Wow,
I’m just about speechless. What a wonderful conference. It was such a special experience to sustain such a humble man of God in President Thomas S. Monson, Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. This was the first Solemn Assembly that I’d witnessed given that I’d joined The Church a couple months before President Hinckley became Prophet. I was preparing to get married during the last one.
I’d have to say that thing that stood out the most in my mind though was President Uchtdorf. Wow, what an awe inspiring man. His English skills as the Solemn Assembly was taking place, and as he called other General Authorities and Auxilaries of The Church. He just rolled those names off his tongue without much difficulty. I really love to hear him speak.
The other talks were great too, and I was so glad to hear Elder Scott tackle an issue that definitely needs to be discussed.
What things stood out to you?
Here are some quotes from the talk:
To abusers: “You likely have deceived yourself in the false, temporary security that you have successfully hidden your transgression from the civil or church authorities. But know that the Lord Jesus Christ is completely aware of your sins. Know that sometime, some way, your abusive actions will be made public.”
He urged those who have abused others to “recognize that you need help with your addiction or it will destroy you. You will not overcome it by yourself. You likely need specialized professional help. I plead with you to be rescued now,” he said, with a recognition that forgiveness is possible with complete repentance through Christ’s atonement.
Apostle Richard G. Scott tackled the day’s most sensitive topic: sexual abuse.
Though this “vicious, abominable sin” is pervasive in the world, Scott said, “faith in Jesus Christ and in his power to heal provides the abused with the means to overcome the terrible consequences of another’s unrighteous acts.”
Healing may begin with a “thoughtful bishop or stake president or a wise professional counselor,” Scott said. “You should leave punishment for diabolic acts of abuse to civil and church authorities.”
He had harsh words for perpetrators, saying that they could conceal their actions from some people but not from God, who sees all.
Read More at the Following Source:
Mormon Times
I have a lot of thoughts on General Conference thusfar, but I’d like for you to share yours without that influence.
Place them here in the comments section 
Have a blessed day!
Click here to see it. It’s awesome, and oh so bittersweet.
I’ve been reading many of the talks from last weekends General Conference since I haven’t been able to watch them yet off the DVR due to a very busy schedule this week.
I’m going to share a few of those that touched me in particular…over time I’ll add more in additional posts.
Enduring Together - Bishop Richard C. Edgley
Mrs. Patton—the Story Continues - President Thomas S. Monson
Strengthen Home and Family - Mary N. Cook
Do It Now - Elder Donald L. Hallstrom
Figured I’d get back to the more spiritual side of blogging, and move the Video Gaming post down on the page. Here is a beautiful video montage of LDS Temples, has some pretty music to go along with it as well. Hope you’re all enjoying your sabbath, and to those of you LDS like me General Conference also.
President Henry B. Eyring
Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Image Courtesy
The Newsroom of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Quentin L. Cook
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Image Courtesy
The Newsroom of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Story below from The Deseret Morning News
Elder Henry B. Eyring was named as the new second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today during its 177th Semiannual General Conference.
He fills the vacancy left by the death of President James E. Faust, who died Aug. 10 at the age of 87 after serving as a general authority for 35 years.
In choosing now-President Eyring, LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley selected “an accomplished educator” to be a member of the highest governing body of the church, according to a press release. The first counselor in the First Presidency is President Thomas S. Monson, who has served as an apostle for 44 years.
President Eyring, formerly a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, was announced this morning at the first of five conference sessions. His position in the Twelve will be taken by Quentin L. Cook, described in the release as “an experienced church leader with a strong pastoral, administrative and legal background.”
According to the release, President Eyring has twice served as Church Commissioner of Education and in several councils of the church before becoming an apostle in 1995. He holds a B.S. degree in physics from the University of Utah and master of business administration and doctor of business administration degrees from Harvard University.
He also served as president of Ricks College, now Brigham Young University-Idaho, from 1971-77.
The new apostle, Elder Quentin L. Cook, has been overseeing the church’s worldwide missionary program, responsible directly to the Quorum of the Twelve, according to the release. While in that position, he was a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. Elder Cook also has provided leadership for the church in the Philippines, throughout the Pacific and in the northwestern United States.
President Eyring and Elder Cook will address a short news conference between the two Saturday sessions of General Conference.
President Faust had served as second counselor to President Gordon B. Hinckley since 1995. He was remembered as a man of wisdom, love and integrity who managed to make both his family and his church the top priorities in his life.
During this morning’s session, President Hinckley called President Faust “an extremely able man, a man of great faith and capacity, who contributed much to our meetings.”
