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| Faithful Latter-day Saint Women gather for Conference in spite of the rain |
What can I say? It was great.
I had to watch from my couch this time, as an illness kept me from attending at our Stake Center with the other women of Whitter. I was so grateful for BYU-TV! This broadcast brought such a great spirit into my home.
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| Accomplished women worthy of emulation |
I love getting together with the good ladies of our Whittier Stake, too. I missed out on that this time. We always have a great time together.
This broadcast was unique in that, in addition to the lovely choir in the Conference Center, there was also a children's choir that performed from Korea. There was also a beautiful video segment with women from all over the world bearing testimony of the power and importance of the Lord's Temples in their lives.
Their messages were powerful, timely, and extremely touching.
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| This wonderful choir of moms and daughters performed |
The choir that performed at the conference center consisted of a combined Primary, Young Women and Relief Society sisters from stakes in Magna, Hunter and Taylorsville, Utah. The choir's wonderful renditions (I particularly enjoyed a hymn medley they performed) were lovely and uplifting.
You can hear them, and the beautiful Korean Children's choir, here:
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| Sister Neill F. Marriott Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency |
“Do you know how important you are? Every one of you — right
now — is valuable and essential in Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation,” Sister Neill F. Marriott said when it was her turn to speak. “We have a work to do. We know the truth of the restored gospel. Are we
ready to defend that truth? We need to live it; we need to share it. We must
stand firm in our faith and lift our voices to proclaim true doctrine.”
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| Sister Jean A. Stevens First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency |
"If we are to receive all the blessings God so generously offers, our earthly path must lead to the temple," Sister Stevens reminded us. "Temples are an expression of God's love. He invites us all to come, learn of Him, feel His love and receive the priesthood ordinances necessary for eternal life with Him. Each covenant is made one by one. Every mighty change of heart matters to the Lord - and it will make all the difference to you."
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| President Linda K. Burton Relief Society General President |
“Though this parable refers to being prepared for the Second
Coming of our Savior, we could also liken it to being prepared for temple
blessings, which can be like a spiritual feast for those who are well
prepared.”
The parable, found in Matthew 25, recounts the story of five
wise virgins and five foolish ones. The wise took oil in their vessels. The
foolish had no oil and could not meet the bridegroom when he came.
Sister Burton told the congregation that as they consider
the parable as a pattern for temple preparation, they must also consider the
words of a latter-day prophet, who taught that the oil of spiritual
preparedness cannot be shared.
“President Spencer W. Kimball helped clarify why the five
wise young women could not share the oil in their lamps with those who were
foolish when he said, ‘Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps,
drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of
bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures – each act of
dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness,
payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thought and actions … these, too,
contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our
exhausted lamps.’ ”
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| The Parable of the Ten Virgins |
“We are reminded in the Bible Dictionary, ‘Only the home can compare with the temple in sacredness,’” she said. “Do our homes or apartments fit that description? … It may be worthwhile for us to check ourselves now and then to make sure our homes are places we are prepared to feel the Spirit. As we prepare our homes to be places where the Spirit is welcome, we will be prepared to feel more at home when we enter the House of the Lord.”
Sister Burton said because Latter-day Saints come to the
temple to receive eternal blessings, it should not surprise them that a higher
standard is required to qualify for those blessings.
Sister Burton added, “Can you see the pattern of
preparedness — drop by drop — that can help us as we think how we might be more
diligent in our preparation to receive sacred ordinances for ourselves and
others? What other small and simple things might we do to add precious
spiritual drops of oil to our lamps of preparation?”
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| The Los Angeles Temple |
She said personal worthiness is an essential requirement to
enjoy the blessings of the temple.
“World-class athletes and university doctoral students spend
hours and days and weeks and months and even years of preparation,” she said.
“Daily drops of preparation are required of them to come out on top. Likewise,
those who wish to qualify for exaltation in the celestial kingdom are expected
to live a higher standard of obedience that comes by practicing the virtue of
obedience day by day and drop by drop.”
President Uchtdorf of the First Presidency was the final speaker. He always has special messages for the women of the Church.
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| President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency |
"...Live the gospel joyful," President Uchtdorf challenged us. “Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings
upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these
blessings from reaching us.”
He reminded us that we need to trust in the saving power of Jesus Christ and keep His laws and commandments.
To watch this wonderful meeting yourself (whole, or in parts!) on-line, go to:
Print versions will also be available on-line through LDS.org by Wednesday.
-all photos from the Deseret News or LDS.org website
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