Brief Conference Review

I've learned a healthy skepticism from my husband's habits--he's a researcher who deals with data and draws conclusions through complex mathematical models. He's initially wary of most people who claim to have "solid evidence". Data, Dan will tell you, can be twisted or misread or miscollected, and so conclusions can just be wrong. However, it's so good to turn that skepticism off when Conference comes on--anyone with me on this one? What a blessing to have prophets and apostles and leaders who know and can be trusted. We need not be skeptical of their words for they are in reality the words of the Lord.

Here a few of my thoughts and impressions on this last conference:

Thank heavens for President Eyring! What a man. I hadn't even tried to predict who the new counselor would be and I'm so glad I didn't--he was called of God. I received that impression so clearly Saturday morning. So, how many of you have renewed your journal-writing, record-keeping habits since his talk? His thoughts reminded me of Sister Marilyn Bateman's admonition to the freshman class our first week at BYU--"write down the daily small miracles in your life throughout college." Elder Eyring's a Princeton, boy, by the way. He was raised here meeting with the small group in their home! Now Princeton has two of it's very own wards, it's very own building, and many wards around it.

Sister Beck's words were long past due. "Women who know do less." I was thinking "hallelujah, it's about time those were said over the pulpit!" Of course, she then went on to list all of the things we should be doing (which was pretty lengthy) and that's why we have to cut the fluff from our lives. You know, it's funny how everyone hears something different--many women who I've mentioned this talk to have said "how overwhelming to think of doing everything as perfectly as she said." Others have heard what I did, in essence, "come on, girls, drop your unnecessary burdens and work smarter." I think I have a few good years to look forward to with Sister Beck at the lead. To think that just a few years I was thinking "they can't release Sister Dew. What will I do?" And then Sister Parkin came on board. And then I said "they can't release Sister Parkin" and the Lord just keeps calling these amazing ladies.

Elder Oaks' talk on "good, better and best" also caught my attention. I just started the Pursuit of Excellence program (it's an enrichment group in our ward) and it has helped me to focus my efforts on the best areas of improvement. Oh, how easy it is to get caught up doing a whole lot of good things that distract you from the best things. And with that, I shall end this blog post and pay some attention to Joshua.

Happy Saturday, everyone!