one perfect paradox

Last week I wrote about how General Conference had impacted upon me personally.

It is a perfect paradox that in spite of the worldwide exposure, of #LDSConf  this twice annual event, is in fact a unique and intimate experience.

This article talks of the pre-Conference promotion and what happened during. It is well worth the read, for member and those not of my faith, yet.

Behind the scenes there was much humble yet delighted rejoicing by the many many people that put in hours and hours of volunteer time to bring everything together.

Conference addresses are translated into 94 languages. Sessions are broadcast across many forms on media. (I watch live, on line, at 2am here in Australia. Both the Sunday and Monday, which translates to Saturday and Sunday in Salt Lake City) IT people work long hours. Then there is security (some 20,000+ people can be seated in the Conference Centre).That’s a lot of car parking. There are also  journalists on site, and photographers from various media including the Church’s own. The volunteers, including the famous Mormon Tabernacle choir, need to eat and someone needs to make the thousands of meals that were provided. Dishes need to be washed, and all made ready for the next sitting. Like so many others the owner of these feet commenced her volunteer day at 5am. Some began earlier.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ across the world eagerly share their conference preparation and experiences. The insights they gain go up on Twitter, Facebook Instagram etc.

Weeks before several Bloggers produced packages to assist parents make the experience rich for their children.

The following weeks in chapels around the world members will gather to partake of this wonderful feast. There are delayed scheduled re-broadcasts. The Church Magazines will bring the spoken word in written form as the transcripts go out across the world.

Transcripts went up in what seemed like record time on the Church’s main site.  You can down load as podcast, watch the video or simply listen.

The Church has indeed embraced the very best of technology. Yes, the desire is to get the messages out to the Membership, but more than that to share the knowledge that God is real, He loves us all. Jesus Lives, His full gospel has been restored.  The Book of Mormon is more than a quirky musical. It is sacred scripture that will change your life. The messages of Conference show the practical application of the doctrines we believe…

*What to do when you face the awful challenges of life

*Growing Faith

* The need for Peace is a busy noisy world

* The power of chastity

*Standing strong

*Personal preparation

* About Hope and Miracles, and Obedience

*Learn about The Father and The Son

*Mornings and Marriages

Receive encouragement, be uplifted, and be fortified. Lastly, Do not be alone.

Seeking answers…

This weekend was General Conference in Salt Lake City Utah. A twice yearly event held in the SLC Conference Centre that seats 20,000+ people.

It is a huge event with massive behind the scenes work to bring it to pass.

Broadcast live through many sources. You can read, download or watch  the archives here.

Although I live in Australia I choose to wake up at 2am on Sunday and Monday. This has me online for the 10am Mountain Time start.  The afternoon sessions are at 2pm so I get to have a quick nap before logging back in at 6am Sunday and Monday.

April 6^th 2013 marked a historic moment. On this screen for the first time the Twitter #LDSConf appeared. Thus if you were live tweeting and added this hashtag then people, both members and those not of our faith, could read along. Or contribute.

Between my Callings (one Ward, including running a Facebook page, and one Stake) my part-time work as a Facebook Curator and my private business as a social media consultant I am deeply involved in the social media world.

In the lead up to this conference I read a suggestion by Elder Uchtdorf about how to prepare for Conference.  He recommended we write down a few questions that we are wanting answers to. I gave this a great deal of thought.  In the end I focused on just 2.

How can we become closer as a family? (Every family wants this, right?)

And

How can I feel this spirit more?

After I settled on these questions I happened to read an article, online, identifying the one trait that can actually and substantially change any aspect of our lives, in which we desire to improve.

They spoke of Consistency.

I spent some time pondering this. Life balance can be challenging.

A long-time friend died recently, and I have thought much about his influence in my life. Also the influence of his wife, and the family example.

Elder Richard Scott gave a talk that seemed to address my questions. Yet not in a way I expected. This is so often the case. See Saturday Afternoon Speaker List.

I made a decision to return to theme based scripture study, for my main study. (Beyond Sunday School and Relief Society readings) And to make sure that my daily Book of Mormon reading was part of that.

I decided to study the theme of ‘scripture study’.

I looked up – online – LDS.org scriptures. In the Topical Guide I found an extensive list. I came across

Joshua 1:8 I have a cute relative with this name, and decided to click on this option. (I write that now but do not really recall if that had any influence at the time, mostly I just felt to click it)

I was deeply struck but what I read and extend it out to read Joshua 1, 1-8.

God is speaking to Joshua after the death of Moses. He is talking about the Promised Land they are about to enter. ‘Every place the sole of your foot shall tread upon…’ He further tells Joshua, ‘I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee’.

These words triggered deep and significant thought for me.

It came into my mind that if I, if we, Believe That, Know It, then there would be nothing to fear.

I then listed what I fear. We all have fears.

Joshua is told in verse 7, ‘Only be thou strong and very courageous.’ These are remarkable words.

Further on…read this, don’t talk about it, mediate upon it, and then do what you read…God then tells Joshua He shall ‘make the way prosperous’ and that Joshua shall ‘have good success’.

President Monson recommended we

1. Search the Scriptures with diligence
2. Plan our lives with purpose
3. Teach truth with testimony
4. Serve the Lord with love

I‘ve never really planned my life. Some may say that is evident. But how could I?

