Time once again for Women's Conference. What can I say - it was very much needed? It was also a great way to put the pain of losing away. I went this year with my friend, Chandee. This was her first year. This year the theme was "By Small and Simple Things are Great Things Brought to Pass" (Alma 37:6-7). Just the theme was a great reminder for me. So here are the class descriptions and a few notes on what I learned.
* Opening Session: "By Small and Simple Things" - Virginia H. Pearce - Former counselor, Young Women general presidency; mother, grandmother; author.
- Keep it small; keep it simple; give it time - time can make large things become simple.
- Our small and simple choice to pray unlocks God's ability to help us.
- When things are at their absolute worse, that's when they become the best.
- By repeating over and over is when we learn and become a new person.
- The miracle of prayer is the miracle of building a relationship with God.
- We may not be granted with what we desire, but we do end up grateful for what we are given.
* "Ideals are Stars to Steer By; They are Not A Stick to Beat Ourselves With" -- Barbara B. Smith. The Church is not "a well-provisioned rest home for the already perfected" (Elder Neal A. Maxwell. How do we keep a healthy perspective on our weaknesses do we keep a healthy perspective on our weaknesses while striving for the eternal ideal? In what ways can the Atonement help us live a happy life while in our imperfect state? How do we resist the tendency to beat ourselves up when we fall short?
*Barbara Thompson - Second counselor, Relief Society general presidency; former executive director of charitable organization for abused/neglected children; social work degrees from BYU, University of Utah.
- Are you comparing your faults with others' strengths? The result is to become bitter not better.
- How do we resist the tendency to be at ourselves up when we fall short?
- Prioritize - strive for one or two things at a time instead of all at once.
- How do we keep a healthy perspective on our weaknesses while striving for the eternal ideal?
- Expound the scriptures for yourself; seek for wisdom instead of power; use the Holy Spirit.
- In what ways can the Atonement help us live a happy life while in our imperfect state?
- Repent, humble yourself, come unto Christ, invite Him in, remember the sacrament prayers.
* Cecil O. Samuelson - Member, First Quorum of the Seventy; president, Brigham Young University; husband, father, grandfather.
- Heavenly Father did not send us here to punish us.
- perfect = complete, fully developed
- In our desires to encourage and guide, we must remember one size does not fit all.
- Be sure to find acceptance in small, simple steps.
- Jesus told us to be meek, not masochistic; be aware of weaknesses, but do not make them excuses.
- We must be diligent, also realistic in our weaknesses and strengths.
- The timing is handled by the Lord, not by us.
* "We Don't Need More Women of the World, We Need More Women of God" (Sister Margaret D. Nadauld). Sister Nadauld said, "Women of God can never be like women of the world." she also said we need more women who are tender, kind, and refined and more women of faith, goodness, virtue, and purity. How can we reside the pull of the world, reflect righteousness, and be "distinct and different" from the women of the world? How does our example impact the young women in our lives? In what ways can we teach young women to become more faithful, virtuous daughter of God?
* Ann M. Dibb - Second counselor, Young Women general presidency; wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, homemaker, friend.
- Look up talk from October 2000 conference - The Joy of Womanhood
- We determine our legacy.
- Ultimate example = the Savior.
- How do we become so good?
- Be obedient
- Be teachable
- Be the example
- Work, pray, be worthy of, and respond to the promptings of the Holy Ghost
- Be strong and of good courage
- The true test comes when you make a mistake and have to be humble.
* Mary N. Cook - First counselor, Young Women general presidency; wife, stepmother, grandmother, great-grandmother.
- Look at your desires - if you desire enough you do have the ability.
- Identity = We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us and we love Him
- This knowledge changes everything, gives us purpose and confidence; the devil is working hard against it.
- Testimony - We will stand as witnesses of God at all times, in all things, in all places.
- No one receives a testimony all at once.
- Pray morning and night.
- Read the Book of Mormon 5 minutes a day.
- Obey the commandments.
- Smile.
- Spirit - As we strive to live the Young Women values.
- Do everything we can to make our lives ready for the Spirit.
