Line Upon Line

I loved general conference and was touched by each and every speaker but my favorites were: Elder Holland, Bishop Edgley, President Uchtdorf (priesthood session) President Packer, and Elder Lawrence. I truly thank God for our prophet and general authorities in the church. Here are a few of my favorite quotes.

"Missionary service is a priesthood duty."

~Thomas S. Monson

"I am grateful for all the women of the church who in my life have been as strong as Mount Sinai and as compassionate as the Mount of Beatitudes."

~Jeffrey R. Holland

"The world will teach our children if we do not..."

~Rosemary M. Wixom

"The living prophet is receiving specific revelations for us.

~Claudio R.M. Costas

"A teacher's attitude is not taught; it's caught.

~David M. McConkie

"...honor is the rich soil in which the seed of faith thrives."

~D. Todd Christopherson

"There comes a time where milestones can become millstones and amibitions, albatrosses around our necks."

~Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Whenever we disobey, we spiritually paint ourselves into a corner and are captive to our choices.

~Robert D. Hale

"...honesty can play a significant role in establishing light and truth and improving society..."

~Quentin L. Cook

"I have never witnessed the removal of an actual mountain. But because of faith, I have seen a mountain of doubt and despair removed and replaced with hope and optimism."

~Richard C. Edgley

"Surely, one of the crowning blessings of membership in the church is the blessing of being led by living prophets of God."

~Kevin R. Duncan

"Infinite and eternal, only our Savior's Atonement transcends time and space to swallow up death, anger, bitterness, unfairness, loneliness and heartbreak."

~Gerrit W. Gong

"If we are not watchful, our injured, childlike spirit will retreat back into the cold, dark crust of our former bloated ego, leaving behind the warm, healing light of the Savior."

~Neil L. Andersen

"We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become..."

~Richard G. Scott

"Whether full-time missionaries or members, we should be good examples of the believers in Jesus Christ."

~Russel M. Nelson

"We find healing and relief only when we bring ourselves to the feet of the Great Physician, our Savior, Jesus Christ."

~Patrick Kearon

"Our homes have to be a place where the Holy Spirit dwells."

~Juan Uceda

"Pride is the great sin of self-elevation. It is for so many, a personal Rameumptom, a holy stand that justifies envy, greed and vanity.

~Dieter F. Uchdorf

"We cultivate spiritual gifts by keeping the commandments and trying to live a blameless life."

~Henry B. Eyring

"Decisions determine destiny."

~Thomas S. Monson

"God knows you each individually. He sends messages of encouragement, correction and direction fitted to you and your needs."

~Henry B. Eyring

"...moral standards cannot be changed by battle and cannot be changed by ballot."

~Boyd K. Packer

"The things of the Spirit are sacred and hard to express."

~Elder Jay E. Jensen

"Covenant keepers strive to be obedient at all times...and in all places."

~Mary N. Cook

"If personal religious practice relies too much on the priesthood line, individual growth suffers."

~Dallin H. Oaks

"We can lift ourselves and others as well as we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thoughts and cultivate within our hearts, an attitude of gratitude."

~Thomas S. Monson

"The priesthood you bear is a special gift, for the giver is the Lord Himself. Use it, magnify it and live worthy of it."

~L. Tom Perry

"Receiving the Holy Ghost starts with our sincere, constant desire for His companionship in our lives."

~David A. Bednar

"There are no perfect parents and no easy answers but there are principles of truth that we can rely on."

~Larry R. Lawrence

"Faith in Jesus Christ and following his teachings gives us a firm hope and this hope becomes a solid anchor to our souls."

~Per G. Malm

"What may appear to be of little importance, such as going to bed late, not praying for a day, skipping fasting or breaking the Sabbath--such little slips--will make us lose sensitivity, little by little, allowing us to do worse things."

~Jairo Mazzagardi

"...our kind, wise Heavenly Father has given us commandments not to restrict us, as the adversary would have us believe, but to bless our lives and to protect our good name and our legacy for future generations."

~Mervyn B. Arnold

"...there is hope for the addicted and this hope comes through the Lord Jesus Christ..."

~M. Russel Ballard

"We live in a troubled world, a world of many challenges. We are here on this earth to deal with our many challenges to the best of our ability, to learn from them, and to overcome them."

~Thomas S. Monson

My Thoughts of General Conference

General Conference is always a delight for me because it's such a spiritual experience to hear the words of our living apostles and prophet. It was especially exciting to hear of the upcoming building of five new temples because one of these temples is to be built where I served a mission (Fort Lauderdale Florida Mission). When I was called to serve a mission in 1977, the closest temple for the Florida Saints was in Washington DC. It was still quite a sacrifice to go to the temple for the Spanish Saints that I served in Miami and Hialeah. I can remember an Elder in our mission that was so excited about missionary work that he had this idea of making a model of a temple out of sugar cubes and for each baptism the missionaries had in our area, we would add sugar cubes to build this replica of a temple. It was quite motivating for the members of our ward, to invite their friends and neighbors to hear the gospel message in hopes that one day, there would be a temple in the area. Well that sugar cube temple has long gone but not the spirit of these wonderful saints for now there will be that long awaited temple in their area. What a blessing a temple will have for the saints of Southern Florida... Some might have said it was an impossible task to get a temple there but their dedication in living the gospel and sharing it with others has brought forth a wonderful blessing.

