Wow. What can I say? The whole conference was amazing. The two morning sessions especially...I couldn't help but feel the spirit. Everything I have been going through; everything I have been learning; everything I have been thinking; even those things I have mentioned right here in my weblog, were addressed during conference. I really felt as if they were all talking directly to me, bearing witness of the things I have learned and reinforcing that knowledge inside my heart and mind. I especially felt inspired by Elder Dennis E. Simmons talk "But if Not..". This is exactly the kind of faith that I yearn for and that I aspire to have. To trust in the Lord's promises, but if not given to me as I had hoped, to still trust in Him. I hope to someday have such strong and unwavering faith.

I also hope to someday become the kind of woman described in the following talk "A Mother Heart". Can I become that kind of woman? I believe it is possible; for through God "all things are possible".

I know I have been so religious lately in my blogs, but I cannot help it. My religion is who I am; it is not merely an external influence upon my life. Especially now, as I find myself less interested in the things of the world and more interested in the things of eternity. How I yearn to serve the Lord! How I aspire to be rid of my debt, and be prepared both physically and spiritually! How I love my Savior, and how I love my Father in Heaven. They have blessed us so immeasurably; they have blessed me so abundantly.

Oh and as mentioned in another talk, the story of Paul. As it goes:

"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 7-10.

What a beautiful message lays in this passage! "for my strength is made perfect in weakness".... weakness and sin are part of the Lord's plan. For without them, we could not know strength, repentance, and joy. "For there must be opposition in all things". Paul rejoiced in his infirmities and in his weaknesses, after asking three times for God to take them from him. He realized the necessity of having them "lest I should be exalted above measure." It is important to remain humble, and how could we if we did not have the weaknesses that we have? When things go well for us, we easily forget our God; but through strife and anguish, we remember how dependent upon Him we are, we remember the lovingkindness of our Redeemer, and we seek to overcome those very weaknesses - "My grace is sufficient for thee". In this act our weaknesses become our very strengths.

It's amazing. It's so simple, so beautiful, and so marvelous. Wow.