General Conference weekend!! During this
weekend our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, along with many other General
Authorities broadcast spiritual messages of inspiration and revelation over
internet, satellite, and television to the entire world membership- translating
that message into 92 languages. There are over 14 million members including
65,634 missionaries serving throughout the world. We watch three 2-hr.
sessions on Saturday (one of those is just for the men), and two 2-hr. sessions
on Sunday.
This weekend takes place twice a year, and our
family always looks forward to the messages we'll hear. We prepare
by praying that our hearts will be open to know the improvements we should make
in our own lives. I am always comforted by many of the messages
feeling as if the speakers are talking just to me!
Yesterday, the unexpected happened....
Abe set up our projector to show conference, and the children were all in the family room
ready to watch it. Mariah brought milk and cups in for everyone so
that nobody would have to leave to get a drink, and the boys all had their
notepads and pencils ready to take notes.
It was 5 minutes before start time, and Abe and I
had just started a disagreement over a silly matter. We both
became frustrated. The choir was singing, and conference was starting!!
We hadn't resolved our concern yet, so we kept talking! Right then,
one of the kids came around the corner and said, "Why are you guys
letting Satan stop you from watching General Conference?"
Ouch!! It hurt to hear that, but of course it
was the adversary because we had absolutely no problems all morning until 5
minutes before we would hear our prophet's message!! We had been waiting
for General Conference to start for 6 months- why were we letting a silly matter keep us from watching?
Still feeling grumpy but trying to be humble, we both sat down to listen to
the opening prayer. After a couple of talks on forgiveness,
repentance, the importance of marital relationships, and Satan's attempts to destroy the family, I felt like they
were giving the talks just to me again. Abe and I apologized to each other from
across the room... to which the children gave their (parental) smile of
approval.
We had a beautiful, uplifting experience watching
conference today because two miracles took place...
*The exact message I needed to hear was spoken
right when I needed to hear it. Because we chose to listen to God's word, God's miraculous power softened our hearts and sent the negativity away.
*The other miracle was that our
children recognized whose influence it was that started our disagreement, and
they also understood why that negative influence was trying to enter our home
at that particular time.
I believe that when something really great is about
to take place... baptism, marriage, scripture study etc., the adversary tries
extra hard. I don't like to talk about the adversary, but I do believe it is
important to recognize that he is real so that we can better fight his
influence.
I'm grateful our children understood the cause of
our conflict and had the courage to bring it to our attention.
I'm also grateful that we can send that ugly
influence away quickly and simply by humbly calling down the powers of Heaven.
We had a similar experience as well. We had been on Spring Break and had a great time together. Saturday I could feel the ugly head of contention trying to work its way in! We even asked each other why we were so short and grouchy! I almost put my headphones on and just listened to it all by myself. Then as conference started I could feel a softening and a peace fill my home. I'm so grateful for those moments when we can really see the Spirit take charge and guide us through those rough spots. Thank you so much for your thoughts! I love your blog!
ReplyDeleteThank you Heidi for sharing your story!! I'm glad the lonely headphone idea didn't stick!! I'm sorry the ugliness tried to hit you guys too, but it's just more of a testimony to me that conference is just that awesome for our souls!!! I liked how you worded it that the Spirit takes charge! Thanks so much for reading. :-)
DeleteHahaha...I am SO glad to know that we are not the only ones that this happens to!
ReplyDeleteLuckily this year it did not, mainly because the boys were across the street at Grandma's and hubby was in tending to the baby (okay, she is 2 1/2, but still). But we have a history of this very contention right as GC begins. It only takes until the Opening Prayer or that first talk for the crustiness to fall away and for us to humble ourselves.
I love that your son recognized it right a way! Outstanding!
I love General Conference! I learn SO much and it usually how I can be a better mother and wife. Luckily it's only every 6 months...I don't think I could handle being THAT impressive all the time!
:o)
You're right! Every 6 months is just perfect! It gives me time to improve and then make room for more instruction (or the same instruction because I easily get caught up in the world). I also love recognizing that there are usually a couple topics that seem to be the focus of many of the talks.
DeleteI love that we have a prophet. I also love that the messages are given so reverently- they are simple, strong, and so true that the Spirit overwhelms.
Thank you so much for identifying with my weaknesses and confirming the power of conference!!