194th Semiannual General Conference Highlights - Sunday Sessions

 Sunday Session

Sunday Morning 

Jeffrey R. Holland

• Just being in the presence of the Son of God and hearing his voice is enough to send antagonists stumbling into retreat. 
• We must not be guilty of simplistic versions of Christ that ignore His teachings that make us uncomfortable. 
• Love with all of your heart, might, mind, and strength. 
• If the harder you try, the more difficult it seems to get, remember that it has been so for the most faithful and marvelous people in every bit of time. 
• We have all the answers we need...but it doesn't work to have the answers to the tests of life if we don't attend the classes involved. 

Tracy Y. Browning

• At times having limitations can feel frustrating or overwhelming when we come to the edge of our knowledge and venture into the areas we don't fully understand. 
• Asking questions isn't a weakness but a precursor to Growth. 
• Through our obedience and diligence we'll gain knowledge and intelligence. 
• Revelation from God is ALWAYS compatible with his Law and is NEVER contradicted. 
• Resisting obedience to God's laws and commandments may delay and prolong our growth. 
• To Trust means to Obey Willingly. 
• The higher you are the further you can see. Make the climb. 

Brook P. Hales

• We are not destined to fail. 
• God shall consecrate your afflictions for your gain.
• The Lord can strengthen us and bear us up in whatever difficulties we are called upon to experience. 
• The Lord's strength and power can help us through whatever difficulties -physical, mental, emotional- we may encounter. 
• Life's experiences both good and bad can teach us important lessons. 
• We were not sent here to fail but to succeed. 

L. Todd Budge

• Making quality time for Him is one of the major challenges of our day. 
• Make time for the Lord in your lives each and every day. 
• Quiet time is sacred time. 
• To be still may be a way to remind us to focus upon the Savior unfailingly.
• Being still takes an act of faith and effort. 
• Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His Gospel. 
• Slow down. Live with greater spiritual awareness. 
• As much as God desires our Attention he will not Force Us to Come to Him. 
• Being always in motion may add to the commotion in our lives and rob us of the peace that we seek. 

Gary E. Stevenson

• These will be days never to be forgotten. 
• There is no greater unity shown than in the Olympics. 
• Happiness and Joy in this life are always linked with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 
• Become engaged in Family History. Spend time in the Temple. 
• May we share Glad Tidings by Caring, Listening, Inviting. 

Bradley R. Wilcox

• When we use our Agency to Make and Keep Covenants with God, we become Heirs with the everlasting Covenant God has made with our Forebearers.
• It is one thing to be loved. And another thing entirely to be Trusted. 
• God loves All his children and is concerned for their welfare. 
• Your commitments demand much of you but that's because God is making More of you. 
• You've Got This. Because Christ has Got You.
• Don't change everything for nothing. 
• Don't let the world change you when you were born to change the world. 

Henry B. Eyring

• God will reveal the Truth only as we are cautious and careful to avoid getting near False Doctrines. 
• Choose to be Simple in our Teachings. 
• We should seize every opportunity to share the teachings of Christ with children. 
• The words you share today could be the ones They carry with them and Today will soon pass. 
• Don't give in to your Doubts. Turn to God for help.

Sunday Afternoon 

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

• What principles have you learned that have become a firm foundation in your life? 
• One of the most important things we can learn in this life is the difference between what is eternal and what is not. 
• Not all Truth is of equal value. Some truths are core and essential to our Faith. Others are appendages. Valuable but only when they're connected to the Core. 
• If you want to Nourish your Testimony you must Nourish the Roots not just splash water on the branches. 
• Nourish the Roots and the Branches will Grow and in Time they will Bear Fruit. 
• Is my Testimony based on what I hope to have happen in my life? Is it depended on the attitude and actions of others? Or is it founded on Christ, rooted and built up on Him regardless of life's changing circumstances. 
• Faith is Strong when it has Deep Roots.
• Faith is not Faith if it's never tested. Faith is not strong if it's never opposed.
• Do not despair if you have trials of faith and unanswered questions.
• We should not expect everything before we act. That is not faith. 
• If we wait to act until all of our questions are answered, we severely limit the good that we can accomplish and we limit the power of our faith. 
• A Testimony is not something you build once and it stands forever. It's more like a Tree where you need to Nourish it to let it continue to Grow. 

Takashi Wada

• Trust in the Lord's words with all your heart. 
• Because Heavenly Father Knows and Loves you He will speak to you personally and in ways that you can easily understand. 
• The way you think about who you are affects every decision that you'll ever make. 

Ronald A. Rasband

• The Savior is not absent from our Mortal Journey. 
• When we hold up one another, we are saying "I am here for you."
• When we hold up the Lord's Light when we hold fast to the Lord's Covenants and when we uphold our Prophet as he speaks the words of God. 
• We need to do more lifting and less murmuring. 
• We all needed to be lifted up by the Lord by peace, love, revelation to hold strong against the darkness in the world.
• We build temples to honor the Lord. They are built for worship and not for show. 
• The Savior and His Doctrine is the very Heart of the Temple. 
• You do not have to Face Life Alone. 

