Svithetacular! 178.5

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General Conference

SUNDAY MORNING

President Monsons conducts.

While the choir sings, we enjoy looking for Lady Steed's old boss, Joseph. He's in there somewhere! We don't see him every conference, though.

The Church's new media streamer seems to be a success! In the past, we've always had to ditch video and stick to pure audio, but this time it look's like we'll get a lookeeloo. Very exciting (And means I should be able to catch everyone's name.)

President Monson

(the audio and video keep getting off then realigning --- it may not be perfect, but it's an impressive leap forward)

1700-voice choir! Wow!

"he honored that prayer" meaning God said yes; how do you feel about that?

(uh-oh....are we going to lose video?)

(uh-oh.....)

(we just switched to pure audio. sigh)

He welcomes us. I'm thinking we lost 30 seconds.

(Why can't we have Korean-style broadband!!!!!))

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Elder Perry! (I didn't hear him announced....)

Don't let the bad moments get the better of us!

Call for optimism!

Robert Browning: "The best is yet to be."

(for a second I thought he said he was going to quote Robbie Burns and all I could think was oh boy)

they went to Walden Pond (the Walden Pond?) to recenter

(Yep, that one.)

(Stupid Thoreau.....)

(I'm going to try not to reveal my opinion of Thoreau during this talk on thinking happy thoughts.)

Lady Steed: "Must be nice not to have any dependents. Only be responsible for yourself."

FOOD
---spirit and body is soul of man
---Word of Wisdom (which used to be WoW before this crazy World of Warcraft thing)
---blessings that accompany that Word
---"'The Lard has commanded you to take good care of your body'" (love the accent)
---no inhalents, kids

CLOTHING
---simple, modest
---affects our behavior and the opinions of others
---inviting the Spirit of the Lard....or not???
---joke: trying to make three dresses out of material enough for one
---men's clothing getting sloppy too
---casual dress leads to casual manners
---using clothes to attract the wrong kind of attention? shame on you!
---great and spacious building

SHELTER
---or, HOMES
---no debt! (idjits....)
---live within our income, save for rain, stay from debt, economy & frugality
---don't pay interest, earn it

FUEL
---skip aside the oil question to....
---Spiritual Fuel!
---emulate the five virgins
---"'in righteousness there's great simplicity'"

(we lost audio!!!)
(scramble!!!)
(success.)

may we be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost
may we prepare ourselves to accomplish the ultimate test of mortality (return to our Heavenly Father)

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Sister Allred (I thought I would have video to support this bit of memory--provide a first name, for instance. Alas.)

Okay. Allred is obviously her married name.

(LS says she sounds like Ricky Ricardo.)

(lost sound again....)

She's running to a book. I don't know which one. Shall we guess the Book of Mormon? David Copperfield?

they get baptized; her mom gets interested too; family all dunked

missionary work became her passion (possible fashion?)

(lost sound)
(taking a long time to come back this time)
(waiting....)

do missionaries realize the far-reaching impact of their work?

how can we assist in missionary work?
1. have clear understanding that God loves all his work
2. (blame the Big O, but I don't know)

(lost sound)

(LS just found an old credit card of mine from before we were married that I never took the sticker off of; expired 2001)

Amen.

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Elder Anderson

we have days feeling inadequate ill prepared

part of the victory of Disciples of Christ is what we do when these feelings come

progressing through mortality

not knowing everything can still be knowing enough

know God loves you

choose faith

(sorry for the paucity of notes---IU'm on baby duty too)

Jesus will make everything all right

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Elder Aidukaitis

"he converted himself"

a Lithuanian-Scottish-Brazilian (!)

(just learned 'The Mormons' will be on PBS again Monday)

read and act on the promise of the book of mormon

(don't know more --- been battling baby)


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Elder DH Oaks

something he says is the foundation of our testimony (I'm off like a hero today....)