President Faust was last seen in public at a Pioneer Day commemorative concert in the Conference Center on July 20, and before that at the June dedication ceremonies for the new Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center at Brigham Young University.
Known as a consummate church leader and political thinker, his leadership and vision quietly helped forward a variety of LDS Church initiatives, including opposition in the 1980s to pari-mutuel betting in Utah; construction of the BYU Jerusalem Center; improved public relations and media interface; relationships with Chinese officials; and instigation of the LDS Church’s now-familiar logo emphasizing Jesus Christ.
From: Detroit Free Press, MI - Oct 6, 2003
BY MORT CRIM
Russell Ruzio has a unique talent other disc jockeys must envy. The disc-spinning host of an Internet radio blues show claims he can instantly tell if a song is going to be a hit.
Does he have a special ear for success? Does he just know instinctively that rare quality of commercial promise when he hears it? Not exactly. With only 1 percent of his hearing intact, Russell Ruzio is hearing-impaired.
He claims vibrations from the loudspeaker are all he needs to determine which songs are going to be big hits and which songs aren’t. And super-amplified headphones allow him to do interviews with performers and take phone calls from listeners, just like any other disc jockey.
So far, Ruzio says, he’s the world’s only deaf disc jockey. But he’s hoping to change that by one day starting a broadcasting school specifically for hearing-impaired children.
In addition to the usual stock of broadcasting lessons, I imagine they’ll learn something about disabilities and how to overcome them.
What they’ll learn is this: The only real disability isn’t physical at all. It’s a disability of attitude that can affect anyone. It’s that little voice that says: ‘I can’t’ and when we listen to that little voice, that’s the greatest hearing impairment of all.
Today’s thought: Physical disabilities present us with detours, but it’s disabilities of attitude that present us with barriers.
Video comes straight from UNICEF, I couldn’t find a video from the 20/20 Interview. This is good stuff though, so please watch.
I’m almost speechless. She has really grown up, and is making a difference in this world. It was really poignant to see her interacting with these poor Jamaican kids, you could tell that they touched her heart. She recently wrote a book about a girl “Ana” that talks about her life in Latin America with HIV. She worked as an intern with UNICEF working with these kids. I’m so glad to see some real positive press about her.
Amazon Review
First Daughter Jenna Bush worked as an intern with UNICEF throughout Latin America, and in her first book, she focuses on the life of a young woman she befriended during her travels. Infected with HIV/AIDS at birth, Ana loses both parents to the disease. After suffering abuse at relatives’ homes, she finds a caring center for those living with HIV/AIDS, where she falls in love and eventually gets pregnant. Her child is born without the virus, and at the story’s close, Ana has found a peaceful home where she can plan a new life for herself and her baby. The pace is brisk: chapters are only a few pages long, and the accessible language and simple sentences will pull reluctant readers. A few jarring passages point to Bush’s outsider’s view (a comparison between Ana and “the exotic subjects in Gaugin’s Tahiti paintings” stands out), but the wrenching story, illustrated with a few photos, effectively sends an urgent message: too many children are unsafe and burdened by secrets. Classroom-ready resources include discussion questions and suggestions for volunteering. Engberg, Gillian
A friend of mine passed this along in an email today, and I wanted to share…
“I’m Invisible”
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I’m on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I’m thinking, “Can’t you see I’m on the phone?” Obviously not. No one can see if I’m on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I’m invisible.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?
Some days I’m not a pair of hands; I’m not even a human being. I’m a clock to ask. “What time is it?” I’m a satellite guide to answer, “What number is the Disney Channel?” I’m a car to order, “Right around 5:30, please.”
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She’s going, she’s going, she’s gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . ; Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, “I brought you this.” It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn’t exactly sure why she had given it to me until I read the inscription: “To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.”
In th e days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eye of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, “Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.” And the workman replied, “Because God sees.”
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, “I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you’ve done, no sequin you’ve sewn on, no cupcake you baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can’t see right now what it will become.”
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don’t want my son to tell the friend he’s bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, “My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.” That would mean I’d built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, “You’re gonna love it there.”
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we’re doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Randy Pausch delivers the lecture of a lifetime.
I found this surfing ABC News.com. What an inspirational story. Click the link, and enjoy a very touching message.
Since I’m not well enough to attend church today, I decided to find something uplifting and this is what I found. With a title like “How to Live Well amid Increasing Evil”, I’m sure you’re asking how can that be uplifting. But, read on and you’ll see how.
From Richard G. Scott, “How to Live Well amid Increasing Evil,” Liahona, May 2004, 100–102
As you continue to center your mind and heart in [the Lord], He will help you have a rich and full life no matter what happens in the world around you.
