I will stand I will not fall, In a world that's weak I will be strong. I'll be true, I will choose his way, I know whats right and I will not change. In a world where so many will not, I will.
I may be one, one becomes two. When you stand with me and I stand with you. And as we unite, our cause is great, we're not just a candle we are the flame. And I will take the light He gives me, I'll hold it up high, I'll hold it up high.
I will stand I will not fall, In a world that's weak I will be strong. I'll be true, I will choose his way, I know whats right and I will not change. In a world where so many will not, I will." -Hilary Weeks
I WILL be strong.
I love that song I just quoted by Hilary Weeks. Her music speaks to my soul and has helped me through some really tough times. I remember driving back and forth from St Louis (2.5 hrs) many times, in the car by myself, after taking my sister to the airport to go back to Utah (from attempts at her being a surrogate for us to have a baby) and I would just cry and cry and cry. I would sing the songs on her CD and just bathe myself in tears of pain yet hope and faith because I knew her words were like the whisperings of the Spirit telling me to hang on. Her music is so powerful. I have found answers to my prayers and the yearnings of my heart in the words of her songs. I'm so thankful for music, and for the inspiration she has to write amazing lyrics and comfort so many hearts! What a beautiful talent and gift.
I've had the chance to hear from her a few times when I've attended Time Out For Women, which is a 2 day conference with speakers from my church. I always jump at the chance to go to these because they are AMAZING. They are so spiritual and uplifting and it's an awesome girls weekend to just get away and rejuvenate!
My friends and I just got to attend a session in Kansas City. It was sooooo good. Here are some of the notes from the speakers. I copied some notes from Bobbi's blog, who gave a great re-cap and then added some of my own.
I'm SO THANKFUL I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know it is the church with the fullness of the gospel and all the truths restored today for us. I know without a doubt I belong to the right church. I feel confirmation every day and I know by living the gospel standards I have joy and happiness!!
Sheri Dew
She talked about how she attended her nieces orchestra and how they were tuned in to hear the oboe. They were listening for her and knew what to be listening for. She likened that to the Spirit. Listen to what the Spirit will say to you. The Spirit speaketh the truth.
We need to learn how to tune in to the Spirit. Don't be like the world. We've made specific covenants and have gained knowledge that informs us we have greater and higher privileges than other women of the world. It doesn't mean we are better than them. We have different expectations.
Look and act like the Lords church. Don't get your cues from the world.
Elder Holland said something is going to be asked of this dispensation that has never been asked before....they will present to the Lamb.
We are distinctive. Have have the Book Of Mormon. We believe Joseph Smith saw God. We have living prophets. 142 temples. 90,000 missionaries.
Isaiah said my ways are not your ways. The Lord doesn't work like the world!
Chris Williams: Hope
You can watch his video here. It is unbelievable.
http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=911104787001
Trials help us love.
He lost part of his family in a tragic car accident and the Lord has healed his family. He proves that the Lord heals today, just as he did anciently.
He's teaching we need to have faith enough to be healed.
Do you have faith enough to be healed?
Take his burden and put it at His feet. Chris had the faith to "let it go" as he exercised this faith he felt immediate peace. Even in the moment of watching his wife take her last breath, he heard "let it go" and the healing was instant.
He told himself "buck up charlie" and realized he hadn't lost anything eternally.
Every loss will be made of by the atonement. Every pain, every trial will be made up for in eternity.
The next day he expressed gratitude and was thinking of his blessings and thanks for the family he had!! He wasn't cursing God or in a hole...He was expressing gratitude. That is unremarkable to me!
***He thought what have I really lost? Nothing. "Get busy serving others" was the answer he heart to help him get through his grief.
I starred this because I believe it is true. Service is the answer to so many things!
Faith, hope and charity are key. The scriptures teach us these answers.
Have the assurance the atonement is effectual in our lives. Faith. Desire He will save us. Hope.
What is your vision of the future to help you through trials? Hope for a brighter future. Glorify God.
Merrilee Boyack: We Are All Enlisted
I will speak for truth. I will defend my family and protect children. The challenge to oppose evil is one that we cannot shirk. As turtles, we cannot move until we stick our necks out. "We are all enlisted until the conflict is over." There are different ranks in God's army. We all have our place:
Private: On guard duty. Seizes private moments of testimony.