Ah! The sacrament!

which makes sacrament meeting the most sacred one of the church
(only one familes attend together)
(unless you've had to remove a screaming S, that is)

(lost sound)

(uhoh...literal bowels....))

our manner of dress up for mention again

lightmindedness? straight out

the sacredness of the sacrament, performance thereof

white shirts
---signifier of temple clothing

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Elder Uchdorf started talking while I was in the bathroom

hope!

with faith a charity, you can make a stool

scriptures written that we might have hope (Paul)

hope that, through Atonement, et cetera, through our faith in the Savior

overcoming the tempation to lose hope

even Moronee still believed in hope!

not good: doubt, despair, failure to care for our fellows

despair kills ambition, deadens heart, pollutes soul . . . .

hope like a beam of sunlight

(it's *****in' cold in our room)

a firm hope! a lively hope! a hope glorifying God through good works!

things we hope for, things we hope in
look beyond the horizon of mortality

hope leads to good works
we learn to cultivate hope the same way we learn to walk: one step at a time

commit to keep the commandments of God

"'we find within us an invincible summer'"

without faith there is no hope
faith comes of hope
for faith is the substance of things hoped for
faith critical for both hope and charity
and when faith is eroded, hope is there to uphold us
faith/hope braces our resolve even without expectation of reward
the stronger the one the stronger the other
things we hope for lead us to faith
the things we hope in lead us to charity

never give in , never surrender (isn't that from Galaxy Quest?)

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(it's hard to be reverent when the pray-er won't stop smacking)

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SUNDAY AFTERNOON

ooo! a Primary choir!

Elder Eyring conducts

the audio's not playing along, so we're trying video again

they just released our old stake president from the seceond Seventy

that was a short set this time!

fifteen minutes in and video crashes again --- Mormon time, everybody

Elder Wirthlin

We're arriving late due to technical difficulties. (back to audio-only)

we all have suffered

no one is shielded from grief and sadness

how we deal with things is of greater effect

stupid cupboard doors.........

"getting lost was not an unusual occurance for us"

we ended up in Anaheim once....

blind-dating the babysitter

increased compassion

autism saves baseball

if we do our part, He will step in

he will comfort, uphold, strengthen

we can

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Elder Holland

No one's more beloved than Elder Wirthlin, for living the sermon he preaches.

On Adam & Eve: as they arrived into morality, they expected troubles
but worse than that, being distanced from God

in times of special need were sent angels to reassure them of the closeness of heaven

seen or unseen, they are always near

(this will replace the decade-old Elder oaks talk on angels for referencing when this subject comes up)
(or, more accurately, supplement it)

we all spend time in dark and dreary places

"global distress"

angels came to Christ when tested by angels in the wilderness --- even he was in such a need

Has the day of miracles ceased? Or have angels ceased to minister unto men? Et cetera? Nay. For it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto us.

tales of angels dispatched

not all angels are from the other side of the veil
some of them walk with us, reside near us, gave birth to us, married us

heaven never seems closer than when manifested in people so good and so pure that no other word than 'angelic' seems quite right

crazy kid on horse

(hey! the Big O is paying attention! he predicted the figure would be an angel before it was mentioned in the story!)

(that was a weeper)

testifying of angels heavenly and mortal

God never leaves us unaided, nor shall he

let us try to also be a little more angelic ourselves

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Elder Caussé

the importance lattdaysaints attach to the search for knowledge
which is a principle of salvation

(excuse me while I come and go, warming up beans)

the principle of knowledge often misinterpreted

trying to find God sometimes done in unnecessarily complicated ways

Jesus never went for overly complex language (although claiming simplicity in every expression would be, ah, oversimplifying, no?)

The Little Prince

the eyes are blind; you have to seek with your heart

he's speaking foremost to to converts (although implicitly, not with a bald announcement preceding)

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Elder Corbridge

the bread of life

I am the light of the world
he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness
but have the light of life

he that believeth in me shall live, never die

I am the way the truth and the life
no man cometh unto the Father but by me

he is the way, every other way, any other way, is madness

the well of living water: either we drink and never thirst more, or we don't and foolishly remain thirsty still.

AofF-1

plan of father implemented by son that we may have holy ghost

no other gods before me

only god can bless us
only he can sustain us
only he can beat our hearts and give us breath

everygoodthing depends on our getting and maintaining the gift of the Holy Ghost

the higher the standard the fewer can reach it?
not in the gospel
this is not a human endeavor

consider what is God's glory

LIFE is hard, not the gospel
but life is also simple: two choices: follow the Lord and be endowed with his power (or not, being the other choice)
and which way is easier?

