The Afterglow of Conference Weekend

The Afterglow of Conference Weekend

Ever since Scott died I find myself counting the days down to conference... yearning for the new direction that it will bring.  10 hours of talks later (yes, I listened to priesthood too!)  I find my head swimming with so many thoughts and good intentions... Then Monday comes, and without a clear cut plan that spiritual high can dissipate.  I wanted to sum up some reoccurring themes that I saw.  The plan is to revisit these themes with other supporting talks during the next 6 months. Following Bednar's example from "Increase in Learning,"  I will be posting questions from each topic to consider and discuss with our families so that we can better apply the principles taught.

Theme from Conference October 2014 

(W: women's conference, P: priesthood)

We have a need to seek personal revelation, follow prophetic counsel, and follow the consecrated path walked by the Savior that will enable us to become more devoted disciples who will do the Savior's work and build strong personal and family foundations capable of weathering the storms ahead.

1. Personal Revelation
1. Uchtdorf, Eyring, Hales, Gody
2. Increasing individual spiritual preparation and commitment
1. Repentance, Sacrament, Agency and Avoiding sin:  Esplin, Robbins, Christofferson, Hamula, Ballard, Kacher, P: Cook, P:Utchdorf, P:Monson
2. Devoted discipleship: Packer, Klebingat, Gavarret, Monson, Scott, W:Burton, W: Stevens, W: Marriott, W: Utchdorf,  P: Christensen, 
3. Reaching out to rescue, love, comfort and serve others
1. Wong, Oaks, Anderson, Holland, Packer, Martinez, Bednar,  P:Davies,
4. Increasing Family spiritual preparation and commitment
1. Callister, Perry,  P: Eyring
5. Following the Prophet
1. Nelson, McConkie, 

Over and over we heard that we need to study the scriptures and "the words of the living prophets."  We know from President Benson that... 

"The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet."  

Today and yesterday we got to sample from the spiritual banquet of the specific things the Lord wants us to focus on during the next 6 months.  Now it is up to each of us to go back and feast on their words. Topical study is a great way to do this and organizing them into topics lets us see through repetition the things that the Lord is emphasizing.  Here is my Monday FHE plan...

1. I asked my children to review their notes and write down some major themes and things they felt inspired to work on.
2. We will discuss these and implement some plans to act on those things
3. Our ideas and questions are getting posted on a white board so that we can remind each other and add additional things as we think of them.
4. We will be revisiting the talks in FHE during the next 6 months tying them back to the doctrine and focusing on how to internalize and act on these principles.

I also wanted to share a few other key things in the past that have helped me to feast on the words of the talks as I review them later: