Well, we're more than 1/2 way to April Conference. I usually look to this mark as the time when I should be really familiar with the talks from last Conference and well into implementing the things I've learned. I am doing okay, not fabulous. I am really still struggling to pray the way I know I have in the past and need to now. Elder Bednar's talk continues to be at the forefront of my mind. Though I was skeptical of Dan's "birthday present" to me last year (he got me cable :)) I have really enjoyed having the Conference sessions on our DVR list and I watch them a lot more frequently than the DVD's which I usually buy.

What are your thoughts as we head downhill into April Conference?

Which talk has meant to most to you?

Elder Cristofferson's talk was probably my favorite- if you can have a favorite Conf talk. I've listened to it several times now and I marvel at the beauty of what I know Zion will be and all that I cannot comprehend it will be. But, I have a separate post to write about that talk. Jared does too, right?

From a nuts and bolts standpoint, I'm still stuck on Elder Bednar's talk about prayer. It is really a lot more work than I imagined and I don't seem to be making much progress. I guess my prayers are "enough" that I feel like I'm doing what I should/want to be doing; but every once in awhile I glimpse a higher plane and want to be there. It's just a lot of work, and I am unfocused in my pursuit of it. As I listen to my kids pray, they pray like me- sincerely, but not always thoughtfully and almost never in a creative way- as if to create something by their prayers. I want to change that.

Connecting the dots

First of all, I'm excited about this blog. Thanks Sara for getting it rolling. Ramona and I just got back from my 20 year High School Reunion. Everyone said I looked exactly the same (subtext-you still look like you're in the 5th grade). We spent a couple of nights with a close high school friend and his wife. We also spent a lot of time with other members of my ward. It was interesting to see how specific conference references entered our conversation-I actually brought them up everytime-I don't mean to boast as I say that, but to give some context of what I'm trying to discuss here. An issue about kids and texting came up and I mentioned Elder Oaks talk. A discussion came up about one of our close friends who is thinking of leaving the church and how he has bad mouthed the Bishop and I mentioned something about Elder Eyring's talk relating to this. Today a discussion about poverty came up and I said something about Elder Christofferson's talk and asked if creating Zion meant only in the church or having "no poor among us" meant throughout the world. I was a little surprised that when discussing these various topics no one referenced the general conference talks (which we heard just a week ago) that related to these issues. Why weren't the dots connected? I really hope this does not sound like a self-righteous post. I don't mean it to be. I'm more interested in seeing why there seems to be a disconnect between peoples lives and the spiritual messages they hear. I think this is also on my mind because as I've been studying up on political position/stances of certain candidates for local offices here I feel there is a disconnect between what their policy stances are in relation to their spirituality. My question is then are we paying attention like we should be and applying the lessons we've been given through conference into our actual lives? Wouldn't the new lessons or insights we gain from conference serve as the "lens" through which we navigate our current lives-essentially that the principles learned would be on the forefront of our minds since conference was just a week ago? What do you think?

who wants to contribute?

Ok, we're back up and running after being "investigated" by blogger for being a spam blog. Never been investigated before, it was totally anti-climactic. I'm going to add those who want to post- who wants to be added?

It's harder than it seems...

Sooooo. Praying like Elder Bednar described is really harder than I thought it was going to be. I am a simple person and therefore tend to think simplistically- how hard could it be to spiritually create your day in prayer before you live out? Hard. And time-consuming. Not just in the prayer itself, but also because you have to be ready to pray. Like, you have to have had a good night of sleep just to be able to think it all through. And you can't be praying knowing your husband is late for work and you have to make it fast. And, your kids can't come in wanting the breakfast you promised 15 minutes ago...but haven't yet made because you're busy praying. Praying has to be an actual event, planned and prepared for, just just checked off the list. That is hard for me.

But, the idea of such prayers was so delicious to me that I can't NOT do it, right? If at first you don't succeed (or if at second, third, fourth or fifth...). Any suggestions? What did you get out of Conference that you are going to do until you get it right?

Elder Bednar

I have never thought of prayer quite the way Elder Bednar described in his talk; the spiritual creation of my day before it begins and the returning to report at the end of the day. Thanks to the modern marvels of cable, Dan and I actually paused his remarks and talked about it right then and there- I was so excited! Doesn't it make sense though? I realize I'm behind in my understanding of a lot of things- it's just really invigorating to understand more about prayer. It is something I do every day with mixed results. Some days I'm simply satisfied to check it off my to do list; other days it seems like a lifeline that I cannot live without. So, on to a new level of prayer.

Grant my wish

When I was in the MTC, my branch president's wife was Julie Beck, now the in the RS General Presidency. We watched October conference as missionaries together and in a post-conference talk she related how excited she was to get together with her parents and all her brothers and sisters (who all lived locally) to have their "Conference Discussion." She spoke of learning just as much from that discussion as she did from Conference itself, how family ties were strengthened as they discussed, and how their shared faith made it easy to commit to be a little better because of those meetings. I remember wanting to have discussions of my own with my family and friends too- so will you all please move here so my wish can be granted?

If that won't work, how about a virtual discussion? I would love to hear your thoughts and comments on Conference! You can post about a favorite talk if you want (let me know and I will add you), comment...or just read. It's up to you. My goal is to have this conference well- discussed by the time the next one rolls around. Who is with me??