Spiritual and physical feast...

We had a wonderful conference weekend together as a family!

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Our home teachers brought over these amazing cinnamon rolls right before the Sunday session. I had been thinking of them on Friday... should take something over to let them know we are thinking of them, but never got any farther than that.

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AND

I was up Sunday morning early, but hadn't quite pulled together anything cool for breakfast for the family... just read on my SIL's blog and saw her pretty waffles, thinking what a good idea. But never actually being a good enough Mom to do something for my family! So these rolls totally saved my image... (so I'd like to believe)! I was just full of good intentions... but no action to go with them; the story of my life!

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I loved all the messages we heard at conference.

I tried to do some quiet projects and listen (with my notebook beside me of course)... but I was so distracted from my projects by the awesome talks, I finally got up from the table, cozied into my favorite chair and just listened and took notes.

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I have never been so captivated by General Conference before... I must have been very hungry and needed to be spiritually fed this weekend.

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I had a dream Friday night that as we watched the conference broadcast we saw our Bishop called and sustained as a General Authority. I was so shocked that they could take him from us, I was panicking and crying in my dream, and then he and my husband and his brother went out and were playing and goofing off together and I was all stressed out that he wasn't our Bishop anymore!! And they were all taking it so lightly... I woke up pretty annoyed at my husband for being so caviler about such a reverent time; and then had to shake it off and remember it was just a dream... whew (about losing our Bishop... I know it will come some day... I am just not quite ready yet)!

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Here are some of my thoughts from Conference....

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New Apostle - Elder Neil Lindon Anderson (this is cool to see a new apostle sustained)13,508,509 members in the church; 52,494 full time missionaries; 128 Temples

Provident Living. We should live HAPPILY within our means. The essence of provident living is paying down your mortgage and saving for your children's education, paying a full tithe and fast offering. Avoid addictive behavior - it does not satisfy. It can only be overcome by turning to the Lord. He stands waiting to help us overcome.

Refer to leadership in the church appropriately with reverence... Brother (__ ); or Elder (___) not by their first names. We exemplify respect and reverence by attending and participating in our meetings (don't text, read, etc. - join in!) Take any concerns of reverence to ward council so they can be addressed there.

Receiving personal inspiration, witness and teaching can only be done by the Holy Ghost.

Strength through covenants - As we walk in obedience to the principles and laws of the gospel, we receive the blessings according to the Lord keeping His end of the covenant. As we keep the commandments He will nourish and strengthen us!

Examine your life and be sure you are doing all you can to be worthy of Gods help. Blessed are they that are lowly in heart. It is important to smile through our pain and trials.

Learn from your Elders.

Faith is developed by obedience to the gospel.

Faith is power.

The Plan of Salvation is for ALL, not just a few.

Families can be forever through Temple Covenants.

During extreme loss - these are the times to show faith to the Lord!

Set specific goals to attend the Temple. Especially when you live in the shadow of the Temple. Don't allow anything to get in your way. There is no other activity a couple can do to receive greater joy together than attending the Temple.

Understand the significance of the atonement in the Temple ordinances. Always express gratitude for the Temple blessings. Don't be hurried and rushed to get to the Temple. Listen carefully with an open mind. Be mindful of those who are receiving the ordinances and pray for them. Sealing is by the Holy Spirit of Promise.

We should never complain when we are living worthily and are given trials of death. The blessings of the ordinances of the Temple are GREAT!

Our prayers should follow correct patterns and teachings of the Savior. Amen, means truly or verily. Avoid vein repetition. Pray for Gods help while striving to resist evil and live worthily. Blessings from God are seen and unseen.

The power of the atonement has the ability to make us whole when we repent.

It is usually through other people that He meets our needs, so it is imperative that we give service to others.

We will never be left alone or unaided.

Focus on our blessings as members of this church. Be of good cheer and do not fear.

Keep Christ in the center of our lives.

Hold tight to our testimonies.

Forget yourself and get to work.

Satin makes us feel common; Jesus makes us feel unique.

Service to our God is what makes us truly happy!

Eternal Principle - It is better to give, than to receive.

Our Temple covenants give us protection = protective power.

Brigham Young - "Fire of the Temple Covenant"

Remain worthy to enter the House of the Lord to receive the blessings of eternal consequence.

Take a look at your home with spiritual eyes...

Is it...

Peaceful, clean, orderly, uplifting like the Temple?

Is the bedroom a place for quiet prayer?

Are there scriptures in a place to teach the family?

Is there a personal gospel study space?

What kind of music is playing?

What conversations take place in our homes?

Is the kitchen a place to feed and gather the family in love?

Establish a house of faith, prayer, of study and nurture and learning, a house of order.

God will never take our agency from us.

Choices have consequences attached. The Holy Ghost is like our personal GPS system in place to help us make correct decisions; to protect, teach and guide us.

We can lose the signal of our GPS if we make decisions that lead us away from places it is strongest in reception.

Follow the patterns and council from the prophets; this direction will never lead us astray.

Be spiritual shepherds. Be the light of the gospel to those who are searching for answers. The field is white and ready for harvest. Open our mouths and declare our belief in Jesus Christ, tell of Joseph's first vision, and testify of the Book of Mormon.

Be careful how we use the Internet.

Our testimonies will comfort and sustain us.

Strive to live closer to the Lord.

Go to the Temple often.

Remember President Monson and the General Authorities in our prayers.