October 3, 2009
I’m at home now. I can’t say enough about how great the Move Networks player is. I watched it through my laptop on my 26″ HD TV, and it was perfect. Very impressive. The only thing is that the stream seems to be a few minutes behind the live broadcast (even when you are showing it “live”).
I liked watching all of the various leaders sit down before the session started. There is a lot of smiles, a lot of hand-shaking, and a lot of talking. I know people who are so uptight about reverence, and that when you walk into the chapel it should be silent. I know the Conference Center isn’t a chapel, but for the purposes of General Conference, it is, and it is great to see people being so friendly with each other. It’s also nice to see everyone (including the leaders) stand as the First Presidency walks in. I also liked seeing President Eyring whisk something off of President Monson’s shoulder. Maybe something from lunch? 
President Henry B Eyring conducted the session.
The choir sang “Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise”.
Elder Carlos H Amados offered the invocation.
The choir sang “Know This, That Every Soul Is Free”
President Eyring conducted the business. Several members of the First and Second Quorums of the Seventy were released, but no one was called to replace them.
Elder Dallin H Oaks ** might use as a 4th Sunday lesson **
- God’s love and God’s commandments
- The love of God does not supersede his commandments.
- His commandments do not diminish the love of God
- Every parent knows you can love a child and be angry and disappointed
- The love of God is so universal, even those who are rebellious benefit
- Where do parents draw the line with children that are not following the commandments. Don’t go to extremes (shunning the person, or totally ignoring the disobedience)
- Real love does not support self-destructive behaviour
Elder Robert D Hales ** might use as a 4th Sunday lesson **
- We live in a time where secularism is deepening
- We declare We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost
- Why is belief in God so important?
- Without God, life would end at the grave, and life would have no purpose
- Cultivate a diligent desire to know God lives
Elder Jorge F Zeballos
- From a purely human point of view at first, the commandment to be perfect seems to be an impossible task
- The command to become perfect encourages us to achieve the best of ourselves
- God will not require more than the best we can give
- Let us with enthusiasm do all that is within our reach
- It is possible to achieve the impossible. We can receive eternal life. We can be happy now
President Eyring forgot 3 other names that are being released from the 2nd Quorum of the Seventy
The choir sang “Come, Ye Children of the Lord”
Elder Tad R Callister ** might use as a 4th Sunday lesson **
- Joseph was the Lord’s anointed
- He learned 4 fundamental truths
- God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ are two separate, distinct beings
- The Father and Son have glorified bodies of flesh and bones
- God still speaks to man today; the heavens are not closed
Does God love us as much today as before?
Does God have the same power today as then?
Do we need him as much today as then?
- The full and complete Church of Jesus Christ was not on the earth
- Hard to believe Joseph Smith saw angels? Were there not angels before? Mary, Joseph, Peter, James, John, Cornelius, Paul, Stephen all saw angels
- There will always be an intellectual crisis, but there will always be faith that can strengthen us
- Attempts to intellectualise salvation will never find the answers they seek. At some point, one must trust in God.
Elder Kent R Watson
- Temperance
- Exercise self-control
- Peace of mind and security and happiness do not come from buying things we can’t afford
- Security from our families comes from learning self-control
- Peace of mind comes from faith in Jesus Christ
- Happiness comes from being diligent in keeping covenants
Elder Neil L Andersen ** might use as a 4th Sunday lesson **
- I have felt His love in sacred and unforgettable ways
- Spiritual arms of mercy, safety, love
- We rejoice in repenting and the joy of forgiveness
- There is no sin that cannot be forgiven (other then turning away)
- “Will ye not now return unto me… that I may heal you?”
- Repentance is more of a journey than an event
- “You can’t feel what I have felt” – I don’t fully understand, but there is One who does. He does. He has felt your pain. He has said “I have engraven thee upon the palms of my hands”
- I promise you, relief will come
- Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance
President Boyd K Packer (spoke from a chair)
- We must use our agency wisely
- Pure intelligence can be spoken into the mind
- The Spirit can protect you
- The Gift of the Holy Ghost operates with men, women and children
- Keep your mind clean and free from the clutter of the world
- No matter who you are and what you may have done, you can always pray
- Learn to pray. Pray often. Pray in your mind, in your heart. Pray on your knees. Prayer is your personal key to heaven and the lock is on your side of the veil.
