General Conference

Some of you know, and some may not, that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every 6 months, the leaders of our church meet in Salt, Lake City, Utah for a world-wide broadcast of General Conference where various leaders will speak and give counsel to the members of the church. A few months ago, after some reflection, I realized that my testimony wasn't as strong as it should be--or at least as strong as I thought it should be. There are lots of things that go on in life, and unfortunately for my one-track-mind, those outside influences seem to creep in to my testimony-buliding time. Days have passed where I have had no personal or family prayer or scripture study. Those days always seem dark and dingy, and for me, its harder to be Christlike. I began to ponder ways that I could increase the influence of the Spirit in my life. One idea that came to me is General Conference. Thanks to technology, I have almost every General Conference talk right on my phone. And thanks to being a girl, I have lots of time in the mornings when I am getting ready where I can fill my time with listening to General Conference talks instead of listening to the radio as I usually do.  And what better way to prepare for General Conference than by studying other General Conference talks? After about a month of doing this, I can say without a doubt that God speaks to His people through a living prophet. I think General Conference is so cool because all the revelation that is recieved is for our day and time. And the language is easier to understand than that of the scriptures sometimes. It is easy to pick out the message or "moral of the story". Sometimes, certain words or phrases will just jump out at me. For example: a few days ago, I went to the beautiful temple here in Mesa. I hadn't been since we moved down here 4 months ago, and I went seeking guidance on an issue that I had been pondering for a while. All throughout the session, I felt the Spirit testifying of the things being taught, and I took that as a good sign. But after the session, as I went to the Lord with my question, I didn't feel any major revelation come to me. I guess I expected the heavens to open and the angels to come down singing, but there was simply no answer. I was puzzled and, lets face it, sad and discouraged as I went home. Then a few days later, I was listening to General Conference as I was getting ready for the day. I don't even remember who was giving the talk or what it was about, but this line stood out very vividly to me: "You must study it out in your mind, then ask me if it be right." Like a ton of bricks it hit me that before I go to Heavenly Father again, I need to take some time and think about it myself, then make an informed and rational decision, then ask if it is the course He would have me take. I think a lot of times we expect Heavenly Father to tell us every thing we need to do, when in reality, that takes away our free agency--the thing we were literally sent to earth to receive, what the war in heaven was all about, why we need the Atonement. I am still pondering the decision the lies ahead, but I am greatful that through my study of General Conference I was able to understand the steps I needed to take in order to receive the revelation I needed. Anyways, there is now a special place in my heart for General Conference, and actually, I'm kind of obsessed with it now. I hope my testimony of General Conference can help someone else who might be struggling.