[thanks to my friend Becca for the graphic]
After the general Relief Society session of general conference, all the online chatter confirmed that President Uctdorf’s “forget-me-not” metaphor had struck a chord with women throughout the church. He testified that we should not be discouraged in our efforts, and we should remember that God loves us and we are important to Him. This is a message he continued to teach during the Sunday morning session of general conference. I think it’s worth studying both talks as “two witnesses” of this principle of God’s love for us.
| You Matter to Him by Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf |
“God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him.”
Forget Me Not by Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf (RS Session)
“Sisters, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love.”
These talks are both full of great quotes and stand-out phrases. What doctrines and principles meant the most to you as you studied them? Please share your insights 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 join the discussion.
Diapers and Divinity 
Both of these talks were fantastic. After re-reading President Uchtdorf’s Conference address, I realized this is probably my favorite (as hard as it is to choose). I love his strong reassuring testimony. I think this is a talk I will need to read weekly, in addition to the other talks. 🙂 It comforts me to know that God knows me, and more amazingly, loves me infinitely. That knowledge is one of the greatest gifts a person can carry with them in this life. I’m grateful for Pres. Uchtdorf’s reminder of this.
I too loved both of these talks. I was is need of knowing that Heavenly Father knows me and loves me. Both of these talks were a wonderful reminder!
This is how I felt too. It also made me think back on my teenage years. I think this would have been a great talk to hear back then as I struggles to find myself.
I agree. But often I was not willing to listen. 😦
Wow what a great pair of talks. Especially when you put them together. I especially liked the message about how we are all equally important in the eyes of God. Recently I have had an encounter with someone that made me feel that they were somehow above or better than me, and than those around me. It was very upsetting. This reminds me to not worry about it and to just pray for that person as we are all valued and important. I love the metaphor of the forget me not, so simple and true. What a great message.
I love the reminders about how we are all precious and known by our Heavenly Father. The world focuses so much on “the great and spacious building crowd”. I’m so thankful, thankful, thankful that I know my Heavenly Father knows and loves me. That is such an important message to share with others – it makes all the difference in my life and I know it would for others.
I’m glad you paired the talks together. They are even more powerful.
A week ago yesterday, I wrote a blog post about this very concept from the talk, Forget Not. I think it is a good post… here is the link; you’ll like it! 😀 http://corinesmiles.blogspot.com/2011/11/forget-not-lord-loves-you.html
PS. I too love how you placed these talks together! President Uchtdorf is on a mission… and I would love to help him out! You can link this post up with mine, if you want to. I think this would be an awesome addition!
Corine 😀
Some good thoughts already. I am glad you paired the talks, too.
I had an EFY session director once who compared that paradox of man to having a rubber glove on your head (you’ll have to read my blog post for the whole story 😉 )
There is a philosopher named G. K. Chesterton who has been quoted by several General Authorities. My favorite quote – “How much larger your life would be if your self were smaller in it.” I thought that went along well with the first talk.
There was so much in both of these talks that I could probably study just these two talks for the next six months and still have more to learn.
I loved all of the reminders from the Forget Me Not talk, specifically the reminder about strengths and weaknesses, and the reminder about good and foolish sacrifices (mostly because I had a real-life lesson shortly after conference that hit that reminder home for me).
Thankfully I was blessed at an early age with a testimony that God loves me. I have never doubted it – not for a second. I absolutely know Heavenly Father loves me. And I know He loves everyone I just wish everyone knew that, too.
More thoughts over on My Soul Delighteth
I love Pres. Uchtdorf and I love both of these talks. That man understands women. He must be very inspired or have an amazing wife–or maybe some of both? I liked this quote: “The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments.” I think this is so important to remember–to find happiness in what we have and where we are right now.
I loved both of these talks when I heard them. I’ve been having a rough day – so it was very nice to reread them. Good advice!
I’ve been studying this talk this week. I’ll just say that these talks knock down every, single defensive barrier in my tough ol’ soul. It literally makes my heart cry out in humble gratitude that the Lord knows ME. Me! Of all people. Especially when sometimes I get on my pity-pot and think, “Oh sure you know Dieter and Tommy and Hal. They’re leading YOUR Church! But me? All I’m doing is leading a bunch of pre-teens (aka MY children) to hell . . . not because I want to or because I mean to, it’s because I’ve got nothing on anybody who’s somebody!” And then, as I study this talk, I feel the powerful, yet tender workings of the Spirit teaching me and telling me things that make me open my heart and feel, “Yes, God knows me. And He loves me. He. loves. me.”