- He has learned to conclude all prayers with “Thy will be done”
The choir sang “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”
The benediction was offered by Robert S Wood (who was released today)
Read the recaps and other notes from the 179th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Posted in Mormon Church Doctrine and Teachings, Mormon Church Hierarchy, Mormon General Conference 
1 Comment »
October 3, 2009
As mentioned in my pre-conference post, I watched this session at work. I pulled up the web site about 20 minutes early, and the transmission was flawless all the way through.
President Henry B. Eyring conducted.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang “Glory to God on High” to start the conference. Following President Eyring’s introduction, the choir sang “Rejoice, the Lord Is King!” and then Elder John M. Madsen offered the invocation.
President Monson opened the conference
- Oquirrh Utah temple was dedicated in August
- 14,000 youth participated in 2-night cultural celebration
- 83% of members live within 200 miles of a temple
- There are 130 operating temples
- 16 have been announced or are under construction
- 5 new temples announced
- Brigham City, Utah
- Concepción, Chile
- Fortaleza, Brazil
- Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
- Sapporo, Japan
- President Joseph F Smith said that through our efforts in their behalf, their chains of bondage will fall
- All members should befriend new converts
- Continue to pray that ares of the world will be opened
The choir sang “Choose the Right”
Elder Richard G. Scott ** might use as a 4th Sunday lesson **
- Communication with the Spirit
- Inspiration to know what to do
- Power, to be able to do it
- Sometimes truth is revealed when you are not actively seeking it
- Pornography is one of the most damning influences on earth, and is overpoweringly addictive
- Commit to overcome it now
- If you pray with all your heart, you can learn to be consistent with the guidance of the Holy Spirit
Sister Vicki F Matsumori
- The influence of the Holy Ghost
- Help others understand
- The Spirit will not dwell in unholy temples
- We should find ways to feel the Spirit every day and weekly at Church
- “Be still and know that I am God”
Elder L Whitney Clayton ** might use as a 4th Sunday lesson **
- Life presses all kinds of burdens on us
- Generally burdens come from 3 sources
- Natural product of the conditions of the world
- Imposed on us by the misconduct of others
- Imposed on us by our own mistakes and shortcomings
- Burdens provide opportunities to practice virtues
- Adam was told the ground would be cursed. Work is a burden but a blessing.
- Alma observed the Zoramites had been humbled. Economic challenges help us prepare to hear the word of the Lord
- Because of the length of their war, the Nephews and Lamanites were softened. Political and social unrest may humble and motivate us to seek heavenly shelter
- Joseph smith was told that his sufferings would give him experience. The suffering we experience is a valuable, if painful, school for improving our behaviour
- We need to bear one another’s burdens
The choir and congregation sang “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet”
Brother Russell T Osguthorpe
- A good teacher can help save lives
- Teaching involves sharing the key doctrine, an invitation to action, and then the promised blessings
- Teachers can inspire their students to change, to do better, to set sights higher
Elder David A Bednar ** might use as a 4th Sunday lesson **
- “More diligent and concerned at home”
- Express love and show it
When was the last time you told your spouse, your child, your parents you love them
Testimonies that express love might be appropriate, but the public statement shouldn’t be the only time they hear it
Feeling the constancy of love is a rich blessing
- Bear testimony and live it
When was the last time you bore your testimony to your spouse, your children, or your parents
We need to bear it, we need to mean it, and most importantly, we need to live it
- Be consistent
Results don’t come each time
The consistency of our intent and work is the great lesson
A single paint brush stroke is not critical, but all of the strokes together create a beautiful painting
Each family prayer, scripture study, each Family Home Evening is a brush stroke of the canvas of our souls
The choir sang “My Heavenly Father Loves Me”
The choir sang “Oh, May My Soul Commune with Thee”
President Dieter F Uchtdorf ** might use as a 4th Sunday lesson **
- Of all the things we are known for, are there things we should seek to be known for?
- How do we become true disciples of Jesus Christ?
- Love God
- God doesn’t need us to love Him, but we need to love God
- God loves us completely and perfectly
- Don’t get discouraged. Keep trying
- Try to believe, learn of God, study the scriptures, follow the prophets, listen to the Father, do the things He asks of us
- Try and keep on trying until that which seems difficult becomes possible, and that which seems possible, becomes a habit.
