General Conference

I've been reading and watching the General Conference talks of last April. They are so beautiful. Christ speaks through these men and women. I know it. Their words aren't always powerful in and of themselves, but the Spirit takes these simple and true words into my heart. I would just like to share the two talks I read today and my thought on them.

More Than Conquerors Through Him That Loved Us

 This talks about how we grow through our trials. This is something that the church tells us over and over again because it is so true. When I am going through emotional, situational, or spiritual trials, I find that I am the strongest. I learn to lean more on my Heavenly Father, and He heals me. I am not always as righteous as I ought to be, but even in times of doubt and despair, I cling to the gospel because I know it is the only thing that will get me through. Sometimes, I feel discouraged and feel like I will never get to where I want to be. But I refuse to forget that love and peace I felt, and even if I never achieve that happiness again, I will give myself to searching for it. If we remain faithful, the Lord will bless our lives with the joy we are looking for. He will give us strength, comfort, and peace even in our deepest afflictions. I have felt His power in my trials, and I know He is always there.

Waiting on the Road to Damascus

President Uchtdorf is a favorite of mine. There are a couple parts of this talk that I would like to accent. First, he talks about how we should listen to the small promptings of the Spirit. This is something that is so hard. It's difficult to tell if the Lord is telling me to do something or if I'm just making things up. First Nephi 17:13 states, "And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall now that it is by me that ye are led." We may not always know exactly what we are supposed to do, but if we are really trying to listen to the Spirit, it will guide us. I know that in my life the Spirit has guided me. And when I've trusted it, I've gained peace and my testimony was strengthened. The Lord wants to push us just a little bit beyond what we know, so we can learn to trust Him. And yes, a lot of the time it is hard to tell if it is the Lord speaking or just ourselves, but I have to remember that anything good comes from the Lord. And when what I think is in accordance with what the Lord wants me to do, I will feel peace and love. If it is not right, I will feel the Spirit withdraw, and the confusion will remain.

The next part of this talk I would like to talk about is the part about sharing the gospel. This is something I've been trying to do more in my life. I am definitely improving, but I still have a way to go. One thing that affected me most was when he said that the people around us will notice when we are living according to Christ's gospel. I testify that this is true. I have recently been pointed out several times in the last months as a Latter-day Saint by people I didn't even know. Somehow, they could tell. I don't know what I did to leave that impression on them, but I'm glad that I can be an example of what I believe just by being myself. I loved the quote from Saint Francis of Assisi: Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words." If we don't stand as witnesses of Christ in everything we are and do, then we don't really believe in Him.