Regional Stake Conference

This past weekend we atteneded a Regional Stake Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The stake conference was broadcast to 135 stakes in our area much like General Conference is broadcast to the whole world. The talks were amazing and I felt they really hit on some of the things that people in our area struggle with (myself included). Here are some of the notes I took.

President Jensen of the Quorum of the Seventy

• We live with many cultural expectation on life patterns, ideals, and life outcomes.
• We do not need to lower the ideal, we need to become more understanding of how everyone is striving for the ideal even if they have not yet achieved it.
• Seek for spiritual gifts and perfection like the perfection of Jesus Christ.

Sister Ann Dibb, 2nd Counselor, Young Women's Presidency (daughter of President Thomas S. Monson)

• We are constantly making judgements about every day things.
• We need to learn to discern that which is of real worth from those things which are counterfeit.
• Seek to learn the difference between pleasure and happiness, and seek after happiness.
• Commit to what is real.
• Do not judge the efforts of other according to your standards of righteousness. You do not know where they are coming from or where they are at on working towards perfection.

President Boyd K. Packer

• Take time to think about the sacrifices of those who made living comfortable in this valley possible.
• The growth of the church makes personal contact with members from General Authorities challenging. (The regional stake conference via broadcast is evidence of this. There are now so many stakes around the world that it is hard to have a General Authority visit each and every stake conference individually.)
• Anyone who has a physical body has power over the adversary.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

• We are linked by technology, but united in our testimonies of Jesus Christ.
• We need to prepare and encourage young people to serve missions.
• We need to use the "Preach My Gospel" manual in family home evenings.
• There is a great need to reach out to those around us, especially those who are less active in church.
• Ponder the question(s) of what are you doing as families to strengthen testimonies, to strengthen eternal marriages, and increase your faith individually and collectively?
• You will be taught from on high, through the Holy Ghost, when you are prepared and ready to learn the things you need to know.
• Focus on the essential things, not just the good things.
• Set spiritual goals as well as temperal goals.
• Use internet resources wisely.

To my knowledge, none of my note taking included direct quotes from any of the speakers. My notes simply include the things that stood out to me the most from the talks that were given. It was nice to come away from stake conference uplifted and ready to move forward with some positive goals and perspectives to work on.