I need to start writing more posts that are upbeat and fun... But conference was this past weekend so this is going to be another spiritual post... Two in a row! :)
Last weekend Spencer's great aunt Karen was having a surprise birthday party in Twin Falls, Idaho. Karen has been to many of our Jenne family events so Spencer and I felt it was appropriate to make a day journey to attend this surprise party. It was conference weekend so we got to listen the morning session on the way. I am glad we did not only to see family, but also because I was able to sit and just listen. I didn't have any distractions. I was able to truly listen.
I was really touched by Boyd K Packer's talk. If you haven't listened or read it yet, I highly suggest it. I posted a link to the talk at the bottom of this post. It was titled the Plan of Happiness. President Packer is aging rapidly. It was really hard to understand him. I had to close my eyes and really listen to be able to understand what he was teaching. I am so glad that I did because his talk was everything I had been searching for lately. I honestly felt like I was suppose to hear it, like he was talking directly towards me. There were two things that really stood out in his talk. Procreation and the atonement.
The first thing that touched me was when President Packer stated that 'multiplying and replenishing the earth is essential to the plan of redemption and is the source of human happiness.' In other words, you find happiness in life by having and raising children. Satan doesn't want us to be happy. He is a miserable person. He wants us to be miserable too. He wants to do everything and anything is his power to prevent us from being happy.
When we do sin, Satan wants us to feel terrible. He wants us to feel guilty. Even after we have fully repented of our sins, he wants us to feel the scars that were once wounds. He wants us to always feel broken. It is through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that our scars can be removed. We can be free of the sins once committed. Christ heals us. "Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more." (D&C 58:42)
President Packer ended with his testimony. This was my favorite part:
"I am so grateful for the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the power of procreation, for he power of redemption, for the Atonement - the Atonement which can wash clean every stain no matter how difficult or how long or how many times repeated. The Atonement can put you free again to move forward, cleanly and worthily, to pursue that path that you have chosen in life."
This talk really touched me because I have been feeling like I was having blessings withheld from me because of my past sins. I have also had a 'spiritual drought' which has taken me away from Christ's light. I really felt like Heavenly Father forgot about me. Like he couldn't hear my prayers. I wasn't getting the blessings I wanted when I wanted them. I felt very alone and doubtful. President Packer really opened my eyes to this foolish idea. He helped me remember that my sins have already been forgiven. They were washed clean through the Atonement of Christ. My scars are gone. They aren't what's preventing me from feeling the spirit and receiving blessings, I was the one causing myself the heart ache. I gave up trying to learn and hear the words of our prophets and gospel. This talk reminded me of what I needed to do to get my life pointed back to the light.
Once we got to Aunt Karen's party, we were talking with everyone who was sitting at the table and each person said they took something different talk. One person said they only got Atonement out of his talk, another said they only heard about marriage. I feel like President Packer was able to hit and touch so many different people.
I am so grateful for his wise words that he shared this conference. There were many many different talks centered around family. Satan is threatening the family. He is trying to break them apart. It is through families where we find true happiness. There were several other talks that I really enjoyed and learned from as well. I really am grateful for these wise people who speak at conference. They really strengthen my testimony. Family really is the key to happiness. I can't wait for the day when Spencer and I will have our own little one's running around. I hope I will be able to raise them in a Christ centered home. I want them to experience his grace and love. I am so grateful for this spring conference. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/the-plan-of-happiness?lang=eng
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