Conference Weekend

This weekend was our church's General Conference. People often ask what we believe. In a nut-shell, for anyone who is curious, we believe that after Christ and his apostles died, there was no living prophet with the priesthood or authority to direct Christ's church. The catholic church believes Peter passed on that priesthood. Protestant church's began when Martin Luther noticed that main doctrines were being lost during this time and wanted to reorganize the church. The Church of Jesus Christ believes that the priesthood was taken from the earth after Peter's death, and similar to the protestants, that things changed and were lost during this time. We believe Jesus Christ and God the Father appeared to Joseph Smith and called him as a prophet to restore the Lord's Church and priesthood to the earth. Since that time, we believe there has been a living prophet and 12 apostles on the earth to guide and direct us and the Lord's church. Conference is a time that you listen to the prophets and apostles council through worldwide broadcasts to churches and homes. They are messages of hope, peace and happiness.

This is our current prophet, Thomas S. Monson, with his counselor Dieter F. Uchtdorf

LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson asked members to demonstrate thankfulness.
"If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues," he said. "Our realization of what is most important in life goes hand in hand with gratitude for our blessings." He specifically named family as one of those "most important" things reminding us that children were to take precedence over "piles and piles" of laundry. He reminded us that all too soon the tiny finger prints that are found everywhere would soon be gone and be missed. "Sometimes we spend too much time worrying about the tiny details and not worrying about the important things," he said. He reminded us that focusing on tomorrow leaves too many empty yesterdays.

President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, said members of the church could accomplish any purpose of the Lord when fully united in righteousness. "We see increased conflict between peoples in the world around us," Eyring said. "That is why my message of hope today is that a great day of unity is coming." He said Jesus Christ would return to live with His people, finding them united and unified. The leaders encouraged us to simplify our lives, remember what is important as we face trials and challenges. Elder Hales encouraged members to face those critical of them and the church with courage, love and understanding. "Love our enemies and pray for those who speak against us." We were reminded that there are angels all about to help, lift and protect us. One of my favorite stories shared was a reminder to be like little children. Elder Corbridge shared of a 4 year old who had a serious hearing impairment. She needed numerous surgeries to gain slight hearning. Once when she was in the grocery store line, she saw a little boy sitting in a wheel chair. She noticed he had no legs. Although she learned to speak, she had trouble contoling the volume of her voice and asked her mother why the little eboy had no legs. The mother explained Heavely Father makes all his children different. She then turned to the little boy and said, "Did you know when Heavenly Fahter made me my ears didn’t work. That makes me special. He made you with no legs and that makes you special. When Jesus comes I will hear and you will get your legs. Jesus makes everything ok."

Monson ended conference with a challenge to members to deeply study the messages they had heard in the five sessions and to become better people

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