"Let us with faith, enthusiasm, dedication, responsibility,

and love do all that is within our reach,

and we will be doing all that is possible

to achieve the impossible—"

Jorge F. Zeballos

of the Seventy

". . .The Temple Will Touch Us"

I really enjoyed general conference this weekend. I especially felt the spirit by the speakers (Photo: St. Louis Missouri Temple) who talked about the temple. Some of my favorite quotes came from Gary E. Stevenson. He quoted President Monson when he said,

"As we touch the temple,

the temple will touch us."

I had never heard this quote and I googled it and found it at the Church News Site in reference to the Jordan River Temple dedication. It said, "early in the week, Elder Thomas S. Monson of the Quorum of the Twelve suggested deep spiritual meaning in the physical presence of the temple. President Monson recounted the late Elder Matthew Cowley’s story about a grandfather who took his small granddaughter on a birthday visit to the Salt Lake Temple grounds. With permission of the groundskeeper, they walked to the large doors of the temple. He suggested that she place her hand on the temple wall and then on the door, saying tenderly to her, “Remember that this day you touched the temple. One day you will enter this door.” His special gift to his granddaughter was an appreciation for the House of the Lord. Likewise, counseled Elder Monson, “As we touch the temple, the temple will touch us.”

I can remember reading a story some years ago about a little boy taking his little brother to the temple and having him touch it. I was so moved by that story that when we went to see my husband's sister, Donita, get married I had Angie and Jake touch the temple and told them how important the temple is.That day, "the temple truly touched me." I can also recall when I was a young girl, growing up in southern California, on occasion, we would go down to the Los Angeles area, whether it be for shopping or to visit cousins. Sometimes, we would be on the freeway that would pass the temple and my mother would say, "who can see the temple, who can see the temple." My brothers and sister and I would always look and try to pick out the angel Moroni amongst all the many buildings and when we'd see him, I was touched by the presence of the temple.

When we first moved to North Carolina, the closest temple was over 6 hours away in Washington DC. I can remember leaving my young family and going on a bus at 3:00am in the morning for couple of times a year and doing sessions all day Friday and Saturday. It was tiring yet so gratifying. Again, I was touched by the temple.

And then similarly, this past week when I visited the city of St. Louis with my daughter, Angie, we were so busy with finding her an apartment and going to her events that by the end of the trip when I was to take her to the airport, I realized that we didn't get to see the temple. We were visiting my sister-in-law's family in the area and as they told me how to get to the airport, they said we would pass the temple on the way there. My heart was excited. As we drove pass the temple, again, seeing the House of the Lord in it's beautiful, majestic stature, the temple touched me. I could tell, story after story where I felt that same, marvelous feeling but I'd like to tell Gary E. Stevens other quote and that is:

"You're never lost

when you can see the temple"

I pray I will stay close to the temple and always be touched by it. Also to rededicate myself to go more often.

LIFT WHERE YOU STAND

Mark & Jolinda with their whole family at Thorley Mountain

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I read Elder Uchdorf's talk this week, from the priesthood session of general conference. "Lift Where You Stand." It was so great! I feel that my brother has been a "lift" to me all through the years. When I was young he teased me so much I could hardly appreciate him, but as we both matured, he became a great example to me. I especially remember the time when I was desirous to go on a mission. I knew it was what I wanted to do but I needed a little encouragement. Mark was the one that helped me see that I could do it and what a great blessing my mission was for me. So, Mark, have a Happy 53rd Birthday.

". . .if we all stand close together

in the place the Lord has appointed

and lift where we stand,

nothing can keep this divine work

from moving upward and forward."

Elder Dieter Uchtdorf

LEARN TO LAUGH

I loved general conference this weekend. I always look forward to listening to the leaders of the church. One thing I like to do is pick my favorite talks out of all who spoke and its always so hard because I love them all. Anyway, here's my top three. First, I liked Elder Wirthlin because he was so funny. He talked about adversity. He told some funny personal stories and gave good advice from his mother. She always told him, "Come what may and love it." My favorite quote:

"Learn to laugh...

next time you're tempted to groan,

you might try to laugh instead.

It will extend your life

and make the lives of all those around you enjoyable."

Joseph B. Wirthlin

Second, I enjoyed Elder Ballard. He gave a history of the great and marvelous work of the restored gospel on the earth and the challenges of those people who brought forth the gospel in thses latter-days. He encouraged us to keep our faith and I especially was inspired by these words:

"The Lord isn't asking us

to load up a handcart;

He's asking us to foritify our faith.

He isn't asking us

to walk across a continent;

He's asking us to walk across the street

to visit our neighbors.

He isn't asking us

to give all our worldly possesions to build a temple;

He's asking us

to give of our means and our time

to continue to build temples and then

to attend regularly the temples already built.

He isn't asking us to die a martyr's death;

He's asking us to live a disciple's life. . .

We can't afford to be superficially righteous.

Our testimonies must run deep with spiritual roots."

M. Russell Ballard

Last but not least, I loved President Monson. He is always so upbeat and positive. Here were some of my favorite quotes:

"Don't let important things pass you by. . .

have joy in the journey. . .

There is no tomorrow to remember

if we don't do something today. . .

Rather than dwelling on the past,

we should make the most of today--

of the here and now,

doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future."

Thomas S. Monson