Monday, May 18, 2009

Making the conference talks our own

I'd like to try something different, using this blog site. Once a week, we'll post an intro and link to one of the most recent conference talks. Please read the talk, and then come back here and comment--just anything that stood out to you, or maybe a response to other comments. My hope it that this can become an engaging exchange of thoughts, encouraging us to revisit the conference messages.

Keep it as simple as you need, commenting only as much as you want and can. The first talk is "Be of Good Cheer", by President Monson. Click on the link to get to the full talk, press the Back button to get back here.

Oh yes, let's take turns choosing the next talk--let us know in the comments or in email your suggestion for the next talk.

Love,

Dad/Mark

"It would be easy to become discouraged and cynical about the future—or even fearful of what might come—if we allowed ourselves to dwell only on that which is wrong in the world and in our lives. Today, however, I’d like us to turn our thoughts and our attitudes away from the troubles around us and to focus instead on our blessings as members of the Church. The Apostle Paul declared, 'God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.'"

Read the rest of the talk.

2 comments:

MarkS said...

As I read the story of the Condies, it brought to mind our Henderson ancestors, Robert and Mary, who came with their children to America in 1863. Their one year old, Robert, also died at sea. His older brother, Thomas, died in a farming accident at the age of 4 in 1865.

And the father Robert had to make the shift from coal miner to farmer. Somehow they hung on, raised six kids, and were among the first set of temple workers called to work in the Logan Temple.

Like this quote Shelly did on Facebook a few days ago: "In three words I can sum up everything I know about life: it goes on."-- Robert Frost

Peggy said...

I loved the three experiences Pres. Monson shared, but not one was solved necessarily by a mortal miracle, rather by enduring to this mortal end. I was felt enlightened particularly by the last sister out of Prussia. Her testimony there in Karlsruhe, even as an emaciated being, was so powerful, that she was one of the happiest in her saddened land because she knew that God lived, that Jesus is the Christ,...that she knew if she continued faithful and true to the end, she would be reunited with those she had lost and would be saved in the celestial kingdom of God.

I loved the scripture Pres. Monson quoted immediately following and desire to move forward cheerfully to find love and comfort in our Heavenly Father and the Savior, to know they will sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. And as we do this "there will be nothing that will defeat us."