General Conference Update!

I was privileged to have the opportunity to sit amongst Apostles and Prophets of God on Sunday morning, during my attendance of General Conference. I could feel the excitement in the air as I woke up early on Sunday morning. I was able to complete my morning tasks with ease, including putting our dinner in the crock pot before my son woke up at 6:30am. We dropped our son off at a neighbor's house and left for Salt Lake City, where our church's conference was, at the Conference Center at Temple Square. We parked, and as we were walking up to the Conference Center, even though it was cold, I couldn't help but feeling that we were about to experience something great and it was wonderful to feel the cold, crisp air. We got there really early, so there were no protestors to harass us as we walked in, and there wasn't even a line to get in. We handed them our tickets and walked in, through security and into the main area of the Conference Center. Tears filled my eyes as we walked to where our seats were.
Because we were there so early, we got to sit in the VIP seating, and were just a few rows from where the apostles and important people were sitting. We saw people walk in and shake hands of those sitting in front of us, men and women who I have watched and listened to over many years. Even Mitt Romney was among those people. It was really cool to see everyone and feel of their spirits and happiness. It was so exciting to even be there to see everyone coming in and get ready for the conference to start. Music and the Spoken Word with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir started before the conference and it was so cool to see that in person as well.

I wrote in my journal my feelings, and I will share them with you:

"I feel the spirit greatly as I sit in this conference center this morning. I felt it when I walked in and                    went down the satire to take my seat. I feel it now as I am listening to the Apostles of the Lord God    speak to the world. I feel the love that God has for me and I feel the love that I have for those around   me.
I look up as an Apostle is speaking and see the Modern Day Prophet of God sitting and enjoying being here as well, as I can see his face and see that he is intently listening to what is being said and taught.
I am so lucky to be here today, and I am so loving it! Everyone should have the opportunity to experience this feeling!

Oh and Elder Russel M. Nelson of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles smiled and waived at me!"

I really enjoyed being there, and I got a lot from the lessons that I heard.

My favorite quote from General Conference was this:

"We must Persevere and Endure and Become more Spiritually Refined as we endure Sunshine and Sorrow." 

- President Thomas S. Monson, Modern Day Prophet of God

Some of the lessons that I learned from the speakers from General Conference include these topics;

Angels walk among us and help us get through difficult challenges in our lives.
"There is joy guaranteed for the faithful." - Henry B. Eyring
Parenting is a sacred duty that is given to us by God.
We are responsible to be compassionate and kind to everyone around us.
Our first priority is to serve God. And when we are serving those around us, we are serving God.
We need to have moral courage, facing our fears with Dignity.
We must remember our Paramount goal, to Achieve Eternal Life.
The decisions that we make now, will affect those who will come after us and are extremely important to the salvation and happiness of our posterity.
Living the principles of the gospel will help us to become converted and we will gain a testimony of those principles.
Faith is the Key
Don't expect a reward without working for it.
Have daily efforts to reach our goal - Eternal Life
"You must become the rock"
How do we keep our testimony in shape?
         -Spiritual endurance
         -Spiritual Stamina
         -Dedication
         -Desire
         -Constantly Decide to make the right decisions
The gospel gives us not immunity from death, but Victory over it.
"Let us run with patience, the race that is set before us." -Richard J. Maynes
We need strong testimonies, and we will find within us the strength to be able to finish the race. We will have the strength to endure.
Lay down your weapons of Rebellion.
Keep your covenants.
Feel the elevation power of the Lord's mercy and forgiveness.
See the atonement in your life, and feel its power.
The Heavenly Virtue of Patience is Required
"Shall I falter of Shall I finish?"
Be like Job and never give up, despite everything that is working against you.
"I will not fail thee or forsake thee"
We learn how to grow and become stronger when we face difficulties.
Pray and Listen Everyday. We truly need Him Every Hour.
There his Hope smiling brightly before us and we know that deliverance is nigh.
We need to have Spiritual Preparation in these Perilous times
"Can good fruit come from a bad tree?"
God should be the center of your universe.
Choose wisely each day's decision of eternity.
Your choices affect the future.
The work is hastening.
Something big is coming.

This is only about half of the things I wrote down from what I learned from General Conference. I hope you got something out of what I wrote today. Thank you for reading. Have a wonderful week! If you would like to listen to the conference, it is available online, anytime, as well as the individual talks and videos from it here.