My notes from two special meetings

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend two wonderful meetings.

My stake hosted a wonderful Women's Conference on Saturday morning. The theme was "Live Like You Believe". We watched this moving video, with photos set to the inspiring words by Jenny Phillips (really, go watch it, it's a beautiful song). I attended a great mini-class called "Imperfect Parents Setting the Perfect Example". The biggest lesson that I took home was the importance of daily prayer and scripture study. Those two practices are so essential, since it is impossible to do everything that we would like to perfectly. Prayer and the words of Christ will help us focus on the right priorities. Ideally, I should be making time for prayer and scripture study first thing in the morning, to help me throughout my day.

Sunday morning our stake had a special stake conference, presided over by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. It was a very nice meeting. Our stake president and his wife spoke, teaching about the importance of the scriptures, specifically the Book of Mormon. The Orlando Temple President and Matron both spoke about attending the temple and the blessings of it.

Elder Larry Lawrence of the second quorum of the seventy then spoke. He taught that the most important message coming from the leading brethren of the church is strengthening families. He referred to Elder Oaks talk "Good, Better, Best" (go read it again, it is excellent!). Elder Lawrence focused his remarks on strengthening families and the "fundamental 5" things that families should do: family prayer, family scripture study, family home evening, family dinner, and one-on-one time with children and with spouse.

Then Elder Russell M. Nelson spoke. He also spoke about the responsibilities of parents and the things that we should be teaching our children: about Jesus Christ and the atonement and resurrection, about prophets, about the priesthood, about the temple, etc. He said to keep trying to have family prayer and scripture study, even if it's not a "howling success". And, don't quit just because of "more than a little howling".

Elder Nelson emphasized this scripture from Isaiah: "And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children" (Isaiah 54:13). The most touching part of the meeting was when he had all of the Primary aged children stand up and sing I Am a Child of God. It was very tender moment, and I know I wasn't the only one in the room with wet eyes. The Ant Bug stood on her chair and sang her heart out.

He closed his remarks with an apostolic blessing. What a special blessing to have an apostle of the Lord speak to us in our chapel. We waited in line for about 30 minutes after the meeting to shake Elder Nelson's hand.

I am thankful for the opportunity I had this weekend to be so thoroughly enriched and taught by the Spirit.