Quentin L. Cook

• Any device will never be as important or significance as the spiritual guidance that comes from revelation. 
• The conversions that are occurring in our day are remarkable. 
• We cannot underestimate the sacredness of scriptures in conversions and remaining faithful in the gospel.
• Redemption comes through Repentance. God himself Atones for the Sins of the World.
• As you study the Book of Mormon Everyday you'll make better decisions Everyday.
• The Internet is a powerful tool for studying the Gospel.
• Use Judgement and be Wise in all things.
• The Internet can be used in a Positive Way or a Destructive Way. 
• Avoid Doom scrolling. Fill your feeds with righteous and positive news. 

Ruben V. Alliaud 

• We are all made in God's image. 
• Every time we are told about our Divine Nature and Heritage that the Adversary then tries to call that into question.  
• Let us all remember that there was a great price paid for our Happiness. 

I. Raymond Egbo

• Ignore the distractions facing you and focus on your goal. You'll succeed beyond what you thought was possible. 
• If you keep fasting and praying and don't set a timeline or time table for God, he will sooner or later find that God will help you with what you're struggling with. 
• Trust Christ with your Child. For He is the Strength of Every Parent to the Child. 

Russell M. Nelson

• When Christ returns the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed. And All flesh shall see it Together. 
• Now is the time for you and for me to prepare for the Second Coming of Christ.
• Every single sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will Find Him in the Temple.
• You'll feel His mercy. You'll find answers to your most vexing questions. You'll better comprehend the Joy of His Gospel.  
• To Whom or to What will you Give your Life?
• I will be on your Right hand and on your Left and my Spirit shall be in your Hearts and My Angels all around you to bear you up. There is no limit to the Savior's capacity to Help You.
• It's neither too early or too late for you to become a disciple of Christ. 

To Read/Watch/Listen to these Talks in their entirety, please visit: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/10?lang=eng

Until you next find these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

194th Semiannual General Conference Highlights - Saturday Sessions

 Saturday Sessions

Saturday Morning

Neil L. Andersen

• The gift of Hope is a priceless endowment from God. 
• As we strengthen our Faith in Jesus Christ we see beyond our Struggles and instead see the Blessings of Eternity. 
• Be of Good Cheer. Keep a Brightness of Hope. 
• The God of Hope will fill you with Joy and Peace that you may Abound in Hope. 
• Every Righteous person will receive every promised blessing. 
• The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives but everything to do with the focus of our lives. 
• The peace you seek may not come as quickly as you desire, but I promise you His peace will come. 

Emily Belle Freeman

• Partaking of the Sacrament helps to increase your companionship with the Lord. 
• It's not only who officiates in the Ordinance that matters. What the ordinance and the covenant promise unlocks also needs to be the focus of our attention. 
• The Lord has a place for You in His plan. 
• Live up to your privileges. 
• We all have access to the gift of God's power. 

Karl D. Hirst

• Divine love never runs dry and we're each a cherished favorite. 
• Whichever parts of us seem different, His love lets us find togetherness. 
• We can discard brokenness in anyway from disqualifying us from God's love. 
• Christ chose to be broken for us. Surely He removes all shame from the broken. 
• You're wrong to think you've put yourself beyond God's love. It's impossible to put yourself that far away.
• Mountains are evidence to God's love because the mountains will go away long before God stops loving us. Mountains show his love is ever enduring. 
• Being loved is not the same as feeling loved. 
• If you're waiting for Christ to come...consider that he might already be near. There within your reach.
• The Joy of the Gospel is available to all. Not just the Happy. Not just the Downcast. All.  

Dale G. Renlund

• The Gospel of Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints provides powerful and transformative benefits for us. 
• The Savior's Church is special Only if it's built on His Gospel.

David P. Homer

• Are you willing to set aside your personal preferences, trust God, and exercise His will and Trust in Him? 
• God Trusts us to make many important decisions. 
• The boundaries between right and wrong are not for us to define but for God to. 
• Deviations from God's Truth lead to Sorrow. 
• Believe in God. Believe that He Is. Believe that he has all Wisdom. Believe that Man cannot comprehend all the things that God comprehends.
• If we Heed God's word, we will receive more. If we ignore God's counsel we will receive less and less until we have none. 
• The loss of Truth doesn't mean we were wrong, only that we lost the ability to comprehend it. 
• When we focus on the Savior our Faith will overcome our Concerns. 
• Choose your Faith. Trust God. Preserve your Blessings. 

Gregorio E. Casillas

• Your spiritual abilities are unique and personal and God wants to help you develop them.
• We live in a time of Great Opportunity even though we face many Difficulties. 
• You can make a positive difference in the World. 
• Fill your life with Faith. Your Testimony will revitalize you. 

