Spiritual Dental Appointment -- My Thoughts on General Conference

This last weekend we attended General Conference for our church.  Actually, we weren't really there in attendance because the meeting itself is located in Utah, but we did participate by watching the conference on the TV.  Our church leaders spoke to all of the members of our church during five general sessions on Saturday and Sunday.  Each session is two hours long and includes songs and speakers.  I think we got to hear from the prophet during each session.

For me, General Conference is like going to the dentist for a hygiene appointment.  There are some similarities between the two:

1. Each occurs every six months.
2. During both a dental hygiene visit, and during General Conference I find myself evaluating how I am taking care of myself (with the hygiene visit it is purely about my teeth, with General Conference it is about my spirit).
3. I receive instructions on how to do better (Hygiene visit: brushing my teeth and flossing; General Conference: making better choices and what actions to take to improve my relationship with my Heavenly Father and the Savior.)
4. As a part of each event it is determined what issues there are that need treatment, and a plan is proposed for either preventative care or repair.  (On the one hand, it is a dentist determining if there are cavities that need filling; on the other hand, it is my own personal assessment of what aspects of my life need change, and many of the speakers during General Conference address those needs and provide spiritual advice for improving them.)
5. Finally, when both the appointment and General Conference are finished, I walk away with a renewed vigor to do better taking care of myself.

This last weekend it was amazingly simple for me to pay attention and listen to about 80-90% of the conference.  Most times, my children are too loud or busy, or they are just bored!  I don't know what the difference was this weekend, but it was quite welcome.

I was able to jot down some notes, and some of my own feelings as I listened to the speakers.  Knowing that the lesson I am going to teach in church next Sunday is about faith, I was especially attentive to those speakers who chose that for their topic.  But, there were several others who inspired me to improve.  Many speakers chose to focus their remarks about our families and how we can protect them from the negative things of the world.  To make a list, these are some of the things that most of those speakers said in regards to the family:

• Study the scriptures together as a family
• Pray together
• Be good examples for our children
• Spend time together -- it is the harmony in the home
• Increase religious worship in the home
• Be a source of light in the community
• Follow the counsel of the prophet
• Use the stories from the Bible to teach righteous principles
• Most of what is produced on television and radio is degrading -- be selective
• Parents need to be united when making parenting decisions ... have the courage to support each other and say no ... If your spouse doesn't feel good about something, be respectful
• Parents need the courage to speak up before Satan interferes
• Hold consistent Family Home Evenings
• Have one on one interviews with your children
• Eat dinner together as a family

I am so grateful for a prophet and for church leaders who take the time to prepare messages that I can apply to my life and family right away.  This past weekend has encouraged me to improve and do better.  And all the while, I can remember something that one of the leaders said: All the Lord asks of me is my best effort!