Truth Seeking with Carol F. McConkie

Here To Serve A Righteous Cause
Carol F. McConkie
First Counselor of the Young Women General Presidency

Here is a link to the full talk.

Ok, here are the three truths I pulled from Sister McConkie's talk. I hope you enjoy them.

"Of this premortal covenant, Elder John A. Widtsoe explained: 'We agreed, right then and there, to be not only savior for ourselves but ... saviors for the whole human family. We went into a partnership with the Lord. The working out of the plan became then not merely the Father's work, and the Savior's work, but also our work. The least of us, the humblest, is in partnership with the Almighty in achieving the purpose of the eternal plan of salvation.'"

"Righteousness emanates out to the world when we understand what God wants us to do and then we do it." (I love this quote. Thanks for sharing it Sister McConkie)

"We all experience times and seasons in our lives. But whether we are at school, at work, in the community, or especially in the home, we are the Lord's agents and we are on His errand."

Truth Seeking with Linda S. Reeves

Worthy of Our Promised Blessings
Linds S. Reeves
Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

Read the full talk here.

Today I have pulled three quotes from Sister Reeves' talk, three truths that touched my heart,

"I know of nothing that will qualify us for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost as much as virtue."

"Many in today's world are looking for instant gratification and instant knowledge on the Internet. In contrast, we will exceedingly be blessed if we exercise faith and patience and go to our Heavenly Father, the source of all truth, with our concerns. So many answers and assurances can come through daily searching and studying the scriptures and with sincere and pleading prayer, but there are no such promises on the Internet." (I am a bit of a Facebook addict, so I needed to hear this.)

"I testify that our bodies are sacred gift from our Heavenly Father and that as we keep our lives pure and clean through the atoning sacrifice of our Savior and keep the vision of our Father's promised rewards daily in front of us, we will once day receive 'all that our Father hath.'"

Truth Seeking with Rosemary M. Wixom

Discovering the Divinity Within

By: Rosemary M. Wixom

Primary General President

Check out the full talk here.

I love to listen to conference talks, but I read this one. And I’m glad I did. I think I caught a few things that I might have missed otherwise. 

Ok, here are the quotes that stood out to me, a few of the truths that I was reminded about when I listened to Sister Wixom’s words.

“We come to this earth to nurture and discover the seeds of divine nature that are within us.” 

“Elaine Cannon, a former Young Women general president, said, ‘There are two important days in a woman’s life: The day she is born and the day she finds out why.’ We know why. We have come to this earth to help build His kingdom and to prepare for the Second Coming of His Son, Jesus Christ. With every breath we take, we strive to follow Him. The divine nature within each one of us is refined and magnified by the effort we make to draw nearer to our Father and His Son.”

“We are His,' Paul said. ‘The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.’ Often the first Primary song we learn is ‘I Am a Child of God.’ Now it is time to take that beloved phrase ‘I am a child of God’ and add the words ‘Therefore, what?’ We might even ask questions such as these: ‘What will I do to live my life as a child of God?’ ‘How can I develop the divine nature that is within me?’”

“President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, ‘God sent you here to prepare for a future greater than anything you can imagine.’ That future, a day at a time, comes alive when you do more than just exist; it comes alive when you live your life to fill the measure of your creation. This invites the Lord into your life, and you begin to let His will become yours.”

What do you KNOW to be true?

Share your testimony with us. Make the world a better place and the people in it stronger.

Tell us the truth, tell us your truth.

I'm back. Again.

Hello there. It's me again.

Returning after another lapse in writing. Or at least in writing posts on this site.

Over the last few months I have been busy editing my first novel and starting a second. I've also been busy starting another blog. Andrea Fingerson: Truth Seeker. Check it out if you have a minute.

But, I've decided that it is time to turn my attention back here, that is is time to immerse myself in the scriptures again, especially General Conference talks.  In order to help myself do that, I am going to simplify my posts. I know the previous posts ranged in length, but they took me a while to put together. I think I was facing a problem a lot of writer's face- over thinking.