Dallin H. Oaks

• Christ is our role model. 
• The Lord's commandments are of two types. Permanent like the Doctrines of Christ or Temporary like those meant for the needs of His people until that need has passed. 
• It is significant that one of the first principles that Christ taught was to Avoid Contention. 
• He who hath the Spirit of Contention is not of Christ but is of the Devil. 
• True disciples of Christ are the peacemakers. 
• Contention is a Choice. Peacemaking is a Choice. You have your Agency to Choose Contention or Reconciliation. Choose to be a Peacemaker. Now and Always. 
• Cease harshly attacking others for their beliefs. 
• Avoid what is harsh and hateful. 

Saturday Afternoon 

D. Todd Christofferson

• Passive Rebellion is a more insidious influence in our lives compared to Active Rebellion. 
• When it comes to matters of Salvation and Eternal Life our Theme Song should be "I Did it God's Way"
• There is no "My Way" if we're to follow Christ's Example. 
• Are you worshiping God's gift? Or God? 

Jose A Teixeira

• Our Unity and Strength, grounded in our Faith reassures us that we're never alone in this journey. 
• Don't let your Faith in Jesus Christ become Casual.
• Without a Strong Inner Faith we lose our ability to make a difference in the world and bring out the best in those around us. 
• Our Circumstances may vary but We All can make a Difference. 
• While serving isn't always convenient, it is always rewarding. 

Juan Pablo Villar

• Think Celestial.
• If we Think Celestial, we will understand that our Lives will face challenges that seem greater than our capacity to overcome them.
• Christ has the power to help us out of every miserable or adverse condition.
• Christ can reach us where we are as we are. 
• Christ's hand will always be there for us, even if we cannot see it or feel it at first. 

Patrick Kearon 

• Welcome to the Church of Joy. 
• We should be the most joyful people on Earth despite the trails that come upon us. 
• Joy comes From and Because of Him. 
• Christ is Joy. 
• As we grow and learn let us see that Reverence is so much more than folding our arms and being still. 
• In the Stillness, ponder the many ways we are loved by the Lord. 
• Joy looks different for different people. 

David L. Buckner

• Christ has long called his faithful followers his friends. 
• The Savior numbers each of us and watches over us. This watch is Exhalting, Exhilarating, and Eternal. 
• There is always much more that unites us than divides us. 
• We must stop looking for reasons to divide and seek opportunities to be one. 
• We need to build higher and holier relationships with All of God's Children. 
• The Gospel Net is the Largest Net in the world. There is room for everyone. 

D. Martin Goury 

• Seek repentance, make changes in your life, and turn to the Savior for redemption. 
• Satan delights in your misery. Cut it short. Cast his influence out of your life. 
• Having the Holy Ghost as a constant companion is crucial for our spiritual growth. 
• When we are receptive to the guidance of the Still Small Voice we are better equipped to help those in need. 

Aroldo B. Cavalcante

• We can help others in their journeys and progress to receive God's blessings. 
• How many faithful brothers and sisters sit forgotten among us? 
• No one is ever forgotten by Christ. 

Ulisses Soares

• Do all things that please the Lord. 
• We each travel an individual discipleship journey on the path to the Savior. 
• Being sincerely Christlike is an even more important goal than being Authentic. 
• While your personal circumstances like genetics, geography and physical and mental challenges can influence our journey, in that things that truly matter there is an inner space where we are free to choose how we take that path in our lives. 
• Be true to every covenant that you've entered into. 
• It takes a courageous and willing heart to pursue an introspection to look at our weakness and how they could help or hinder our ability to follow Christ. 

Saturday Evening

Gerrit W. Gong

• All around us are opportunities to laugh and delight and see the bright side of life.
• Holiness invites us to infuse daily living with Joy.  
• Religious believers are on average happier, more cheerful and more fulfilled. 
• Spending time in the House of the Lord can help heal what is broken. 

Kristin M. Yee

• You won't get back what you had, but do the very best you can with what you've got. 
• God is not done with you.
• We CAN try again.  
• God can give us the power to recognize and overcome our weaknesses. 
• Don't give up. Be patient with yourself. 
• You're not necessarily defective, but rather there is more work to be done and more healing that's needed.

Kyle S. McKay

• Jesus Christ is truly of a forgiving disposition. It's not part of his nature to condemn. He came to save. 

Jorge M. Alvarado

• To find truth, peace, and forgiveness you may have to find some place to be alone to pray for those things. 
• Repentance is Joy. 
• The Light of the Savior can reach us all no matter our circumstances. 
• There's no need to wait to turn to the Lord. Turn to him now. 

