General Conference

This last weekend was General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I loved it. I always love it. There were so many good things that were said. I particularly enjoyed the first session, Saturday morning. The main theme was family, something we can all relate to in one way or another. It just makes me feel energized.

The other theme that I saw throughout all of the sessions was the idea of "the one". It wasn't the main topic of any one talk, but it was mentioned several times in several of them.

In Luke chapter 15 it says, "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth is on his shoulders, rejoicing."

This idea of leaving the crowd to go and find "the one" applies to us in a number of ways. Ways in which we are blessed as the receivers and ways in which we are blessed as the actors.

I believe that there is a time in every one's life, to different degrees, when they are lost. I know I have been. The weight of the world seems to be on your shoulders, and it never desists. It is hard to know where to turn or what to do. You are brought down to a depth you hope to never return to. It can be almost intolerable. Yet, there is in the distance the hope and the love of Jesus Christ and our heavenly father. They are always there, whether we notice or not...and sooner or later we will.

Then there is the idea that we, the once (and possibly again) fallen, are duty bound to help lift those around us. We are to care for those that are cast out; the unfortunate, the despised. I loved when one of the speakers said that "many of the lowly are known by him," when speaking about Thomas S. Monson (the living prophet of the church). What an incredible compliment!

I remember one time as a missionary (here we go, another missionary story) a really shady looking guy in a gas station asked me for some change to ride the bus. I said I didn't have any, as I walked away with more than 30 dollars in my backpack. I figured he was just going to use it for drugs or alcohol (which he obviously seemed to use on a regular basis anyway), and as a missionary I couldn't be the supporter of it. That next day in my early morning studies I was lovingly rebuked by my father in heaven when I read Mosiah 4:16-20. We are all beggars and dependant on God for all that we have. We are in no position to judge, just to love and help without critique.

This was a lesson that I, most of all, needed to hear.

If you have anything to add, go right ahead. As for now I'll step down off my General Conference soap box.