Elder Rasband—James Rasband, that is—had a great quote which I didn't quite get down about Jesus Christ's atonement restoring what we can't restore and healing what we can't heal. I think maybe Elder Renlund used this same quote? Or something similar. It was beautiful. I loved his emphasis on how the atonement of the Savior comforts those on both sides of sin—those that have been hurt, and those that have hurt others and are now sorry! There are so many things I've done wrong with my children, and others, that I wish I could undo! It brings me such relief to know that through Christ's power, all of those things can be recompensed.
"The Lord loves effort!"—that was President Nelson, quoted in Sister Jones' talk. She also said it's important for us to know our current life path is approved of God; without that knowledge, she said, we will become tired and discouraged. I liked the implication, then, that WITH knowledge of God's approval, we will be able to overcome tiredness and discouragement! She said "the spirit can tell us which work to focus on today" since we can't "wear all our hats" at once. This is a skill I need so much to develop!
I loved Elder Neal L. Anderson speaking about how important it is to remember the personal and specific moments when God shows His love for us. "I knew it, and I knew God knew that I knew it." I liked the promise that "at times of difficulty, [God] can and will bring these experiences back to our minds." I've been noticing how much more easily this happens as I write my experiences down! Elder Anderson said something like, "these experiences are like luminous stones to help brighten the road ahead," and I thought of the stones in the Jaredite barges. It's cool to think that we could have those metaphorical lights on our own journeys!
I really liked Elder Renlund's talk but I don't know if there was one specific quote or phrase that could sum it up. His talks always have such depth, it takes me multiple hearings to digest them! I love the "new heart" metaphor as Elder Renlund used it to connect the scriptural phrase, the experience of his friend's heart transplant, and our own strivings to be transformed. I hope I can learn to "reflect every day on the gift I have received" of Jesus Christ's atonement.
I feel like I only just began to grasp what Elder Gong was getting at in his talk about Hosannas and Hallelujahs. By the end of the talk I sensed that the whole thing had been a sort of complicated weaving-together of opposing concepts that both clarified and reinforced each other. I'll have to study it further. But I loved being reminded of the meanings of those holy words before participating in the Solemn Assembly and Hosanna Shout the next day! I remember the first time I joined in the Hosanna Shout (perhaps during the Nauvoo Temple dedication broadcast?), I was distracted by the sort of strange awkwardness of it all. Now I feel no such awkwardness and welcome the chance to shout praises to God! In fact, sometimes at other times I FEEL like shouting Hosanna or Hallelujah, and don't quite know how to give expression to those feelings so satisfactorily!
I did like Elder Gong's point that restoration does "not just restore what was, but what CAN BE." I have sensed this idea as we've been studying the Restoration—that at least when we are talking about God restoring US, he is making us better than before. Maybe that meaning is implied within "restoration," but I haven't usually thought of it that way before. It also brings to mind something I read recently in Doctrine and Covenants 88, about people who in mortality are "quickened by a portion of the celestial glory." God promises that eventually those people "shall then receive of the same, even a fulness." I like the idea that if we can receive even partially the plan God has for us, he will magnify and multiply that within us until it transforms us in whole!
I thought Sister Jean B. Bingham's talk about men and women working together was wonderful! I loved the reminder that "men and women accomplish more working together than separately." And was it news to anyone else that Joseph Smith's mother used to go to the Sacred Grove to pray? I'd never heard that, but I loved it when President Nelson (in the video during Sister Bingham's talk) said that was probably why Joseph chose that place to go and pray, following his mother's example! Beautiful.
I liked it when President Eyring talked about the appearance of the Savior in the Kirtland Temple. We have just been learning about that part of Church History in our homeschool (and in our reading of Saints) so I've been extra sensitive to all the mentions of it. Who else brought it up? Seems like at least two or three other speakers.
Elder Bednar's talk was a great companion to Elder Renlund's, with its theme that "the essence of the gospel is changing hearts." I'd never heard the Brigham Young quote about there needing to be "thousands of temples" someday—and here I thought 200 was a lot!
Oh, and I loved Elder Christoffersen's story about the boy who was told (about the Book of Mormon) "Do not burn my book!"
And of course I love pretty much anything that comes out of President Nelson's mouth. I'm so grateful for him, and for the other prophets and apostles!
Other posts in this series:
April 2020 General Conference: Memorable—by Jan Tolman
I'd never heard of Lucy Smith going to the grove to pray either--but it makes so much sense that she would do that to get away from a large family in cramped quarters to have some peace and privacy to pray. By the end of conference I couldn't hold back my tears of joy--that last hymn with the different choirs was so heavenly! I loved the Hosanna shout and could hardly join in for being choked up with emotion. My first temple dedication was in 1981 at the Jordan River temple and I've always enjoyed participating in the simple and profound ceremony since then. I too, look forward to re-reading and digesting the many deep truths in the talks this conference. It truly was unforgettable.
ReplyDeleteYes, that last hymn was amazing. So cool to hear all the different languages and people joining in praise!!
DeleteIn preparation for conference I read the book Stories from the Life of Lucy Mack Smith by Susan Evans Mccloud. Almost all of the stories in that book have to do with Lucy’s experiences with prayer. It mentioned that she would often go outdoors to find a quiet place to pray. It is a really great book, I learned a lot and love Lucy more than ever now!
ReplyDeleteOoh! I want to read that! I was thinking of reading LMS's history of Joseph Smith by his mother, but I didn't get around to that either. But it seems like it would help to have some of the best stories selected out for me! :)
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