David A. Bednar

• The Book of Mormon was written for Our Day. The Nephites never had the book. It was meant for us. 
• We should constantly ask ourselves, why did the Lord inspire Mormon to include this account in the Book of Mormon? 
• The Book of the Mormon looks to the future. 
• Prosperity, Possessions and Ease can lead even the most righteous to drink the poison of Pride. 
• Do not let the blessing of Prosperity twist into a Curse of Pride. 
• Pride will afflict us with spiritual blindness. 
• We cannot look to and focus on Christ if we only see ourselves. 
• Apostasy can occur at 2 basic levels. Institutional or Individual. 
• The Standard of Truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop its progress. 
• If you or I do not believe that we could be affected by Pride, then we are vulnerable and in spiritual danger. 
• Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble. 

To Watch/Read/Listen to the Talks in their entirety please visit: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/10?lang=eng

Until you next find these words;
I'll be watching the leaves. 
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

194th Annual General Conference Highlights -Saturday and Sunday Sessions

^^;; I was traveling during Conference, so I've only just now been able to sit down to watch it. 

Saturday Morning

Jeffrey R. Holland

• Are you fulfilling the measure of your creation?
• Thanks are the highest form of thought and Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. 
• Prayers are always answered...but they're not always answered in the way we hope. 
• It doesn't matter where ,when, or what we pray about. Pray always. God will hear you.
• Prayers are motions of a hidden fire. 
• Employ prayer as a shield against temptation. 
• If you ever feel the need to not pray. Pray harder. God will Never Not want you to Pray. He always wants to hear from his children. 

J. Anette Dennis

• Covenants allow us to be molded and to become more like the Savior. 
• When we choose to make covenants with God, our relationship with him can become much closer to him and allows him to bless us with an extra measure of mercy. 
• The Covenant Path is all about our Relationship with God. 
• God wants a deeper relationship with each and every one of us. But it's Our Choice on how deep we make that relationship. 
• You don't have to go on a mission or be engaged to get your covenants. If you have the desire to deepen your relationship, make every effort to fulfill those desires. 

Alexander Dushku 

• The Heavens are Open. We can receive Truth and Light. 
• If you're always expecting the Spectacular, you'll miss entirely the constant flow of simple communication.  
• The Lord rarely sends Pillars of Light, instead He sends a Ray of Light. And then another. And then another. 
• The Light of Christ is literally all around us. We just have to look to see it. 
• No two people receive God's Light and Truth in Exactly the Same way. 
• Perhaps no one ray is strong enough or bright enough to constitute a testimony, but all together they can bind together to defeat any darkness. 

Ulisses Soares 

• Cast not away your confidence in your covenants. 
• If there was One thing we could possess and one thing we could pass on to our children and our grandchildren it is the confidence we have in Christ. 
• If we change our preparation of the temple, we change our experience in the temple, and will transform our lives outside of the temple.
• We all should be perpetually preparing to go to the temple. 
• Being temple bound secures us to the Savior. 
• When the Lord sees a spark of desire or a flicker of willingness, he will bless us with the blessings that we need. 
• If we want to have the Spirit of the Lord to be unrestrained in our lives, we simply cannot and must not have unkind feelings or thoughts to anyone. 

Jack N. Gerard 

• Integrity flows from the first Commandment to love God. 
• Integrity means we do not lower our standards or behavior to impress or be accepted by others. You do what is right and let the consequences follow. 
• Are you True to what you profess? Are you consistent in your words and deeds?
• Integrity is the willingness to live by our beliefs. 
• Trust the Doctrines of Christ more than the Philosophies of Man. 
• Christian Kindness is not a substitute for Integrity. 

Henry B. Eyring

• Whatever the outcome, all will be well. 
• The safest place to be spiritually is living inside of your temple covenants. 
• Qualifying for covenants isn't a one time thing, but a lifetime pattern. 

Saturday Afternoon 

David A. Bednar

• Be Still. And Know that I am God. 
• Remember and Rely upon God and His Power in All Things, in All Times and All Places. 
• True Faith is always focused In and On Him, the Lord Jesus Christ. 
• We should build our foundations upon Christ. 
• The foundation of our lives must be connected to the rock Christ if we're to remain firm and steadfast.
• The Lord provides both Sacred Times and Holy Places to help us experience and learn about this inner stillness of our souls.  
• If we Will we can be Still. 
• Our homes should be the ultimate combination of Sacred Time and Holy Place where individuals and families can Be Still.

Massimo De Feo 

• Living the Gospel doesn't not remove our pain or trials. The Gospel is not a way to avoid challenges or problems, but a solution to increase our faith and learn how to deal with them. a way a way to remove pain and trials.
• Keep a clear spiritual vision as you focus on Jesus Christ and focus on what is True.
• To keep our spiritual sight intact, we can't listen to the voices of the world around us. We must stay faithful to what we know. 
• Act instead of being Acted Upon.
• The way we think influences the way we are acted upon. 

Brent H. Nielson

• The Church of Jesus Christ is experiencing tremendous growth worldwide. 
• The Truth of God will go forth Boldly, Nobly, and Independently. 