- Values and standards must be taught and do not ignore them.
* "Who Can Understand? He, Only One" (Hymns, no. 129): Blessings of Adversity. No one is exempt from adversity, and sometimes our adversities seem to last for more than a "small moment" (D&C 121:7). how can truth, joy and hope come even though there are difficult challenges in life? In what ways can we access the Atonement when our burden seems too great to bear? How do our trials help to strengthen our testimonies and teach us lessons we wouldn't otherwise learn?
* Annette Anderson - Wife, mother; member, Oakcreast LDS Girls Camp administrative committee; has come to recognize that blessings accompany the storms of life and are available to all who embrace faith and acknowledge that God is in charge.
- Sometimes at the moment we feel at our end, we are given an assignment to push us further.
- Often times we are afraid to share our joys and sorrows, which may be the very thing we need to do.
- Be grateful for the adversities in your life.
- WE ARE WORTHY TO BE CALLED HIS DAUGHTERS.
* Geri Suzuki - Mother, grandmother, sister, friend; former ward and stake Relief Society president and seminary teacher; current gospel doctrine teacher; retired from healthcare management field.
- Have you ever wondered if we lost our minds as we shouted for joy?
- We have nothing to help each other with except our stories.
- Our challenges are intended for our unique and individual learning.
- These adversities are only temporary experience. What we become as a result of these adversities are what we need to focus on.
* The Legacy of Relief Society
* John S. Tanner - Newly called mission president; former BYU academic vice president; father, grandfather.
- Most of the numerable great ones are women.
- To save, to serve, to sanctify.
- Cherish your opportunities.
* Susan W. Tanner - Former Young Women general president; mother, grandmother; sharing call to mission presidency with her husband.
- The purpose of Relief Society is to save souls.
- We are taught that we need to hold our tongues.
- Welcome the task that is beyond your comfort zone.
Friday
* Julie B. Beck - Relief Society general president; wife, mother, grandmother.
- Learned from history of Relief Society:
- Strengthens who we are.
- The identity the Lord gives us is in direct contrast to that of the world.
- It's all about nurturing, influencing, and teaching.
- We do not get to pass the responsibilities we are given.
- Relief Society is a restoration of a pattern that existed anciently.
- Understanding this helps us understand we are not a footnote in history.
- Relief Society, when functioning properly, is a manifestation of charity.
- Charity is what we do, who we are, and what we are becoming.
- With strong faith we can triumph; faith is what heals us.
- We have and live with an inseparable connection with the Priesthood.
- Don't confuse the power of the keys and the offices.
- Until the history of who we are is in our hearts, we won't be as strong as we need to be.
* "The Divine Gift of Gratitude" (President Thomas S. Monson). We are commanded to thank the Lord in all things (D&C 59:7). Even in adversity we can see blessings unmeasured. President Monson has urged us to live with gratitude daily and to "think to thank." How do we cultivate a grateful heart instead of thinking about what we lack? In what ways does remembering help us become more grateful and take less for granted?
* Nora K. Nyland - Director of dietetics program and associate professor of nutrition, dietetics, and food science, BYU; stake mission preparation teacher.
- An attitude and expression of gratitude protects us.
- What does your sustained ingratitude do to you?
- Our liking of a gift should never become more important than our relationship with the giver.
- Be grateful for the things that ease during the things you can't change.
- Feeling and acting on gratitude blesses us; expressing our gratitude blesses others.
* Janet Priday Peer - Wife, mother, grandmother; former ward Relief Society president; currently counselor in stake Relief Society presidency.
- We appreciate things more often when we don't have them.
- Blessed are those that give without remembering and those who receive without forgetting.
- To Cultivate Divine Gratitude:
- Time, thought, and effort.
- The power of thank you notes.
- Until you learn to be grateful for what you have you won't receive what you want.
- Being grateful makes you richer.
- Pay attention to the details.
- Each day can bring more joy than sorrow if we open our mortal and human eyes.
- Gratitude is a principal of miracles.
- Gratitude for the Atonement.
