A Word

Last weekend I spent most of my time listening and watching the broadcast of the General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The conference takes place twice a year and has participates from around the world with the proceedings being broadcast everywhere on earth except for maybe Antarctica. I don’t know if they broadcast there but with the internet you can watch it online from anywhere.

I look forward to these conferences as much as some people look forward to a birthday or Christmas. I love them. Besides this past conference and the two years I spent in Austria I have spent every General Conference with family. Getting together with brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews and parents is always one of the highlights to conference weekend and I have many fond memories of such weekends. This past weekend was spent with friends that I have made since moving to Washington, D.C. and was also very enjoyable. In addition to the time spent with family and friends, and the delicious food that is usually on hand in between sessions, I truly experience a renewal of spirit after each conference closes. This is the subject that I would like to discuss for a few moments.

Regardless of what your religious affiliation is, or is not, or how and where you seek spiritual enlightenment there is something that was spoken about at this conference that you would agree with. You may not agree with everything or understand and accept everything that came from this worldwide conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but what you can find are some answers, guidance and counsel to questions that have wearied your mind and soul. This is what has happened to me and not to a small degree.

Truth is one of the few things that inspire me in this world and I try to find it wherever I can. Many people may think that I am somewhat naïve or have not had enough experience with the world to know what truth is. I would suggest that life experience is only an avenue that allows man to come across truth but that it is an open heart and an open mind that allows for the truth to be found. An old man may say at the end of his life that he has experienced everything under the sun and has found nothing true. A young man who has his heart and mind open may say that he found truth in simple things like watching an ant, hearing a song or seeing a sunset.

I go to church services each week and participate in them happily and sincerely. I try and give meaningful service where I am able and hope to give more in the future. After listening to ten hours of spiritual messages and doctrinal discourses last weekend I feel ever more eager to do good. My heart is lightened and my spirit is reenergized. I attribute this revitalizing feeling to come from hearing the word of God spoken by men and women who have received authority to speak in his name. Others might say that I feel inclined to believe these individuals because they are smart people who have spent much time studying and pondering topics and issues that pertain to society, the church, government, business, times of war and times of peace. I am going to credit their time and studying habits as well as the authority by which they speak. I choose to believe where others would choose to doubt, that is the difference.

There was nothing extravagate about what was said or presented at the conference. I will attest though that truths were taught. I find these General Conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be one of the billions of avenues that can be taken to come across truth but that the truth that is taught in them is very pertinent to my life in today’s world and reality. Over the next few weeks and months I will be discussing some of my favorite speeches that were given at this conference and allow you to read some of my thoughts and insights on them. I invite you to go to the link below and read and re-read the speeches that were given. Many of you who are reading this probably watched and listened to the conference but regardless of whether it is your first time or tenth time reading the speeches if it is true then it won’t do you harm (I won’t say that it can’t hurt).

http://lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-947,00.html.