October General Conference 2012

Hello Everyone!

Wasn't General Conference fantastic? How about that announcement of the new minimum ages of missionaries? The dynamics in the missions and at the BYU campuses will change a lot over the next little bit. 

Conference was easily the highlight of my week, I hope it was of yours too! For my letter this week, I am going to give a summary from my eyes as a missionary, of the talks. For each talk I will list the Speaker, what I think the title of the talk will be, and a few insights from the talk, whether from what they said or my own head. Please bear with me as it might be a little long this week. I hope you can gain some insight from my views and also that you can share some of your insights with me. :)

Saturday Morning Session

President Thomas S. Monson, "Opening of Conference"
   - There is room for improvement
   - Missionary minimum age change
Elder Quentin L. Cook, "Can ye feel so now?"
   - Alma 5:26
   - Isaiah 40:28-31
Sister Ann M. Dibb, "I'm a Mormon. I know it. I live it. I love it."

   - I'm a Mormon. Are you?
Elder Craig C. Christensen, "The Role of the Holy Ghost"
   - Moroni 10:5
Elder Shayne M. Bowen, "Families through the Resurrection"
   - Children don't need to worry about sin, they are not capable of it.
   - Destructive. Destractive. One letter difference
   - Feelings of despair turn into feelings of joy if we rely on the Atonement
Elder Russell M. Nelson, "Ask the Missionaries"
   - Blessings of a mission
   - The story of boys on bikes an answer to prayer
        - Required man to act
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Living with No Regrets"
   - Living purposefully each day. Like Christ did. Lift others up.
   - Good intentions are not enough. We must do.
        - Good - Intentions
        - Better - Doing it
        - Best - Doing it happily
   - We can't change the past, but we can repent.
   - Take nothing for granted.
   - S.M.I.L.E. (2 Nephi 9:39)

Saturday Afternoon Session

Elder L. Tom Perry, "Parents of a Divine Order"
   - Give your kids an allowance

   - Cleave unto your wife.
Elder M. Russell Ballard, "The Service of a Beehive"
   - Our sustaining nectar ---> Faith, Hope, and Charity
   - Assimilating the Doctrines of the gospel deep within our hearts
        - Don't just fake it.
   - In our morning prayers
        - Ask for opportunities to serve someone with meaningful service
             - Then Act. Look for it
   - Have I Done Any Good in the World Today? Hymn #223
Elder Larry Echo Hawk, "The Converting Power of the Book of Mormon"
   - Say Yes without hesitation
Elder Robert C. Gay, "The Worth of a Soul"
   - What will a man give in exchange for his soul?
   - The Gifts of God vs the evils of the devil
        -evils of the devil - looking beyond the mark, self justification of petty sins
Elder Scott D. Whiting, "Living to Temple Standard"
   - Next time you go to the temple, Touch the temple and let the temple touch you.
   - Battlefield of Sin and Temptation
        -We will all be marred from battle
   - We can't cover our sins
Elder Neil L. Andersen, "The Trial of Our Faith"
   - Trust in the Lord. Confidence
   - Ether 12:6, Alma 36:3
Elder Dallin H. Oaks, "Taking Care of Children"
   - Marriages that don't occur
   - Ever increasing concern for the rising generation

Priesthood Session

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, "Men Must Be Men
   - Rescue
   - Family History and Temple Work
   - Rise Up O Men of God
Bishop Gary E. Stevenson, "Be Valiant in Courage"
   - Defining moments require courage
   - To click or not to click
   - On to Victory
Elder Anthony D. Perkins, "Stay on the Priesthood Path"
   - Beware
   - Deep Personal Conversion & Strong Family Relationships
   - Constant attention + immediate action = safety for the soul
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Priesthood: The Sacred Duty to Serve"
   - A more perfect way
   - Do we comprehend what we say?
   - Arise and Shine Forth
   - Jacob 6:12
President Henry B. Eyring, "Shape Their Hearts"
   - Build their faith
   - The Lord will give opportunities for his righteous servants to be bold and open their mouths
   - Shape children's hearts
        - it isn't the activity that matters, but the feeling
   - Develop the gifts we've been given
President Thomas S. Monson, "We Can Change"
   - We have the capacity to see man not as they are, but how they can be with the church.
   - Courage to bear testimony
   - D&C 18:15-16
   - A woman needs to be told she is beautiful. Valued.
   - Everyone's experience is different

Sunday Morning Session

President Henry B. Eyring, "Removing Pavilions of Will"
   - We can't insist on our own timetable when the Lord has his own
President Boyd K. Packer, "The Light of the Atonement"
   - 2 lights
   - Hymn #335 "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy"
   - Mosiah 3:19
   - 3rd Article of Faith
   - Hymn #127 "Does the Journey Seem Long?"
Sister Linda K. Burton, "First Observe, Then Serve"
   - "We are the Lord's hands here on earth." - President Monson
   - Love one another
   - Service is not always convenient
   - Listen with the heart
   - Serve the way He wants. Not the way We want.
Elder Walter F. Gonzales, "Learn Essential Truths"
   - Come Unto Jesus
   - Know of a surety
   - Take time to Be Still
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "Do You Love Christ?"
   - Christ needs His disciples forever.
   - Love means Always Loyalty
   - Beginning of a Christian life. Not the end of it
   - We can't quit, and we can't go back
President Thomas S. Monson, "Answers to Prayer"
   - Take an inventory of your life and look specifically for blessings
   - 2 Nephi 2:25
   - Be thou humble
   - Journals help us remember specifics
   - "The Lord's purposes are often accomplished if we heed the Spirit."

   - "Never postpone a prompting."
   - "The Lord is in the details of our lives."
   - It is not chance. There are no coincidences, only answers to prayers.

Sunday Afternoon Session

Elder Robert D. Hales, "Christians: Come, Follow Christ"
   - Matthew 4:20
   - He blesses us with gifts. Through Him, we can go outside our comfort zone
   - Hymn #270
   - Don't be afraid
Elder Richard G. Scott, "Family History and Temple Work"
   - Family History and Temple Work are like baptism. Two parts. By water and by fire.
President Russell T. Osguthorpe, "His Word in His Way"
   - Focus on the needs of the learner
   - Key Doctrines, Invitations to Action, Promise Blessings
   - Learn and Teach for Conversion
   - read his article in the September 2012 Ensign
Elder Marcus B. Nash, "Faith is the Anchor"
   - Endure in faith to the end
   - My mission scripture.
   - "The future is as bright as your faith." -President Monson
   - Problem: Sin. Solution: Repent. There are 6 steps of repentance.
Elder Daniel L. Johnson, "Becoming True Disciples of Christ"
   - 3 Nephi 27:27, Abraham 3:25
   - A major trial in today's world is aspiring to the honors of men, or having pride
Elder Don R. Clarke, "The Sacrament: The Center of Our Worship"
   - Becoming Edified Together -D&C 50:22-23
   - An Attitude of Gratitude
Elder David A. Bednar, "Oil of Conversion"
   - Testimony and Conversion
   - Mighty change of heart, a firm determination
   - It is only gained one drop at a time, line upon line, precept upon precept

President Thomas S. Monson, "Closing Remarks"
   - How many gospel truths have been taught and reemphasized
   - Serve one another
        - First Observe, Then Serve
   - The Purpose of Mortality
        - Learn to Grow
        - Moses 1:39

Go ahead: Ask the Missionaries! Have an Attitude of Gratitude. Don't be afraid to grow, for the future is bright!

With Love from Missouri,

Elder Zachary R McKenzie

Iowa Des Moines Mission

    D&C 6:34, 36

Doubt Not, Fear Not.