So, from now on, my plan is to present simple posts about each talk. Mostly I will share a few quotes that spoke to me when I was reading. The quotes that rang especially true to me. I am a truth seeker after all.

I hope you enjoy the posts. And I hope you will share your favorite parts of the talks too. I look forward to hearing from you.

-Andrea

Linda Burton: We'll Ascend Together

Sister Burton begins her talk by reminding us of the importance of and the sacred nature of the role a father has in his family. As a daughter who is so thankful for the love of her father, and as a sister in-law who loves to see her brother in-law honoring his role as husband and father, I have a lot of respect and admiration for men who honor this aspect of their identity.

A father makes a significant impact on the lives of his children. It is a role that deserves more respect than it sometimes receives. It is also a role that I can imagine being very overwhelming, just as motherhood is overwhelming, but in a different way.

That is why Heavenly Father did not intend for His children to fulfill that role alone. Rather, He intended for parents, both fathers and mothers, to have helpmeets. I realize that the wife is usually considered the helpmeet, but I see the role as going both ways.

According to Sister Burthon, "the phrase 'help meet means 'a helper suited to, worthy of, or corresponding to him.'"

Brothers and sister, Heavenly Father wants us to work together, to love and support each other. Not just within the bonds of parenthood and matrimony, but especially within those bonds. As, Sister Burton said, He wants us to follow the advice of the following proverb: "thee lift me and I'll lift thee, and we'll ascend together."

I know that Heavenly Father loves each of us. He wants each of us to live a righteous life, accept the atonement, endure to the end, and return to live with Him. I do not know your particular circumstances. Like me, you may not (yet) have reached the point in your life where you are a father or a mother. You may not even be married, but you are all children of God. You are all part of an eternal family. I know that if we honor our responsibilities and strive to be help meets for each other, we can all return home.

President Boyd K. Packer: The Plan of Happiness

Hello again, Brothers and Sisters. I am so glad to get back into the habit of writing this blog. I haven't spent much time in the scriptures lately and, consequently, I've felt the difference. But I'm already stating to feel better after only two days of reading and responding to these wonderful conference talks. As someone said, somewhere in the Bible, we all truly need to feast upon the scriptures. 

Boyd K. Packer: The Plan of Happiness

Here is a link to the full talk

Early in his talk, President Packer makes reference to an important gospel principle. He phrases it this way: "the end of all activity in the Church is to see that a man and a woman with their children are happy at home and sealed together for time and all eternity."

I really love this principle of the gospel. Truthfully, it is really challenging for me to face sometimes. I am single and I don't know when, or if, I will be blessed with children during this life. As I tell my students regularly: yes, I want children, but I have to find their father first.

According to President Packer, "the commandment to multiply and replenish the earth has never been rescinded. It is essential to the plan of redemption and is the source of human happiness." Sitting here now, listening to my sweet nephew sleeping, I cannot help agree with this. I have found much joy and happiness because of my family, but especially because of my niece and nephew. Children are a wonderful blessing and I am so thankful to have these two in my life.

I can admit to some sadness because I do not yet have a family of my own. But I also realize that I am not alone. I do have a family. I am an aunt, a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a niece, and a cousin. I have also been blessed with several wonderful friends. At the moment, I do not have a husband or children, but I do have wonderful people in my life whom I love and cherish. I also have faith that one day I will find my eternal companion and we will have children of our own. I don't know when that will happen, but I trust in Heavenly Father's promise.

After spending some time discussing the sacred nature of our ability to, and responsibility to, have children, President Packer reminds us that we don't need to be fearful if we've made mistakes in the past. He says that while our physical bodies sometimes retain a scar, or other reminder of an injury, our spiritual bodies do not follow the same rules: "our spirits are damaged when we make mistakes and commit sins. But unlike the case of our mortal bodies, when the repentance process is complete, no scars remain because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

He ends his message by urging us to escape our feelings of guilt, by "accepting the Atonement of Christ," and by promising that if we do, our "heartache can turn to beauty and love and eternity."

This is such a beautiful apostolic promise. One that I hope all of us will accept into our hearts.

President Eyring: Is Not This The Fast That I Have Choosen

Ok, people. Vacation is over and its time to get serious. Here our my thoughts on this next talk. I've love to hear yours.

President Eyring: Is Not This The Fast That I Have Choosen

Here is a link to the full talk

We all have an appointment with Heavenly Father, a "future interview," as President Eyring says. One of the ways we prepare for this interview is to serve our fellow Brothers and Sisters. That is part of our responsibility during this life, to succor our fellow men: "When we offer succor to anyone, the Savior feels it as if we reached out to succor Him."

At times, this can seem like an overwhelming task. There are so many who need help. (Truthfully, we will all need help on one point or another during our lives, maybe even at several points during our life time.) There are also times when we feel so overwhelmed with our own lives, that we may not feel capable of helping others. Thankfully, the Lord has provided a way for each of us to serve our fellowman: fasting and fast offerings.

As President Eyring says, "it is a commandment so simple that a child can understand it. It is a commandment with a wonderful promise for those in need and for us."

For those who don't know, here is how fasting works. Once a month, usually on the first Sunday of the month, all local wards hold Fasting Testimony meetings during Sacrament. Members of the church are invited to fast for 24 hours, or two meals, prior to this meeting. More specifically, we are invited to fast for a purpose. With a prayer in our heart, we can fast for personal guidance or for others in need. Then, on fast Sunday, we are asked to make a generous fast offering to our ward. The Lord's servants then pray about these financial offerings to know who it should be shared with. The offerings could be distributed to those in need locally, or elsewhere across the globe.

According to President Spencer W. Kimball, who President Eyring quoted in his talk, "rich promises are made by the Lord to those who fast and assist the needy. ... Inspiration and spiritual guidance will come with righteousness and closeness to our Heavenly Father. To omit to do this righteous act of fasting would deprive us of these blessings." I believe President Eyring shared these words because he wanted us to understand just how important it is to fast.

In recent years we have heard more and more about natural disasters and other tragedies taking place across the world. When an event like a tsunami or an earth quake happens so far away, we might feel helpless because there is little we can do from the comfort of our homes. But, we can support Heavenly Father's children in their time of need, no matter how far away they are. The relatively minor sacrifice of a fast offering helps to provide needed financial support. It pays for food, and blankets, even water. Heavenly Father's local servants are only able to provide this assistance because of the fast offerings of His children. All of His children. Even those who might be hundreds of thousand of miles away.

According to President Eyring, "your fast offering will do more than help feed and clothe bodies. It will heal and change hearts. The fruit of a free-will offering may be the desire in the heart of the recipient to reach out to others in need. That happens across the world."

Fasting can be challenging. Not everyone is able to fast from food. But all of us can honor the principle of the fast, and teach it to our children.

At the end of his talk, President Eyring prayed for us. He said, "I pray that we will claim those great blessings for ourselves and for our families."

That is my prayer for you as well. As we approach the Fourth of July weekend consider what and who you can fast for, and consider how generous of a fast offering you can make. Your contribution can and will make a difference in someone else's life.

President Eyring: The Comforter

Unfortunately it has been a while since I’ve posted to this blog. I don’t have a good reason, just the excuse that it is the end of the school year and the teacher in me is ready for summer. But, like I said, that is just an excuse not a justifiable reason for my lapse. 

Now it is time to start fresh and recommit myself to this blog. The challenge to read and respond to the General Conference talks really has been helpful (when I follow through). I just need to be more consistent in my reading schedule.

Ok, here we go. 

President Henry B. Eying: The Comforter 

Here is a link to the full talk.

