Wasn't conference so great this weekend???? I love conference and always have. I have reveled in the opportunity I have had to share with members my first memory of conference. I have been told many times that growing up I hated missing conference or getting left at home so one of my parents could enjoy a peaceful session. Well during one of the many times I attended with my Dad I had fallen asleep. When I woke up I saw Howard W. Hunter's face on the screen. Ever since then I have loved conference because I know that a prophet is speaking to us today. In 1 Nephi 22:2 it reads, "And I, Nephi, said unto them; Behold they were manifest unto the prophet by the voice of the Spirit; for by the Spirit are all things made known unto the prophets, which shall come upon the children of men according to the flesh." The words of the prophets we hear come straight from our Heavenly Father to them through the spirit. They receive revelation for the world and then they teach us. This is something that I have learned and gained a testimony of this week.
So here are some of the things I loved in conference:
President Uchtdorf- "Be grateful IN our circumstances." Already I have been able to put this into practice. During one of the sessions we were at a members house. They made a massive breakfast just for us to help ease Sister Hatfield's homesickness. It was a tradition her family would do. We walked out of there and I thought, "Why do the members feed us so much? I am getting so fat!!!!!!" Then I thought about how grateful I was to have food and that the members love us so much. So I began to be grateful in my circumstance.
Elder Ballard- the WHOLE talk!!!!!! loved it! In taking his counsel I will try to start sharing things with you that I have learned in my studies in the next coming weeks. I would love to hear what you are also studying and learning from Preach My Gospel.
Bishop Stevenson- life is our 4 min race. "What do I need to do next to get my medal?" "What is the next ordinance or covenant I need to progress to finish my race?" That's a thinker!
Elder Christofferson- I am not sure if he said this but this is what I wrote down: Christs resurrection is one of the final evidences that Jesus is the Christ, that what he taught is true, and that he is the Only Begotten Son of the Father. I loved his talk so much!!!
Elder Zwick- I have thought a lot about what it means to not have corrupt communication in my home, and initiating more actively the question "What are you thinking?"
And one of the best themes...LOVE ONE ANOTHER!
There are so many other things that stood out but those are the highlights for me.
Another Highlight was that we got one of our investigator families to the conference yesterday for the last session. Its the family that we have been doing all the service for. They really really enjoyed it and got several things out of it! They are progressing so nicely. I have realized that the reason I am still here is for the families we are teaching. Both have had several sets of missionaries and I think they have all prepared the investigators in some way so that we could help them progress the way they are. I am so excited to see what happens in the near future!
This week is going to be great we have Elder Kent Richards coming to our mission on Saturday for an All mission conference. This hasn't happened since I have been here so I am way excited!
Well I am trying to think of anything else and it was a pretty dull week other than conference. =)
I love you all so much! I hope and pray that you have found things in conference that have touched your heart and encouraged you to want to do better.
Hurrah for Israel!
Love,
Sister Cottrell
The Assistants and Sister Hadfield
The Zone Leaders and The "Sisters"
