Stake Conference in my town is almost as exciting as General Conference. Characteristically, the talks last night and this morning were saturated with the force of the Holy Ghost. I really wish we could have printed copies of each talk, they were so good. Instead, all I have is a few random quotes I wrote down. Even those are worth keeping and thinking about.
The Stake 2nd Counselor told the story of Rip Van Winkle, an American settler who likes to shirk his work and wander in the mountains. While there, he falls asleep only to wake up 20 years later. His wife and friends have died, and he slept through the American Revolution.
The brother then said, "Are you sleeping through the Restoration?" We need to keep in mind that the Restoration isn't over yet; it's still going on. We can avoid sleeping through the Restoration through selfless service.
He also quoted Elder Uchtdorf's story of a statue of Christ at a European church that was damaged in WWII. The statue's hands were unable to be reattached. Instead of having new hands made, the people of the church put a sign at the base of the statue, which read, "You are my hands."
One of the ward Relief Society Presidents (Sister Mitchell): "Any thought you have which results in good is from the Lord, and you'll want to act on it."
The Stake 1st Counselor spoke about respecting and loving each other, even though we may have differences of opinion. "If you are looking for the village idiot in your ward, you may find it in the mirror." We shouldn't be judgmental of people when they are idiotic, because we don't want them to be judgmental when we are idiotic, ourselves.
He mentioned several hot topics in political and religious discourse. That said, "There is safety in staying close to the leaders of this church."
Finally, the Stake President: "We all have a responsibility to belong to the Lord."
also, "Addiction is a disease of choice."
I really wish I'd written more down! I have a strong testimony that my Stake Leaders are guided by the will of God and that the words they speak are true.
The Stake 2nd Counselor told the story of Rip Van Winkle, an American settler who likes to shirk his work and wander in the mountains. While there, he falls asleep only to wake up 20 years later. His wife and friends have died, and he slept through the American Revolution.
The brother then said, "Are you sleeping through the Restoration?" We need to keep in mind that the Restoration isn't over yet; it's still going on. We can avoid sleeping through the Restoration through selfless service.
He also quoted Elder Uchtdorf's story of a statue of Christ at a European church that was damaged in WWII. The statue's hands were unable to be reattached. Instead of having new hands made, the people of the church put a sign at the base of the statue, which read, "You are my hands."
One of the ward Relief Society Presidents (Sister Mitchell): "Any thought you have which results in good is from the Lord, and you'll want to act on it."
The Stake 1st Counselor spoke about respecting and loving each other, even though we may have differences of opinion. "If you are looking for the village idiot in your ward, you may find it in the mirror." We shouldn't be judgmental of people when they are idiotic, because we don't want them to be judgmental when we are idiotic, ourselves.
He mentioned several hot topics in political and religious discourse. That said, "There is safety in staying close to the leaders of this church."
Finally, the Stake President: "We all have a responsibility to belong to the Lord."
also, "Addiction is a disease of choice."
I really wish I'd written more down! I have a strong testimony that my Stake Leaders are guided by the will of God and that the words they speak are true.
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