This was a very powerful talk for me. I didn’t have to chance to watch Women’s Conference that last weekend in March because I was visiting family out of state. So, this was the first time I read Brother Eyring’s words. 

The spirit behind his message is very strong.

The first part to stand out to me was when Erying said that we “can and must be an important part of His (Heavenly Father) giving comfort to those who need comfort. You can play your best part if you know more of how He answers those prayers for help.”

I don’t know about the rest of you, but sometimes I struggle with negativity. I’ve never been officially diagnosed with depression, but I recognize depressive tendencies in my personality. So, I am most definitely someone who needs Heavenly Father’s help and comfort. While I was reading Eyring’s words I was reminded of the scripture that tells us to forget ourselves and get lost in the work. I think that is part of what Eyring is saying. But, not only do we need the comfort of forgetting ourselves to serve others, we are also responsible for helping others to find comfort.  As President Eyring said, “You promised that you would help the Lord make their burdens light.”

Brothers and sisters, we all know that life has to be challenging. That is how we learn. We may not like that truth, but we can’t change it. Thankfully, and obviously, Heavenly Father addressed this in His plan for us. 

According to President Eyring, “It was the witness of the Spirit of the coming Atonement which saw Job through the tests life is intended to include for all of us. This is part of the great plan of happiness the Father gave us. He allowed His Son to provide, by His atoning sacrifice, the hope that comforts us no matter how hard the way home to Him may be.” 

I will leave you with that: the reminder that, yes, life is difficult, but we are not alone. Our Heavenly Father is watching over us. He has prepared a way for us to make our way home to Him and, in the process, bring our brothers and sisters with us. 

Sister Bonnie L. Oscarsen: Defenders of the Family Proclamation

It's been a while since I posted and today has turned quiet so I thought I'd pull up the next talk from Women's Conference. This one was given by the Young Women's General President.

Sister Bonnie L. Oscarsen: Defenders of the Family Proclamation

Read the full talk here.

As you can tell from the title, the focus of Sister Oscarsen's message is the Proclamation to the World on the Family (Here's a link to read the full document).

She begins her talk with an account of a brave young Italian woman who had to make a stand against a mob that was threatening the missionaries that had taught her the gospel. (Ok, that was a mouthful. Hopefully I didn't confuse you too much.) This young Italian woman stood up to these men, and, essentially, ordered them to depart.

What happened next was amazing. They mob left, "that strong ferocious body of men stood helpless before a weak, trembling, yet fearless girl."

There are other aspects of the talk that I want to focus on, but I couldn't write this post without acknowledging that story. As I read the account I was struck by the reminder of the power a righteous daughter of God holds when she uses her influence for good.

Thank you, Sister Oscarsen, for that reminder.

Ok, now I want to move on to the next part of the talk. Sister Oscarsen explains that we need to stand up for the Family Proclamation, which we absolutely do, but then she admits that "life rarely goes exactly according to plan for anyone."

This is very true for me. I am thirty four years old and single in a church whose focus is firmly centered around the family.

I appreciated Sister Oscarsen's acknowledgment, and I agree that "it is still important to understand and teach the Lord's pattern." I believe that we can, and should, use the Lord's patterns to help guide us as we make decisions. There are beautiful truths in the Lord's patterns. I know that Heavenly Father loves me. Right now, my life doesn't fit the pattern, but I know that I can trust in His timeline. So can you.

Heavenly Father has promised that "nothing will be withheld from those who faithfully keep their covenants." And I intended to do just that. 

In the mean time, I will continue to progress and prepare for the future. As Sister Oscarsen reminded us, we should "aim for the ideal but plan for contingencies." Thankfully, the contingencies can be pretty wonderful.

Ok, that's all from me for now. But I'd love to hear what you thought about Sister Oscarsen's talk. Share your thoughts in the comment section below. 

