"Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ" - Elder Robert D. Hales

"Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ" - Elder Robert D. Hales

Sometimes after I read these talks, I just want to write on here, "Go read it.  The end," because it's THAT good.  This is one of those talks.  It's so very powerful and a call to action.  Read it.  Please.

But then what would be the point of having this blog if I'm just going to tell you to go read something else? :)

I recently watched a movie that was set in a world where no one could lie about anything.  Eventually, one guy was able to tell something that wasn't--the first lie.  It made for a pretty funny movie with lots of crazy scenarios, but in one scene, the makers of that film really made quite a statement.  When his mother died, he told her that she would go to heaven so that she wouldn't be so scared about dying.  After that everyone came to him asking about this after-life, and he began to explain about God.

Did you catch that?  The man who was lying was explaining to the people about God.

This really got to me, and I thought about it a lot afterwards.  In Elder Hales' talk, he says, "As prophesied, we live in a time when the darkness of secularism is deepening around us.  Belief in God is widely questioned and even attacked in the name of political, social, and even religious causes.  Atheism, or the doctrine that there is no God, is fast spreading across the world."  It's spreading so fast that I can't even watch a movie without it being thrown in my face.

However, I'm in the mindset that no one is truly an Atheist as they claim to be.  I heard a quote recently that said, "They may go in the foxhole an Atheist, but they don't come out one."  My brother-in-law just recently came back from Afghanistan, and he said everybody was praying over there.  He also said that he saw many instances when he knew God was watching out for him and the others there.

How do I know there is a God?  Even if I hadn't felt the Holy Ghost bear witness to me that he is real, I don't think I could look at this beautiful Earth and believe that it just appeared here by chance.  The Earth we live on is so amazing.  Our own bodies are so amazing.  Scientists have tried to create artificial intelligence but have yet to succeed in making anything as complex as our brains.  How could something so complex just have happened?  No, our magnificent bodies have been created by a Supreme Being--Our Heavenly Father.

Another point that Elder Hales mentions that I felt was important was that we are created after his image.  That means that Heavenly Father has a body of flesh and bones.  Elder Hales says, "Some people may be surprised that we look like God.  One prominent religious scholar has even taught that imagining God in the form of man is creating a graven image and is idolatrous and blasphemous. But God himself said, 'Let us make  man in our image, after our likeness.'"

At the end of his talk, he gives us a call to action:

If you cannot remember believing in God or if you have ceased to believe or if you believe but without real conviction, I invite you to seek a testimony of God now. Do not be afraid of ridicule. The strength and peace that come from knowing God and having the comforting companionship of His Spirit will make your efforts eternally worthwhile.

Even more, with your own testimony of God, you will be able to bless your family, your posterity, your friends, your own life—all those you love. Your personal knowledge of God is not only the greatest gift you will ever give, but it will bring you the greatest joy you will ever have.

If you feel as though you've lost your testimony or if you're not even sure you have one, take his challenge!  Do not be afraid.  Ask with sincere intent, and you will know.

Please know that our Father in Heaven loves you.  He cares about you so much.  For proof, in Moses 7:28 it says, "And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept."  He wants you to be happy.  When you're sad, he is sad.  He weeps with you.

Come to him.  Speak with him.  Discover that eternal love he has for you.  You're never too far gone to speak with him.  Whatever your state in life, you can always turn to him.  He will listen, and he will answer.

Stake Conference - Adult Session

Stake Conference was this weekend, and I wanted to do a special post especially for the Adult Session Saturday night because I know that a lot of sisters are unable to go because of distance, children, and whatnot. We are blessed to have family that live in town so we have a place to stay and someone to watch our kids for us. So I thought that I should give those ladies who were unable to attend the opportunity to read a little bit of what happened. :)

I think this is the first time I have EVER taken notes at a stake conference. This blog is definitely good for me! I think to keep this concise, I will do a bulleted list of some things I heard or thought about.

• It is such a blessing to know that the prophet is not the only one who can pray and receive answers. WE are able to get down on our knees, talk to Heavenly Father, and receive revelations for our own lives. In fact, we're required to. How else are we going to know the things we are taught are true?
• How can we exercise charity in our lives? First, we need to start with our thoughts and feelings. Avoid being judgmental. Be forgiving and patient. Then, we need to watch our words. There is NO NEED to verbalize every thought we have. This is often most difficult in our own homes where we're off our social guard. Finally, we need to watch our actions. To find happiness in our own lives, we must lose ourselves in the service of others.
• When promptings come, ACT!! It doesn't matter if it's the Spirit or your own thoughts. This really hit home for me because sometimes I don't do things because I think it's ME and not the Spirit. Just do it!
• I really liked this quote: "Somehow forgiveness with love and tolerance, accomplishes miracles that can happen in no other way." - Gordon B. Hinckley "Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice: Be More Forgiving"
• Our visiting authority asked us to reread the New Testament and focus on the simple things Jesus Christ said.
• There was a lot of emphasis on being united. We cannot do the Lord's work if we are going against one another. We must be a united people! I don't know how many times I heard the phrase "Be United." It must be pretty important.
• One of the visiting authorities talked about the story of the Prodigal son. It is one of my favorites. I love how when the son was a long way off, his father ran to him. Our Heavenly Father is the same way. It doesn't matter how far off the path we are, if we turn to him, he welcomes us back with open arms. He loves his children so much.

This wasn't everything, but it was the best I could do under the circumstances (ie: wiggly baby). :)