— Richard G. ScottExcellent suggestions to combat the deteriorating world environment have been given in this conference. As a prophet of God, President Gordon B. Hinckley put world conditions and our opportunities into crystal clear perspective. Two of his recent comments to priesthood and auxiliary leaders illustrate that prophetic vision. First, regarding the challenge we face:
“The traditional family is under heavy attack. I do not know that things were worse in the times of Sodom and Gomorrah. … We see similar conditions today. They prevail all across the world. I think our Father must weep as He looks down upon His wayward sons and daughters.” 1
Now concerning our extraordinary opportunities:
“Who in the earlier days could have dreamed of this season of opportunity in which we live? … The Church is in wonderful condition. … It will grow and strengthen. … It is our opportunity and our challenge to continue in this great undertaking, the future of which we can scarcely imagine.” 2
You have a choice. You can wring your hands and be consumed with concern for the future or choose to use the counsel the Lord has given to live with peace and happiness in a world awash with evil. If you choose to concentrate on the dark side, this is what you will see. Much of the world is being engulfed in a rising river of degenerate filth, with the abandonment of virtue, righteousness, personal integrity, traditional marriage, and family life. Sodom and Gomorrah was the epitome of unholy life in the Old Testament. It was isolated then; now that condition is spread over the world. Satan skillfully manipulates the power of all types of media and communication. His success has greatly increased the extent and availability of such degrading and destructive influences worldwide. In the past some effort was required to seek out such evil. Now it saturates significant portions of virtually every corner of the world. We cannot dry up the mounting river of evil influences, for they result from the exercise of moral agency divinely granted by our Father. But we can and must, with clarity, warn of the consequences of getting close to its enticing, destructive current.
Now the brighter side. Despite pockets of evil, the world overall is majestically beautiful, filled with many good and sincere people. God has provided a way to live in this world and not be contaminated by the degrading pressures evil agents spread throughout it. You can live a virtuous, productive, righteous life by following the plan of protection created by your Father in Heaven: His plan of happiness. It is contained in the scriptures and in the inspired declarations of His prophets. He clothed your intelligence with spirit and made it possible for you to enjoy the wonder of a physical body. When you use that body in the way He has decreed, you will grow in strength and capacity, avoid transgression, and be abundantly blessed.
When God, our Eternal Father, and His Beloved Son appeared to Joseph Smith in that sublime vision in the Sacred Grove, They began to place on earth again that plan of happiness and all required to sustain it. Part of that restoration included additional sacred scriptures to complement the treasured record of the Bible. These precious scriptures are contained in the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Our Father knew of our day. He prepared the scriptures and provided continuing divine guidance to sustain us. That help will assure that you can live with peace and happiness amid increasing evil.
Consider these verses:
Read the rest of this entry »
I hope this Sunday finds you well. Unfortunately, well does not become me today. I’ve been fighting sinus problems for over a week now, and the stuff decided to make it’s journey down into my lungs. So, it’s made sleep anything but restful. This is the first Sunday in a month where I will not go to church. After a period of a long inactivity, I went back four weeks ago so I’m a little sad that I won’t be there. But, I just have to keep the faith, and realize that I will get better.
Since it is Sunday though, I figured I’d share a few lyrics/songs with you.
Here’s a video compilation of the song “Joseph Smith’s First Prayer”.
Words:
LDS Hymns #26
Oh, how lovely was the morning!
Radiant beamed the sun above.
Bees were humming, sweet birds singing.
Music ringing thru the grove.
When within the shady woodland.
Joseph sought the God of love.
When within the shady woodland.
Joseph sought the God of love.
Humbly kneeling, sweet appealing.
Twas the boy’s first uttered prayer.
When the pow’rs of sin assailing.
Filled his soul with deep despair.
But undaunted still he trusted.
In his Heav’nly Father’s care.
But undaunted still he trusted.
In his Heav’nly Father’s care.
Suddenly a light descended.
Brighter far than noon-day sun.
And a shining glorious piller
O’er him fell around him shone.
While appeared two heav’nly beings
God the Father and the Son,
While appeared two heav’nly beings
God the Father and the Son
Joseph this is my Beloved
Hear him! Oh, how sweet the word.
Joseph’s humble prayer was answered,
And he listened to the Lord.
Oh, what rapture filled his bosom,
For he saw the living God;
Oh, what rapture filled his bosom,
For he saw the living God
This is probably my favorite hymn of all time, click it below to hear it from the embedded player:
Life Is a Gift
Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can’t speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who’s crying out to GOD for a companion.
Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.
Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but they’re barren.
Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn’t clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.
Before whining about the distance you drive - Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one MAKER.
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and thank GOD you’re alive and still around.