The Conference Study Notebook for October 2015 Conference

Here are the links to a Conference Study Notebook you can print. Hope it is helpful to some as you try to find answers to your questions and gain strength from the wonderful messages shared. Feel free to share if with others but it is NOT FOR SALE. It is a free resource for everyone.

Study Notebook in Word
Study Notebook in PDF

A Legacy of Faith

After my last post I got a call from our Bishop. He asked me if I had spoken in church lately. I had a total stupor of thought. I could not remember the last time I had spoken in church. He said he felt like I should speak in church in a few weeks. I told him I would be happy to do so. He then gave me the topic of obedience. I smiled and told him that would be just great. I do not believe it was a coincidence that the very topic that has been on my mind for weeks was the topic I was assigned. After I hung up I walked to where my husband was working on the computer and told him about Bishop's call. He laughed and said, "You are speaking again!?! You just barely spoke." I looked at him blankly and said, "I did?". He reminded me that I has spoken on family history work just a few weeks ago. I still could not remember doing that until he started explaining more about my talk then finally I remembered that I had in fact spoken in church recently! Sometimes the Lord works in mysterious ways. I am grateful for that stupor of thought because I have learned a lot over these past weeks as I have studied more about obedience. Here is an excerpt from the talk I am working. 

Our obedience can bring forth fruits of confidence, freedom, peace, joy, strength and protection. In the priesthood session of this last general conference President Monson said, “God’s commandments are not given to frustrate us or to become obstacles to our happiness. Just the opposite is true. He who created us and who loves us perfectly knows just how we need to live our lives in order to obtain the greatest happiness possible. He has provided us with guidelines which, if we follow them, will see us safely through this often treacherous mortal journey. We remember the words of the familiar hymn: “Keep the commandments! In this there is safety; in this there is peace.” He understands that when we keep the commandments, our lives will be happier, more fulfilling, and less complicated. Our challenges and problems will be easier to bear, and we will receive His promised blessings. But while He gives us laws and commandments, He also allows us to choose whether to accept them or to reject them. Our decisions in this regard will determine our destiny.”

It is important that we look for and record the blessings that we receive through our obedience. We need to teach our children with real life examples of how our obedience offers us protection, happiness, peace, strength and access to miracles. Consider sharing these experiences with your children to fortify their faith. As parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, older siblings take some time to review your trials and blessings. See if obedience played a part in any of the miracles you have seen in your life. Then record what you know. Record your testimonies and experiences. This is a wonderful way to make the Sabbath a delight. Share your records at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Pass on your legacy of faithful, purposeful obedience. Help your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters understand that when we obey our Father in Heaven because we love him and know that He has given us the commandments because He loves us. In a world of turmoil and strife our personal peace and safety lies in our obedience and sincere repentance. 

I think a written record of your experiences of obedience and blessings would be a perfect Christmas gift. You could even start a Christmas tradition of sharing one faith-filled family experience each Sunday in December to help us remember the real purpose and power of Christ's Atonement.