My Thoughts About General Conference

     Indeed, this past weekend was a historic general conference. From new temples to new apostles, changes in priesthood meetings, and retiring a very common LDS practice (home and visiting teaching). In the midst of all these changes, we were instructed by the general authorities in numerous ways. I want to give my thoughts about some of the spoken and unspoken teachings that I noticed/felt during the last couple days.

     Walking into the priesthood session, my dad said to me, my brother, and my brother-in-law, "there are two ways that you can learn during this meeting. You can learn from what's spoken, and you can learn from what's unspoken. You can experience one, two, or none of these things, depending on if you don't get distracted." I was able to mentally prepare for these meetings, and I can testify of those words. The Spirit guided me through personal lessons that I needed, and helped me realize some things that I need to change in my life.

     First I want to express some of my thoughts about the solemn assembly, where we had the chance to individually stand as our groups/quorums were called and cast our sustaining vote for President Russell M. Nelson. I felt great joy as I stood in the basement of my in-law's house and raised my hand to the square as I watched the television screen. For me, it felt different than the other sustaining votes in the past. I sustained President Gordon B. Hinckley and President Thomas S. Monson with all my heart and soul, but I don't remember the solemn assemblies that were held. As I stood, I felt a personal responsibility to sustain President Nelson by testifying of him and acting on his words. During priesthood session, President Nelson invited the young men and men to stand individually as quorums as they were called. One by one he called, "deacons, teachers, priests, bishops, elders, high priests, patriarchs, seventies, apostles." Again, I felt joy as my quorum was called and I was able to stand at the prophet's request. We then joined together in singing "Rise Up, oh Men of God." Some of the unspoken words that I was able to learn is that we need to internalize the veracity of this message and act. We need to make sure we're ready to not only confront the world each day, but to spread the gospel as we do it. The Lord's second coming is happening soon, and we need to be apart of preparing the earth for Him.

     Next, I want to look at President Nelson's last couple of talks. He has spoken several times about paying the price for priesthood power, and learning for ourselves how to receive personal revelation. "I fear that too many of our brothers and sisters do not grasp the privileges that could be theirs.Some of our brethren, for example, act like they do not understand what the priesthood is and what it enables them to do." (General Priesthood Session, April, 2018) Also, "In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost." (Sunday Morning Session, April, 2018) It is essential that we learn how to use the Gift of the Holy Ghost that we receive when we are confirmed. President Nelson continues, "The Prophet Joseph Smith set a pattern for us to follow in resolving our questions. Drawn to the promise of James that if we lack wisdom we may ask of God, the boy Joseph took his question directly to Heavenly Father. He sought personal revelation, and his seeking opened this last dispensation. In like manner, what will your seeking open for you? What wisdom do you lack? What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand? Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.......Does God really want to speak to you? Yes!" We must come to our own knowledge and testimony that God really does answer our prayers. Ask yourself, what do I want to know? And go ask God.

     I want to also highlight one of my favorite talks from the last weekend by Elder Massimo de Feo of the seventy. His talk was called, Pure Love: The True Sign of Every True Disciple of Jesus Christ. He says, "True disciples love to serve. They know that serving is an expression of true love and a covenant they made at baptism. Regardless of their callings in the Church or their role in the community, they feel an increasing desire to love and serve the Lord and one another. True disciples love to forgive. They know that the Atonement of the Savior covers all sins and mistakes of each one of us. They know that the price He paid is an "all-inclusive price." Spiritual taxes, fees, commissions, and charges related to sins, mistakes, or wrongdoings are all covered. True disciples are quick to forgive and quick to ask for forgiveness." He also goes on to say that true disciples love to submit themselves to the Lord and true disciples love the Lord more than the world. Again, the unspoken theme of this conference, and the previous sessions, is that we need to personalize this great gospel and be the best disciple of Christ that we can be. We do this by submitting ourselves to God, loving one another, and serving each other will all our heart, might, mind, and strength. Don't let previous sins and mistakes in your life impede you from serving someone today. You are ALWAYS worthy to help your neighbor on the Lord's errand. Remember that serving your fellow man can help you move forward in the repentance process.

     As I mentioned before, we had a lot of changes to church meetings and how we go about ministering. I've already seen and heard many people say something like all these changes are happening solely because of the new presidency. They're saying that a new prophet inspired these changes and that President Nelson is doing a lot in that process. Indeed, he's doing a lot of work in his first couple months. However, I would like to offer a different way to think about the changes. Instead of thinking that the changes came solely from "a new presidency", I think of it as the Lord giving us a chance to sustain President Nelson and he's giving him some fruits so that we may know him. This is the Lord's work, and President Nelson is his mouthpiece to the earth. I know that all of these changes came from God, and our lives will be blessed if we use them to bless the lives of others.

     Overall, this conference has already changed my life. I've set new goals, changed the way I pray and read the scriptures, and I've felt an increase of love for all those around me. As invited to by President Nelson, I'm excited to re-read and re-listen to all these messages in the upcoming months.I know that as you do the same, you can also feel the power of the Holy Ghost work through you and learn how to apply the new changes, receive personal revelation, and have unconditional love for your fellow brothers and sisters.

    Picture from the Deseret News