Pres. Monson and Gen. Conference 2010

My last post was so large that I thought I would give this last thought it's own post.
After our activity, I gave each Young Woman a little package of chocolate with a ribbon and this thought, taken from Pres. Monson's message:

Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don’t get around to it. Someone has said that “feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”

I also wanted to mention something else about Pres. Monson's message.

In the book of Matthew in the Bible, we have another account of gratitude, this time as an expression from the Savior. As He traveled in the wilderness for three days, more than 4,000 people followed and traveled with Him. He took compassion on them, for they may not have eaten during the entire three days. His disciples, however, questioned, “Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?” Like many of us, the disciples saw only what was lacking.

“And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And [the disciples] said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

“And [Jesus] commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

“And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.”

Notice that the Savior gave thanks for what they had—and a miracle followed: “And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.”4

We have all experienced times when our focus is on what we lack rather than on our blessings. Said the Greek philosopher Epictetus, “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.

I have been thinking about this. There were 4,000 people. Seven loaves and two fishes were not even close to the amount needed to feed that crowd. Jesus didn't whine about it or just give up. He gave thanks for what they did have, and that's when the miracle occurred. That is definitely something to think and ponder about!

General Conference Jeopardy

I have been doing some thinking about Pres. Monson's talk on gratitude at this past General Conference and I was going to add some of my thoughts about that. That got me thinking about our combined Young Women activity last Wednesday,so I thought I would share what we did for that first.

Before General Conference, we challenged the Young Women to take notes at Conference in preparation for our activity which was General Conference Jeopardy. There are plenty of ways to check out conference afterwards if you weren't able to watch a particular session. (Look online for video, transcript, look in the Church News, etc.) We played the Young Women vs. the leaders. I took a chalkboard and divided it into 6 sections: Sat morning, Sat afternoon, Sun morning, Sun afternoon, Stats/Misc and Pres. Monson's messages. Then I made a grid with the points underneath each section. I had two Mia Maids keep score and one Mia Maid would erase the points on the game board when someone chose the points the points they played for.

Here are the rules we played:
1. A young woman and a leader come to the front. (We flipped a coin to see who went first.) The first person picks the category and points they want to play for.

2. We had two buzzers. You can't buzz in until the answer is finished. You can't buzz in until you have an answer. You can go back to your group to get the answer if you want.

3. You have to give the answer in the form of a question.
(example- Answer: This man spoke 4 different times during General Conference. Your "answer" would be in the form of a question: Who is Pres. Monson)

Here are the Jeopardy Answers we used. If you want to use these, there are a few that are more specific to us that you might want to change:
Saturday Morning

100- This is how much money was left in Elder Holland’s bank account when he got back from his mission. (All of it. Elder Holland’s parents never took any money out.)

200- This is the name of one of the 2 general authorities that mentioned a specific talk that Pres. Ezra Taft Benson gave 25 years ago on following the prophet. (Kevin R. Duncan, Claudio M. Costa)

300- Elder David M. McConkie’s message was to members who had ever been called to do this. (teach)

400- Elder D. Todd Christopherson opened his talk by quoting from this movie that was shown at the 1964 World’s fair in New York City. (Man’s Search for Happiness)

500 Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf began his remarks by talking about the growth patterns of these. (Trees)

1000- Sister Rosemary M. Wixom spoke of a young mother who encouraged her children to do this when they were traveling in a snowstorm. (pray)



Saturday afternoon

100- This was the topic of Elder Robert D. Hales’ talk. (agency)

200- This favorite movie of Sister King’s was mentioned in Elder Quentin L. Cook’s message on Light. (Amazing Grace)

300- This member of our stake spoke on the Temple Mirrors of Eternity (Elder Gerritt W. Gong)

400- Elder Richard C. Scott said that faith and this are intimately related. (character)

500- Elder Neil L. Andersen counseled us to choose not be these 2 things. (offended, ashamed)

1000- Bishop Richard C. Edgley said that you have to do this to faith. (choose it)







Sunday morning

100- This Book of Mormon prophet was quoted by Pres. Henry B. Eyring. (Alma)

200- Pres. Boyd K. Packer said that some people would like to do this to alter the designs of God’s laws and nature. (vote)

300- Elder Jay E. Jensen said that this book is saturated with the spirit of the Lord. (Book of Mormon)

400- Sister Mary N. Cook mentioned this aunt who made a big impact on her in her teenage years. (Carma Cutler)

500- Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke about these 2 communications lines with God. (personal, priesthood)

1000- Elder Packer says that Satan seeks to degrade the righteous use of the life-giving powers by tempting you into immoral relationships because he is this. (jealous)



Sunday afternoon

100- 25 years ago, Elder L. Tom Perry used this visual aid in his conference talk. (His eldest grandson)

200- Elder David A. Bednar said these four words are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction. (Receive the Holy Ghost.)

300- Elder Larry R. Lawrence said that it takes this to be a parent. (courage)

400- Elder Per G. Malm told a story of his grandmother who suggested that they make these when the eggs her child brought home were broken. (pancakes)

500- Elder Jairo Mazzagardi opened his talk by talking about doing this with his granddaughter, Vicki. (Taking a walk)

1000- According to Elder Mervyn B. Arnold, each of us will have to give this to the Savior. (account for what we did with His name.)




Statistics/Misc.

