Returning to a Simpler Life

General Conference is always just what I need. It seems my bucket is need of refilling every six months, and it never fails to be filled by the messages given at Conference. Saturday and Sunday we listened as a family to the words of prophets and apostles of the Lord. What a tremendous blessing. I look forward to the opportunity to read the words that were spoken, to be reminded of things that I heard, and to catch the things I missed. As I wait, I thought my blog would be a good place to record some of my "Conference nuggets" that I remember. That way, if some of you want to record some that you remember, you can!!

• Referring back to the title of this blog, Elder Perry's talk on the simple things in life. I want to stop letting the voices from the great and spacious building have such an impact on how I live my day to day life. I know the things that are important in life, and I must focus on those.
• I thrilled at the announcement of 5 new temples!!! Rome, Italy?? Won't that make quite the news story when the Pope attends the Open House of a Mormon temple, right in Rome (assuming he will, of course)? And did you realize that Independence, MO is in the greater Kansas City area? Just an interesting point, not claiming any prophecy : ).
• Elder Holland's talk on angels took me back to that week two months ago when, along with the rest of the Jeffs family, we experienced so many angelic gestures from many angels walking around right here in Peoria.
• Unity from Pres. Eyring. I thought of the unity I desire my family to have. Pres. Eyring spoke of the ways FHE can help to unify a family, as well as family prayer.
• Sister Dalton called for a return to virtue, something the world hungers for, in my opinion. Am I doing my part, or am I being drug down with the rest of society?
• A member of the YM General Pres. spoke on gospel teaching, and it caused me to think about my current calling as a RS teacher.
• Last week Pres. Uchtdorf taught the women of the Church about finding lasting happiness through creation and compassion. I marvelled at his understanding of women, and often felt he was speaking right to me. To me, this ties into returning to the simple life. How can we do it? By finding happiness is creation and compassion, as God does.
• Saturday Pres. Uchtdorf spoke of hope, something I find myself trying to cling to more and more as the world appears to be more troubled.
• Someone spoke of Elder Maxwell's saying of leaving our summer home in Babylon. I know I keep that summer home handy when I have a desire to live in the world a little, and I think it's time to be rid of it once and for all.
• Pres. Monson spoke of living for the todays. Enjoying the moment. It seems like he wasn't the only one who spoke of such things. Someone told me I would miss the fingerprints on my walls one day, and I couldn't help thinking of my last blog post. I will miss this all one day, and I must embrace it while I can.
• From Elder Wirthlin: Come what may, and love it!!!

Thanks for listening to my pondering on Conference. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did!!