Sunday Thoughts

Oh my goodness, I have A LOT of catching up to do after these past few days of our Women's Conference weekend, but it's totally fitting that my first post back is a Sunday Thoughts post, because I am on a serious spiritual high!


Sister Beck's talk at the opening session of Women's Conference set the tone for the entire conference and brought the Spirit so strongly that I have felt tender and in-tune ever since. What a gift this has been for our weekend. It has meant that we have had great conversations, spiritual insights, and we all have a firm resolve to step up our "game" as a wives, mothers, leaders, visiting teachers, friends, and people in general.


I don't recall my heart ever feeling this full before. My soul feels lighter and stronger, full of goodness and a desire to serve. I want to ALWAYS feel like this and would like everyone else to be able to feel like this as well.

I wish I had the transcript from her talk, but for now these are the notes I managed to write down...I seriously couldn't write fast enough to keep up with all the amazing things she said.

• We should strengthen and lift not just ourselves and our ward members, but the world.
• We know what we're supposed to do.
• What is your mission?
• We are here to develop ourselves and the kingdom of God.
• Taking care of our posterity takes precedence over all other things.
• Rebekah from the Old Testament knew how to receive revelation.
• We are pivotal to the history of our families.
• We have the power to know God's will for us.
• We have access to blessings of the Holy Ghost, priesthood power and spiritual gifts.
• Go to the temple and pay attention to how things happen, the blessing given and by who?
• The power to receive revelation is the greatest gift we can have.
• Being able to feel the Lord's spirit and influence is the best education we can have.
• We have to know our responsibilities and how to fill those.
• We can increase our faith and personal righteousness.
• Seek out and help those in need.
• We have responsibilities as women and a Relief Society.
• The Lamanite mothers were strong and taught their families so they did not doubt.
• Mothers are a lioness at the gate. If we believe in something we make it happen (i.e., paying tithing, family home evening, church attendance, missionary preparation).
• Devote your life to preparing kids for missions.
• We must prioritize so that we're focusing on what's most important.
• Essential Things--know the mind and will of God. (Prayer, scripture study, share the gospel, give service, attend the temple.
  
• Necessary Things--make a home where the Spirit can dwell (Make mealtimes a place a togetherness and teaching, be a comfort to your husband, be self-reliant).
  
• Nice Things--all the extra stuff. (Lunch with girl friends, pleasure reading, hobbies.)
  
• There is cumulative power in spending time daily in the scriptures.
• Take a pencil and paper with you when praying so you can record impressions you receive.
• Ponder, fast and pray.
• The swing shift (late afternoon when kids and husband return home) is the most important time of day for us as mothers. We should safe guard this time and be prepared so that we are in good form to listen, advise, nurture and love as needed. This is a time of strength and power. If we have used our energy elsewhere we won't have it to give where it is needed most.
• Prioritize our days so we know where our energy is being spent.
• Wards were not meant to be Single or Family wards, we are ALL part of a ward family.
• Visiting teaching will save us in days to come.
• Visiting teachers are first responders.
• We are part of a RELIEF Society.
• Write in the front of a Book of Mormon
• 1. Who am I?
• 2. What are my responsibilities?
• 3. How do I fulfill those?
• Power and strength will come to us as we are mindful of these questions as we read the Book of Mormon.
• We don't always see the outcome of our efforts.
• Our lives are an investment.
• We must have a powerful faith.
• Keeping worldly influences at bay is a constant work.

This is a lot to process, but I love how Sister Beck tells it like it is and doesn't sugar coat things. She spoke with a sense of urgency and basically called us to action as sisters. I plan to review my notes regularly, evaluate the areas I need to improve in, and am going to set goals for myself so I can change my ways.

**Thoughts??**

Comment Window Tidbit: It was so wonderful that today was Testimony Meeting at church. I thought I was going to burst if I didn't go up and share some of my thoughts...I love it when that happens.