It’s no surprise to anyone who has visited this blog before that I love General Conference. I know many of you do, too. To any readers who might not be familiar with General Conference or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, go here or here to learn more about both. Today I wanted to share a few ideas of how we can help our children appreciate and look forward to General Conference.
Start now to express your excitement for conference. Today, on two different occasions in the car, I said, “Only 5 more days until General Conference. I’m so excited!” Use the opportunity to bear brief testimony of living prophets and how their messages have made a difference in your life.
As you say family and meal prayers, remind your children to pray for the prophet and apostles as they prepare for their conference talks. We can ask Heavenly Father to help them be inspired as they speak and to help us be inspired as we listen. Read the rest of this entry »
I taught at EFY this week and got back tonight. The first day of teaching was kind of intimidating because there were only 3 teachers, and the other two besides me (him and him) have both published books and talk tapes and fancy stuff like that, and I– well, I have a blog and I can teach a mean FHE lesson . . . ugh. Plus I had some technical difficulties with my slide show, and when mentor #1 gave me constructive feedback for my first day of lessons (which I asked for), what he said was absolutely true and stuff I already knew about my teaching style (99.5% doctrinal, .5% entertaining), but because I was already feeling a little insecure, I interpreted it to mean .5% interesting. I worried that I wasn’t holding the kids’ attention. He told me today he had a dream last night that I was offended by his feedback and didn’t show up for the second day of classes. I wasn’t. I appreciated it. And I showed up. It helped me tweak a couple of things for my last two classes that I think made them better. I bought a smokin’ new outfit to wear for that first day of teaching (smokin’ modest of course). I loved it until I actually started teaching. The cute hot pink blouse happened to fit under my armpits in such a way that it was like a giant receptacle for nervous sweating and I had the hugest, wettest armpits all day long which was all kinds of not awesome.
Day two went much better. I made sure to wear about five levels of clothing plus a blazer to contain my failing antiperspirant. I taught about two of my favorite topics– missionary work and the Atonement. The morning devotional given by the aforementioned mentor was about not comparing ourselves to others, which frankly was a tender mercy for me and helped me re-establish my confidence in myself. I was a little more emotional than I like to be (I came home with one of those cry-headaches), but I just can’t help myself when I start talking about stories from my mission, and hello, who can be all straight-faced and emotionless when you’re testifying about the doctrine of the Atonement and how much the Savior loves us? I got some neat feedback from some of the youth and was able to walk away knowing the Lord had helped me to answer some questions and build some testimonies, so I felt good. I’m always traumatized by the EFY experience; it stretches me a lot in a good-but-hurting way. I tell myself that if one or two youth were improved by something I said then all the worry and angst was worth it.
So that’s it. I will now recover by loading up all my children in a pop-up camper and retreating to the mountains for four days. Yeah right, if recovery equals taking a worn-out body and mushed-up brain and making them worse. It’s okay though, some good memories will be made and Matt will let me take a nap every day. Right, honey?
Thanks for tuning in to the completely non-essential mid-week report. Carry on.
First Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency
Today in church, I leaned over to Matt and said, “I miss teaching. I’m a much better learner as a teacher than I am as a learner.” I found it interesting to approach this talk simply in my role as a mother, since I don’t currently have the opportunity to teach a class. I liked his example about directing questions to the handbook, and doing the same in turning our children to the scriptures. I’d like to do more of that, and it’s obviously easier to do the more familiar I am with the scriptures myself.
The other point that stood out to me the most, because it’s a point I’ve been reminded of in many ways lately because I must need the reminder, was the challenge to ask the Lord’s help to know and meet the needs of my children.
“The promises of the Lord are certain. If you earnestly search the scriptures and treasure up in your minds the words of life, if you keep the commandments with all of your heart and pray for each student, you will enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost and you will receive revelation.”
What stands out to you as you study this talk? Is there anything you learned here that you had not considered before? What did the talk make you feel or want to do?
Please share your thoughts in the comments below. If this is your first time to General Conference Book Club, click here to learn more about it, and then join us.
“Stay on the Path”
Sister Rosemary M. Wixom
Primary General President
Saturday Morning Session
Sister Wixom’s talk is a great reminder about the sacred responsibility that parents have to anchor themselves and their children on the path of righteousness. She uses several different phrases that highlight both the urgency and the purpose of spiritual parental guidance.
“If they understand the Plan, and who they are, they will not fear. … We begin to make the plan known to our children when we hold tight to the iron rod ourselves.”
“The world will teach our children if we do not.”
“When we are intentional about holding them and teaching them of Heavenly Father’s plan through prayer and scriptures, they will come to know where they came from, why they are here, and where they are going.”
I was struck by how important it is to be purposeful in our parenting, to take the seemingly meaningless experiences of the day and let them point children toward a better understanding of gospel truths and their own important role in God’s plan. Her message reminded me of several previous talks about intentional parenting that have inspired me as well. Perhaps you may want to read some of these this week to enhance your study of Sister Wixom’s talk:
How about you? What are your favorite moments or quotes from Sister Wixom’s talk? Is there anything you learned here that you had not considered before? What stood out to you as you studied it? And, most importantly, what did it make you feel or want to do?
Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Today was kind of a rough day at our house– one of those days where you wonder whether or not your children are going to turn out alright after all. There were tears and time-outs and lots and lots of reminders of rules and expectations. It was not easy to do scripture time tonight, and bedtime was a welcome relief. As I read “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” by Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, I felt so reassured of the lasting impact our instruction can and will have on our children.
“If a child is not listening, don’t despair. Time and truth are on your side. At the right moment, your words will return as if from heaven itself. Your testimony will never leave your children.
As you reverently speak about the Savior—in the car, on the bus, at the dinner table, as you kneel in prayer, during scripture study, or in late-night conversations—the Spirit of the Lord will accompany your words.
As you do your best, the testimony of Jesus will gently distill upon your children’s hearts.”
Share in the comments what you love and learn as you study this talk.
I'm Stephanie, mother to three little whirlwinds. Moms are awesome. And we need each other, so drop by at your leisure. Hope to make you laugh, think, and get back to mothering with a renewed sense of purpose.
You can email me anytime at dd.stephanie [at] gmail [dot] com
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