Jose L. Alonso 

• When the focus of our lives is on Christ and His Gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is or what is not happening in our lives. 
• Put the Savior at the Center of your life. 
• When encompassed with Challenges, it's easy to become engrossed in our difficulties. But if we stop concentrating on the problems we face and instead focus on Christ and placing him at the core of our thoughts and our deeds, it will help us navigate through our trials.
• Turn your Trials into Victories.
• What seems like a major problem, can become a pathway to great spiritual promise. 

Gerrit W. Gong

• All things will work towards your Good. Even if you don't see it in the moment, it will be fortunate in the future. 
• When I choose me. I'm choosing my own inadequacies and limitations. 
• We may receive trials that we would never choose, but can leave us blessed beyond our imaginations. 
• Trials that happened there and then, can bless us here and now.
• When life is cluttered and purpose isn't clear, when you want to live better but don't know how. Come to Christ. 

Michael T. Nelson

• Our God is with us. He will not suffer us to fall. 
• If ye do not doubt, God will deliver you.
• No one serving in the Lord's Kingdom serves alone. 
• When we partner with the Lord We can trust that our efforts will be in line with what He would do.
• It is relationships, that have the greatest influences on your choices.

Quentin L. Cook

• The requirements for baptism are profound but uniquely simple. 
• We shouldn't emphasis our differences, but focus on how we're children of God. 
• Agency is the ability to choose and act. It is essential to the plan of salvation.
• Efforts to create barriers to others success is contrary to the Lord's plan. 
• For the most important choices. We do have control.

Saturday Evening

Shayne M. Bowen

• As you pray the Holy Ghost will come to comfort you.
• Heavenly Father always keeps his promises.
• Miracles have not ceased. Angels are around us and the Heavens are open.

Steven R. Bangerter

• You are blessed with the gift of agency. 
• Knowing who you are begins with understand God's preordained blessings that he gave you before you were born here on Earth. 
• Protect the Private Times of your Life.
• What you do during the Private Times of your life will greatly impact how you face trials in your life, but also success and joys you experience. 

Andrea Munoz Spannaus

• God's love for you should be the most important influence in your life. 
• Fully Trust in The Lord's Timing, his Power, his Love. He can help you defeat any giant in your lives. 
• Everything changes when I know who I really am.
• Repentance isn't punishment for sin. It's the way the Savior frees us from sin. 
• Forgiveness is possible for everyone. 
• Covenants connect you to Heavenly Father and the Savior, they increase God's power in your life. 
• No one can take your testimony and your knowledge from that testimony from you. 
• If we love the truth we will seek it. And once we find it we will defend it. 
• There is joy in doing good. 

Matthew L. Carpenter

• Sealed blessings like covenants are the fruits we seek to remain preserved. 
• For Marriage covenants we must be true with our spouse and to God.  
• If you remain faithful to the covenants you've made, you will receive the blessings promised to you regardless on if your spouse remains part of those covenants. 
• God will not require anyone to remain sealed in a relationship for eternity against their will.
• No blessing will be withheld from His faithful saints.  
• The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Gospel of Hope. 

Dieter F. Uchtdorf 

• Everyone wants to be happy but not everyone is. For many people, happiness is hard to find. If Happiness if the one thing we humans desire most, why are we so unsuccessful in finding it? Have we been looking for joy in the wrong places?
• Feeling sad is not a sign of failure. 
• Peaceful confidence comes from following the Savior and walking in his way.
• Do not discount others sources of joy. 
• Let your Faith overcome your Fear. 
• If we seek out reasons to be bitter, angry or alone. We will find it. But if we seek reasons to rejoice, be happy and follow the Savior. You find it too. 
• We rarely find something we're not looking for. 
• True joy multiples when it is shared.
• Joy doesn't require anything grand or complicated. It can be found in doing simple things. 

Sunday Morning

Ronald A. Rasband

• Words matter. They are the bedrock of how we connect. They represent our beliefs, morals, and perspective. Words set a tone. They voice our thoughts, feelings and experiences for good or bad. 
• Sustain the Prophet and Heed his Words. 
• May we Think Celestial letting Thy Spirit Prevail in our Lives and Strive to be Peacemakers Always. 
• Be careful what you say and how you say it. Our words can bring us together or drive a wedge between us. 

Susan H. Porter

• Pray to Know. Pray to Grow. Pray to Show. 
• We are important to the Lord and we are never truly alone. 

Dale G. Renlund

• If you just keep paddling, maintaining momentum, you'll get by. 
• We become vulnerable when we slow down and especially when we stop. If we maintain momentum by rowing towards the Savior, we'll remain safe and secure. 
• Our Faith in Jesus Christ needs to be nourished daily.
• Most people who are struggling, know that they are struggling. We shouldn't be judgmental. Or conclude that we are more righteous than the ones who are struggling. We are all struggling in our own way.
• The Savior's job is to Heal. Our job is to Love. 