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Elder Christofferson

looking forward to our day
bringing about the latter-day glory

ZION

BAB[E]L[ON]

Zion iz Zion because of the citizens

if we would establish Zion at home, we need to rise to that standard

we will become of one heart and one mind as we get inline with the Savior

our individual efforts to be the pure in heart

the celestial law, the gospel law

covenants of love and consecration and fidelity

lustful media and their attendent eviiiiils (he's obviously been reading this blog)

to become not merely good, but holy men and women

to give up the summer cottage in Babylon (Maxwell)

we control our means and resources, but account to God for the stewardship

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Elder David A Bednar

meaningful evening and morning prayers and connected to each other****************************

we know better, but do we always act according to what we know? (no)

prayer becomes meaningful as we remember our relationship to deity and remember we should be crying unto the Lord always in all things

expressing gratitude --- even in time of tragedy and thus desiring gifts for others

the power of thankfulness in meaningful prayer

recommendation: periodically give prayers in which we only thank (ask for nothing) try only to communicate or gratitude with all our hearts

praying with others, for others good too
both those we love and those who despitefully use us

the vision came in a response to a prayer for others

Jesus offers a good example of praying for others with real intent in the Intercessory Prayer

imagine what it would be like to hear the Savior of the world pray for us

do those we love and serve hear us pray for them?
if not, the time to repent is now
emulate the example of the savior
this will make our prayers become more meaningful

prayer becomes more meaningful as we counsel with the Lord in all our doings

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PRIESTHOOD

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SUNDAY MORNING

well, the audio's not working so we're starting out with the video; but in 15 minutes it will undoubtedly lock up, and by then the audio-only feed had better be working or we're screwed.......

President Eyring

promised blessings to the Saints

Joy!
yearning for joy
Joy!
desires to grant us the sacred wish for unity
Joy!
cannot be granted to us as individuals
Joy!
is not solitary / must be seeked for with others

how better an FHE when a child bears witness of the savior
feeling our hearts being knit together

when discussion turn from a discussion of what is true to who is right, ceasing to speak about the issues but about themselves (the debates?)

[we keep switching from a to a/v, trying to get one to work consistently]

[and some people say the pioneers had it hard! hmmph!]

unity starts from recognizing the truth we share --- which is always more important than our differences
(or at least should be, right?)

The children of God have more in common than they have differences.
The Lord can help us see and value what another person brngs that we lack.
Sometimes that difference is just the help we need.

Speak well of each other

(it's unfortunate that 'forge' has those two meanings --- because it was an excellent word choice, but I misinterpreted his meaning at first --- which made it an awful word choice --- crazy words.....)

The bishop's not perfect?!?!?!?!

because their hearts were knit, they were magnified in their power

sustaing with all our hearts, together move in power wherever God would have us go, be what He would have us be

the Lord's promise that we may have the righteous desires of our hearts re: unity

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Elder Robert Hales

remember that Jesus himself was despised and rejected of the world
and those who came to him too

the incomparable Christian response: Father forgive them for they know not what they do

when we resist feeling of anger, we stand with the Savior

resisting such is not weakness, but Christian courage

seasons of negative publicity tend to lead to our success

"a reasuring word to one who has made a negative [blog] comment" (much better than lashing back in anger --- man those Mormons make me angry --- not that I then lash back at them.....I hope.....)

bible-bashing drives the Spirit away

as true disciples, our true concern should be other's welfare

oo! cactus! (porcupines don't shoot.....)

just walk away

a mu lih kee yu ?

I am doing a great work and cannot come down.

(i'm babyholding)

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Bishop McMullin who was just at our stake conference

the supernal capacity to bear children in our image

the Chinese official's Fast Offering

a form of prayer only available under the hands of those authorized

(bye baby)(nap time)

faithful elders are commissioned to do what the Lord would do

and janice is not seventy with eleven grandchildren (miracle!)

(he looks so pained, and has from the beginning; as if it is all he can do to keep from bursting out in tears)

Christ did all he was ordained to do

he is the God of Israel, he is the living Christ (anointed)

whosoever livetha and believeth in my shall never die

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Sister Dalton

I took that "we do hard things" motto from Celia, and I've been using it at home and at school with great frequency
I'm all about doing hard things now.

flag of virtue

have the moral courage to stand alone

Amalakiah's getting of Lehonti is brought up again! This is obviously a good metaphor for the moment.

