Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Super Short General Conference Summaries

I published these General Conference summaries on my family blog, but then thought it might be something you'd all be interested in here too!  I challenged myself to not only take notes on all the talks, but to make a title or headline for each one too.  My titles are in all-caps and I was pleasantly surprised to see that a couple of my titles match up exactly with the actual title and another couple are close!          


Saturday Morning:

Dieter F. Uchtdorf: It Works Wonderfully!
SIMPLICITY IN CHRIST
Exaltation is our goal, discipleship is our journey!  
Don't make your discipleship too complicated.  
Start where you are and move forward.  

M. Russell Ballard: God Is at the Helm
STAY ON OLD SHIP ZION
Old Ship Zion's destination is exaltation!
Jesus Christ is at the helm of the Old Ship Zion.
We need to stay on the ship to stay safe in the waves of the world.

CENTER OUR LIVES ON CHRIST
Like a potter needs to keep the clay exactly centered on the potter's wheel, 
we need to keep our lives centered on Christ.  

Neill Marriott:  Yielding Our Hearts to God
IT WILL ALL WORK OUT
  When we keep an eternal perspective and trust in God, 
it will all work out.  
It doesn't mean that it will be easy or the way we want it, 
but God is in the details and it will work out.  

Larry Lawrence:  What Lack I Yet?
LISTEN TO THE HOLY GHOST
He will give us personal guidance, meant just for us.  
Be persistent in seeking guidance and always seek for spiritual improvement. 
Our direction is more important than our speed.  

Francisco Vinas: The Pleasing Word of God
PEACE BE UNTO THY SOUL
The word of God fills us with hope.  
Do not delay the day of our repentance.  
Repentance is a process that requires consistency, but will ultimately bring us peace. 

"SHIP SHAPE AND BRISTOL FASHION"
BE RIGHTEOUS, FOLOW RULES, AND BE PREPARED
Self control is like a muscle--the more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes. 
Happiness in this life and the life to come is connected by the thread of righteousness. 
Life will hit hard times (like in the Bristol Channel) and we may feel washed up and knocked on our sides, but when we are spiritually prepared we will be buoyed up.  

Saturday afternoon:   

Three new apostles called: 
Ronald Rasband
Gary Stevenson
Dale Renlund


YOU ARE THE  PILOT OF YOUR LIFE:  NEVER INTENTIONALLY FLY INTO A STORM
If you want the Lord's counsel, be prepared to take it.  
You don't marry for perfection; you marry potential. 
You are rich when you can happily live within your means.   

Jeffrey R. Holland: Behold Thy Mother
MATERNAL LOVE IS DIVINE
"No love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has  for her child."
Bear, borne, carry, deliver...these similar words are used to describe what the Savior  does for us as well as a mother.   

HELP CHILDREN UNDERSTAND
We must engage in intentional parenting.  
Children are the largest group of investigators in the church and they should be taught well. 
There's a difference between just hearing the gospel and truly understanding the gospel.  

LET'S HELP EACH OTHER
Go the second mile, Smile.
Express feelings of compassion to others. 
Meditate on the atonement of Jesus Christ. 

Vern Stanfill:  Choose the Light
GO TOWARD THE LIGHT (OF THE GOSPEL)
Don't be embarrassed to ask for help or look to other's light when you are in darkness.
Trust in the Lord.   
Do not look to those who have no light to give. 

ANSWERS WILL COME
keep seeking for answers; they will come. 

CHRIST WILL SUCCOR US
He knows our struggles, heartaches, and temptations and will succor us. 
"I can do all things in Christ that strengtheneth me"
Savior can help us overcome any kind of mortal pain--those which come through no fault of our own and those caused by our own choices.  
God is mindful of ALL people.  


Sunday Morning:  

Thomas S. Monson (a living prophet on the earth today): Be an Example and a Light
BE AN EXAMPLE OF THE BELIEVERS
Watch the words we use and extend charity to others.
Exercise our faith by reading and pondering the scriptures. 
Gratitude, forgiveness, and goodwill will help our lights to shine. 

