Category Archives: General Conference Book Club

GCBC Week 19: The Divine Gift of Gratitude

Posted in General Conference Book Club by

This week we will study President Monson’s general conference talk,

“The Divine Gift of Gratitude”
by President Thomas S. Monson

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to discuss with an aunt her recent trip to Ghana to pick up her missionary son.  We talked about how amazing it is that people who have so little, and who spend their days solely in matters of sustenance– food, water, provisions, are so kind and vibrant and happy and generous.  It didn’t take long to turn our conversation to the sad reality of how blessed we are and how often we take our blessings for granted.  In short, when we have so much to be happy about, we are often ungrateful.

“My brothers and sisters, to express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven.”

What did you learn and/or understand better from President Monson’s talk?  What did you feel like it encouraged you 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.)

GCBC Week 18: Two Lines of Communication

Posted in General Conference Book Club by

Holy cow.  Has it really been 18 weeks since General Conference?  Crazy.

This talk is a talk I’m excited to go back and read because (for me) it was a tiny bit difficult to follow while listening to it.  I’m just looking forward to studying it on paper so I categorize the different points.

“Two Lines of Communication”
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Of the Quorum of the Twelve

What did you learn and/or understand better from this talk?  What did you feel like it encouraged you 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.)

GCBC Week 17: An Example of the Believers

Posted in General Conference Book Club by

Well. The next talk on our schedule is one by Sister Mary Cook of the General Young Women’s presidency.

Be an Example of the Believers
Sister Mary N. Cook
First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency

I thought it would be fun to add one more into the mix this week, too, just to get another perspective on this same topic.  Elder Nelson gave the following talk during the general Priesthood session:

Be Thou an Example of the Believers
Elder Russell M. Nelson
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

What are your favorite moments or quotes from these talks?  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 they 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.)

GCBC Week 16: The Holy Ghost–Receiving Revelation

Posted in General Conference Book Club by

This week we are studying two really great talks. Elder Jensen and Elder Bednar both spoke about the Holy Ghost and I thought it might be really insightful to study them together.

The Holy Ghost and Revelation
Elder Jay E. Jensen
Of the Presidency of the Seventy

Receive the Holy Ghost
David A. Bednar
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

How about you? What are your favorite moments or quotes from these talks?  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.

(If this is your first time to General Conference Book Club, click here to learn more about it.)

GCBC Week 15: Cleansing the Inner Vessel

Posted in General Conference Book Club by

Thank you to those of you who have been diligent with GCBC even when I have not been. The past few weeks have brought on several unexpected circumstances that have demanded large quantities of my time, so thank you for being patient with my very intermittent and lame posting.  🙂

This week’s talk is President Packer’s talk about the power of repentance and of the priesthood to heal especially some of the more common ills and temptations of today’s society.

“Nowhere are the generosity and the kindness and mercy of God more manifest than in repentance.”

“Cleansing the Inner Vessel”

President Boyd K. Packer
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

I previously wrote a little rant where I shared some of my feelings following much of the “controversy” that was arisen from this talk.  I want to make clear that this forum has never, will never and is not now a place to criticize or question the Lord’s anointed.  While questions may obviously arise, I feel that they should always be taken to the Lord, made an object of prayer and study, and not expressed as criticism.

Having said that, I invite you to look at this talk as directed at your very own life and how it can apply to you personally.  What are the stand-out messages, warnings, counsel, and encouragement that you get out of it?

If this is your first time to General Conference Book Club, welcome.  Here is a link that explains how you can join us.