In order to remember all the great things I learned at conference and to "catch the wave" of missionary work I am going to review the conference talks one by one. Yay! So first up is President Boyd K Packer from the Saturday Morning session.
President Packer's poem is so full of insight and wit. From his poem I learned that I need to appreciate the joys of youth and use my time wisely, while at the same time I do not need to fear old age. When I am 88 I want to be able to testify of eternal truths as powerfully as President Packer did in conference. While at this point in my life I can say I know Jesus Christ lives and is our savior, and I can say I have received a witness from the Holy Ghost that Jesus Christ's church has been restored and the Book of Mormon is a true account of the Savior's divinity, I also know there is still room for increased understanding and application of this truth. The poem made me wonder how I can get from here to there in 64 years. Later in the talk President Packer talks about keeping the companionship of the Holy Ghost and learning how to receive and act on inspiration. I think that will be a vital part of my quest.
During his address President Packer shares a personal account involving local birds and a snake who invaded their nest. Through this story President Packer gave us an apostolic warning and invitation to strengthen our homes and families. The adversary is real and dangerous and attacking the family. President Packer taught us that Satan's goal is to weaken and destroy the family. I know this is true. In the media and even in politics there are people who are designing and plotting to destroy the family. Of course these people are not going to come out and say it. They are tricky and will tell you anything you want to hear to get you to believe even just one lie. President Packer teaches that Satan tempts us to misuse our moral agency.
God has revealed his will through prophets, ancient and modern, concerning the family and it's utmost importance in the eternal plan of salvation for God's children. I have been so blessed by having a father and a mother who love me and each other and who work to make a Christ-centered home. I love how President Packer describes the role of fathers and mother, who can create a refuge for their children from the weary world. I hope I can be this kind of mother.
"There are few things more powerful than the faithful prayers of a righteous mother"
"Tolerance is a virtue, but like all virtues, when exaggerated, transforms itself into vice." I love this! President Packer shares the story of Jesus Christ telling the woman accused of adultery to "go and sin no more". This story is one of tolerance and mercy and forgiveness but it does not mean it's ok to commit adultery. We cannot justify sin in the name of tolerance. President Packer tells us that spiritual consequences have always and will always accompany breaking God's law of chastity even if the laws of land permit it. I think this principle very much applies recent themes in government and the media. Breaking the law of chastity, or any other commandment really, destroys families. (For more information on The Law of Chastity click here)
"Be careful of the tolerance trap."
President Packer also mentions some wonderful simple truths from the Plan of Salvation.
We are spirit children of Heavenly Parents.
We have been sent to earth to be tested and to gain a mortal body.
Spirits with mortal bodies have power over beings who do not.
We are free to choose our acts, but we are not free to choose the consequences.
I know these things are true and that President Packer is an apostle of Jesus Christ and we will be blessed by acting on the counsel he gives us. Someways we can apply this conference talk to our lives might be praying daily for the companionship of the Holy Spirit, starting or improving regular Family Home Evening, sharing your testimony of the Plan of Salvation with a friend, studying Virtue and Chastity in the scriptures, and/or recording in your journal goals and plans for strengthening your home and family.