Paul B. Pieper

• Trust is the foundation of all relationships.
• A relationship forms only when both sides are willing to place trust in each other.
• Our Relationship with God will only grow to the decree we are willing to place our Trust in Him.
• Sometimes the best way to learn to Trust God...is to just Trust Him.
• God is focused on our growth and progress. He is always stretching us to help us realize more of our divine potential. 
• Regardless of the Trust we may have or may not have placed in Him in the past. We can choose to Trust God today.

Patrick Kearon

• Heavenly Father's plan is designed to bring us home. It's not meant to keep us out. God is in relentless pursuit of you. And wants all His children to return to Him and will employ every possible measure to bring you back.
• God does not put up roadblocks and barriers. He removes them. He welcomes you in.

Brian K. Taylor

• Life's trials prove us. 
• Without God, our trials can cause despondency, despair and bitterness. 
• 1. Stronger Faith comes by putting Christ first. 2. Brighter Hope comes by envisioning our Eternal Destiny. 3. Greater Power comes by Focusing on Joy. 
• When you bring the Savior's relief to others, you will find it yourself. 

Dallin H. Oaks

• Covenants are instrumental in the restoration of the Gospel.
• Covenants do not take a day off. 

Sunday Afternoon 

D. Todd Christofferson

• Being Valiant in Christ means Nurturing and Strengthening your testimony.
• Being Valiant means being public and open about one's values and witness. 
• Heed the Truth that will make you Free. 
• Keep your eyes on Eternity. 

Taylor D. Godoy

• Prayer is the means of communication to our Heavenly Father that allows us to call for his response. 
• Confidence in God's answers means accepting that His ways are not Our Ways and that Everything comes in its own time. 
• Always think of the Lord as your first option for help. Hope. Don't Fall. After Praying do all you can to obtain your blessings. Accept your answer as it comes even if it's not what you wanted. 

Gary E. Stevenson

• To love the Lord centers first on your Heart, your vary nature, your Soul, your entire being, and with Your Mind, your intelligence and intellect. 
• Love is often measured in small daily deeds. 
• Loving the Lord leads to Eternal Happiness.
• Love in the Lord is not complete if we neglect our neighbors. 
• Giving help to others is our joy. Especially when it is not convenient or takes us out of our comfort zone. 
• We need to erect tall towers of loving God and loving our neighbors. 

Mathias Held

• We sometimes make the wrong decisions and must live with the consequences until we can make the right choice again.
• We correct our wrong choices when we repent. This is where growth happens. 
• In life we constantly confront many important choices. 
• We can't choose the consequences of our decisions but we can choose how we react to those consequences. 
• Let's make an effort to see both sides of the coin for every event in our lives. 
• Choose to Believe. Choose to have Faith. Choose to always Trust. Choose to Think Celestial.

Neil L. Andersen

• The knowledge and power of God is expanding. 
• Across the World, Houses of the Lord are coming to us. 
• As we are faithful we are blessed with protection from temptations and distractions. 
• We are armed with the power of God. 
• We grow Up in the Lord and can receive a Fullness of the Holy Ghost. 
• There are many different ways to see the Face of Christ and there's no better way than within the walls of His Holy House. 

Mark L. Pace

• The Holy Ghost fills our souls with Joy. 
• We are each responsible for our own spiritual growth. 
• Sometimes reading the Book of Mormon is just about feeling connected to God. You don't always have to learn something new. 
• The most important copy of the Book of Mormon is our personal copy that we read. 

Russell M. Nelson

• Christ will manifest himself to His people in His house. This applies to every dedicated temple.  
• The power of priesthood keys in infinite and breathtaking. 
• Priesthood keys gives us the authority to extend all the blessings promised to Abraham to every covenant keeping individual. 
• 1. The Gathering of Israel is Evidence that God Loves All of His Children Everywhere. 
• 2. The Gospel of Abraham is further Evidence that God Loves All of His Children Everywhere. 
• 3. The Sealing Power is supernal Evidence that God Loves All of His Children Everywhere. 
• Time in the Temple will help you to Think Celestial and catch a vision of who you really are, who you can become, and the kind of life you can have forever. 
• You do not have to face life alone. Angels will really help you. 
• The Temple is the Gateway to the Greatest Blessings God has in Store for Each of Us.

To Read/Watch/Listen to the General Conference Talks in their entirety please visit: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/04?lang=eng 

Until you next find these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Come Back! .... Wait. Come back?

 So. Our goal at work has been to have two dog trainers in the store.

That way we can hold classes on multiple different days and different times to better meet customer's needs.

Only....

We've struggled to actually have Two dog trainers.

Like at first it was the 'we'd hire one, and then the previous one would quit' sort of ring around the rosie.

But this past year....we had one of our dog trainers take a long leave of absence. Like a sudden long leave of absence where they vanished in the middle of all their classes. Which, thankfully we had another dog trainer just coming in at the time, so they were able to take over a lot of those classes and finish them for the customers...but we also had a ton of them returned too because no one is willing to wait an undetermined amount of time for their original trainer to come back. 

