Monday, October 5, 2009 - General Conference

Hey y'all!

What's up?

First of all, Nathan, how can it be mid-term already? Didn't you just start school a few days ago??? Just joking; time really does go by fast!

Anyways, General Conference was amazing! I keep thinking that Conferences are getting better because I'm growing and learning more, etc. ..and I think that's part of it, but I also think they truly are getting better by themselves. My sensitivity to the Spirit is stronger than it's ever been. I've never been so excited to be a missionary.

I also noticed there was a theme this time. One of love, and also one of standing for what's right. This is the time that all the prophets - old and new - have been talking about. The world has moved from black and white to many shades of grey; but we are slowly (yet quickly) returning to a clear separation. The line between true believers and followers of Christ and unbelievers is getting wider and wider. Elder Christofferson's talk clearly explained how we have moved from individuals having internal self-control, to governments applying external control, because we are losing our moral footings. When a civilization decides that "freedom" means everyone can choose and live by their own view of what's Right and what's Wrong, then that civilization is doomed to fall. At the same time, this and other talks have shown that while all this is happening, it is possible to find out what God thinks is right, and to protect that in our family and society. Bishop Burton talked about the "-ity virtues", especially integrity. Part of all this is getting, having, and strengthening your testimony of Jesus Christ. I know that Jesus is the Christ; and when that testimony is tested, I hope I will have the strength to uphold it.

Joseph Smith plainly taught that you can't know anything spiritual except by the Spirit - that you can't know about God, unless it's from God. Therefore, it is also important to have a testimony of the sources of this revelation from God. Elder Holland gave one of the most powerful testimonies of the Book of Mormon that I ever heard. With all that was happening to them, their families, and their friends, did Joseph and Hyrum Smith find solace from a book that they made up and wrote? Did they give their lives and more for a cause they knew was fake? No; they found comfort in true scripture, including the Book of Mormon. Peter, Paul, and Joseph Smith alike gave everything, not for a work that they thought was really good, not one that had been revealed to them by flesh and blood, but by a marvellous work that had been revealed by our Father which is in Heaven.

Like Sister Catudal mentioned, I also like Elder Callister's talk and testimony on the Prophet Joseph Smith. I loved the example he used, which I like to use quite often: Peter denied Christ, Moses was a "murderer", Jeremiah was a child... anyone who attacks "Mormonism" attacks Christianity; because, in reality, they are the same. As a side note, Elder Callister sounded very familiar. I think was the keynote speaker for our Youth Conference one year. Can anyone confirm that?

There were other talks that I loved. Elder Bednar taught that sometimes, the best Family Home Evening lesson is the fact that it is being done every week. Sometimes, it's consistency that daily family prayer and scripture study teach more than anything. The best lesson a parent can teach about life and the Gospel is not any one idea or concept, but how they can find it on their own. That's why Jesus taught that if you give a man a fish, he'll eat only for a day, whereas if you teach him to fish, he'll eat forever.

I also loved Elder Renlund (I think it's him; I don't have my conference notes with me)'s talk with the analogy of a heart transplant. Just as it is the body's tendency to reject a new heart, it is the natural man's tendency to reject a "mighty change of heart", and we must monitor it every day and every week (take biopsies, etc) and work to make sure that we keep it healthy.

All in all, I loved the whole thing. It's always been hard to sit in the chapel and stay there all day, but it was a breeze this time. (Before priesthood, they had a "Burger Burn", and we got the leftovers.)

Speaking of which, when we got to the chapel, nothing was set up. We called around and found the projector. Then, the satellite sound wasn't working. We had to "break into" an office, then into a key box, then use one of those keys to break into the satellite control box in the library. I had no idea what to do, so I just turned it off, then back on. We got it working literally thirty seconds before conference started. Good thing we came early. We also managed to bring three people to come watch.

And I agree with the stake presidency [of Montreal Quebec Mont-Royal Stake] that we should watch conference in the chapel (at the very least, one session). Most people say that they're watching at home, but how many of those do you think are honestly doing that? Unity is another good reason. Also, the chapel is a dedicated building and made especially for this purpose. If we had the technology and the means to efficiently and cost-effectively take the sacrament to everyone's home every week (and in some parts of Utah, that's possible) and then have talks and lessons over teleconference, would we do it? Can anyone say that they feel the Spirit more strongly at home in their PJs with the TV on the side and with a snack going in the microwave, rather than wearing their Sunday best in the "house of prayer"? Can listening straight from the Prophets and Apostles of our time be treated as the special opportunity that it is if it is treated equal to any other show you would find on TV, or even worse, on YouTube? I believe that Conference by public satellite and Internet was intended for those who don't otherwise have access to Conference, and for no other purpose. Sure, it is easier to do it at home, and if you prepare yourself enough, you could have a very spiritual experience, but I think there is something about "keep the Sabbath day holy" that involves going to the church at least once on Sunday.

Anyways, I have truly come out of this conference spiritually (and physically) fed. It is an exciting time to be alive.

I hope y'all will have a good week. I'm looking forward to the predicted moisture that we're supposed to get for the whole week. Too bad President Monson doesn't have time to do weather forecasts.

The Church is true.

I love you!

-Elder Brandon Wong