(I should incorporate some of these quotes into my next eros post --- I wonder if they'll be online by then....)

change the world! through virtue!

focus on the flesh instead of faith, consumers of vice rather than guardians of virtue
(I wonder if 'vice' and 'virute' would be paired so frequently were it not for alliteration)

"'the will to win means nothing without the will to prepare'"

Awake! and arise! and lay hand on every good thing!

arise and unfurl a banner to the world, inviting the ole world to return to virtue

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Elder MR Ballard

time keeps on slippin slippin slippin into the future

church growth

missionary work in South America was announced and began in 1925
there, the Church is an oak, not a sunflower (prophecy fulfilled)

none of this missionary work was easy

1000000th missionary

no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing

the little church with a handful of members has grown grown grown

every continent, clime, country, ear (coming)

what we are asked seems rather little and paltry, doesn't it? maybe that's what makes it hard

carry on! the rich tradition! of devoted committed LDSaints!

until "The Work Is Done"

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President Tommy Monson

CHANGE (tis the season!)

most changes take place subtly and slowly

the difference between our lives is only in the details

learning to distinguish between what is most important and what is not

don't wait for when you have time to do what you want to do; do it now

He admits to being a showaholic! I knew it!
(I wonder if he saw WALL*E?)

there is no tomorrow if we don't do something today

ah, the circus story
but Dad took them notwithstanding
a good lesson, isn't it?
I could certainly use hearing it again.

what's most important is the people around us --- let them know we love them (as Elder Scott said last night)

never let a problem-to-be-solved become more important than a person-to-be-loved

left with what-ifs and if-onlys

with only TWENTY-FIVE words for thy family EVER, what would you say?
---These things are important temple marriage mission college press on set goals write history take pictures twice a year [and 6 words left over! efficient!]

as i have loved you, love one another

(why are women more likely to remember Our Town than men?)
(that would be a good one to teach.....)
(maybe with spoon river.....)

enjoy life while you live it, every every minute

what is most important in life goes handinhand with gratitude for our blessings

both abundance and lack-of-abundance are always there in our lives as parallel realities: which will be choose to recognize?

heaven on earth

behold he rejoices not in that which is given nor in who gives it (tch tch)

tremendous desire to participate in every life experience despite her handicap

[I should be doing more things while I can still function as a moderately young person]

light reflected in the bubbles of the dishwater

Jesus, Master, have mercy on us

as they went they were cleansed

and one turned back and with a loud voice glorified God, giving him thanks

and he was a Samaritan

were there not ten? where are the nine? none are returned save this stranger.

against none is His wrath kindled save against those who confess not his hand in all things (ie, everyone)

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Answer and I will come in.

Who was this Man of Sorrows? Who was this King of Glory? this Lord of Hosts?
our master our savior our god

Go and do thou likewise

Keep My Commandments

the divine gift of gratitude

joy in the journey

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[save for a couple spittles, thie video worked well this time; we were behind a couple minutes when we went back to it and are even further behind now, but still---close enough]

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SUNDAY AFTERNOON

[computer crashed; trying to load back up; lost 15m so far]

President Packer (but no sound)

[ah!]

Joseph Smith to court 200 times without conviction

between tech problems and food and kids I really have no idea what's going on --- something about being citizens?

I don't have any sense of the chronology here, but now he's on the Utah War

[is he wearing an earpiece and mike?]

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Elder RM Nelson

Patterns of the Shopper
---wise shoppers study carefully and want the very best
---some shoppers look for bargains
---some splurge and get crap
---some steal

now apply to marriage --- good marraige? bad? marital shoplifters?

'conjugal living'

to declare as an apostle of the Lord that w-m marriage is sacred and ordained of God, with temple marriage at the top

salvation is an individual matter; exaltation is a family matter

did he say "party in the holy temple"? if so, I wish O had let me catch the context as well.....

all Church stuff is a means to the end of exalted families

The Family is Central to the Creator's Plan

celestial marriage brings greater possibilities for happiness than any other possible relationship

they twain shall be one flesh

marriage not just a principle but a COMMANDMENT

Moses 1:39

eternal marriage not just husband and wife, but a partnership with God

children are an heritage of the Lord

[screaming baby]

[I like his tie]

some marital options are cheap, some are costly, some are cunningly crafted by the adversary

Good news! cheap choices are upgradeable!