The Family is Ordained of God (Video Presentation)

This is the video that was shared during the Women's Session of General Conference. It was a beautiful reminder of the fact that we are all part of a heavenly family. After watching, the idea that struck me the most is the truth that our family relationships are what bring joy and purpose to our lives. Brothers and Sisters, we receive many blessings from our family, particularly as we work to be united. I will continue to strive, and I hope you will, to show love and support to my family. (Even when they drive me crazy. Love you guys.)

Thoughts on A Church News Article: Elder Ballard at BYU's Women's Conference

I was reading an article today on LDS.org when I felt a nudge from the Spirit. There was one moment that stuck me so much and was so uplifting and encouraging that I had to share it with you. The article was written by Marianne Holman Prescott, a staff writer at Church News. She was reporting on a talk that Elder Ballard gave at the recent BYU Women’s Conference.

Here is a link to the article.

In his presentation, Elder Ballard said this: “As members of the Church, we should not be critical of those who have sincere, heartfelt questions or concerns about their faith.” Instead we should remember that “the Restoration, in all of its glory and wonder, was launched in response to a spiritual question of a 14-year-old young man. Such questions can be a catalyst to real conversion if they prompt us to seek truth in the light of faith.”

As someone who struggles with depression and anxiety, I often feel guilty about the questions, and even doubts, that sometimes enter my head. We’ve been told to be of good cheer and that Heavenly Father’s plan is a plan of Happiness, but at times I simply don’t feel happy. I struggle to have confidence and to feel my faith. Unfortunately, this can sometimes last for long periods of time, periods when I'm in survival mode and when I struggle to live daily as the disciple of Christ that I want to be. In these moments, I feel guilty about not being a good example for my family and friends. 

Thankfully, I’ve had enough experiences to know that this is the true Church, so these struggles don’t pull me away from the Church. But they do make life … challenging.

It was wonderful to read Elder Ballard’s words and to know that Heavenly Father can, and will, use the questions that inspire, and sometimes plague me to strengthen my testimony and to help me fulfill my purpose. As I move forward, I will strive to use these questions to strengthen my relationship with Heavenly Father and to strengthen my resolve to live my faith.  

Sister Carole M. Stephens: The Family is of God

Ok, it’s time to tackle the second talk from Women’s Conference. (Does anyone else love that this is happening twice a year now? I’ve always loved Women’s Conference Weekend, but I joined the church as an adult so I never watched the Young Women’s Session in April. Now that the two are combined, I get to enjoy an extra weekend of conference.

Sister Carole M. Stephens: The Family Is Of God

Read The Full Talk Here

Sister Stephens begins her talk by saying that one of the pure doctrines of the church is that “the family is of God” and “that we are each part of God’s family. I love being reminded that families are forever and that we are part of Heavenly Families. Knowing this truth brings much comfort and joy to my life.

As the Proclamation says, we are each a “beloved… daughter of heavenly parents.” Think about that for a moment. We have heavenly “parents.” That means that not only do we have a Heavenly Father, but we also have a Heavenly Mother. Out of respect and reverence, we don’t speak of her often, but she is there, watching over us and loving us. We are her children.

The second principle that Sister Stephens spoke about is an idea that Elder Scott explained. He said, “our purpose in coming here [to earth] is to be tested, tried, and stretched.”

We all know that each of us will experience challenges and temptations. These are those stretching opportunities that Elder Scott referred to. Thankfully none of us have to face them alone. Jesus Christ atoned for our sins, he experienced everything and anything that we possibly could, and he is there to support us, just as we should support others.

According to Sister Stephens, “our opportunity as covenant-keeping daughters of God is not just to learn from our own challenges; it is to unite in empathy and compassion as we support other members of the family of God in their struggles, as we have covenanted to do.” She then quotes Joseph Smith, who said we should “act according to the sympathies which God has planted in our hearts.”

