I thought I would tell about our Mission Conference with Elder Bassett and Elder Christofferson which was earlier in the month.  I am not quoting them verbatim - just close to what they said, or even just my impressions.  After they had spoken and left, we had a mission picture taken!  I wish I had a picture to post!  That was fun to be included in that! 

Then we were fed by a couple of the Stakes from the mission - one being the stake we live in!  That was so nice!  We were assigned a Zone and a District the day before, so we have Zone Leaders and District Leaders, who we met at the Mission Conference.  We met with most of our district last Friday.  The young Elders are treating us really well!  They are the best!

Elder Bassett is the newly called Area Seventy this past conference. He taught about having joy. "Men are that they might have joy". If we have light inside, it can make us smile. I'll just run through some of the things he said. If we hold out faithful to the end of our natural lives = endure! To yield means to hold back and follow directions of the Holy Ghost - we need to Listen to what He tells us. I think it's Mosiah 2:41 and 4:1-3 which teaches us how we might have joy. He said that being carnal is being in a repentant state; when we are cleansed and purified is the justified and sanctified through the Holy Ghost. When we have exeeding faith it is joy.

He also spoke of having the Spirit. In D&C 50:13-14 - "Unto what were ye ordained?" Preach my gospel by the Spirit. Then if you don't strive to have the Spirit when you teach, you shall not teach! Not just cannot teach! He flat out said "Do not do it". Always teach according to the Spirit of Truth! He said we have been appointed by Jesus Christ to teach; that we need to be clean and pure to teach.

I felt like he was saying when we do all that we are suppose to be doing, being obedient - obey with exactness, as Sister Gelwix said - teaching with the Spirit we have the promise of D&C 84:88 - "...for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."  That touched my heart.

I can't remember who said that real joy is what our Father wants us to have; to teach people to remember (like from pre-earth life) what they know to repent; that Christ suffered and died for each of us; that we are called to be witnesses of Jesus Christ; to obey and submit our will to the Father as that is the only thing we can give to Heavenly Father that He hasn't given to us.

I took that one step further, in that Heavenly Father gave us even our will - or our choice! - so even our "will" is a gift from God in one sense.

What a blessing! (I'm grateful to go back over this!)

Elder Christofferson didn't really give a "talk"; he opened the microphone up to a question and answer session. He started it with saying there was a sign on the podium in a Spanish ward in Tempe, AZ which read, "Please speak slowly! You're being translated!"    I love it!

One question was "How do we get pride out of our hearts?"  (I was all ears as I have a big problem with pride.)

Elder Christofferson said that is the universal question and sin. Pride is piting yourself and what you want over what another wants; to make ourself better, or put above another. He said to love one another - be happy with each other's success; that we are to see through the Savior's eyes the worth of souls, and feel love. The process is the difficult part. (I would agree with that!). Do the will of the Father. Lose yourself in the work - give your will to our Father. What is your motivation? God's Will. Ask for the gift of charity. Yield your heart to God by forgetting yourself and go to work. Try to please Heavenly Father always.

More important than any information you could give to a person would be the need for the Holy Ghost to witness the truth of the Book of Mormon. ALL THINGS follow that! Advised to know the Book of Mormon is so well that people can tell you think it is precious.

Read and study the scriptures. It is the first place to look for answers. Use this time away from our regular lives to study a couple of hours a day. Go onto Mormon.org a couple of hours a week. Gladly receive counsel. Never take offense when offense is not intended. Never take offense when offense IS intended. Get feedback from the Lord. Ask to have faults revealed then ask to be able to see yourself as God sees you.

I'm sitting there, writing all these things down the day after we'd been to see our mission president, who told us he wanted us to talk to people everywhere we go (Really?  Wow!). Talk with them about the gospel. Invite everyone you talk with to go to church (OKAY!) .... Maybe we should go on splits with the single sisters (which would be cool!) - but all these things, plus exercise, working 8-5 Monday-Friday ... I was sitting there thinking - How are we to get everything done?   plus cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping too ....
(I know! Nice attitude!  wah! wah!)

At the end of the discussion/instruction time, Elder Christofferson gives the congregation an Apostolic blessing - the very first thing out of his mouth is:   I bless you with greater capacity to do the work - to serve, to teach, to testify. The Lord will give this to you according to your desire. Be that light the Lord has called you to be. I bless you to have Heavenly Father let you know He is pleased with you and your service. Ask to have that answer from time to time in your prayers, if the Lord accepts your sacrifice. Remember He loves you and wants you to be the best you can. He will guide you - lift you to help you see a broader view. We ARE alright. We are His. He loves you for your sacrifice. I bear witness you have been called by Priesthood power, authorized by Jesus Christ. Speak and testify with power and His Authority. His name is on you.

I was receiving the answer to my thoughts!  It is so amazing, to know that Heavenly Father DOES know us, our thoughts, the desires of our hearts.  How blessed I am!  Guess what?!?  I gotta go to bed!  Love, Sister Ure