I Love Conference :')

Up to this point in my life, this has been my all-time favorite General Conference. Like, I had trouble sleeping on Friday night because I was so excited for conference. And I spend like 3 hours last week studying ways to receive inspiration in preparation for this General Conference. I blocked off 5 pages in my study journal (one page for each session+priesthood) so that it would give my notes a little bit of order, but I ended up taking up 14 pages by the end of it all. Seriously, so good.

Here are a couple of my favorite parts:

1. Did anyone notice how quickly Elder Holland brought the spirit by expressing his love for us? Simply telling us how much he cares about us helped me feel the spirit quicker and stronger than any other talk.

2. Elder Uchtdorf taught in the Priesthood session about "Search and Ye Shall Find" as it applies to marriage. If you are constantly looking for negative qualities, that's what you will find. On the converse, as we look for the good in others, those are the attributes that will be most prominent in our spouse. Search, and Ye Shall Find

3. Jesus Christ was the perfect example of "Leader" AND "Follower". I personally have had many opportunities to both lead AND follow in my mission. It's always good to work on your leadership skills, but it's equally important to be a good follower. As we follow the example of Jesus Christ, we can improve in both.

4. The General Relief Society President taught about the difference between knowing something, and believing it. I thought about how many times I've recited the first vision. I KNOW the first vision. I've studied it. I know where to find it in the restoration pamphlet, and in Joseph Smith History, I can say it word for word in 2 languages. I can use it in context. I KNOW it! But knowing it is not enough. For it to have any lasting effect, I must also believe it. And the way to believe it is through prayer, and by gaining a personal testimony through the Holy Ghost. **along similar lines, the spirit testifies of TRUTH. If you were to stand up at the pulpit and state that you know the Book of Mormon is true, you better believe it. other wise, the spirit will not bare witness of that statement. There is no use baring testimony of something you haven't received a witness for.

5. My future wife will stay late to pick up chairs after general conference without a direct invitation.

6. I like the idea of a family council. It made me think of all of the effective councils I've been a part of in my mission, and how simple they are to throw together, but how much it helps us as missionaries be unified and feel the spirit. I can't imagine the applications it can have on a family.

7. Language is best learned in immersion programs. From experience, I know that the more time you spend speaking and listening to Spanish, the easier it is to pick up on the complicated grammar patterns and less frequently used words. You just become more familiar with how the language works. In Conference, they taught us that recognizing the spirit works the same way, and if we could turn our home into an immersion program to help children know how to understand the spirit by helping them feel it more often around the house, they would be more apt to making good choices as they move out. (Side note, missions are kind of like a spiritual immersion in a sense, and I know a lot more about following spiritual promptings based on my mission experiences.)

I don't have my study journal with me today, but these are a few of the big ones that called my attention. I'd be happy to hear some of your insights!

Love you all (sincerely!)