After a long week of emotions and school, the weekend could not have been more perfect.
Friday October 2: I struggled through the day of school, and anxiously awaited 3 p.m. because that meant my classes were over. There were big plans for the weekend, and I was ready. So around 4:30, Keaton and I made our way down to St. George. Little did he know what he was getting himself into... because I was taking him to meet THE Teftellers. So after a pleasant and relieving drive down, we met at Red Robin for dinner. Honestly, the whole situation was a little funny because it was Keaton and I, and then the Tefties, and like 10 more thirty-year olds who we were all married and had kids. So after dinner we went back to the condo where all of the married folks were staying, and we watched some BYU football until I got bored. Then Keaton and I went on the cutest, most perfect little walk (for like an hour I felt like I was in the movies). We strolled around a pond, and sat on a bench, and just talked about life and everything in it. It was absolutely perfect. We tried to pet some geese, and failed, so we headed back to hang out with the oldies. They were still watching football, and probably changing some diapers, and we were still just a little bored. So, we quickly ran out and headed to the movie theater. We ended up seeing Martian, and even sat in these seats that made it like 4-D because they moved and shook with the movie. It was quite the experience, but such such a good movie. We headed home to the condo for the night and went to sleep. As morning rolled around, I was grateful for beds, because the floor isn't near as nice as it was when I was kid. We were woken by screaming babies, and running kids (I don't think I missed that). We ate some breakfast, and said our goodbyes and made our way back to Cedar City.
I am forever grateful for the Teftellers and for their examples in my life. I hope that one day I can be half as good as they are. I am also grateful for Keaton, and for his example and his attitude. Every single one of these people are so, so good for my soul.
Saturday October 3 and Sunday October 4: General Conference. I had been looking forward to conference ALL week, but actually like months ago. It seriously could not have come at a better time. So Saturday we all watched and conference together, and by that I mean, Nicol and I watched conference while Keaton and Anna slept. Saturday night Nicol and I rode bikes and got dinner and had a cute little girls night. And to finish off a perfect day, Keaton, Cory, Anna, Nicol and I all slept outside in our hammocks.
Sunday morning we woke up and packed up and all headed home to take showers. We gathered back together and made the biggest, yummiest conference breakfast. Plus Becks, Lindsay and Talon joined us! I wish so badly I had pictures. But we made crepes, baked oatmeal, eggs, and sausage. It was seriously the best meal I have eaten since being here at college. Sunday for conference, we laid out all of our mattresses in the living room, and projected conference onto our wall. Conference started, and well once again Nicol, Becks and I watched, while Keaton, Cory and Anna slept. It was an absolutely perfect day.
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| This is how good conference was for Cory and Keaton. |
I hope that everyone watched conference, and if you didn't, go watch it now. I don't think I have ever been so uplifted, and so comforted from conference before. If I could, I would write a novel about all of it... but here are just a few of my favorite things.
Saturday Morning:
This session was by far my favorite. More specifically, Dieter F. Uchtdorf was my favorite. He spoke of 3 things we can and should devote our time:
1. Simplify life
This life and this gospel is so simple, yet so profound, and it simply WORKS.
2. Start where we are
"We don't need to be more of anything to become who God wants us to be." Our Savior will take us as we are, and He will shape us into who we should be.
3. Grace
After all we can do, and after all we have done, His grace is sufficient. "Exaltation is our goal, and discipleship is our journey." More than anything in this world, He wants us to return to live with Him. And as long as that is our goal, and we do our part in simplifying life, and beginning where we are, His grace will make up for the rest.
Saturday Afternoon:
Jeffrey R. Holland is always a winner, just listen and learn this:
"Believe in God and yourself. You are doing better than you think you are."
How can I say more? I think sometimes we are far too hard on ourselves, and we fail to believe in what is most important, Him. He knows us, and He loves us, and He wants us to return to Him. And to do that, we simply have to believe.
Sunday Morning:
There was so much good, and so many profound things that were said, I don't even know where to begin. However, I think that Russell M. Nelson said some of my favorite things:
- teach fearlessly
- speak UP and speak OUT
Both of these things are so simple, yet so profound, and can be applied to every single aspect of our lives. No matter where we go, whom we teach, and what we teach let it be fearlessly. Never be afraid of what you have to say, and don't be afraid to share it. I hope that we can speak up and speak out, and do so fearlessly.
Sunday Afternoon:
Devin G. Durrant gave 2 challenges-
#1: Save money each week
#2: Ponderize a verse of scripture each week
I am so excited about these challenges, particularly #2. I have always wished I was better at knowing my scriptures but I have never really committed myself in doing it. So what better way to do it then by being challenged. I hope that each of us will partake in this challenge and become more familiar with the doctrine we preach. I know that as we do this, we will grow closer to our Savior, and we will be more in tune with the spirit.
Kim B. Clark said
"We don't have to be perfect, just be good at getting better."
I think far to often we focus on reaching perfection and always being perfect, but simply we should focus on being better than we were the day before. Reaching perfection won't come just over night, it will take a lifetime of being good and getting better. And I know that, that is exactly what the Lord would ask of us.
I wish every weekend could be conference weekend. We are so blessed, and so lucky to be able to hear from our living prophet, and from our apostles and most importantly be taught by the Spirit. I love this gospel, and I love my Savior. I am so grateful for every day and for every opportunity I have to follow Him, and to serve Him. I am so grateful for His infinite Atonement, and for the chance I have to become perfect, even as He is.
Saturday morning session began with the opening song, I Know that my Savior Loves Me. This would be my testimony last of all,
"My heart I give to Him, for I know that my Savior loves me."
xoxo,
ellie d.
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