[I can't decide if upgradable needs an e which reminds me to apologize for not typing this in something that alerts me to mistypes]

married to the right person in the right place by the right authority and to obey those commandments

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Elder WD Oswald

What is this jump-the-rope thing you speak of? [Hey! That doesn't look like Elder Oz and his wife!!!]

jump
to the rhythm
of
the swinging rope

Look at her go!

as she
jumped
to the rhythm
of
the swinging rope

teaching is at the center of all we do

on teaching teachers

carefully watch able teachers, review worldwide training meeting on teachering

TEACHING: NO GREATER CALL (good book)

annointed with the Holy Ghost and power

[video's been working hitchless, now that it's going]

from the BofM:
Nephi, Alma, sons of Mosiah.....
good teachers all
teaching with power and authority of GOd
Moroni
sent as messenger direct from God
to JS, otherwise untutored and untaught

teach from the scriptures

the act of pondering on the scriptures invites good stuff into our lives

know your students by name, use the scriptures, invite to ponder

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[Ah. Elder Uchdorf is conducting.]

[during the congregational hymn I'm checking out this video player and---hey!---you can already watch old sessions! that's pretty fancy]

Elder Gavarret

it gets cold in the Uruguayan winter

[he sounds just like my friend Armando, who is actually from Mexico City, so I find it kind of surprising how identical their accents are]

meanwhile, back in Peru.....

the battle for reactivation

1700 back

therefore give unto us, oh lord, um, shoot. something.

Brother Vargas's journey back home

unto the least of these my brethren? done unto me.

man's return after many years away, returns after a mere invitation to the small flame still inside his heart

in the service of your fellow beings? in the service of your God.

seek after those who are not here with us today

even one soul....even one........

help return them to Christ

the love of our Father and Savior

gave love gave Son that we might come back home

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Elder Carlos A Godoy

[this guy reminds me so many people, all at once]

the search for a remarkable story
not a necessary part of a testimony

the voice of the Spirit is neither loud nor harsh, but a perfect voice of perfect mildness that can pierce the soul and cause the heart to burn --- remember Elijah!
---(bkpacker)

if we are preoccupied, we may not feel Him at all

Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth.

a desire to believe
a desire to believe
a desire to believe
a desire to believe
a desire to believe
a desire to believe
a desire to believe
a desire to believe
a desire to believe
a desire to believe

a set of experiences and feelings, mostly small, that leave no doubt that the seed is a good seed

it begins to be delicious to me

even when we lose the details, the results of our experiences make us who we are, with the testimonies we have

the power of the priesthood, restored and blessing

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Elder Cook of the 12

driving in the snow (!)
ill-prepared for a June snowstorm
in Donnor
hoo boy

Hope ya know we had a hard time.
(as are our prayers, si?)

we will prove them herewith to see if they will do all things whatsoever they are commanded
sometimes the things the best for us seem the most bitter

best of times, worst of times

evacuating Nauvoo

"'he was my last child, and he lived only four hours'"

"'we are not going to suffer any more than is for our good'"

challenges, difficulties, problems, losses

heartache

whatever the source of the trial, they cause pain and suffering for those whose they are

the rain falls on the just and the unjust
but not all clouds result in rain

the reassuring doctrine of the Atonement
the Savior takes our sufferings upon us

we will have years lean and plentiful

if we are prepared, we shall not fear

one form of preparation is keeping the commandments
if not, we shall be cut of from His presence

clearly, having the Spirit is a necessary preparartion

the SIN of INgratitude (pretty dang bad)

even when 'havin a hard time'

Man. Every day could be my last.

remember that Christ knows me/you/us personally

Gethsemene

God and his Anointed are there in our hard times

"'find someone who is having a hard time and do something for them'"

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President Monson (encore)

Nice conference, everybody!

may we long remember what we have seen

God will bless us and be with us as we strive

may we be good citizens

[benediction would be the proper term for this?]

those who are hungry and destitute

help us serve
we are nearly always among the first on the scene

[O: Is this Sunday? Oh. I thought this was just a practice talk. Do they have practice talks?]

"God bless you, my brothers and sisters."

Dr Faustus chose to ignore God and follow Satan (ed: in a rather literal way); led to lamintation

eternal anguish from eternal separation may be worst, but eternal togetherness with eternal joy is pretty great

Farewell, till we meet again, in six months.

Lord's blessing evoked upon us each

'Behold, I stand at the door and knock.' Let's listen for his voice. And let us open the door. And let in our Savior.

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[the end]

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On Thmusings:

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General Conference Svithetaculars on Thmusings
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