Thoughts and tidbits from our Stake Conference at church.

Church here is very different than what we are used to. There is one stake out here that covers the whole MD state and part of PA as well. Gone are the days (for now) where there are members all around and mulit-stakes in one city or at least one ward per city. Our current stake has 4 maybe 5 wards total and covers a very large area.

Yesterday was Stake Conference and the talks were really good. The main thing I pulled from conference is the importance of endurance regardless how discouraged we are. Through small steps, and sections of each task great things can be accomplished.  However, these accomplishments and success only will happen if we endure, have faith, trust, and believe we are all Children of God.

Cultivating Our Fields

The first talk was about “Cultivating Our Fields.” The talk reminded us about the importance of the fundamentals of the Gospel and how they enrich our lives. One can also cultivate a productive field through service, kindness, and steadfastness in Christ. Additionally, this speaker talked about the importance of breaking tasks into smaller sections then we will be able to accomplish great things. As was stated in the talk cultivating our field takes endurance, service, faith, and constantly moving forward one-step at a time, great accomplishments will follow these small steps. Finally, this speaker spoke of the importance  of becoming strong from the inside out. The Lord will bless everyone who endures and keeps moving forward. The Lord will bless with increases where each person needs.

Service

The next talk talked more about service. “When ye are in the service of others, ye are only in the service of God.” Through service we gain satisfaction no other act can offer. This speaker pointed that everyone is in need of service in one way or another, through finding different ways to serve we can help more people. Also this speaker discussed the importance of gratitude. Through being thankful for all things including our struggles and trials, we will find ways to make these our strengths and find additional blessings.

Preach My Gospel

A returned missionary spoke of a couple of his experiences while on his mission. The most important parts I pulled from his talk is that the Savior takes care of big and small mistakes. No matter what we do if we follow the repentance process nothing is to big to ask for his help to get over with. He also spoke about how families are forever and the blessings found within this knowledge that families truly are forever. His final thought covered the Book of Mormon. He spoke about how through this book, all can be touched and taught, who truly take the time and effort to read and study from this book.

I AM a Child of God!

This talk started with some of the lyrics from this beloved Children’s Song.

The lyrics are as follows:

I am a child of God, And he has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home With parents kind and dear.

Chorus
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do To live with him someday

I am a child of God, And so my needs are great;
Help me to understand his words Before it grows too late.

Chorus

I am a child of God. Rich blessings are in store;
If I but learn to do his will I'll live with him once more.

Chorus 

How often do we sing this song with our children, and during family prayers ask for something. Now do we take the time to say to Heavenly “lead me, guide me, walk beside me. Help me find the way (to finish this statement with) the accomplish what we need help with? Our Savior truly does lead and guide when we ask and wait for the answer. These answers may not be what we expect, or in our time frame, but the answers will come. Next, this speaker spoke of the importance of being responsible for our choices and each reaction caused by these choices. The Lord understands that discouragement happens. Our job is to pray for the extra strength needed to make it through trying and disappointing times in our lives.

The Lord does know each and every one of us and he knows what our needs are, what struggles we are facing, and he will protect us when we are doing our best to do what is right. Additionally, if we break each task into smaller sections, and keep pressing forward each right choice we make will lead us toward progression.

Trials, Faith, and Trust

The current belief on faith is “a belief in something without proof.”  However, real faith “is not believing that God can, it’s knowing He will.” What will this faith will prove depends on us individually. Mosses 5:6 tells us “And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.” With this said Adam knew the Lord would bless him for following the commandments he given.  Adam had total faith and trust in the Lord.

How can we increase our faith and trust in the Lord? This will happen as one engages purposefully in edifying activities. The Doctrine and Covenants tells us:

23 And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.

 24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

 25 And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you;

As we follow this section’s advice , the less talking about doing something and more we do walk in the light of the Lord the easier our faith and trust will grow. This is also true with our trials. Even through trials as we engage purposefully in edifying activities, our burdens will seem lighter.

Are You Coming, or Are You Going?

Oh My Father is one of my favorite hymns and this speaker referred to this hymn:

Oh My Father

O my Father, thou that dwellest In the high and glorious place,
When shall I regain thy presence And again behold thy face?
In thy holy habitation, Did my spirit once reside?
In my first primeval childhood Was I nurtured near thy side?

For a wise and glorious purpose Thou hast placed me here on earth
And withheld the recollection Of my former friends and birth;
Yet ofttimes a secret something Whispered, "You're a stranger here,"
And I felt that I had wandered From a more exalted sphere.

I had learned to call thee Father, Thru thy Spirit from on high,
But, until the key of knowledge Was restored, I knew not why.
In the heav'ns are parents single? No, the thought makes reason stare!
Truth is reason; truth eternal Tells me I've a mother there.

When I leave this frail existence, When I lay this mortal by,
Father, Mother, may I meet you In your royal courts on high?
Then, at length, when I've completed All you sent me forth to do,
With your mutual approbation Let me come and dwell with you.

Text: Eliza R. Snow

Our Father’s main goal for us is happiness. This happiness can be achieved through following the commandments. The fact that we are mortals or human we are given the agency to choose for ourselves. However, with that said or moral agency leads to mistakes, and through repentance these mistakes are wiped clean.

Obedience to the commandments leads to blessings. Also it is through the atonement of Christ that our souls will be set free. The Gospel is truly built on the foundation of Christ, through his example we can learn how to become like him.

Taking Notes and Keeping Track

The final speaker was Elder Kohkler (I think that was his name) from the 1^st Quarm of the Seventies. He summed up several prior talks then talked about when taking notes only write the most important parts. The parts we each felt were important to us as if we are listening with the spirit then we will be guided and taught what message we needed to hear.

He spoke on the importance of prayer, raising our hands high and out towards God. Seeking the spirit and enjoying the music. Righteous music is a window into heaven. Through seeking the Lords spirit He will bless us with the blessings we are in needs of.

Patience is the most important virtue to learn. Patience is learned through service as is kindness, sweetness, and love. Service is the symbol of our hands stretched out to help another. This is also what Christ did, he reached out continually to help others.

Finally, through working on and practicing these skills we can truly put on the full armor of God. This is also the light of Christ. The light of Christ shines through us based on our daily patterns of living.