If you know me well you know why…

Now however. I plan my days and weeks.1/4ly and 12/12 plans now lay upon my desk.

I watched a You Tube a friend on Facebook had shared. Because of who she is I watched it.

Amazing!

It presented the concept of finding what you are passionate about and doing that very thing. Don’t worry about making money, do what you love.

Eventually you will become expert and people will seek out your expertise and pay for it.

But if you work for pay then you will find yourself on an endless treadmill of nothingness and boring repetition, which sadly will then be passed onto the next generation. After all where did we get it from?

I have gone on to make Executive Decisions which I am now seeking to implement.

These were my 2 questions:

How can we become closer as a family? (Every family wants this, right?)

And

How can I feel this spirit more?

The one answer for both of these questions, was to

Search the Scriptures with diligence.

Joshua showed me that the answers are all there. Just waiting to be found…

 

 

A Mormon Guide to Love

How was Valentines Day for you?

Were you surrounded by chocolates you didn’t need to eat? But you ate them anyway, didn’t you?

Is your home and office cluttered with now wilting roses and other flowers someone thought you would love?

Are you flashing diamonds the family budget cannot realistically stretch to?

What was it for? What was it all about…

It’s meant to be about love. L O V E.

Check out this great article about what love is to us.  Kathryn writes ‘It’s the lens through which Mormons view their most personal relationships’.

Visit her Blog to read more great articles.

BYU Women’s Conference 2013

Exciting news. BYU Women’s Conference is now on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

@byuwomensconf on Twitter. Pinterest.com/byuwcservice

I love LOVE the scriptural theme D & C 100:12 A great way to live! In fact I think I will adopt it for this year.

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silver linings.

I’ve been teaching myself some new skills. This (the below image)is not quite right but close…and it is my first.

I wanted to share that even though I have not been here in a while I have not forgotten. I will be here regularly from now on.

I have been thinking a great deal about silver linings. The tender mercies, the circumstances or events we may refer to as small miracles. Are there really small miracles?  Here in Australia we have had sizzling heat and bush fires; cyclones and associated rains; which have caused massive destruction.  Homes, property, livestock and lives have been lost. Only 2 summer’s ago we, here in Queensland, had the same experience with flooding.  More or less.

The silver lining to all this is John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let your heart be not troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The Peach is, in Chinese culture, symbolic of eternity, longevity. The Peach in an Australian summer is juicy and delicious.

Are we insulated?

In the light of the tragic events in Newtown Connecticut I find my thoughts have moved to other aspects of Christmas. The real aspects of Christmas.

Like all of you I was shocked at the news, shocked at the details as they came to light. Saddened to see the beautiful children. Heartbroken for the families of the little boys and girls. My thoughts turned to the 6 and 7-year-old children I know. Of those a little older and a little younger.

‘Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—’ Mosiah 18:9

I was saddened that there was no comfort sought for the Newtown families in any prayers yesterday at church.  There was no mention at all.  Not a word. We were encouraged to observe then serve as per the request of Sister Linda K. Burton at the October General Conference Session of Relief Society. 

Surely, there is much to observe.

Finally, the Relief Society teacher asked if we, as a people are insulated?

We seem to be. Very. Too much.

No mention of the people of Samoa who have just come through Hurricane Evan. They have lost much and the temple is damaged again.

Now the Hurricane has hit Fiji.

No mention of the heart-broken young parents, grandparents families, friends or community of Newtown.

Yet, somehow we have to move on from the shock and horror. Some how this little town will hold 26 funerals during this, the week before Christmas. I cannot not grasp that.

The Christmas trees will still sparkle, the gifts will remain wrapped. The cheer will hang in the air. The families will remember other Christmas seasons.

One day at a time they, and we will move forward. We can do this.

These beautiful children and their inspirational teachers have been called Home to God.
We are left here. What can we do?

Perhaps we might watch over our children a little more,  watch over all children. Not smother them. Just be a little more aware. A little more observant.

President Obama spoke at the Newtown Memorial Service. This is a Tweet from his address.

We can live in hope and faith. We can refuse to be broken by this and other such events. We can pray for comfort for these families. For our families.
Pray for courage for the national leaders who must address serious issues.

We can embrace what Christmas is about. Really about. 
It’s about the birth of a baby called Jesus. A baby who would grow and change the world. A man who would show us a better way. That would give us hope. That through the giving of His Life would show us that our lives will be eternal.
And in that we can know that these children yet live. We will all live. Just not here.           But not so far away.

Jesus said ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’

John 14:27 (Italics added)

Cry through your prayers, Light a candle, hold a hand, be brave and smile.                     Look to each other. Look to tomorrow. 

May we take a moment, or more to think of these suffering people who are facing the challenge that is this Christmas.

Called to Serve

Before the lower age was announced for sister’s (and Elders) at the October General Conference these Young Adults were to young to serve full-time missions. Now they have been sending in applications. Big time.

The Calls are coming for them to serve all across the world. Read more about Missionary Service. 

We look forward to more sisters here in Australia.

I have a most excited friend who recently received her call. Sister Sam will be dynamic. 

A Facebook Page ‘Many Are Called..But Few Are Sisters‘ has been created. More than 2400 have joined. If you have your papers in, or are making an application then hop over and join.

Recently a group of these faithful excited Newly Called Missionaries gathered in Temple Square.

Kathryn over at ‘A Well Behaved Mormon Woman‘ has more details.