- How can we hear the Father’s voice?
- Why is love the great commandment?
- If learn to love, all else will fall into place
- Love is the way of the disciple
- Let us be known as a people who love God
The choir sang “Come, Come, Ye Saints”
The benediction was offered by Elder Clate W. Mask
Read the recaps and other notes from the 179th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Posted in Mormon Church Doctrine and Teachings, Mormon Church Hierarchy, Mormon General Conference 1 Comment »
October 3, 2009
The last 6 months have flown by, and General Conference is here again. I have to admit, I do enjoy that extra time in the morning! Usually I’m up at 5:30 so I can get ready and head to Church for the various administration meetings. Tomorrow I don’t have to leave the house until around 11:30 am. Nice!
Since last conference, we got a flat-screen TV (only 26″), which has a VGA connection to a computer. We’ve tested it out, and the Move Networks player looks beautiful run at full-screen. I’m at work today, and will watch the first session online there. My wife will watch at home. We’ll watch the second session together at home, and I’ll head to the Priesthood Session with my father tonight. We’ll go to Church to watch the first session tomorrow, and watch the last session at home again.
My wife and I were talking about what we were expecting from General Conference. My response was, “Same old, same old”. Unfortunately, that sounded much more negative than I meant for it to sound. If it is negative, it’s only because we, as members, don’t heed the counsel from previous conferences. In some way or another, I’m sure we’ll be reminded about staying out of debt, protecting our families, attending the temple, increasing our missionary work, and doing service. Hopefully we’ll all resolve to try a little harder.
As I do each conference, I will be thinking of which talks our ward can use as 4th Sunday lessons. The talks that impressed me in a certain way, are marked with **. This doesn’t mean the other talks weren’t good. It’s just that there are only 6 lessons, so we can’t use them all. At an upcoming Ward Council Meeting, the EQ President, the RS President and the HP Group Leader will all share their suggestions, and we’ll come to a consensus on the 6 talks to use.
Read the recaps and other notes from the 179th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Posted in Mormon Church Doctrine and Teachings, Mormon Church Hierarchy, Mormon General Conference No Comments »
October 2, 2009
I’ve commented before how I love music. I like most of the hymns that we sing in the Church, but there are definitely some that I like more than others. My favourite Sacrament hymn is #169. “As Now We Take the Sacrament” has beautiful music and words to match:
With devotion
1. As now we take the sacrament,
Our thoughts are turned to thee,
Thou Son of God, who lived for us,
Then died on Calvary.
We contemplate thy lasting grace,
Thy boundless charity;
To us the gift of life was giv’n
For all eternity.
2. As now our minds review the past,
We know we must repent;
The way to thee is righteousness—
The way thy life was spent.
Forgiveness is a gift from thee
We seek with pure intent.
With hands now pledged to do thy work,
We take the sacrament.
3. As now we praise thy name with song,
The blessings of this day
Will linger in our thankful hearts,
And silently we pray
For courage to accept thy will,
To listen and obey.
We love thee, Lord; our hearts are full.
We’ll walk thy chosen way.
Text: Lee Tom Perry, b. 1951. © 1985 IRI
Music: Daniel Lyman Carter, b. 1955. © 1985 IRI
Doctrine and Covenants 138:1–4
Doctrine and Covenants 59:8–12
“169: As Now We Take the Sacrament,” Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, no. 169
Here are a few of the things that touch me:
- “We contemplate they lasting grace, Thy boundless charity” – So true!
- “With hands now pledged to do thy work, We take the sacrament.” – What good does it do us if we take upon us the name of Christ, but don’t take any action? We need to commit to do the Lord’s work
- “The blessings of this day Will linger in our thankful hearts” – I love Church. The meetings aren’t always the best. I don’t always go with a great attitude. But each and every week I leave Church a better person. I feel closer to God, and I’m thankful for the ward family that I have.
- “…we pray For courage to accept thy will, To listen and obey.” – Most of us have a desire to do what’s right, but we fall short. We should, indeed, pray for courage.
Posted in General Religion and Spirituality, Mormon Church Music, Mormon Sacrament Meeting No Comments »
October 1, 2009
Here are a couple more links that I’ve added to the Official web sites of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints page.
