STAKE CONFERENCE

Today was Stake Conference and, as usual, we arrived 1 hour early to make sure we got a comfortable pew and not a folding chair. The talks were filled with the spirit and the music was beautiful. This is my first lengthy post, sorry, but I really felt the spirit today as each speaker was giving their talk. If ever I have the slightest doubt all I have to do is listen to a church hymn and my testimony ignites. I know this church is true. I know Joseph Smith was a true Prophet. I know that this is exactly where I'm supposed to be. I know that I will have my husband and children for time and all eternity. I know that I love and have faith in my Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ. I know that Jesus Christ suffered so that we may return to Heavenly Father. First President Hampton, 1st Counselor, spoke on the phrase of the Lord "Come Follow Me" and gave the examples of Lehi's dream and his desire to share his dream with his family. He also spoke of Saul the Prosecutor, after listening to Jesus became Paul the Apostle. Disiples today are to continue to pray and follow the Lord. Angels today are sent in the form of Visiting Teachers, Home Teachers, Class Leaders, Bishops....(makes me feel a little guilty that I'm not a better visiting teacher, sorry Misty). There was a young man, 17 years old, and he spoke on staying true as a youth. He spoke about how him and the other priesthood holders on his football team come together before a football game and pray! How cool it that! When he feels temptation he sings to himself "Called to Serve". The Smith couple spoke as well. She was inactive, but her son would go to church with her parents. After he was baptized, he asked her to please come back to church because that's the only way they would be able to go to the temple. She returned faithfully and prayed and fasted for her non-member husband to ultimately join the church, she never pressured. He spoke of how and when he began to build curiosity regarding the church. He admitted to not letting the missionaries in when they would knock at the door, then over time he did allow them in the door. He went through several sets of missionaries while taking the discussions. He was starting to build a testimony and through losing his father to cancer he found the answer he was looking for. While going through his fathers things he came across a picture of the Mormon Temple. At that moment he knew, that his father too had welcomed missionaries into his home. He returned and was baptized last October. He will be receiving the Melchizedek priesthood this month...AWESOME!! Sweet Sister Nevarez spoke and she was sooo nervous, but as usual, her sweet spirit shone through and she gave a beautiful talk on faith in the Lord during afflictions and burdens. President and Sister Sanchez, Mission President, spoke on sharing the Gospel. Don't worry about feeling that we are not "perfect" enough to share the gospel, we just need to share what we have witnessed. Witnessing investigators entering the waters of baptism, worthy 8 year old's getting baptized, witnessing Temple marriages, witnessing healings from a Priesthood blessing. And final speaker was President Rich, Stake President, I Love this man...he cries when he speaks of the Lord. I LOVE IT! My Ward family knows how I love when a man can express with words and actions (not one or the other, but both) his love and appreciation, if not for all things, at least for his wife, children, and the Lord. He referenced Alma 32: Developing and strengthening our faith; Alma 33: How we should plant the seed; then drilled down versus that I will post at the end. He gave counsel to have Family Home Evening, Family Prayer, Family Activities, Be More Caring, Be More Forgiving, Go To The Temple Often, for those struggling spiritually, he read verse 7 of How Firm A Foundation: He reminded us that He will not forsake or forget us.
7. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
Young Brother: Mosiah 5:15
Sister Smith: Alma 5:38
Brother Smith: 3 Nephi 11:32
Sister Nevarez: Mosiah 24: 14-15; D&C 43:45; D&C 84:88; Psalms 145:9; Helaman 5:12
President Rich: Alma 32; Alma 33: 11, 14, 16, 19-20, 22-23; The Acts 13-28; Romans 7, 12-13, 15-16; 1 Corinthians 7, 9-11, 13, 15-16; 2 Corinthians 10-12 (Paul); John 9:23
Others: Mosiah 18; D&C 123; Luke 10:38-42

TEMPLE SQUARE 1/2/09

Today we went to THIS IS THE PLACE, The Conference Center and Temple Square. We also saw the Joseph Smith movie. The kids and I had already seen it, but this was Trinidad's 1st time..... I cried even more then the first time. Tyler was deeply touched by the movie again and he just held Kennedy after the movie. That was when she actually shed tears. During the movie she just kept watching all three of us to see when and if we were crying. I love being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
THIS IS THE PLACE


CONFERENCE CENTER


TEMPLE SQUARE


When we were leaving the Joseph Smith Memorial Bldg, it started snowing. The "lights" were not on, bummer, but it was still beautiful.

LECTURE BY ELDER MARLIN K. JENSEN

Tonight me and Trinidad went to hear Elder Jensen speak on Church History at the Claremont School of Theology. I love listening to him. He spoke at the adult session of our Stake Conference last year and man was that the quickest 2 hours. We could have listened to him easily for another 2 hours. He would quote scriptures like nothing, and just one right after another.. and without notes! He not once looked at a piece of paper. Elder Jensen has such a great personality and is such a humble man. Ok, back to the purpose of my post, he spoke on the why and how of our church history.

It was interesting for me because I learned interesting facts about all the church historians from Oliver Cowdery (pictured above) to Marlin Jensen. Elder Jensen said when he was called to be the church historian (after 14 years of not having one), one of the questions he asked President Hinckley was what are your expectations of me, and President Hinckley responded, you read your scriptures and do your duty. Words to live by.... Also, another fun fact:

(Church History)
Purpose Statement
A central purpose of history in the Church of Jesus Christ is to help
God's children make and keep sacred covenants by:

• Assuring remembrance of the great things of God
• Helping to preserve the revealed order of the kingdom of God
• Witnessing to and defending the truth of the restoration in this dispensation

The first volume of Joseph Smith Papers is now available. I am very excited to get this volume.

http://josephsmithpapers.org/OrderVolumes.htm

love you all!

P.S... Tyler's doing fine

REDEDICATION OF THE MEXICO CITY TEMPLE

Today Kennedy and I had the opportunity to attend the rededication of the Mexico City Temple broadcast. We were the only ones from our ward and most of the people there were spanish speaking, but it was still an amazing experience. The testimonies were strong, even though the only words I understood were Jesus Christ, Thomas S. Monson and Amen. President Monson's daughter spoke as well as President Eyring and President Monson. President Eyring's spirit is so overwhelming. President Monson is a very funny man. I just love listening to him. He makes me laugh, then he fills my heart with the spirit. Kennedy was cute because when they said what song the choir would be singing and she knew it would be in Spanish, she grabbed the Hymn book and said "quick help me find it, hurry". We found the hymn (How Great Thou Art) and read along, of course I cried. It was a wonderful experience and I told Trinidad that as a family we will attend every temple dedication broadcast if and when they become available. I absolutely love being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is fun and exciting and keeps me moving in the right direction. I have the desire to read and learn the scriptures, and as many of you know... I very strongly dislike reading. I am having so much fun since bringing the gospel in the home and watching Tyler and Kennedy's testimonies grow. Until next time......