I honestly wasn't sure they were EVER going to come back, honestly. I mean. We do have workers who will vanish for the summer because they're college kids and move home for the summer. But then they come back in the fall...but that's like...maybe 3 months max. 

This dog trainer was gone for SIX months. Half a Year. 

They vanished at the beginning of summer last year and only just returned towards the beginning of January.

And like. We were relieved. That we could finally have two dog trainers again. That we could again schedule more classes. Because the one dog trainer had finally returned from their medical l.o.a. 

But....

Truthfully...I had my doubts. Like yes, this trainer has returned....but how long would they be back for? Like the very first shift I worked with them they mentioned that they were looking into starting their own dog training business. Taking courses and such. 

And like....if they're already looking to move elsewhere....how long do they mean to stay here?

Like will they start classes and just quit in the middle of them? Leaving customers hanging? Or will they finish out the entire course before vanishing?

Hard to know....

Like all the old trainer's classes had been moved to the new dog trainer. So the one that had been gone for 6 months was basically starting out fresh again. They would have to work shifts in the store where they'd be able to interact with customers and sign them up for classes. Like, us workers can do it too, but the shifts they were scheduled originally were to help them set up classes and such.

But like.....I only saw the old dog trainer like....twice? Maybe three times.....before they started calling out sick.

Like literally the old trainer had only been at work for twoish weeks?? Before they called out the first time....and I think they might have missed a couple of shifts before that too without calling out. 

Not too important because no classes had started yet for them. But kinda....disheartening.

Like you were gone for SIX MONTHS you weren't getting PAID during that time. And you're ALREADY calling out sick after working like...two shifts???

And it's kept happening. They keep calling out.

And now we've had to start canceling their classes and postponing classes, and RETURNING classes because again, customers don't want to wait to start a class they paid for. They don't want to deal with a flaky trainer that doesn't show up every week as promised.

And like....it's frustrating.

But what's even more frustrating is that today the dog trainer sent in a doctors note. 

Said doctors note said that the doctor was excusing the trainer from work from JANUARY 15th to February 10th.

TODAY IS FEBRUARY 5th.

TODAY is the FIRST time we are SEEING this Doctor's note.

Like....If you had this note for THREE WEEKS why are you only NOW sending it to us??

I don't understand it. I really don't.

Like...I get that there are medical and health related things happening here. That you can't always control those things and some of them take longer to recover from than others.

But like. You were gone for SIX MONTHS. And then only came back for like...maybe a week and a half? Maybe three shifts total? Before having to get a doctors note again?

I just...I just don't see how it's feasible for us to keep this dog trainer on the books if we can't reliably expect them to be at work. Like our training courses take place over a month and a half. If a trainer can't reliably show up for the entire thing....why would we schedule dogs with them? Why would we even have them?

It also makes me wonder how feasible their goal is to start their own business because like....you need to be reliable. You need to be able to be consistent. Dogs need consistency and if the trainer isn't there consistently to help the owners train the dog....how will they get trained properly?

It's....such a weird situation. Honestly. Like....I can't even put it into proper words.

But it does make me wonder if this dog trainer is going to be around for much longer. Like will they even show up after the 10th is over? Or will another doctor's note appear extending their absence again?? I don't know.

Time will tell I suppose.

Until you next find these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

I Bought This! (But Did You?)

 There's no question about it. We get some weird customers that come into the store.

I mean, probably most retail stores get their fair share of odd customers.

But sometimes I think our store sees a higher quantity of crazy characters compared to others.

So.

Today I had a lady call the store. 

Stating that she and her husband had been in the store yesterday about lunch time. Buying a bunch of things for their brand new puppy. 

And they realized that some of the stuff they bought...hadn't made it home with them. So she wanted to know if we had a bag of product set to the side.

Which...having closed last night...I don't recall seeing anything like that.

But at the same time, it's possible that one of the other cashiers had assumed the bag of product was just product a customer decided they didn't want or had returned and they'd put everything back on the shelf.

So I figured I'd do some research....since I couldn't find the bag up front. Just to see if our inventory on some of the products listed as missing were right.

Because like if a customer bought a collar...and inventory says we have 5 of them but there's 6 on the shelf, then obviously there's an extra one there. So it's probably the customers.

But the customer was rather...vague...on what they'd 'forgotten' at the store.

She was pretty confident she'd bought a collar and a dog toy and some dog treats.....

And thankfully she'd had a membership with us so I was able to look up her receipt on the register. 

And that receipt showed a dog toy, and dog treats and....a dog harness.

So I said I'd look into it and call them back.

And tried to track down at least the toy, treat, and harness.

Only the harness was clearance. They'd bought the last one. And the dog treat showed we were one short instead of one over.....and like...there wasn't a collar listed at all.....

Which meant I was getting nowhere fast.

Thankfully, today I had access to our cameras that watch the registers.

