Live-Blogging LDS General Conference - Saturday Afternoon - April 2015

We're back! You can watch this live and see past sessions at LDS.org.

Had a nap while one of my boys painted the bathroom. Did a good job too. We'll do another coat when that dries. I was going for the turquoise color of the Caribbean, but it came out more of an "easter-egg" pastel blue - which is cool.

President Uchtdorf reading the sustainings and releases. Primary Presidency and Young Mens Presidency changing. They kept Sister Wixom as President of the Primary and switched out counselors.

Some yahoo is yelling out "No's!!" to sustaining Pres. Monson. Not sure what that is about. Pres. Uchtdorf says the votes are noted. And at the end he asked them to talk to their Stake Presidents . . . .

My 18-year-old is there with friends who had tickets.

So, auditors say all is good as per usual.

Statistical report

Elder David A Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve
early setting off of an alarm at a store. Thought he would spend his life in jail.
Distressing emotion of Fear comes to all.
Season foretold by the Lord - the whole world will be in commotion and men's hearts shall fail them.
Adam and Eve hid themselves afraid of the Lord. One of the first effects of the Fall was to experience Fear [and shame]
Book of Mormon. Land of Helam. Alma told them not to be frightened and the Lord would deliver them. Alma did not hush their fears. The people did it themselves by relying on the Lord.
"Learn of Me and learn of My words"
If we do his works of righteousness will will have peace in this world
Faith and Hope invite the sweet peace of conscious
The Peace of God which passes all understanding
Priesthood authority gives assurance that the things that matter most can be for eternity.
1. Look to Christ
2. Build upon a foundation of Christ
3. Look forward with a Faith in Christ
Focus on the Savior at all times and at all places
The apostles not recognizing Jesus walking on the water cried out in fear
He said to Peter "Come" but when he saw the wind boisterous he sank and cried out to Jesus.
"Oh thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt."
We can be blessed to conquer our fears and strenghthen faith
Foundation of Christ - Helaman 5:12
Exercising faith in Christ pressing forward Alma 32
Different is Godly Fear - source of peace, assurance, and confidence.
Deep feeling of reference and awe
A willingness to submit our will to His will
Understanding that we will be accountable for our sins.
Please note it is linked inextricably to the final judment and accountability of our thoughts, words, and acts
I don't believe we will be afraid of him at all
But we will have perfect knowledge as we face our true selves and left without excuse
All will stand before the Bar of God
If our desires will be for righteousness and our works good - then its cool
If not, we would rather have the rocks and mountains fall upon us.
Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes.
Godly fear dispels mortal fears.
Dispels worry that we will never measure up. We never will relying solely on ourselves.
After all we can do we are made whole by the sacrifice of Christ.
Godly fear is loving and trusting in him. As we fear him more completely, we love him more completely.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson
10 Christian martys of 20th Century - Westminster Cathedral
Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Nazi victim - letter on marriage
[And he's on marriage too]
We existed as spiritual children of heavenly parents
There was a plan
we needed physical bodies
Creation of the earth - "Whatever the tales of the creation" of the earth we know it was not accidental [that's interesting phrasing]
The Fall
Redemption from the Fall - to overcome death
The Savior suffered and died to overcome Adam and Eve's transgression. Redeems us from our own sins on condition of repentance.
The setting for our physical birth - men and women marry [but not all can]
Parents should rear their children in light in truth.
Born into the world by water and blood even so you must be born again of water and the Holy Spirit to be sanctified of all sin.
Nothing can be more important that physical birth and spiritual rebirth.
Family of a man and a woman is critical - protected marriage through history [well, there was polygamy]
Our claims rest on God's creation.
matrimonial union of male and female as one.
Such marriage is from above [but what about all those who can't marry?]
Satan attacks everything that is sacred about procreation and marriage.
Some of you are denied marriage - no opportunities, same-sex attraction, or left alone, some married cannot bear children, but EVERYONE can contribute and do good and serve even in less than ideal circumstances. When you stand up, we're all ready to march. No one is predestined to receive less than the Father has for his children.
May marriages prosper - if not married may we have fullness to come.

Wilford W. Anderson of the Seventy
Story of old Navajo man and Doctor - "Do you dance?"
"Could you teach me to dance?" "I can teach you to dance, but you have to be able to hear the music"
we learn the dance steps with our minds, we hear the music in our heart.
the dance are the things we do,
We have to align with the correct frequency to hear the spirit.
The spirit will not endure kindness or pride or envy [this is how families can be in danger]
We must ponder the paths of our feet.
When we can hear the music ourselves, we must perform it in our own homes
principles of D&C 121
Gotta get dancing

Dale G. Renlund of the Seventy
Story of Nelson Mandela who forgave his captors and said that a Saint is a Sinner who keeps on trying.
Shakespeare, "As You Like It" brother saves brother who tried to kill him - he changed "'Twas I, but 'tis not I. I do not shame. To tell you what I was, since my conversion. So sweetly tastes, being the thing I am"t'was I. But t'is not I."
Not just literary fiction.
God expects Latter-day Saints to keep on trying.
Early black members in post-apartheid South Africa. Mother said "The church is like a big hospital and we're all sick in our own way."
evaluate our lives, repent, and keep on trying. If we don't, were just latter-day Saint sinners, or quitters.

Michael T. Ringwood of the Seventy
Wanted to be a Zone leader on his mission because his brother was
"truly good and without guile"
Shiblon [Oh, yeah!!] his hero.

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve
Easter Season - rejoice in the redemption offered by our Savior Jesus Christ
Iniquity, inequality and other bad stuff
The Savior gained the victory over death
and his atonement is for ALL who repent and follow Him
How do we deal with the harsh realities that surround us?
Sunflowers. They grow in soil that is inhospitable but they follow the sun
When we follow the Savior we flourish.
Parable of the Wheat and the Tares.
The Faithful - then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.
We can thrive and bloom if we are rooted in our Savior
Righteous Families and Christ-centered unity in our wards.
Elder Cook has a Vaughn Kimball uncle [cousin to my kids?]
had a watch set to home time while in the war in the Navy and knowing what his family was doing
He was killed when his ship went down by suicide pilots. [he didn't use the word in Japanese that means "divine wind"]
Our children should know what time it is at home
Important to know they are loved and safe at home
Wives and husbands are equal partners,
The goal is an eternal family.
"So much in life is extraneous." [quoting somebody] The family is the thing.
In the world there is rampant iniquity - emphasis on diversity and conflict
our wards (for the most part) are geographical without class or rank
cultures can cause conflicts
4 Nephi:2 and 16
The people were all converted - and there were no contentions and disputations among them - and all dealt justly with one another.
We do have different language congregations because of scripture that says all will hear the gospel in their own native language. [What about Welsh? - there are a few only-Welsh speakers left high in the mountain valleys - and many more who learn it as their first and native language]
Our goal is to be united in the customs and culture of the gospel of Jesus Christ
some say more members are leaving the church - the number of members removing there names has always been small and is less now. The church has never been stronger
But remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.
We reach out to everyone.
Remember the suffering of the Atonement that resolves the worst troubles in this life.
He did it because He loved his Father and loved us.
This is our refuge from the storm
for those who stand alone, the atonement will bless and support you
Like the sunflower, follow the sun
Psalm 27 the Lord is my light.

Very weird arrangement of "We Must All Press On" stopping and pausing and slowing a lot