Monday, February 18, 2013

October 1993 General Conference Saturday Morning

Gordon B. Hinckley -The Sustaining of Church Officers

Joseph B. Wirthlin -Our Lord and Savior
  • We live in a day when Lucifer's influence is greater than we ever have known in our lifetimes. In terms of the sin, evil, and wickedness upon the earth, we could liken our time to the days of Noah before the flood. no one is immune to affliction and difficulty, whether it be economical, emotional, or spiritual. immorality, violence, and divorce, with their accompanying sorrows, plague society worldwide.
  • The only way to find peace, happiness, and security and to overcome the evils of the world and temptations of this generation is in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  • Considering all that Jesus is and all he does for us, what should we be doing to show our appreciation? We should go far beyond knowing about Jesus and about his attributes and mission. We should come to "know ... the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
  • Now I counsel you who are more mature spiritually to bear your witness of the truth of the gospel; of the reality of the Savior and his love for each of us; and of the divine calling of his prophets, seers, and revelators. Your witness will develop testimonies in younger people as the members of my ward did in me. Parents should bear testimony frequently to strengthen conviction in the hearts of their children.
Robert D. Hales -How Will Our Children Remember Us?
  • My point in telling these stories is that we, as parents, have the privilege and the responsibility of teaching gospel principles by our example and testimony to our loved ones.
  • Children naturally look to their parents to learn of the characteristics of their Heavenly Father. After they come to love, respect, and have confidence in their earthly parents, they often unknowingly develop the same feelings towards their Heavenly Father.
  • No parent on earth is perfect. In fact, children are very understanding when they sense and feel that parents truly care and are attempting to be the best they can be.
  • It helps children to see that good parents can have differing onions, and that these differences can be worked out without striking, yelling, or throwing things. They need to see and feel calm communication with respect for each other's viewpoints so they themselves will know how to work through differences in their own lives.
  • They are still our children, and we will love and care about them always. We do not lock the doors of our house nor the doors to our heart.
  • If the example we have received from our parents was not good, it is our responsibility to break the cycle.
  • "We must be more Christlike in our attitude and behavior than what we see in the world. We should be as charitable and considerate with our loved ones as Christ is with us. He is kind, loving, and patient with each of us. Should we not reciprocate the same love to our [companions] and children?"
Joe. J. Christensen -Rearing Children in a Polluted Environment
  • We all hear and read a great deal these days about our polluted physical environment--acid rain, smog, toxic wastes. But these parents recognize that there is another kind of pollution that is much more dangerous--the moral and spiritual.
  • "As we test the moral environment, we find the pollution index is spiraling upward."
  • Although there are some uplifting exceptions, in most areas of the mass media there seems to be a declaration of war against almost everything the majority treasures most: the family, religion, and patriotism. Marriage is degraded, while premarital and extramarital relations are encouraged and glamorized. Profanity and the foulest of vulgar gutter language bombard the ears of all who listen.
  • Remember that anything that is not good for children is rarely good for adults.
  • First, do not be afraid to set clear moral standards and guidelines. Be sure to say no when it is needed.
  • "[Give] your children regular daily doses of Vitamin N. This vital nutrient consists simply of the most character-building two-letter word in the English language [No]. ... Unfortunately, many, if not most, of today's children suffer from Vitamin N deficiency. They've been overindulged by well-meaning parents who've given them far too much of what they want and far too little of what they truly need."
  • For children and parents, standing up for what is right may be lonely at times.
  • It may not always be fun. But parenting is not a popularity contest.
  • Second, teach your children to work and to take responsibility.
  • In addition, help your children learn self-discipline by such activities as learning to play a musical instrument or other demanding skill. I am reminded of the story of the salesman who came to a house one hot summer day. Through the screen door he could see a young boy practicing his scales on the piano. His baseball glove and hat were by the side of the piano bench. He said, "Say, boy, is your mother home?" To which the boy replied, "What do you think?" Thank heavens for conscientious parents!
  • Every child should be helped to develop some skill or talent by which he or she can experience success and thus build self-esteem.
  • Third, create an environment in your family in which spiritual experiences can occur.
  • Fourth, follow the counsel of the prophets.
  • What value is it to have living prophets if we do not heed their counsel?
  • Fathers and mothers, it is not too late to change. There is still hope.
Jeffrey R. Holland -"Look to God and Live"
  • We know that some of the world's most painful suffering is done in silence, in the sorrow of a lonely life.
  • There is an increasing feeling that time is out of joint, that no one seems wise enough or strong enough to set it right. In many cases, governments are in office but not in power, community values and neighborhood pride are often superficial or nonexistent, and too frequently the home is an alarming failure.
  • Without our religious faith, without recognizing the reality and necessity of spiritual life, the world makes no sense, and a nonsense world is a place of horror. Only if the world has meaning at a spiritual level is it possible for human beings to keep going, to keep trying.
  • John Donne said once: "We ask our daily bread, and God never says, 'You should have come yesterday.' ... [No, he says,] 'Today if you will hear [my] voice, today I will hear yours.'"
  • "God yet comes to thee, not as in the dawning of the day, ... but as the sun at [full] noon, to banish all shadows."
  • I'm with you. In a world of some discouragement, sorrow, and overmuch sin, in times when fear and despair seem to prevail, when humanity is feverish with no worldly physicians in sight, I too say, "Trust Jesus." Let him still the tempest and ride upon the storm. Believe that he can lift mankind from its bed of affliction, in time and in eternity.
Spencer J. Condie -A Mighty Change of Heart
  • A loving Heavenly Father has not left us alone in our battle with the adversary.
  • The Holy Ghost strives with us to help us resist evil.
  • Yield to the enticings of the Spirit in order to overcome the natural man, who is an enemy to God.
  • The words strive, entice, contend, and persuade are all very strong action verbs indicating a positive influence which the Holy Ghost can have in our lives by actively helping us in our quest for perfection.
  • [Satan's strategies:] The first of these is pride, ... second major strategy is discouragement."
  • "Habits are easily formed. It is just as easy to form good habits as it is to form evil ones."
  • Undergo a mighty change of heart--not a little change, but a mighty change.
  • Strive to become more compassionate and loving and understanding.
  • "Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right." When we humble ourselves, the Spirit will always tell us what is right.
  • I am grateful for these Brethren whom we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators who forewarn us of bridges not to be crossed.
Neal A. Maxwell -"From the Beginning"
  • "It is said the Priesthood was taken from the Church, but it is not so, the Church went from the Priesthood."
  • Many fell away from the gospel and its "plain and precious" truths. It was too simple. They preferred "looking beyond the mark" and searching for things "they could not understand."
  • "If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves."
  • In God's plan of salvation, He does nothing save it be for the benefit of His children in the world' man is at the center of His purposes.
Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Dream

