Week 1 Recap

Thanks for joining us for our General Conference Challenge! So, how did the week go?  Were you able to squeeze in the time to study these two talks from the General Women's Meeting?  

I know its hard to find the time, but it is possible. A few minutes here and there, then the whole talk can be read and studied. 

This coming week we will be reading the other talks from the General Women's Meeting:

Defenders of the Family Proclamation By: Bonnie L. Oscarson

The Comforter By: President Henry B. Eyring

We will meet again next week, to discuss those talks. 

Now, for the discussion on this past week's reading:

For Sister Esplin's Talk : Filling our Homes with Light and Truth.

"Satan knows that in order for us and our families to withstand the pressures  of the world, we must be filled with light and gospel truth. So he does   everything in his power to dilute, distort,and destroy the truth of the gospel   and to keep us separated from that truth."

Isn't this so true?  When I feel I don't have time for reading the scriptures and such, I really am just being distracted from the truth and light. Satan distorts the truth we know of, through media, friends, and other sources. But if we really fill our cups full of the light and truth, then there isn't room for the other distractions. 

 "With the privilege of that gift [the Holy Ghost] comes the responsibility to seek truth, to live the truth we know, and toshare and defend the truth." 

We really have that responsibility to seek, live and share the truth. Are we really doing that? Could we be doing better?

"Families are the Lord’s workshop on earth to help us learn and live the   gospel. We come into our families with a sacred duty to help strengthen  each other spiritually.

Strong eternal families and Spirit filled homes do not just happen. They take great effort, they take time, and   they take each member of the family doing his or her part. Every home is   different, but every home where even one individual seeks for truth can  make a difference."

I love this because of what it's really telling us. You know how you can be so frustrated at family members for various reasons? Well, that's one of the points we are in families!  Families are the workshops where we learn to live the gospel. Know how you had to forgive your brother for picking on you, a thousand times? well, now you should know how to forgive!  Families are the perfect place for us to learn the gospel truths, and that is one of the reasons why they are so important. That doesn't mean its always easy to be in a family. As we all know. Family relationships can be tricky. Whether that is with a spouse, child, sibling.  But we can all be better because of those around us and the effort we put forth into our families. Ok, next talk.  

The Family is of God, by Sister Stephens:

"But through my personal tests and trials—the ones that have brought me to my knees—I have become well acquainted with the One who does understand, He who  was “acquainted with grief,”⁶ who experienced all and understands all. "

Even though we may not understand other's trials, or feel no on understands ours, there is someone who can. Our Savior. Our Redeemer. He died and suffered, and felt all of our pains and afflictions. We can always turn to Him, to find the support and understanding that we desire. 

"Our opportunity as covenant-keeping daughters of God is not just to learn from our own challenges;  it is to unite in empathy and compassion as we support other members of the family of God in their struggles, as we have covenanted to do."

I like this, because its easy to get caught up in our own problems and not understand what other people are going through. But we need to show that empathy to others and that compassion. Loving others, even in all of their struggles.

"As we use our time in mortality to study and apply the Savior’s teachings, we become more like Him. We come to understand that He is the way— the only way we can overcome mortal challenges,be healed, and return back to our  heavenly home."

This is just a general good reminder. When we follow His teachings, we understand that He is the Only Way to return to our heavenly home. And that through Him, we can be healed. 

I really loved these two talks, and the emphasis on families. Both our mortal families and our eternal families. I love my family and I am grateful for all that I have learned, and have yet to learn from them. 

Thanks for reading, I hope you have a good week, and come back next week for the discussion on the next two talks!