I mentioned earlier a petition going before congress against illegal pornography, and demanding the enforcement of laws related to obscenity and decency.
It was down for a while because it was hacked by a group who’s not pleased with the efforts to crack down on the porn industry.
Anyway, it’s now up and running, and needs to be signed by noon (EST) on Tuesday.
Please take a minute and make your voice heard. Click here.
Power to the people!
Next to LAST talk. Conference is coming.
You will remember this talk if I give you two hints: fried chicken and a quarter. See? It was a great story that helped us learn that Heavenly Father cares about everything that we care about– even things that might seem insignificant. I love Elder Cornish’s testimony and stories about prayer.
| The Privilege of Prayer by Elder J. Devn Cornish |
” When we truly believe that God rules His kingdom and that He has all power and all glory, we are recognizing that He really is in charge, that He loves us with a perfect love, and that He wants us to be happy. I have found that one of the secrets to a joyful life is to recognize that doing things the Lord’s way will make me happier than doing things my way.”
What are some of your favorite insights from this talk? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.
To anyone who is checking out GCBC for the first time, the goal is to read one General Conference talk a week and discuss it together as an on-line “book club.” If you want to learn more, go here, and then join the discussion right here each week.
We have living prophets and apostles. LIVING prophets and apostles! It’s amazing.
I love general conference deep, and I think my children are catching on. A while back, Natalie asked me if I knew what her favorite holiday was. I guessed Christmas, and she said. “Nope. General Conference.” I think she’s given it a little more thought since then and decided it’s actually in second place, but still. Happy heart pinch moment.
Next round: Saturday March 31st and Sunday April 1st. I don’t have anything new and exciting to say about getting ready for general conference because I’m just happy with my same old routines. It’s all become tradition, both physical and spiritual traditions, and I look forward to it like an oasis in a busy world.
So I’ll just remind you to start thinking of questions you have for the Lord about your life, your family, your goals, your needs, your potential… and pray about those questions. Watch conference with your questions in your hand and a pencil ready to receive revelation. I promise it works.
Here’s a post with other suggestions to prepare yourself for conference.
And here’s another with suggestions of how to prepare your children.
There are always a plethora of current resources for activities and children’s general conference packets over at Sugardoodle.
I always love to review the last conference before I watch the next one. It makes it easy to recognize patterns and repetition– both tools that God uses to tell us, “Pay attention to this!” Here’s the highlight video from October 2011 conference:
See? Doesn’t that just make you excited?
Also, the tradition of General Conference Book Club will continue after this next conference, but there will be a big change. It will still have all the integrity of studying the conference talks, but there will be a new guest hostess. I’ll post more about that as we get closer.
Feel free to share any of your own traditions and preparation strategies in the comments below. Your idea may feel like a perfect fit to someone else’s circumstances.
Let’s talk about books, shall we?
Books I’m reading: Right now I’m reading We Were Not Alone: How an LDS Family Survived WWII Berlin and Life of Pi (my book club’s pick for the month).
Books I recently read: I, Juan de Pareja. Loved it. It’s supposedly for children (Newberry Award Winner), but it’s all about Velazquez and Spanish art history, so I really liked it. (Did you know I lived in Madrid for 3 summers as a young adult? Sigh, I miss it.) And Precious Bane. Oh my goodness, what a beautiful book. It’s one of those genius books that should have been really famous, but is still largely undiscovered. There’s one scene that’s kind of PG-13ish, but even with all my book prudishness, the writing and character’s thoughts were so compelling that I just loved it.
Books on my list: Remember Melanie? Well, she writes “LDS chick lit,” which I never read. Except I’ve read all of Melanie’s because I really like her. And I have to admit that when I read her books, I automatically feel transported to age 24, and I love her sassy protagonists and witty dialogue. She has a new one that just came out called Twitterpated and I need to get my hands on it. It’s about a girl whose roommate dares to sign her up (without permission) on an online dating site. Mayhem ensues. And probably romance. Should be a fun read. Check it out. I think they’re giving away a copy here. Yay, Melanie!
Books I’m writing: I’m writing a book. That still blows my mind. It’s about how motherhood is a reflection of all the different roles and missions of the Savior’s ministry. My goal is to have it finished by May, and published next year. Start saving up spare change so you can buy it in 2013. Then when I send a query letter to publishers, I can say, “I already have 23 people lined up to read this book.” I’m sure that will be the critical selling point. 
The other book that I contributed to (and incidentally, so did Melanie), Tell Me Who I Am, is available on Amazon now. I’ve decided I’m officially famous if I’m listed as an author at Amazon.com. Don’t tell me if I’m wrong.
Books you’re reading: How about you? Have you read anything lately that you think the rest of us should read? Do tell.
Congratulations to the winner of the drawing: Wendy
Answering the question, “What has motherhood taught you about Jesus Christ?,” Wendy answered:
On those hard days, I always think about “opposition in all things”, like if we don’t experience the hard times, we can’t have the good times. I have been touched as I have had promptings about different children. I know that it is a sacrifice to have children in some ways, but I also know that if I was living a different life, I wouldn’t be who I am. I wouldn’t be as nurturing. I wouldn’t be as sympathetic to other moms. I couldn’t be as Christ-like. I am in no way perfect, but I am on a journey of working for it!
Thanks to Wendy, and to all of your great and uplifting comments. Thanks also to Mercy River for sharing their music, and especially to Whitney who wrote that great post and helped us see our role in new ways.
Wendy, send me your address and you will receive a copy of Mercy River’s new CD, Higher, in the mail.
To everyone else, pick up your own copy at the store or turn on some of your favorite uplifting music and have a great week.
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