General Conference April 2010

I just had the best weekend of my life. I'm not joking, kidding, or even slightly in jest. On Friday I went to Dallas with Kelsey, who is one of the best YW I know, for a Teen Conference Conference with my old homeschool group. We had a little ballroom dance class which was fun. Then I got to go to Mormon prom which was A BLAST! I don't think I can even tell how much fun it as. I really, really enjoyed myself. It was good, clean, wholesome fun that you can't get anywhere else but in the church. We had an opening and closing prayer. How many proms does that happen in? Only Mormon ones! It really was enjoyable, and I loved loved loved prom. =D I learned that I'm not too bad at swing dancing in high heels and a big dress. ;D

The next day was General Conference, as you all know. In the morning, the boys and girls that were at TCC went to a lady's house and we did a bunch of service. Kelsey and Saryn cleaned the fridge, Nicolette and Missy organized books, Kayla painted the little girls' finger nails and organized DVD's, I cleaned the oven, and the boys did various things like washing windows, sweeping leaves off of the porch, and building a swing. It was a wonderful morning, and like Sis Sorensen said later, it was the perfect way to start our conference day by inviting Christ to be with us by doing something he would do. It comforts me to think that cleaning an oven is not below Christ.

To talk about GC itself would take me way too long. It was.....just....wow. Amazing. I loved being there with homeschooling teens who share my standards and were there to watch. Seriously, nobody was ever told to be quiet. We were all listening. I took a fair amount of notes, and wish I could've taken more. I cried, I laughed, my heart was touched, and my testimony grew so much it's almost unbelievable. The 2nd session on Saturday was equally as touching, and I almost got a cramp in my hand from writing so many notes.

After that session of conference, we had our own little testimony meeting. Um...can you say wow? Because it was wow. Every teen in that room (it was only like 21 or so, but still) bore their testimony. Two teens bore their testimony twice. The Holy Ghost was poured out so strongly on us, you could almost cut the love with a knife in that room, it was so thick. I saw beautiful young women who can do amazing things for the Lord, and strong priesthood holders cry. Those are real men, they are. I saw my "little brother", Burke, grow up. I mean, he's still growing up, but he is becoming so strong, I'm looking up to him. His younger brother, Gavin, is just like Nephi. He's so awesome. These brothers embraced during a tender moment and I cried in happiness to see such a touching scene. I feel so much hope in the rising generation that I want to shout it from the rooftops and get people to see how AMAZING they are! We have such a great capacity to do good and to love, that it saddens me when they use their precious time to do anything else. I admit, I sometimes don't do the best out of good, better and best. But rarely do I do one that's not good, better, or best. =D

After this testimony meeting, I went around and gave hugs to all I needed to give hugs to. I hugged Kelsey, Nicolette, Burke, Gavin, Landon, Zach, Kayla, and Sis Swalberg. Burke, like I mentioned earlier, is like my little brother, and he is growing so much. I told him and everyone else I hugged that I loved them, and it was so special. I really connect with these people, and I love it. I love children of God.

When the boys went to the priesthood session, us girls did some crafts. I painted a picture frame that says "BE", and has a picture of Christ teaching the sermon on the mount, which included the beatitudes. I thought it was perfect. I also made a headband with a big, purple flower. I worked really hard, and it's awesome.

Today between sessions, Mom, Dad and I went to an art exhibit of photographs of Christ's life that was depicted by actors. If you want to see some, you can see some at jesus.christ.org. I believe it's the Reflections of Christ slideshow. It was absolutely amazing, and went perfectly with the Sunday morning session of conference. I cried, and my testimony grew in my Savior, and I knew that I love Him so much that I could never, ever leave Him. All that I have, He gave me. All that I am, He made me. With such blessings as those, how could I ever dream of leaving my source of hope, light, and happiness? This weekend has been a tender mercy of the Lord, a blessing I won't soon forget.