What a very mind blowing General Conference weekend!!!!!!!! Its no
surprise I am sure to anyone but I LOVE General Conference!!!! I get so excited
over the anticipation of the topics that will be covered and of who the speakers
will be. I love them all but I just get so excited over it all! As I was sitting
listening to President Monson talk the first time in conference I had another
experience. My testimony was strengthened once again. I know that my Redeemer
Lives!!!! This was my experience. My testimony burned within my heart as I
thought of this phrase over and over again. It might have been such a powerful
thing to me at the time because I have been so focused on this song. This week I
was asked to accompany a vocalist in our mission for the english zone
conference. Lets get the facts straight for a moment. I am a violinist not a
pianist. Although I can play very few select hymns and this is what everyone
hears when I play for meetings. Now the Lord has been blessing me with the
ability to learn more hymns however I feel that there is a big difference
between hymns and vocal solo music. But I trust the Lord and so I agreed to look
over the music. At first glance the music was terrifying but the more I played
it the more simple I was able to make it to fit the skills that I possess. So I
am officially playing the piano for the musical number on Thursday. However your prayers would be
appreciated. ;D Because I was also asked to play the other songs for the day.
Now you may ask why is this such a big deal? It is simply because Elder
Kopischke of the quorum of the Seventy's will be presiding at the
conference!!!!!!!!!! HELLO! my nerves are through the roof hahahahaha
So.....back to conference. I loved the talks they are so inspiring. I found
myself in awe several times when the sanctity of women was brought up. It
saddens me that our society has gotten to the point when this has become
necessary. I have discovered myself during several points of my mission with the
longing of wanting to have my own family. Before the mission one of my
co-workers asked me if I was going to be the kind of returned missionary that is
obsessed with getting married. I answered no at the time but then later decided
that I should consider it. After this weekend I have made the decision that
marriage is something that will be a focus for me not an obsession. With the
many talks on women's roles in the home this decision has been made stronger. I
love that they talked about the fact its okay for women to stay at home and that
they should! I have seen the effects of single moms and working moms on
families. Its devastating to me because these children are definitely left
wanting for more. I want to be the mother that my children can turn to in times
of need. The mother that will be there to nurture them. I want to rear my
children in the gospel and help them strengthen their testimony of our Savior
Jesus Christ. I desire motherhood far more than any career that could be mine
because it is the career I have been designed and destined to have.
I am also very impressed with Elder Bednar's talk regarding tithing. Many
times I have found myself thinking of the blessings received by paying my
tithing. While I was in high school tithing to me was something I understood
that I needed to do but didn't really truly understand the effects of. I didn't
understand that it was a commandment which came from God. It wasn't until a
tithing settlement some years ago. I wasn't prepared to assign myself as a full
tithe payer. When the Bishop informed me that I was no longer worthy to enter
the temple I felt a very really void in my heart very deep within. I was
desperate to fill that void and I knew very clearly that the only way to do so
was to repent and pay my tithing. Within the week everything was squared away
and I felt the sweet presence of the Holy Ghost witness to me that I was once
again worthy to enter the temple. I was promised in my patriarchal blessing that
the temple would be a strength a joy to me. Knowing that this blessing in
general was very precious I wanted to make sure that this specific blessing
would remain mine. A few years my purse stolen from a church building. My
wallet had my tithing money in it and quite a lot of it since I hadn't remember
to turn it in the couple weeks before. I felt the sadness enter into my heart
knowing that my tithing money was lost over someones else's agency. I felt
desperate because I did not want to consider myself once again unworthy to enter
the temple. Dad explained to me that the Lord would consider it paid since it
was set aside for the specific use of tithing. Since then I have made sure to
pay my tithing each and every paycheck. The blessings have become too precious
to me to not have. I have spoken a lot of the blessings of temple attendance but
the blessings are far more reaching. As a college student trying to make ends
meet while living in Nebraska it was sometimes hard to pay that tithing. But for
every month that I paid it in faith of the blessings to come, the blessings came
flowing. I remember one particular time: It was getting to the end of the month
and I had had an unexpected tire replacement to pay for earlier that month. I
was terrified because I knew that the money in my account wasn't enough to make
sure all the bills were paid on time. But as I looked at my computer screen to
view my account I thought I was going crazy. I had much more in my account than
I thought I had. The amount was the perfect amount to get me through my bills
and to my next paycheck. As I review the History there was nothing to signify
over spending or under spending. It was all the same amounts of money as before.
Not knowing what else could have lead to this wonderful discovery I remembered
the experiences I had had before and knelt down in prayer and thanked my
Heavenly Father for the blessings due to my tithing being paid. I know that by
paying our tithing the Lord will indeed "open you the windows of heaven, and
pour you out a blessing." So if any of you do not have a testimony of tithing
dont wait for the hard experiences of learning about tithing. Rather lean on my
testimony and look for the blessings in your life of the tithing you pay. The
Lord wants us to have faith in His commandments and obey them but first we must
have a belief. To gain the faith we must act on our belief.
Another thing I loved from conference was the line "doubt your doubt before
you doubt your faith." It is so true for all of us regardless of how strong our
testimonies are. For those we love who are doubting please follow this counsel.
Satan is the only one who wants us to be miserable. He will do everything in his
power to get us to leave behind the thing that can and will give us the most
peace and happiness. Also it was really funny during Elder Nelsons talk. We all
brought our little snacks (i.e chocolate and crackers etc) and as he was talking
about how our bodies are temples and how we need to treat them we all ended up
putting away or down the goodies and taking more strict notes. hahahahaha I
think we even have a treaty being signed sometime today to not eat sweets. Very motivating.
I just loved conference and to top of the week Sugar has a set baptismal
date for November 9th!!!!!!! It
has just been a great week and with Elder Kopischke coming its bound to be
better. Oh and Sister Kemp and I are getting a brand new car from the lot tomorrow! I am so excited! It will be
the only time in my life I am sure that I will drive a brand new car.
heeheehee
Well I love you all! I hope you have a wonderful week and that you rely on
the words of our prophets.
Hurrah for Israel!
Love,
Sister Cottrell
