BYU Women's Conference

Sister Beck welcomed us to Women's Conference on Thursday morning with words of wisdom. She told us to, "listen to what the spirit teaches you" and she pointed out that the spirit might teach something than words spoken in the various sessions. She encouraged to jot down our own thoughts that come to us during the classes, and to hearken - meaning to both listen and obey.

Sister Dew was the opening speaker. Her talk was encouraging and reminded me of one of Ken's favorite quotes:

Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency. Remember that our sons and grandsons are going to do things that would stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty. Think big.
Daniel Burnham, Chicago architect. (1864-1912)

The most powerful message that Sister Dew shared was in the way she expressed her love for the sisters in the room, and sisters in the gospel in general. One of my YW's counsellors has told me that when I teach combined YW's lessons it is my telling the young women how I love them that is the best part of the lesson, and now I see that is so true.

April, Tiffany, Kelly, and I spent the rest of Thursday rushing from class to class, crossing the entire campus several times, not stopping to eat, trying to get the most out of our experience that day. Though I continued to take notes, and the classes we attended were of value, the frenzy and low blood sugar took a toll, diminishing my learning.

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Jot notes from Thursday:

• Think of your life as a ministry.
• Coming unto Christ means walking away from the world.
• "contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it" (words of Amulek in Alma 34:38). Why would we/do we fight the spirit?
• We can tune in to the Holy Ghost much the same way that we learn as young mothers to tune in to our babies cries. We can be that familiar with the still small voice.
  

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I took more copious notes in Sister Matsumori's session I'll Know the Scriptures Are True:

Just as we need to change the sizes and styles of clothing we provide for our children as they grow, keeping our children spiritually clothed with family scripture study requires changes in sizes (time) and styles of approach to this important habit. We don't necessarily need to read together for 15 minutes at 6am every day of our children's lives. In fact it may be more helpful to be sensitive to the changes in the children and the family and make continuous adjustments.

What 'fits' once won't necessarily always fit, but like we wouldn't give up buying clothes for children as they grow, we shouldn't give up on spiritually clothing our children either.

Some variety of styles for family scripture study:

• Everyone submit a few of their favorite scriptures on a slip of paper, placing all the scriptures together in a jar. Draw out one scripture to read together a day.
• Make a scripture mural.
• Use scripture readers.
• Make sure everyone has a pencil to mark their scriptures as you read together.
• Give a candy to the first child who can say the next word as you leave off reading to encourage silently following along. (this one might just cause contention)
• Study from start to finish of a book.
• Study topically, teach how to use the topical guide. (Sister Matsumori has a combined Bible and Book of Mormon index/topical guide that is bound in a book looking like the same covers as the scriptures available throughout the church. I looked online and phoned Distribution Services this morning, and they've never heard of it. It may be something available in foreign countries outside the U.S. and Canada. If anyone tracks this down let met know.)
• Read the Bible Dictionary.
• Have the same scripture verse/verses for a whole week.
• Text the weekly scripture to your teen.
• As a quiet activity in sacrament meeting give your own scriptures and a notebook to your child and have them copy out verses you have marked - one per page. As they get older they can fill in the rest of the page with their own understanding or feelings about that specific scripture reference. (I guess this was just a scripture study idea, not necessarily for family scripture time, but I think Chloe will love doing this.

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I made notes on some thoughts that April shared with me as we were talking (uh-oh not listening during a session). April commented that we are here to develop our spirits, and how we sometimes get so distracted with the idea of being here to develop our bodies. April's ward had a speaker come in to talk to the YW about body image. She talked about watching a dog walker walking 3 dogs at once. She told the girls that she didn't think that the Chihuahua was wishing it had the greyhound's legs and that the greyhound wasn't wishing it had the thick long hair of the St. Bernard, and that the St. Bernard didn't wish it was little like the Chihuahua! They are just happy that their bodies are working for them and getting them to where they are going!

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Thursday evening the four of us went to Cafe Rio for dinner and then headed back to campus for the service opportunities. Taking the time for dinner was essential, but we did miss most of the service activities. There are online resources for the Thursday evening sharing stations and service projects that would be a great resource for enrichment leaders.

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On Friday Tiffany left us for a family funeral that day, and a family wedding the next day. It was fun to get to know you Tiffany! April, Kelly, and I took a very different approach to the conference sessions the second day. We were tired from Thursday and we wanted to have good seats for the closing session with President Monson, so we stayed in the Marriott Center the whole day. (Something Tiffany had mentioned as a strategy on Thursday???) By eliminating the frenzy of rushing across campus to get to another session we had a calmer spirit (and time to eat). I felt spiritually renewed and fortified by the end of Friday in a way that I didn't feel the first day.

Sister Beck was the opening speaker Friday morning. When Sister Beck was a child her father was called to serve as Mission President for Brazil. Her mother became the first Relief Society President in that country, and Sister Beck shared her mother's story of the first Relief Society meeting in Brazil. From that story Sister Beck taught that there is still so much work to be done, and it's "not fancy". We can't decorate it or center it around holidays, we just have to do it. I appreciated Sister Beck's comments on her own choices to serve. She said that since she became General Relief Society President her mother in law has said to her, "Don't they know you need some time to yourself?" and so forth. Finally Sister Beck told her mother in law, "I am they!" She told a story about her own pioneer ancestor's sacrifices and said, "Our pioneer ancestors did not make sacrifices so that I can be comfortable. Have a nice pedicure. Have a nicer shopping mall." Sister Beck is a shining example of the work we have before us as LDS women and the influence we can make in our families, our church and the world.

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MTC As A Review

Going on a mission is not a rite of passage into adulthood. It is a privilege.
Before your mission learn to do hard things and handle uncomfortable situations.
Before your mission foster personal spiritual experience.
Faith is the heart of missionary work.
Obedience is the foundation of missionary work.
Before your mission gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith.
Learn the value of work.
Learn to get along with all kinds of people (even little sisters who burst into song) as preparation for good relationships with your missionary companions.
Have family gospel discussions and get comfortable talking about the gospel. Learn what your parents' feelings are about the gospel.
Learn a foreign language.
Practise optimism.

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My Body is a Temple

The key to modesty is understanding the gospel and combining that understanding with our agency. Modesty is about moderation, identity, and confidence. It is about the gospel principle of purity, an important quality when preparing to enter the temple.

"Our roles change, but our identity does not!"

"Not everyone is wearing it if you are not. And you are the most important one."

What really stood out to me in this class is that the topic was directed at primary leaders and parents of primary age children. I thought it was going to be a youth topic! (It is a youth topic, but not only a youth topic.) There was a great emphasis on parents as examples of modesty.

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President Monson was the concluding speaker of the conference. It was moving to hear him speak and to share a room with him. He told stories of the influence of specific women in his life and said, "Thank you for the selfless service you give so willingly. Such service provides the golden threads which run through the tapestry of your lives." He asked us to "find joy in the journey now," and to, "Pause occasionally and reflect on all that you do and have done."

President Monson paused to wave to each seating section before he left the building. Love can be expressed in the smallest of acts.