April 2015 General Conference

We viewed General Conference a week late, due to the time change between Utah and Tokyo. We could have watched it live via internet, but that would have meant Saturday's 10 a.m. session would have begun Sunday at 1 a.m., etc., so our ward had regular church services on Easter Sunday and then showed General Conference the following weekend. We watched Saturday's sessions in our apartment on the laptop, due to Bruce being down with a bad cold and cough. On Sunday I walked to the Church with the sister missionaries to watch with the ward, leaving Bruce home to rest and continue to recover. They showed the morning session at 10 and the afternoon session at 1 p.m., with only an hour in between, during which time we had an informal potluck with soup, sandwiches, and a few tastes of Japanese food some of the missionaries had brought.

I had seen and/or read some of the talks, but hadn't viewed complete sessions yet. And I was struck by one powerful address after another, especially Sunday morning. I loved Sister Wixom's and Elder Nielson's talks about those who had temporarily lost their way -- Elder Nielson referring to his sister: "Although we could not embrace all of her choices, we could certainly embrace her."

I can't wait until the Church makes a Mormon Messages video about Elder Holland's rock climbing story! (I'd have liked more details about how John managed to get on top of that ledge...!) And then of course, Elder Holland's always eloquent messages: "...today is Easter Sunday. Although we should always remember (we promise in our weekly sacramental prayers that we will), nevertheless this is the most sacred day of the year for special remembrance of brotherly hands and determined arms that reached into the abyss of death to save us from our fallings and our failings, from our sorrows and our sins."

I loved the image President Uchtdorf shared: Grace unlocks the gates of heaven and opens the windows of heaven.  "Are we like Simon? Are we confident and comfortable in our good deeds, trusting in our own righteousness? Are we perhaps a little impatient with those who are not living up to our standards? Are we on autopilot, going through the motions, attending our meetings, yawning through Gospel Doctrine class and perhaps checking our cell phones during sacrament service? ..... or do we love much? .... Salvation cannot be bought with the currency of obedience; it is purchased by the blood of the Son of God. Thinking that we can trade our good works for salvation is like buying a plane ticket and then supposing we own the airline. Or thinking that after paying rent for our home, we now hold title to the entire planet earth."

From Elder Pearson in Sunday afternoon's session: "Search the Book of Mormon and the words of the living prophets every day, every day, every day!" And I loved Elder Ringwood's talk on Satuday about doing good without being motivated by "...praise or accolades. These men and women are not motivated by the possibility of receiving titles or authority. They are disciples of Christ, going about doing good continually, and like Shiblon, they are trying to please their Father in Heaven."

I could go on and on, but you know.  And you know where to find it all, too! :-) Love the miracle of technology that today makes the world so small. And I'm so grateful to be taught and inspired by the scriptures and modern prophets!