I’m trying to stop writing in the first person, but beg forgiveness this time. I like to go through these talks and liken them to myself. They go together nicely, but since I’m not known for brevity, I must treat them separately. At first I wasn’t sure what to think of Elder Ucktdorf. Over the years his kindness and wisdom has touched my heart and drawn me closer to God.
“God showed Moses the workmanship of His hands…[Moses] realized something that, in all his years in Pharaoh’s court, had never occurred to him before….“I know,” he said, ‘that man is nothing.’…But even though man is nothing, it fills me with wonder and awe to think that ‘the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.’…the glories and mysteries of infinite space and time are all built for the benefit of ordinary mortals like you and me. Our Heavenly Father created the universe that we might reach our potential as His sons and daughters…compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God…”
God knows me and loves me infinitely; I am precious and known. This knowledge is a precious gift for sometimes I feel utterly alone. Even though I’m just little me, I am equal to Kings, Queens, and all the great ones. I am important in the eyes of God. When others put on airs that they are above or better than me, I mustn’t crawl away with my tail between my legs. Instead I should understand people can be tricked and fall victim to the sin of pride. Satan delights in ‘puffing them up and encouraging them to believe in the fantasy of their own self-importance and invincibility.’ I should smile and pray for them. And I should guard against becoming one of them.
When I feel lonely or misfit, I must remember I am not forgotten—especially by God. He wants me to do the best I can, incline my heart toward Him, and help those around me. My actions become a living witness of my faith in Him. If I do the best I can, all will be well.
I am not invisible to my Heavenly Father. He loves me, knows my heart, and understands my awkward acts of love and kindness. He sees my simple fidelity and faith. He has promised that I will not feel loneliness, sorrow, pain, or discouragement forever, since He will neither forget nor forsake my heart; it is inclined His.
I loved both of these talks. One of the phrases used in You Matter To Him is to “incline our hearts to Him.” I like that imagery. In Forget Me Not, there were several things that I noticed at this Thanksgiving time of year. I have been wanting to record things each day that I am thankful for, or ways that I have noticed the hand of God in my life or the lives of my family members (like Pres. Eyring said in a past conference). Here are a few things that Pres. Uchtdorf said that could help focus the things I could write down: “…Be thankful for all the small successes in your home, your family relationships, your education and livelihood, your Church participation and personal improvement.” Maybe a way to be thankful for these small successes would be to record them. “Never stop hoping for all of the righteous desires of your heart. But don’t close your eyes and hearts to the simple and elegant beauties of each day’s ordinary moments that make up a rich, well-lived life” and “Let us not walk unaware of the beauty of the glorious earthly and spiritual landscapes that surround us.” Those will be great things for me to look for and pay attention to.
Good observations! That’s one thing that I love about this blog we get t o see other’s observations. Things that I failed to notice you all point out. It’s wonderful!
I’ve been thinking about this for a couple of weeks, and I’ve enjoyed re-reading these talks several times. One of my greatest blessings is receiving a testimony at a very early age that Heavenly Father loves me, despite all of my weaknesses. That is such a comfort. It really doesn’t matter whether we live in “marble halls or stable stalls,” we are important and have divine worth. It’s always nice to have that reaffirmed. 🙂 I wrote a bit more here.
P.S. I always love the little tidbits found in the footnotes. President Uchtdorf stated “and all was well” after relating his experience with pilot training. The footnote states he graduated at the top of his class. Isn’t he a marvelous example of finding the balance between self-confidence and humility?
Becky, thanks for adding this comment! I somehow missed the whole footnote thing and am really thankful to know of it! What an awesome balance, as you have stated!
Corine
Well, I finally read these ones! I wish I had more to add but it is hard to type through the tears.
I accidentally posted this comment somewhere else….let’s try this again. (I’m new here.)
I love, love, love this talk! Somehow, instinctively, I have always known these truths, but could have never, and still would have a difficult time, expressing them. In the last 8 years that it’s taken for me to begin that I have God-like potential I have started to understand my nothingness and couldn’t understand where this knowledge was coming from. I mean, I knew it’s something that my spirit was familiar with, but I still couldn’t understand why I knew it. Why was I okay w/ being “nothing” in comparison to God? Why was I not only okay w/ it, but found joy in knowing that I was nothing compared to Him? Though language cannot express my heart is full of understanding and continues to be expounded by the understanding that comes from this as my testimony is strengthened of this truth. One day I will stand before Heavenly Father and I anticipate that I will weep many long hours at His goodness towards me. I am grateful for President Uchtdorf’s knowledge and I am grateful that he was willing to pass through his trials as I know this is how he gained a higher understanding and is able to help me understand myself better.
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