Ronald A. Rasband:  I Stand All Amazed
I STAND ALL AMAZED (I got one exactly right!) 
God's love is real and is for all of us--no matter where you are in your life.  
Reach out in love to others.  

Gary Stevenson:  Plain and Precious Truths
ANCHOR IN CHRIST
Anchor our faith in Jesus Christ. 
Focus on what you CAN do, rather than what you can't do.  

Dale G. Renlund:  Through God’s Eyes
LOOK AT OTHERS THROUGH HEAVEN'S EYES
 You are called not for what you've done, but for what the Lord needs you to accomplish. 
Remember that everyone is a beloved son or daughter of Jesus Christ. 

Russell M. Nelson:  A Plea to My Sisters
GREAT IS THE STRENGTH OF COVENANT KEEPING WOMEN
The virtue, light, love, character, faith, and virtue of righteous women of today are a fulfillment of prophecy and making a huge difference in the world.  
Women are full partners with men in families, communities, and in church councils.  

Gregory A. Schwitzer:  Let the Clarion Trumpet Sound
DON'T BE AFRAID TO TESTIFY OF CHRIST
True disciples represent the Lord even when it is not convenient. 
Have courage and be bold when testifying of truth. 
Voices try to drown out the simple message of the Gospel that God loves us.

Claudio R.M. Costa:  That They Do Always Remember Him
TEACH OUR CHILDREN OF CHRIST
Tell the stories of Christ's life to our children.   
"I have no greater joy to hear that my children walk in truth."
Teach them the truth.   

THE HOLY GHOST TESTIFIES OF TRUTH:  
WE SHOULD SEEK ITS CONSTANT COMPANIONSHIP
The more we obey the spirit, the more impressions we will receive, and the more we will be blessed. 
Through the Holy Ghost we can see people as Heavenly Father sees them. 
Truths are verified by the Holy Ghost. 

Sunday Afternoon:   

D. Todd Christofferson:  Why the Church
THE CHURCH IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF CHRIST'S WORK ON EARTH
The church is a necessary part of Christ's work on earth, and without it great things could not be accomplished.  
More important than knowing doctrine is learning how to apply it.   

"PONDERIZE" THE SCRIPTURES
Ponderize = 80% pondering + 20% memorizing
Like saving a little money each week for a rainy day, ponderizing the scriptures weekly helps us to elevate our thoughts and bring us closer to Christ. 
Discipline yourself, exercise your faith, and do it! 

SEEK TO DO GOD'S WILL
Like a barrier in the bay to protect surfers from sharks, the commandments are safety and protection to us from spiritual dangers.   
God wants us to have joy, peace, success, and safety, which is why we have commandments.  

IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS (I got another one exactly right!)
Commandments = Love
We show love by keeping commandments. 
He gives us commandments, because he loves us. 

THROUGH CHRIST WE CAN BE CLEAN
Through Christ we can be forgiven of our sins and be made clean again.  
Savior's atonement leaves no traces or tracks...it just heals.  
God will never reject us.  

SEEK FOR EYES TO SEE AND EARS TO HEAR THE WILL OF THE LORD
Stand for truth with courage and seek for eyes to see and ears to hear the will of the Lord. 
Strive to live plain and simple truths of the gospel.   
We still live in a time of miracles.  

Koichi Aoyagi:  Hold on Thy Way
KEEP FAITH IN ADVERSITY
Purpose of life is not to merely to overcome trials, but to learn to rely on the Lord and to increase your faith.  
All things are for your experience and good.  

OLD MEN ROCK!
There is great wisdom in having older, experienced men lead the church of God. 
Their physical limitations are actually an asset to them, in that it helps them to focus their efforts on what is most important.   
They are not spared affliction, but are blessed and strengthened (and increase in understanding) as they face the afflictions with faith.  

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