I had to stop when I read this section to think about what that means. It is such a beautiful thought, and one that I intend to use as I move forward with my life. For me, it suggests that the groups or challenges that we, individually, sympathize with are groups that we are called to help. If Heavenly Father has planted sympathizes in our hearts, it’s because He wants us to help and support that group.

As Sister Stephens said, we should all go about doing good and expanding our sphere of influence. These sympathizes are one way we can do this. That is my prayer for you, and for myself, brothers and sisters, because I know doing this will help bring more love into our lives.

Cheryl A. Esplin: Filling Our Homes with Light and Truth

I'm am starting this latest challenge with the first talk of Women's Conference. It was given by Cheryl A. Esplin. She is currently the second counselor in the Primary General Presidency.

Read the full talk here.

One of the first truths that Sister Esplin shared was this: "When filled with the Spirit and with gospel truth, we have the power to withstand the outside forces of the world that surround and push against us." This was a wonderful reminder for me. I couldn't help thinking back to President Hinckley's challenge a few years ago to reread the Book of Mormon before the end of the year. He gave the challenge in August, giving us five months to complete it. That was a wonderful period for me. I was reading roughly two chapters a day and I truly felt "filled' with the Spirit.  That challenge strengthened my testimony and brought peace into my life. 

Now, years later, after struggling to consistently maintain a daily scripture reading habit, I have to admit I have struggled spiritually. I knew there was a connection, but I wasn't acting on that knowledge, I wasn't working to develop that habit. Thank you, Sister Esplin, for this wonderful reminder. I truly know that I can bring more peace into my life by developing a daily scripture reading habit, by filling my heart and mind with the Spirit.  

Later in the talk, Sister Esplin shared a family history story. Her ancestor spoke about a time in her life when her faith was challenged. One particular moment in this story stuck me. Sister Esplin's ancestor said that "she felt she could not have defended her belief." When I read those words, I stopped, almost frozen. I couldn't help asking myself this question: can I, will I defend my faith? 

We live in a world where it is increasingly unpopular to stand up for Christian values, a world where leaders who have spoken out about the importance of freedom of religion are criticized. I have to admit that I have been, and continue to be, concerned about the possible loss of religious freedom. I know that some people will laugh at my beliefs, that some people will criticize me for them, but that doesn't make them untrue. As Joseph Smith said, "I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it."  

I never, never, want to be afraid to stand up and share my testimony. I suppose that's one of the reasons I gave myself this challenge. I want Heavenly Father to know, and I want to know, that I will always stand up for what I know to be true. 

Conference Weekend

I love General Conference weekends. My best friend calls them Pajama Church because she loves to watch from home. I usually watch about half of Conference at home, and half at church. My favorite way to start the weekend is at the church building. It sets the mood for the weekend and helps me get into the right spirit.

I'll get up early Saturday morning, shower, put on appropriate (and comfortable) church attire and drive over to the Stake Center. The building is usually pretty peaceful. When I first walk in, the sound of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir streams down the hallways.

I'm never alone. The missionaries are there, as well as a few other families and single adults. Once I'm situated in one of the back pews, I stretch out, lean back, close my eyes, and soak in the hymns. Then, after the opening prayer, I pull out my journal and write to Heavenly Father. It's really a prayer, a short journal entry about how thankful I am for the wonderful weekend ahead of me and for all of the many blessings in my life. I also write down my thoughts, which are focused on the questions and concerns that I need guidance about.

When the final session comes to a close on Sunday afternoon, I'm tired but filled with the Spirit. So many wonderful words of wisdom have been shared from the pulpit and I'm ready to reflect on all that I have learned.

Now, because of my desire to keep that Spirit in my life even more, I've decided to continue my Conference Reading Challenge. Starting this week, I will read and reflect on all of the talks presented in the April 2015 Conference Season. I'm sure I'm not the only person out there blogging about conference, but I hope you will join me. Subscribe on the right and you'll receive an e-mail every time I post about another session.