Ward Conference 2/28/10

We had a wonderful Ward Conference today. I learned so much that I don't think I can quite remember it all to post it here. But I will try to write some of the things that stood out to me.

Our theme for our Ward Conference was "Search, Ponder, and Pray".

In Relief Society, the Stake Relief Society Presidency spoke to us and reminded us of the importance to come unto Christ and to search, ponder, and pray. For more on these lessons, see 'Relief Society Lesson 2/28/10'. (You can find this by clicking on 'Relief Society Lessons' under 'Labels' found on the right hand side of this blog).

In Sunday School, President Johnson gave the lesson. We talked about different action verbs in the scriptures (forgive, remember, hearken, etc). It's not just enough to have faith; we need to DO something with that faith. That's the same with "Search, Ponder, and Pray". These are all action words and require something to be done on our part. We can do something and not have the right attitude and benefit minimally from the task. If we have the right attitude and work at searching, pondering, and praying, we will be blessed immeasurably.

In Sacrament Meeting, Bishop Hawkes and President Johnson addressed us. They both gave beautiful and powerful talks, urging us to do better and to be better people. Bishop Hawkes talked about becoming more spiritual. We do this through self-mastery. We constantly are having a battle between our bodies and our spirits. For example, our bodies (or the natural man) may have difficulty going to bed and waking up at a decent time, even though our spirits are wanting that. The same goes for exercise and other tasks that are good that require self-discipline. As we learn to master our bodies, we naturally become more spiritual. Every temporal commandment we are given also is a spiritual commandment. I can't remember everything that was said, but I know that I felt the Spirit. And now I feel even stronger the need to become more self-disciplined so that I could become more spiritual and come unto Christ more.

President Johnson spoke about the Areas of Focus that our stake is going to work on for this 2010 year. In Sunday School a copy of these areas and objectives were handed out, so make sure you get a copy of these to have in your home. #4 is our Stake's yearly challenge like we've had in the past (e.g. take a name to the temple, memorize the 'Living Christ' document, etc). President Johnson said he saw that this was important for our stake as he watched us at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedication. He noticed that during the 30 minutes before the dedication started, where we had to be in our seats to wait for the dedication to start, that he saw how difficult it was for us to just sit there and ponder. There is a great need for us as individuals to take time in our lives to 'search, ponder, and pray' in those quiet moments.

Below are the the Areas of Focus for 2010, as layed out in the handout given out in Sunday School:

1. As Stake members, we will focus on the preeminence of the home and family as the basic organizational unit of the Church by:

a. Improving the quality and frequency of our Family Home Evenings; and
b. Improving the quality of family scripture study and family prayer.

2. As a Stake, we will be a temple loving people.

a. Each member will be worthy to participate in the ordinances of the temple.
b. Each adult temple recommend holder will broaden their temple experiences by participating in each of the ordinances available at the temple.
c. Each individual/family will become a registered user of the new FamilySearch.

3. As Stake members, we will participate in gathering Israel through conversion, retention and activation.

a. Individuals and families will pray consistently to be an instrument in the hands of God to bring about His work in the lives of others (Alma 26:3).
b. Individuals and families will pray to be better finders and for the missionaries to be better teachers.

4. Each capable individual will build their faith in Jesus Christ by committing to seek their own "sacred grove" experience.

a. Spend 1 full hour in a secluded, private setting studying, praying and pondering over elements of faith and truth.
b. Write a personal journal entry regarding the feelings, thoughts, inspiration and testimony received through this experience.

*I know that our Stake Presidency is inspired of God and as we focus on these areas we will be blessed as individuals and in our families.