Weekend

I had the most fabulous weekend! It was Stake Conference. And it was just perfect. Everything that I needed to hear, and more.
Saturday started off at 1:00 with a Relief Society Workshop: Building Homes of Refuge. It was a four hour workshop with some speakers and four different classes to attend. Some things I really loved:

• We waited to come forth to this earthly life for this specific time because we are strong enough to triumph over all the adversary has corrupted this world with. 
• We talked a lot about the blessings of the Priesthood. This is a subject that normally I would not pay full attention to, only because I am a woman who does not hold the Priesthood, but this time they presented the information differently. Priesthood keys have the ability to open and unlock doors that will stay locked without them. Can I afford to not have these keys in my future home? Can I sit by and watch my future husband do something in jeopardy to living up to the authority and blessings that he has been given from our Lord and Savior? Look out boys, because I expect a lot out of my future husband!

Class #1: Savvy Money Management:

• There are a lot of things in this life that we will not be able to control. But having a set budget will give us the peace of being in control, even when the unexpected presents itself.
• Make lists to distinguish between needs and wants. Don't shop when you are "hungry".

Class #2: Scripture Study:

• What have we tried? What works for us?
• Make scripture study a love affair with the words of God. All love affairs require work on our behalf.
• We need the scriptures like we need food. We wouldn't skip a meal, so why skip scripture study?

Class #3: Homemaking:

• Your home can be anywhere. The feeling of being "home" is completely dependent on us and what we make of our "house".
• Our home is just that, OUR home. It becomes what we make of it. Make our home a strong gospel home. Teach your children in your home. Then, when all the materialistic and worldly items are gone, you can still call it home.
• A good home is never an accident. It doesn't just happen. We need to constantly work towards our home.
• Our home and what we do to bring the spirit is what lasts for the eternities.
• Showcase our priorities (family, temple, love).

Class #4: Beauty and Modesty:

• We are all beautiful because we are all daughters of God and are all created after His image.
• Beauty lies deeper than what others can see on the outside.
• Beauty is an inward happiness that impacts our outward appearances and actions. 
• We need to set a beautiful example of love and happiness for our future home. Beauty is different from the world. 
• Our outward appearances reflect our inward beauty as much as our inward appearance reflects our outward beauty. 
• Love who you are! We matter. Once we truly believe that we are beautiful, we will be happy. This joy and beauty is what makes us Latter-day Saint women distinct from the world.
• "It doesn't matter what the world believes, or what they say that beauty means. It comes from within. I want to be beautiful to Him."

That night was the general session for our stake. Some comments that I loved:

• i have grown up in an environment surrounded by this gospel. To not give back to the Lord for all these happy years I have had because of the gospel would be so selfish.
• We cannot convert others beyond our own conversion. How converted am I?
• Be tall and proud. Show the world through our countenance that we are followers of Christ.
• After serving, we are never fully released. Always strive to live worthily to enter His holy house and become like Christ. The greatest work we will ever do is within the walls of our own homes.
• The closer we are to God, the more power we have.
• We have more influence on our husbands and children by our example, our word and our deed than anyone else. It is our duty as mothers and wives to raise and prepare our children, to bring them knowledge of the importance of the Priesthood. Only we have that influence.
• We will never completely understand everyone else. So who are we to judge them? We need to do what we can and be the best we can be instead of trying to change others.
• There is no happiness without service, and there is no service greater than that which converts the home into a divine institution and which promotes and preserves family life.
• We all have mountains to climb. Mountains have their challenges, but also their opportunities and times to look down from the top.

Sunday morning general session was equally as excellent.

• We all wonder if we are ready to go. The Lord will call us when we are ready. On our mission papers we tell the Lord when we are available. And he gives us a call when we are ready.
• Live each day to show the Lord that we remember our covenants.
• The road to eternal life leads straight through the temple.
• Our guidance and blessings in our patriarchal blessing are a protection and comfort for us. But these blessings are not automatic. They require our effort.

And finally, Sunday night there was a fireside for all those preparing for missions. This may have been my favorite part of the whole weekend.

• All missionaries are different. But we can't change others, we can only change ourselves.
• Be clean: Your appearance really matters when you are wearing a name tag.
• Be honest: Do the right things for the right reasons.
• Be compassionate and sensitive: It really helps out a companionship.
• Be patient: Don't compare yourself with others. Maybe we are the only ones who can help a companion or teach an investigator.
• Be prepared: To teach, to love, to work hard, to bear a true testimony.
• Be willing: To go back to an investigator. To never give up.
• Be obedient: Follow the handbook. Serve with perfect obedience. Be obedient even when nobody is watching. Perfect obedience with no excuses.
• Be careful: When you drive. When you teach. What you write home.
• Don't be afraid to ask for help. Don't be afraid to share your talents. 
• Be an example to those around you. Don't be afraid to open your mouth.
• When you don't have anything to say, bear your testimony.
• Be happy. Smile. Be approachable. Put a good face on for our church. Make friends with those you teach before trying to teach.
• Success is not measured in the number of baptisms. Power comes from obedience and righteous service. We are successful if we follow what we are asked to do.
• Take pride in how we look. We are ambassadors of the Lord.
• Work is a gift from God. And it is just that... Work! It is not always going to be easy.
• Best thing to do: Learn the gospel well enough to really know it. Then we can focus on the investigator and their needs instead of teaching a set lesson.
• A mission: basic training through life.

I have found that I have never regretted going to a workshop or a fireside or anything the church offers for me outside of the 3 hour church block. But I have regretted every time I haven't gone. I miss that spirit and guidance. I can always find something in a meeting that I needed to hear. There was a lot this weekend that I needed.