Beneath the Wraps

  A week ago I taught the lesson in Relief Society.   I had read and listened to the talk several times in the course of a month and it just wasn’t resonating with me. As I prayed about how I should go about teaching the lesson I felt inspired to focus on the upcoming conference and how to prepare to hear whatever message we needed to hear for ourselves. I passed out a paper with thoughts I had collected from both the church website and Deseret News.   It starts out with how blessed we are to get to hear the words of God through our prophets and apostles and other Church leaders.   Let me emphasize other Church leaders as we heard from many that serve in other capacities.   And what a great blessing it was to hear from each of them. General conference is a gift that each of us can benefit.   Taking notes helps one to focus – at least it does me.   I know that there were some who were disappointed not seeing Pres. Nelson for three of the sessions. ...

            In the Church of Jesus Christ there is a meeting in which members of the congregation are encouraged to make their way to the stand to bear their testimonies.   This meeting takes place once a month – usually the first Sunday of each month.   General Conference also falls on the first Sunday of the month and so testimony meeting gets moved to either the last week of the month prior or to the second week (depending on the ward or stake).   In the South Umpqua ward we have held testimony meeting the week prior – except this year. On March 26 we had stake conference – which is a geographical boundary made of up several wards April 1 and 2 was General Conference (which is when the meetings are broadcast world wide) April 9 Easter program Thus our testimony meeting was not until the 16 th of this month.            I recall sitting through a many of sacrament meetings as a you...

  Today is stake conference. There are several who are eager to go to the Church to attend in-person meetings that haven’t been an option for many.   In October they had encouraged it.   “Attend where you can but a zoom option will be available for those not comfortable to meet in person” My desire to zoom vs. meeting in person has nothing to do with the pandemic or fear.   I don’t like crowds nor do I appreciate sitting in the back rafters.   For as much as I normally get out of in-person attendance, I might as well be in another building.   I am surprised there is still that option.   Thus far I haven’t been in awe as I was with the last meeting – wishing that it could have been recorded just as general conference so that I could/can rewatch some of it.   I am grateful that I am able to review the general conference meetings.   Have been reading posts left on the "Come Follow Me" facebook page and continue to be grateful for those who p...

  I remember going to youth conference and taking notes – one or two words at a time.   When I would return to the dorms I would pull out my notes and elaborate on what I remembered based on the words.   I don’t remember things as well anymore and often the words I’ve written don’t ever get made into a sentence or paragraph.   The Roseburg Stake has always had its stake conference two weeks after General Conference. General Conference is great as each talk is recorded and I can return to read or listen, but Stake Conference is not recorded. I have gotten so much out of the virtual conferences rather than in person sitting on hard chairs in a room very far away from the podium.   Each year I have wished the recording would have been available longer than just watching it live.   This year was especially awesome. Only last night’s adult session and the general meeting today were broadcast.   The leadership meeting had to be attended in person and wea...

            Jenna likes surprises and says she would like to be surprised for her birthday.  But things started showing up in the mail that she herself had picked out.  She knew the packaged CD was Panic at the Disco.  She recognized the stickers that Roland had asked her about.  I didn ’ t even bother telling her that her stylist had arrived and enclosed it in a CD case with a note about surprises.  I also opened her sticker package and did the same.  Then I hid her Panic at the Disco CD and wrapped the two CD cases along with a chocolate orange and a Tee Shirt that Roland had purchased.            I ’ m sure I could have wrapped the Hamm piggy bank that he purchased at a later time, but chose not to as she was in the house ever since we brought it home – except for going to seminary (I am pressed for time as it is – wrapping the bank would have lessened whatever time I gave myself to get ready)...

          The Roseburg Stake had a blog which would refer members to stake conference.  It provided a list of speakers and the meeting agenda.  I remember the leaders referred to it in years’ past, but did not have any information for it this year.  I unfortunately did not write down the name of the speaker who gave a beautiful talk comparing physical walls and bridges to what wills us.            She started out her talk with a brief history of the Berlin wall which was built in 1961.  Citizens were informed that the wall was for their protection.  Whether we choose to call it protection or defense, for many the wall was a personal prison.  The wall did not come down until almost two decades later.  That is a long time to feel trapped and apart.  It isn’t healthy.           The speaker then went on to talk about the bri...

I once had an institute instructor who, after every conference, would ask the class members what we thought the theme of conference is/was.   I think this year’s theme is on listening to the guidance of the Holy Ghost and finding the light to overcome darkness – or help others to find light. Light has so many meanings.   It is symbolic for overcoming a bad experience or finally understanding something that wasn’t understood before. Light is illustrated through light bulbs, candles, lamps, Christmas lights, lighthouses.   Those kinds of lights are artificial.   The sun is a source of natural light.   The Son is a representation of light for us to follow. Other than leading us out of darkness, He can also lighten our burdens.   Light can mean the opposite of dark. It can also mean the opposite of heavy. I wear lighter clothes in the summer than in the winter. The snow in the dessert is lighter than the snow on the coast (when there is snow...

Half an hour early is still not early, not  enough time to get a  seaton the pew. One hour early would not be enough time. You'd have to get there at 6:00 before the doors open. You and whatever other vultures are waiting in the parking lot. If you come any time after 8:00, you have to sit on the hard folding chairs that are smashed so near one another that you will feel like a sardine. It is possible for me to sit in certain chairs for two hours, but not those hard folding chairs made for thin people. Give me a recliner, or at least something big and soft. During morning conference, I was standing by the wall just as much as I was sitting down.   The second time I got up, Roland got up also but then he disappeared. Jenna asked where he had gone.   I didn't know and so went to look for him.   I found him out in the foyer, sitting in a comfortable red chair.   I knew he wasn't feelin...