Last night Greg and I went to the adult session of stake conference. It was really good. President Rodney Merrell came down into the audience, had a microphone attached to his lapel, and used a chalkboard and taught us through the scriptures about eternal marriage. He used the chalkboard as he documented events that were taught to Joseph Smith, and had audience members reading scripture passages as he showed us how Joseph Smith was taught line upon line, precept on precept. It was really good. This morning in conference, my favorite talk was given by Sister Christensen out in Bothwell. She had everyone close their eyes and envision what it would look like to them to be walking with the Savior. Then she described what she saw in her mind when she thought of that imagery. She said she saw herself in a meadow of green, with the sun shining, wild flowers everywhere, barefoot, with the Savior walking alongside her with his hand on her shoulder in a brotherly fashion. (I had pictured in my mind me with the Savior walking hand in hand on the beach with the sun shining....when I asked Greg what he had envisioned, he said he watching me to see if I was closing my eyes!....Oh Brother!) She then talked about one of Elder Bednar's general conference talks:
"In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes—none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. Many ordinary, individual brushstrokes work together to create a captivating and beautiful painting.
Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results." She went on to talk about her mother who is a great artist. She said when her mother was not happy with a painting that she had done in oils, she would just let it dry and then paint over it. She talked about how each of us have a palette of colors available to us that are gospel teachings. If we are very good at only one or two things, our individual painting might be very monochromatic, but that doesn't mean they need to stay that way. We can add more from the palette as we grow. She tied that back in to how since she had many colors in her image or painting with the Savior, that she needs to make sure she is drawing from all areas of the gospel herself: prayer, scripture reading, family home evening, church attendance, tithing, etc. Loved her talk! This morning before stake conference, Greg had to go and dig the four-wheeler out of the field where the boys got it stuck yesterday. He drove the other four-wheeler out to help, and got it stuck also. He did get one out yesterday, but decided to try for the other one today. He was hoping by waiting for morning, that the ground would be more frozen and it would be easier to get out. Luckily, two of our awesome neighbors, Brother White and Brother Marchant, saw him out there, grabbed their shovels and went and helped. This afternoon was the super bowl. We had some friends over to watch. The kids got along really well....no fighting or bickering.....and the commercials were really funny. The underdogs, The New Orlean Saints won the game 31-17. It was quite the upset! The Colts I am sure will be taking a razzing....since they were clearly the favorites going into the game!
No comments:
Post a Comment