General Conference October 2013

       The adversary did not want me listening to Conference this past weekend. He attacked me again on Wednesday and Thursday. I just couldn't seem to protect myself from that avenue of attack. I spent a lot of time on the phone with my friends Wednesday and Thursday nights. They helped me to see what the adversary did not want me to see. That Heavenly Father will not punish us for our pasts, once we have genuinely repented.
        Conference was so amazing. I had the coolest experience with Conference on Saturday. So I had to work all day Saturday and I learned during the April 2013 Conference that I can't listen to Conference at work because I am far too easily distracted from doing my actual job because I want to focus on what . So I decided to listen in Spanish, figuring I wouldn't get as distracted if I was listening in another language. I wasn't expecting it to be a spiritual experience, but more of an intellectual exercise.
        Now this is the first time I have ever taken a question to Conference. I didn't know what to expect, but was not expecting my answer to come while I was listening in another language. But I'm listening in Spanish and I get an answer to my question in like the first 10 minutes! Maravilloso! I kept listening in Spanish and it was just the coolest experience, its like the Spirit was tuning me into and out of Conference as needed. I'd be plugging away at work and suddenly a Spanish phrase would jump out at me and I'd write it down, then the Spanish would fade back into the background. This happened probably two dozen times across the course
of the two Saturday sessions. I wound up taking a another question to the 2nd Saturday session and it was also answered in Spanish. So cool. I am truly amazed by how much I understood and learned. I am excited to listen to those two sessions in English later this week and learn even more. 
       I'd like to take a moment and share some of what I learned in Conference, in the hopes that it may help someone else. I apologize that my notes are a little disordered. For the Spanish session, I don't know who said what because I was listening via the Spanish translator so did not hear their actual voices, and for English, well I have 12 pages of notes from Sunday. I picked out what I felt most prompted to share.

Saturday Morning Session - in Spanish

Question: What do I need to be preparing for?

Answers: We all need to work together in the vineyard -  I am to serve in the vineyard when He calls me to -  to be an on-call missionary - study the words of the prophets (living and dead), they will protect you - become familiar with the scriptures - the Lord will bless us when we humble ourselves before Him - we are  entitled to personal revelation - faith in God will free you - pay your tithing, obedience is part of your personal  sanctification - living the Gospel brings peace to your life 

Saturday Afternoon Session - in Spanish

Question: What should I be  focusing my spiritual studies on?

Answers: Persistence and perseverance - the promises contained in the Atonement - scripture study will protect you - write down revelations given to you (as they come) and then act on them

Sunday Morning Session - in English

Question: How can I learn to be at peace with your plan and your timing for my life?

Answers: You have been forgiven, do not allow your forgiven past to poison your promised future - God has devised ways to save each of His children - marriage is essential for exaltation (you will be given your chance) - God's plan is for ALL His children - remember dedication, perseverance, and self-discipline - the Lord sees weakness differently from rebellion - let Christ help protect me from my weaknesses (by using the Atonement daily) - "How Firm a Foundation" verse 7, He will not forsake me as long as I turn to Him - always be grateful for your many blessings (dwell on what you do have not what you are lacking)

Sunday Afternoon Session - in English

Question: How can I prepare to meet my eternal companion?

Answers: Wisely spend your time by rededicating yourself to your scripture study and learn to protect time for your future family - learn to see the power of the priesthood in daily life - have daily personal prayer and scripture study (not just reading the scriptures, but studying them) - always take the Sacrament seriously, thinking about what it represents - treat your body as a temple (as this relates to weight loss; before you put something in your body, think about what goes into the temple. No impure things go into the temple, so stop putting junk into your body) - self-mastery comes from placing reason over desire - seek to develop Christlike attributes and remember true permanent change comes only thru the power of the Atonement

Between what was revealed to me at Conference and a beautiful blessing I received last night after YSA Family Home Evening, it feels like the dark cloud that has been hanging over me has been dispersed. I feel like I can breathe again. It has been almost 5 weeks since my baptism and my records have not yet come to my ward, so I am still unable to get my limited-use recommend to go to the temple, but I am doing better. Heavenly Father has reminded me that as long as I continue to be obedient and turn to Him in my trials, He will never forsake me but will send His Spirit to be with me as a comforter and a witness that the path I am on is the right one.