General Conference Preparation #1

Today marks the beginning of one of my favorite weeks of the year; I have a handful of them. I love General Conference!  General Conference is intended to be a revelatory experience as we learn from the living prophets and apostles through the power of the Holy Ghost. Revelation is a really cool thing. If you think about it, we can all hear the same talk and yet get a message that is specific to just us. Personal revelation can reassure us, comfort us in times of need, and sustain and hold us together when times are tough. 

I don't know about you, but I have heard I need to prepare for conference all my life, but I was not sure for a long time just what I needed to do to prepare. I thought I would share one thing I use to help me prepare in the hopes it will be a springboard to help you as the Spirit shows you the best way for you to prepare yourself and your family. 

A week before conference, I like to do this activity to begin my preparations. It only takes a couple of minutes. Find a quiet place and on a small piece of paper write down the following: 

  1. Things that have been on your mind.
  2. A gospel topic you have been wanting to learn more about or are struggling with.
  3. A relationship in your life that needs strengthening.
  4. Something you are wanting to improve in your life.

After a few minutes, circle the three things that are the most important to you right now. Then, fold this piece of paper and put it in your scriptures or journal.

I invite you to do the following this week in preparation for the messages given at General Conference: 

  1. Pray for your heart to be open to the things Heavenly Father has prepared for you to hear and that you will recognize them. 
  2. Pray for those speaking that they will have the Spirit with them.
  3. Pray specifically for the three things you have circled.

Keep your folded paper close to you as you listen to General Conference. I encourage you to jot down anything that sticks out to you as you listen to the speakers. Once all the sessions are over, open your folded paper and compare it with the notes you have taken.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Utah Pioneers

Image
Many states in the United States have established their own state holidays. These holidays usually commemorate an important event or person that is significant to the state. Examples of such holidays are Mardi Gras in Louisiana, Cesar Chavez Day in California, Kamehameha Day in Hawaii, and Alaska Day in Alaska.  Utah’s state holiday, Pioneer Day, is celebrated every year on 24 July. It commemorates the arrival of the first group of Latter-day Saint settlers to the Salt Lake Valley on 24 July 1847. It is a time to celebrate all people who contributed to building the state, regardless of religion or background.  Oxford English Dictionary defines a pioneer as “one who goes before to prepare or open up the way for others to follow.” 1   For me, Pioneer Day is a time to remember the courage, sacrifice, devotion, and perseverance of those in my family who entered the Salt Lake Valley in 1847 and beyond. On this Pioneer Day, I honor my own Utah pioneers - the firsts in each line to enter the
Read more

"Light cleaveth unto light"

Image
Artwork by Katie Lee I heard the panic as soon as I answered the phone. I jumped in my car and reached them a few minutes later. Still visibly shaking, they recounted their experience. Three mornings a week, these sisters met with a lady I will call Sally. Sally had heard the missionary lessons from at least eight sets of missionaries over the years, and these sisters were the most recent to teach her. They began by teaching her the lessons, but she asked if they could read the Book of Mormon together instead. She eventually asked if they could move their meetings from the church building to her home, so their meeting location changed without anyone else knowing. Unbeknownst to these sisters, all kinds of questionable activity riddled Sally’s neighborhood. Following their meeting with Sally that morning, the police stopped these cute sisters, invited them to get out of their car, and asked to search their vehicle. In their innocence, they did not realize what was going on and asked the
Read more

Roma - day 2

Image
Our first night sleeping here was quite an adventure.  We are staying in a wonderful hotel that is kind of a cross between a B&B and a hotel.  They gave us a lovely room at the front of the hotel.  Last night our air conditioning wasn't working for some reason.  When we returned to our room last night, the room was extremely hot and stuffy, so we had to sleep with the window open.  The temperature was great, but it meant that we heard all the going ons on the street below.  We went to bed late enough that it was not a problem falling asleep.  Neither of us slept soundly until the early hours of the morning.  Just before 8 I was jarred from a deep sleep when the garbage man dumped a trash can full of bottles into his truck.  Once I got my bearings and my heart had slowed down a bit, I looked over to find Mike sound asleep with his noise-canceling headphones on.  Smart man!  We love the noise of the street during the day when we're in our room, but here's hoping the air c
Read more