Colonel: Pops at the right moment.
General: Leads family, friends & community.
When the thought enters my mind that, "I should say something"--Say it! People are waiting for me to speak up. There is power in numbers. Unite with others who share the same values. Share what I know. The spirit will testify.
Michael S. Wilcox: Prayers That Reach Heaven
I don't want to ever just "say my prayers" again. When I approach my Father in Heaven in prayer, I want to pray as the scriptures describe--raising my voice to Him; pouring out my sorrows, grief and guilt at His feet; wrestling for answers; hungering for His response; laboring in the spirit. I want to feel after God, believe His word, and then act upon His promptings. Sometimes, I don't need to use words to pray. There is a "prayer of quiet" where the spirit yearns, and heartfelt communication is sent, though no words are uttered.
Wrestle with God and pour out your soul. Pour out your soul, so He can fill it.
God wants past tense faith before we get future tense answers. We get answers after we exercise faith in Him.
Hilary Weeks: Speak Love
Body language is a form of communication. What does my body language say to me? Strike a "power pose". Speak love through words and action--both to self and others. Words are sacred. Repeat a phrase and then believe it! I am gentle, kind, happy...say it over and over and believe it. "I am a child of God!"
Richie Norton: The Power of Authenticity
Life is short. Our time on earth is limited. I must not procrastinate the things that matter most. There is a person inside me that is more than I can ever imagine. I need to get to know her. I need to become her. I must tap into my spirit. I must find a way to shed my outer shell and become "authentic".
He and his wife lost their baby from a sickness. And through the journey of this loss his wife shared how she gained her authenticity. She wrote on her blog "I was connected to my divinity. I learned "she" had courage! "She" knew God. I've come to know "her" and that "she" existed. The journey for authenticity is worth it.
The fake you, the fake person is living inside fear."
There are five ways to do become authentic:
1. Recognize authenticating moments. The moments that are most challenging, scary, hard or uncomfortable are the very moments that make me real. Tap into the daughter of God that you are.
2. Come to know myself by knowing God. People matter. I matter. I matter to Him. I will find myself when I find Him. Turn to the Lord through service and you'll come to know you better.
3. Don't be afraid of looking stupid. If authenticity looks stupid, be authentic anyway. Ex. David fighting Goliath. He didn't care! Or the great and spacious building pointing their fingers and mocking the people holding onto the rod...but they didn't care.
4. Crush fear. Overcome it. Paddle with the fear, don't run away.
5. Destroy the "waiting place". Figure it out! Never say, "I've waited my whole life for this..." Don't wait. Act. We never know what will happen.
6. Mind travel to the future. Ask myself, "Will I regret it when I'm eighty?" Prioritize.
7. Clear the clutter and make room for dreams.
8. Replenish. Cultivate gifts and interests. Fill the living well.
9. Turn to the Lord. I am a child of God. That is my authentic identity.
10. Do small and simple things. Take baby steps to big dreams. Line upon line, precept on precept.
I am enough. I am valuable.
Laurel Christensen: Letting Go Of Your Fears
Let go of the fears that are holding me back. The Lord will fight the battle for me.
1. Fear of Disappointment: Don't let disappointment rule.
2. Fear of repeating past mistakes. Don't look back.
3. Fear of danger or bad things. Put on the armor of God. Pray for protection. Be reassured. These were God's children before they were mine.
4. Fear of success. 2 Tim 1:7--For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Your identity, even if you don't like it, is your comfort zone. Getting out of your comfort zone requires power. With the power of the atonement I can fight ANY FEAR!
Sometimes we use the notion of "God's will" as a reason to abdicate our own. Fight fear with a sound mind. Learn to exercise agency. He has given me agency to use to make my own choices. I shouldn't be afraid to ask God for what I want. God trusts me when I trust Him. He always wants to give me more than I ask for, but I need to ask! 2 Kings 6:16 Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
"When you stop praying for what you really want, your heart stops wanting what you weren't willing to pray for." The tragedy is not not getting what you want, the tragedy is not wanting it anymore. Keep
petitioning. Keep wanting. God will not waste a miracle on a doubter. Believe. Desire. Believe. Experiment. Achieve. Weary Him with pleading.
1 comment:
Thanks for sharing your notes! They were very inspiring. Maybe one of these days I will go to TOFW.
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