Stake Conference

     Last weekend was our Stake Conference.  The Saturday session was amazing.  All who spoke and the music truly brought the Spirit.  President Smith, 2^nd Counselor in our Stake Presidency spoke about the Stake emphasis and the blessings of the Proclamation.  To sum up his talk…

This year as all our high council met with our Stake Presidency leaders they talked and discussed what should our Stake emphasis for the year 2013.  They came to the consensus that we should focus on the family.  We have been counseled to have daily scripture study and prayer personally and with our family, weekly temple service (whether it's family history, indexing, or attending the temple), share your testimony, and to spend time committing to memory the teachings of the Proclamation to the Family.  In a day where the family has been and is being torn to shreds by the world the Church of Jesus Christ makes clear what God sees as a family.  Sure there are circumstances not of our control but we do the best we can with the challenges we have been given.  As we follow and the doctrine proclaimed in the Proclamation we as well as our family members will be blessed.

A sister from another ward spoke and I did not catch her name or what ward she was from spoke on the Atonement.  None of us are perfect, ALL need forgiveness, was the theme of her message.  With Easter coming up soon it would be well for all of us to remember why the Savior suffered in Gethsemane and died on the cross so willingly. 

A brother from the Summerfield ward theme of his message was... you must get over your own pride to truly understand and give true repentance and the Atonement.

After them we heard 3 beautiful testimonies from 2 sisters (one from our own ward) and a brother from our stake. 

The highlight of the Saturday session was hearing Elder Rowe, from the Quorum of the Seventy.  In his message he showed the following video.  This pretty much sums up his message.  

Rear our Children with Love

President Uchtdorf once said, "Stand close together and Lift where you stand."  This does not only apply to service in the church but to our own families as well.  Each of us as members in our family are different.  We think differently, we all have different trials and ways that we can conquer to have joys and triumphs.  If we as families stand close together and lift each other up, we will be blessed and we will see the faith of our own children grow.