100- These are the members of the first presidency. (Pres. Thomas S. Monson, Pres. Henry B. Eyring, Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf

200- The family choir in the Sat. afternoon session came from this area. (Sandy and Draper)

300- This is the number of talks Pres. Monson gave. (4)

400- This is the number of sessions the Tabernacle choir sang in. (3)

500- This scripture has always been quoted by at least one speaker for at least the past 4 years. (Matthew 11:28-30, Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden…)

1000- These are the names of 2 of the 5 new temples announced in Conference. (Lisbon, Portugal; Indianapolis, Indiana; Urdaneta, Philippines; Hartford, Connecticut; and Tijuana, Mexico.)





President Monson’s Messages

100- In his opening remarks, Pres. Monson said that this is a priesthood duty. (missionary work)

200- This is the instrument Pres. Monson’s mother wished he had stayed with. (piano)

300- In Pres. Monson’s message on gratitude, he told the story of Jesus and 10 people who had this disease. (leprosy)

400- Pres. Monson said he hopes we will take the time to do this with the conference talks. (read them)

500- When Pres. Monson became the president of the church, he gave himself this assignment. (Adviser for the tabernacle choir)

1000- These are what the 3 R’s stand for in the message Pres. Monson gave in the general priesthood session when he spoke about the 3 R’s of Choice. (first, the right of choice; second, the responsibility of choice; and third, the results of choice)

Both teams determine how many points they want to wager. I had pictures of the 12 apostles and they listed them in order of seniority.


Jeopardy Question- These are the 12 members of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles listed by seniority. (Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry, Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, M. Russell Ballard, Richard G. Scott, Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. Holland, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson, Neil L. Andersen)

At the end, we happened to end in a tie. I was glad. I told everyone there are no losers when it comes to general conference. Anyone who watched even a little is a winner. If you didn't get a chance to watch, you can still get the information by prayerfully reading the talks when they come out in the Ensign in just a few weeks.

Valley of Decision

In trying to find more information about the valley of decision listed in Joel 3:14, I found this interesting talk by Elder Neal A. Maxwell:
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=c011b850e318b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Instruments, pawns

In reading Alma 12 today, I was struck by something that Alma says as he and Amulek are contending with Zeezrom.

4 And thou seest that we know that thy plan was a very subtle plan, as to the subtlety of the devil, for to lie and to deceive this people that thou mightest set them against us, to revile us and to cast us out—
5 Now this was a plan of thine adversary, and he hath exercised his power in thee....

Wow- I don't want to be used as a pawn to show Satan's power! I want to be used as an instrument by God to somehow further His work and glory. There are many scriptures that talk about this. Here is just a sampling:

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Rom. 6: 13
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
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Alma 17: 9, 11
9 And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the wilderness, and they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth, to the knowledge of the baseness of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct.
• • •
11 And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.
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Alma 26: 3, 15
3 Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.
• • •
15 Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have been instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work.

When I think of an instrument being played, I think of the fact that it takes practice. It may not sound the sweetest but the more we practice, the sweeter the music becomes. I guess we just to make sure the music we are making comes from God and not the opposite. My guess is that with Satan, it is easier to make his "music" but is not sweet, but junkie.

I don't know if this is coming out the way I am thinking in my mind. I will have to tweak it later.

One more thing- Alma has played music for both sides now. (I am thinking of when he was running around with the sons of Mosiah persecuting the church.) I am sure he loves playing the music for God much more.

Angel's Assignments

I am reading in Alma 8:14-18 when an angel appears to Alma with a message of hope and encouragement. The angel also tells him that he was the same angel that appeared to him and the brothers of Mosiah to tell him to stop persecuting the members of the church of God (see Mosiah 27:10-17).


Just thinking about these two assignments. Both assignments were very important, but I think the latter would have been the most fun. It would be way more fun to give someone a message of hope and encouragement than to have to chew them out. But, if the angel hadn't done the first one, the second one would not have been possible.


In further reading, Amulek mentions (Alma 8:20) that an angel appeared to him to tell him to take care of Alma. I wonder if that was the same angel or a different one.

You can't have the sweet without the bitter. There must be opposition in all things.

Jonah

I was thinking I knew everything about the story of Jonah and the whale, but this time when I read it, I found a little nugget that had not occurred to me before.

Jonah 1:15-17

15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows.
17 ¶ Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

God is able to make lemonade out of lemons. Here was a situation where God was helping Jonah to learn something, and He also took the opportunity to make Himself known to the others on the boat. I had not remembered reading the part about how the experience Jonah had had affected for good the lives of others.

I know that God is able to use our weaknesses for His eternal purposes. I think he does it in the case of Joseph and his brothers, too. That is just the first one that comes to mind, but I know there would be many more examples in the scriptures.

Solving problems

In my scripture reading this morning (Mosiah 26), I have been reading about Alma and his work in setting up and maintaining branches of the church in Zarahemla. There were some things that stood out to me as I read. Now that the churches have been established, there are beginning to be some problems that are troubling to Alma. He is not sure what to do. This got my attention because I am in a new position at school and am starting to encounter some situations in which I am not sure what to do.

This is the process Alma uses to solve problems:
1. He delegates it to someone who he thinks might have a better idea what to do. He consults with others.
2. The problem is given back to him, so he prays.
3. He is given inspiration from God and writes it down so he won't forget it.
4. He moves forward with the information he is given.


The most interesting part of this to me was that it mentions a couple times that Alma was troubled. Life is not easy and we all come across problems that we don't know how to handle. Here is an example of what someone who is sincerely and diligently trying to be a disciple of Christ does.