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Conference Weekend

This weekend was a busy one. Thursday and Friday we had out Planning Conference in Lehi. It was pretty good. Most things that they present there are a review for me, but it's nice to have that review. And of course there are new things presented as well, and it's always a good chance to hear what other folks are doing. The problem was the drive down - it took forever! Well, an hour and 15... which felt like forever! I'm not used to the lengthy commute any more. It was fun to see people I'd known while I was in Utah before and catch up with some of them and what they're doing.

Saturday and Sunday was General Conference. I am always so happy to hear from our Church leaders and receive additional light and knowledge and Spirit. This past weekend was particularly memorable because of the three new Apostles that were called. It's always a bit dramatic to see who will get called, and I really loved hearing their testimonies Sunday AM. I also really appreciated Elder Bednar's talk on Sunday PM, where he paid tribute to the six brethren who had passed since he was sustained as an Apostle.

President Monson did well, too, although he's clearly not in the best of health. The Priesthood Session was good, and he did fairly well, talking about how we need to just simply keep the commandments (seems easy enough, right?!?)... But Sunday AM, he looked very tired and it made me sad. These guys wear out their lives in the service of all of us - in the service of God - and it obviously takes a toll. It makes me want to be better, to give more of myself, and to qualify for the blessings that are attendant with such service. I'm not yet the man I want to be, but I'm working on it.

I've also taken to heart the idea of "ponderizing". I can't remember the member of the Seventy who spoke to this, but I love the idea of having my thoughts focused and refocused on things of a spiritual nature. I am going to pick a verse from my personal reading each Monday and make that my week's "ponderize" verse. This week, I've been reading in 1st Nephi, and the verse is from chapter 6, where Nephi talks about the fullness of his intent is to bring souls to God. I am led to wonder - what motivates me? Why do I do what I do? The planning conference included a session on conflict resolution, and one of the quotes stated that once a person's motives become suspect, everything that person does is tainted. I hope my motives are only ever the highest and most pure.

And that was the overarching message I got from Conference this weekend - that God wants us to love each other and take care of one another. It was not a new message, of course, but it makes me happy to think of how we are to follow Christ in this manner. I hope I can do better at that.

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