I was at the school, in the gym...at some sort of party when the doors were shoved open and these giant bees flew in, throwing stingers everywhere. They looked a bit alienish. At some points they looked like the GloFish Danios at work. Especially the Red ones. In any case, I ended up in a war with them. Basically if I shot...some sort of white mist at their green mist, I could stop them, but only for a bit. If I got distracted I would weaken and their mist/stingers would start to overpower mine. And those stingers were poisionness. Which meant... Get away! I managed to escape from the building with a few of my group. Immediately I headed to the castle where Prince charming, and Cinderella resided. We met on the top of one of the flat top towers -the tallest of the building. I told them the situation and the Prince told me he would send help. Only a messenger showed up to say that all the armies had already been dispatched. That sent red flags through both Charming and Cinderella's heads. ALL the armies? Not good. But before he could say anything. The Queen stepped in. She looked kinda like Ursula, but human. Full evil queen step mother role. Prince charming was taken down the steps to the watery dungeon...tied up. with a collar around his neck...and Cinderella was on the way to follow him, never to be heard from again. As the queen had made life like robot replicas of the two of them. So she could rule behind the scenes and the people would believe that their prince and princess still ruled. She showed us what the robots could do by simply turning the dials on their back. While the description was going on the dials moved to a handheld device which was able to control the real Cinderella due to the collar around her neck. The queen was showing how she could control her movements, words, facial expressions and as Cinderella was wiggling her fingers, the queen said she could even make her tail wag. Cinderella laughed at this. "I don't have a tail." and the queen replied "Not yet." She intended to turn both of them into Dalmatians to rule by her side and utterly loyal to her. The scene shifted and I was at my parents home. We were talking when I saw the Russian Meteor rush by. I told everyone in our home to duck down away from the windows as the wind from the impact could shatter the windows, flinging glass everywhere. I ducked down but besides the wind blowing dust in through the windows (odd as they weren't open)....they didn't shatter. But to be safe we were going to leave the area for a bit, only our car....was gone because a sibling and our neighbors had taken our cars for various errands. But my mom wasn't concerned she just went to our neighbors house and had my brother go in the side door as we went around to the front where the Father greeted us and gave us a...green fold up table/chair thing. As we headed back to our home I asked mom what that was all about and she basically said that she made a deal with our neighbors that she could borrow this if she let the other Mom borrow the car for a bit. We then realized my brother hadn't come out of the home yet, and so we returned to the side glass door. Meralto opened the door wearing a red shirt and a bright red kilt. Totally not what he was wearing when he went in. The Kilt wasn't that odd, I'd seen my brother in them before. But the thing was super short. Barely covering the area you want covered...and that wouldn't be covered if he bent over. He told my mom "Yes, I've told the guys what special pants/shorts to wear under these." and I was like O.o you can wear something under them? I didn't think it was possible as I thought you didn't wear anything under kilts, but pants would seriously help out that situation. I gladly left him at the home as we went to head to the basketball game, table in tow....

Then the unholy tones of daylight pulled me away....
and I became myself again. :)

-S.N.D

No comments:

Post a Comment