And since I had the receipt, I knew what time the customer had purchased everything. So we could pull up the view of the cameras at that time and just...watch the transaction in it's entirety to see if the bag was forgotten and if it was...where it ended up.

... ... ... 

Funnily enough.

Nothing was forgotten.

There was no collar rung up. Only one set of treats rung up. Only one toy rung up. We watched the cashier put everything in the bags and hand all the bags to the customers. Watched them walk out the door.

So like.... 

Nothing had been left in our store.

Doesn't mean something was left in the parking lot in a cart because that does happen on occasion.

But when the customers left the store, they had everything with them that they'd brought up to the register.

Which came as a shock to the woman when I called her back.

"Wait, we got 2 toys right?! No we got a collar too!!"

And it was great that I could positively say. "No, sorry, we watched the transaction. You did not buy a collar. You only bought one toy. You did not buy multiple treats. Everything you purchased on the receipt was handed to you and you took it out of the building." 

And I just...have to wonder....what the customer was thinking.

Like....it's possible that they were indecisive while shopping in our store. That she and her husband put things in the cart, took them out, put them in, and they just forgot what they decided not to get or not.

Or maybe they went to multiple stores and they left their collar and toys at some other pet store?

Maybe they were just trying to get free stuff.

It's hard to know for sure.

But I did have the evidence saying that they didn't get what they thought they got.

..

...

...

In any case, around the same time today...I noticed a couple in the store with a cute puppy...that looked very similar to the couple I'd watched on our cameras earlier with their puppy.

So I definitely was wondering if they came into the store again today to get the stuff they thought they bought but didn't....

Until you next find these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Tip of the Tongue

 It's rather frustrating when you injure yourself somewhere that like....bugs you all the time...because you use that area all the time for various tasks.

Most of the time it's my hands in some fashion. Mostly cuts on the fingers where they're constantly being brushed or pressed against things. 

Other areas is like your elbows your legs where you just somehow keep hitting the same spot.

Well...the other day...yesterday?? day before yesterday? Recently. I managed to cut my tongue.

Not quite sure how I did it...but I think I cut my tongue on my own teeth? Or something sharp that was among my teeth. Because I do remember running my tongue over my teeth after eating something....

But yah. It's a slight cut...towards the tip of my tongue...that literally brushes against everything in my mouth. Like I feel like I keep zinging myself because everytime I move my tongue around it feels like I'm either brushing the cut against my teeth, or eating something that irritates it, or drinking something that irritates it.

Needless to say.

I'm annoyed.

So annoyed at this stupid little injury in my mouth.

Like WHY?

It's making me wish I had super healing. Because I feel like it should heal so quickly and yet I'm probably going to be stuck zinging myself constantly for the next week.

After all, if you keep irritating something...it's less likely to heal.

So joy. Got that to look forward to. 

Until you next find these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Why Wait To Return It?

I'll never understand the customers who come into the store wanting to return items.....more specifically items that they bought forever ago.

Like, my store has a 60 day return policy. You have TWO MONTHS to bring back something. 

We're even nice and will accept back returns that have been opened or half used.

Like as long as we have the receipt, it's within 60 days, and if the product has a quantity to it...so long as that quantity is half unused we'll return it and either replace the item, give you your money back, or put the cost of that item towards other items you're buying in store.

Like it's not a bad policy.

And yet I routinely have customers, specifically older customers, come into the store wanting to return items that quit working, broke, or they just never used it....like forever ago.

It often makes me wonder if customers are just trying to find ways to 'get money' and so try to return items to get that money back. 

Today, it was an older couple that had bought a dog seat -for a car- back in JUNE of 2023. And during their 'second vacation' the strap that holds the dog into the seat broke. The part where the strap connects to the main seat just...pulled away. 

And the customers were upset about it. Because they said it broke in like...Octoberish? And the strap should have been 'more sturdy' and 'everyone online is complaining about it' and "they should have the strap wrap all the way down around the seat." etc etc etc.

And like....they bought it in JUNE. the 60 days was up in AUGUST.

And maybe...MAYBE if they had brought the seat in when it broke in October. I would have made an exception. Okay. I would have returned it.

But it's been SEVEN MONTHS. 

And you're only NOW trying to return it? Like....if you wanted it so badly why didn't you get a replacement sooner? Why do you only care NOW? 

And the dude was like "It said on the instructions "if you're not satisfied bring this back to the store." and I'm like "Well, we only have a 60 day guarantee. So you'd have to take it up with the manufacture. Because we only accept returns within 60 days." 

And like. I did offer to discount their purchase if they wanted to get a replacement. But the dude was like "What's the point! It's just going to break in the same way!" 

..... *exhales*

So yah. He decided he'd try and fix it himself. 

But I do have to wonder why they only care now in JANUARY and not back in OCTOBER when it broke. If it was THAT important I would have been right back at the store THEN. Not waiting another THREE MONTHS to try and return it for money. 

I don't get people. 

Until you next find these words;
I'll be watching the leaves. 
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi