.
So even though we haven't been asked to sacrifice in the same way that others have in the building of this new temple, Our family has felt the need for a tiny shovel to start the groundbreaking in our own hearts. Since the groundbreaking in the Fall of 2019, each April and October, during the break between one of the morning and afternoon sessions, we have driven to the temple site in Saratoga to see the progress being made on the temple and to do a check in on how we are doing as a family to build a strong spiritual foundation, construct walls of faith and fortitude, and center our thoughts and actions on Jesus Christ – in effect, building a Temple with our Lives.
That this bi-annual visit comes in conjunction with general conference helps me focus in on the addresses given and use those inspired words to strengthen and build my life the way I wanted it to be.
I’ve loved learning from President Nelson. His messages of the Gathering of Israel and of Building a Spiritual Foundation have been impactful to me. This past conference as he spoke of Spiritual Momentum, I have pondered the way his messages tie together.
Gather in.
Stand Firm.
Move Forward.
President Nelson said: We have never needed positive spiritual momentum more than we do now, to counteract the speed with which evil and the darker signs of the times are intensifying. Positive spiritual momentum will keep us moving forward amid the fear and uncertainty created by pandemics, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and armed hostilities. Spiritual momentum can help us withstand the relentless, wicked attacks of the adversary and thwart his efforts to erode our personal spiritual foundation.
As I look at the world around me, I am sometimes overwhelmed with the amount of things outside of my control. My feelings often range from fear to anger to deep and heartwrenching sadness. However, one of the things that brings me the most peace is knowing that I get to make choices for myself and my family that will make a difference for us and that influence will continue to spread outward.
President Eyring shared, “When the storms in life come, you can be steady because you are standing on the rock of your faith in Jesus Christ. That faith will lead you to daily repentance and consistent covenant keeping. Then you will always remember Him. And through the storms of hatred and wickedness, you will feel steady and hopeful. […] The Lord Jesus Christ has given you the invitation “Come unto me.”7 He invites you, out of love for you and for those you love, to come to Him for peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come. […]The Savior knows the storms and the places of safety on the way home to Him. He is the Way.
As I listened to Elder Neil A Anderson speak about being a peacemaker, I felt that the Lord had a message for me specifically. He said, “The Lord taught how to live, then and now, in a contemptuous world. “Blessed are the peacemakers,” He declared, “for they shall be called the children of God.”
By the shield of our faith in Jesus Christ, we become peacemakers, quenching— meaning to calm, cool, or extinguish—all the fiery darts of the adversary.”
Often we think of being a peacemaker as being an outward influence as we navigate our lives in a complex and conflict-ridden world. However as I listened to this talk last Saturday, I felt the spirit testify that this Christlike attribute of Peacemaking was the key to protecting the peace in my own heart. As I come up against conflict in my life I can listen, discern, and act without having that conflict affect my innermost peace. When I encounter the contempt of the world, I needed be surprised or even overly conflicted. It is understood that “opposition in all things” has been allowed for and that others will not understand or agree and thus may firmly oppose. Their opposition need not have any bearing on my own belief or my own peace.
Similarly when I am witness to the aching sorrows, confusion, or anger of those around me, I can listen and act with love and compassion. However, I don’t need to make that MY sorrow or anger or confusion. I can feel empathy and courageously make choices for positive change AND I can keep my own peace and faith without feeling guilty and without questioning myself each and every time.
I can now see the Christlike quality of Peacemaking at a vital tool to my own spiritual foundation and positive momentum.
Elder Bednar reinforces this idea as he says: As covenant-making and covenant-keeping disciples of Jesus Christ, we can be blessed to take “courage, for the Lord is on our side”.
Our power comes from our covenant connection to God. Understanding our Divine Nature can hold us steady in understanding the plan, strengthen the fortitude of our actions, and remind us of our eternal destiny. To quote from Elder Dale G. Renlund’s talk and footnotes:
The Young Women’s theme is applicable to all. The first truth we learn is that We are beloved children of heavenly parents, with a divine nature and eternal destiny.
The second truth is that we have heavenly parents, a father and a mother. The doctrine of a Heavenly Mother comes by revelation and is a distinctive belief among Latter-day Saints. President Dallin H. Oaks explained the importance of this truth: “Our theology begins with heavenly parents. Our highest aspiration is to be like them.”
Prophets have taught that our heavenly parents work together for the salvation of the human family. “We are part of a divine plan designed by Heavenly Parents who love us,” taught Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. President Harold B. Lee stated, “We forget that we have a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother who are even more concerned, probably, than our earthly father and mother, and that influences from beyond are constantly working to try to help us when we do all we can.”
How comforting and powerful this knowledge is, that we are part of a divine plan designed by Heavenly Parents who love us. That we have a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother who care for us and are constantly working to try to help us.
The team working from the other side of the veil on our behalf is both divine and real. Sister Susan H Porter testified. “Our Savior, Jesus Christ, through His atoning sacrifice, made it possible for us to be cleansed and healed, enabling us to fulfill our purpose on earth regardless of any earthly situation.”
We have a Savior in Jesus Christ. He loves us, he knows our eternal potential, and he wants us to choose to follow Him.
With Jesus Christ as our anchor and perfect partner, we are assured of His loving strength in trial and of eventual deliverance through Him. As President M. Russell Ballard taught: “Faith in God and in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the … anchor we must have in our lives to hold us fast during times of social turbulence and wickedness. … Our faith … must be centered in Jesus Christ, his life and his atonement, and in the restoration of his gospel.”2
Brothers and Sisters, These things I shared today were both promptings and comfort that I received through the conference addresses of the men and women leaders of the church. There are messages for YOU within these words as well.
As a representative of the Stake Leadership, I extend this promise from our Stake Presidency. If you will make these conference addresses part of your scripture study over the next six months, you will find
a) Joy and Happiness b) Protection and you will
c) Feel the love that your Heavenly Father and Savior have for you individually.
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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