- Utmost gratitude should be expressed to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
- Sacrament is the ultimate reason for the Church and the gospel.
* "Choose the Right because It Is Right Even When It Is Hard" (Elder D. Todd Christofferson). There are situations and decisions in life when we want to say, like Nephi's brothers, "it is a hard thing" (1 Nephi 3:5). The world wants us to believe that truth and morals are relative. How can we strengthen our moral discipline? How do we develop courage and faith? How can we be prepared to rise up and do hard things?
* Chris Dyson - Educator; teacher at Utah State prison; winner of numerous local and national teacher awards; presented on character and service in US, Canada, and China
- The Gospel can always be your true north.
- You can do hard things.
- Understand what you can be and you will choose what is right, even when it is hard.
- Tell yourself you are beautiful and smart.
- To degrade yourself is to degrade God because you are in His image. Jewish Kabbalah.
- If you were to talk to your friends the way you talk to yourself, you wouldn't have any friends.
- BE KIND AND GENTLE WITH YOURSELF.
- Be careful what words you use for yourself, your subconsciousness doesn't distinguish in your mind.
- Make sure you understand what is truly important.
- Don't fill your time with stuff.
* Shaunna Thompson - Bishop's wife, mother, grandmother; vocalist, pianist, professional actress.
- Are you compelled to be good or do you do good because it is right?
- You can learn to do right just because isn't right.
- Do not fear man more than God.
- Decide what you will and will not do and stick to it like a lifeboat.
- Ask your Heavenly Father to be with you:
- Move on after you make the decision.
- Don't apologize for your standards.
- When making right choices, it doesn't matter how you get to those decisions as long as you get there.
- Without a test, there is no testimony.
- Do your best and don't beat yourself up.
- We are all a work in progress.
* Treasuring and Delighting in the Scriptures. The scriptures have the power to help us "resist evil, hold fast to the good, and find joy in this life" (President Ezra Taft Benson). Yet sometimes scripture study feels daunting, repetitive, or we just don't know where to start. How can we get more from our study? How can it become an exciting daily habit? How can the Preach My Gospel manual and other scriptural resources make our studies more effective and allow the Spirit to teach us?
* Rosemary R. Lind - BA, BYU; mother of eight; former ward Relief Society president; wife of obstetrician who serves on a Church humanitarian committee; currently on a Church curriculum writing committee.
- We can help each other.
- Learning to enjoy the scriptures is a lifelong process.
- Approach the Lord with confidence when you are doing this.
- Understand the language of the Spirit.
- Write down what you are learning.
- We cannot be casual.
- Step back and immerse yourself in what you are doing; are you caught in the thick of thin things.
- Keep eyes on long-term goals.
- Give incentives.
- Help learn the prophets always testify of Christ.
- We choose how effective our scripture study will be.
- If you give the Lord an hour, He'll give you two.
* Kaye Hanson - Mother, grandmother; former professor of organizational leadership and strategy, BYU; former associate director of the BYU Jerusalem Center and member, Young Women General Board; recently returned from serving mission in Europe.
- Learning from the scriptures is opening our soul to the Spirit.
- WHY?
- increase testimony
- it is a commandment
- cleanse your soul
- find answers to your prayers
- work with us in ways we can't expect
- because of the content, principles, and stories
- HOW?
- approach with a humble, teachable heart.
- what if we never knew
- commitment and conversation
- learn it's a witness; with a purpose
- with Thanksgiving
- discussion and testimonies with each other
- apply to yourself
- with a certain topic in mind
- read with new eyes (reading in different language)
- all thy children shall be taught of the Lord
- accompany with prayer
- set time - morning minds are rested and cleansed
* Susan K. Bednar - Wife, mother, grandmother
- Don't let your pride get in the way of receiving and acting on your answers
- it is the small and simple things that do make the difference
* Elder David A. Bednar - Member, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; husband, father, grandfather.
- The Lord administers little by little.
- Small and simple things will bring forth extraordinary results.
- If we are focused on doing the small things will strengthen us.
- spiritual preparedness cannot be given in an instant.
- Deliberate and consistent preparation fill our wells.
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