Priesthood Session:
The first talk that I had the opportunity to listen to for this session of Conference was Dallin H Oaks. Ironic that it was during the Priesthood Session as I have never watched it live. I felt like it was not only very timely, but a needed talk for some of the Sisters of the church. Interesting that it was the first one of the Priesthood Session. I have been following this whole "ordain women" movement taking place. I know people that are on both sides and I have not verbally or in written form said where I stand in all of this because I feel like this whole protest or movement has brought negative publicity to the church. I am not one of those sisters that is sympathetic to their cause.
Do I think it is bad to be outspoken? No, I don't think so. Are these sisters bad because of what they think? No. Does speaking out about your beliefs or desires bring about good? It can.
People say that if these Sisters had not spoken up the Priesthood session would not have started to be broadcast to all to watch rather than waiting for it to come out later online or in the Ensign. That may have sped up the process in broadcasting it. This protest has been compared to Blacks receiving the priesthood and even polygamy but really those issues were based on waiting on the Lord. I have never heard anything about women receiving the priesthood in the future or questioned the Lord in who is "ordained" to the priesthood. I feel that I understand their points as to why things should change when it comes to ordaining women. I personally feel that is not our mission in this life and I trust the Brethren and more importantly in the Lord. Could this change in the future, yes I suppose so, but I personally don't think it is part of His plan during this mortal life. If that changes I will learn my new responsibilities and do my best to uphold what the Lord expects and asks of me. As of right now I have plenty of things as a woman "unordained" that I can work on that can draw me closer to the Savior.
President Dallin H Oaks helped me think about my current and previous callings in a new light.
1) I love that he said that there is no up or down in church callings, there is only forward and backward. How true that is I think in everything that you do in life. You can be a CEO or a janitor - but your attitude, how you choose to work every day causes you to move forward or to move backward. Does the Lord really care what your job is? Not so much (so long as it is something that is not against his commandments).
2) I never thought about how when I am in a teaching role or any church calling where I am set apart by someone who is ordained and holds the priesthood that I hold the priesthood as well.
Another thing that I pondered that President Oaks mentioned was how we need to forget about our "rights" and focus on our "responsibilities". As a world we are so focused on our rights rather than our responsibilities what a better place this world would be if we changed that.
Other thoughts from talks that spoke to me...
Donald L Hallstrom:
"When we say, 'That is just the way I am,' we give up our ability to change."
"Commonly accepted practices in the world choke our priesthood power."
Randall L Ridd:
"As important it is to leave home fully charged on your cell phone, it is far more important to leave home fully charged spiritually."
President Dieter F Uchtdorf:
Are you sleeping through the restoration?
Do I seek self-service over selfless service? "Selfishness over selflessness skews our priorities"
Sunday Morning Session:
President Dieter F Uchtdorf:
See gratitude as a disposition.
Instead of being grateful FOR things - focus on being thankful IN our circumstances.
It means that "through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present day challenges."
"...We need to set aside the bottle of bitterness and instead drink from the goblet of gratitude".
Elder David A Bednar
Is the load I am carrying ...
1) producing the spiritual traction that is enabling me to press forward on the straight and narrow path and avoid getting stuck?
2) creating sufficient spiritual traction so I can safely get home to my Heavenly Father?
"We often mistakenly think that happiness is the absence of a load"