- https://contact.familysearch.org/ – information on how to contact FamilySearch Support
- http://remote.familysearch.org/ – starting point that allows a FamilySearch Support Technician to remotely connect to your computer
There are now 115 different links on the Official web sites of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints page
Posted in Mormon Church on the Web (Official) No Comments »
September 29, 2009
Good thing Yahoo! Answers is around to help people with these pressing questions (don’t forget this one)…
Posted in Mormon Church Hierarchy No Comments »
September 24, 2009
Check out this Yahoo!Answers question and the responses…
Are any of the latter day saints still alive?
Just wondering.
Posted in Mormon Church on the Web (Unofficial) 2 Comments »
September 23, 2009
I attended our Stake General Priesthood Meeting on Sunday Night. There were several speakers, with the Stake President being the concluding speaker. He spoke about a number of topics, and at one point he talked about how some of the school districts in the area will be modifying their curriculum to teach more about same-gender marriages. He was very careful in saying that we don’t persecute people, but that we also need to stand up for what is right. He shared a quote from a General Conference talk that Boyd K. Packer gave a few years ago. I like it.
…words can be used as weapons against you. If they throw the word diversity at you, grab hold of it and say, “I am already diverse, and I intend to stay diverse.” If the word is tolerance, grab that one, too, saying, “I expect you to be tolerant of my lifestyle—obedience, integrity, abstinence, repentance.” If the word is choice, tell them you choose good, old-fashioned morality. You choose to be a worthy husband or wife, a worthy parent.
The whole Church may stand alone in defense of these standards. But we are not the first. Moroni, the last of his people, said: “I even remain alone. … I fulfil the commandment of my father.” Do not be afraid.
Boyd K. Packer, “‘The Standard of Truth Has Been Erected’,” Ensign, Nov 2003, 24
Posted in General Religion and Spirituality, Mormon Church Hierarchy, Mormon Church Meetings No Comments »
September 22, 2009
A couple of months ago the Toronto Star report on a recent study on relationships, love, and marriage. The study “tracked nearly 2,500 couples – married or living together – from 2001 to 2007 to identify factors associated with those who remained together, compared with those who divorced or separated.” Here are a few of the things I found interesting:
- About 16 per cent of people whose parents separated or divorced experienced their own marital separation, compared to 10 per cent for those whose parents stayed together.
My comment: This seems pretty obvious. If you are brought up in an environment, it will affect you in some way. I actually would have thought that the effect would have been greater.
- Partners who are on their second or third marriage are 90 per cent more likely to separate than those in their first marriage.
D’uh! This is very obvious.
- Couples in which the man is nine or more years older than his wife are twice as likely to get divorced, as are men who get married before they turn 25.
I get the big age difference being a problem, but the early marriage point was interesting.
I don’t know if it is true of all faiths, but certainly Mormons seem to get married young (compared to society). My wife and I were both married when we were 21. There are probably 3 other couples in the ward right now who are married and under 25. I’m sure there are many other couples who got married before 25. I’d be curious what other factors influence that age.
- Did the man live outside the home before getting married?
- Does religion play a role?
- What about the age of the woman?
- How does marriage counseling affect the likelihood for divorce?
- What about an even younger age. If you are twice as likely to get divorced if the man who is under 25, what about men who are under 20?
When I counsel with young couples, I rarely think of their actual age. It is usually more about emotional and spiritual maturity. I haven’t counseled anyone NOT to get married, but I do not hesitate to share with them some of the struggles that they will face, and try to help them prepare for it.
Posted in General Religion and Spirituality, Mormon Church in the Home No Comments »
September 21, 2009
I commented back in June about how a commercial/ad for the Church showed up on CNN while I was letting some videos play. One of the entertainment news videos that came up was about Lindsay Lohan posting a nude picture of herself on Twitter.
Well, here is another weird one. I followed Digg link to a web site that had 100+ Useful Bookmarklets For Better Productivity. I skimmed over the bookmarklets, and got to the bottom, and there was an ad for Mormon.org that invited people to chat.
Obviously the Church isn’t targeting specific sites. They are going to be using some established online ad provider to place ads according to keywords or phrases. But even then, I’m not sure what made the bookmarklet site trigger a Mormon.org ad.
Posted in Mormon Church on the Web (Official) No Comments »
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