Wednesday, May 13, 2009

More on WC

My notes are a little sporatic. So many thoughts come to you as you are listening and trying to write it all down at the same time. But a few things stand out.

Cheryl C Lant (Primary General President) talked about having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement, because He knows it all---He experienced it all. We allow the atonement in our life as we accept our trials and keep our covenants and do those things we know we should. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said (in his last GC address) "Do your best and leave the rest to the Lord." Doing our best begins with a desire to let the Savior in. He knows how to succor us perfectly, but we need to allow Him in. Elder Wirthlin, again, "Every tear today will be returned one hundredfold with tears of rejoicing." Seek to have the Holy Ghost with you at all times. That brings access to Christ's atoning powers.

Kathy S. Anderson (wife of newly called apostle Elder Neil A. Anderson) - What does it mean to be undaunted? It means not to be deterred. It means to be courageous. It means to trust in our Heavenly Father's care. It means waiting, sacrificing, enduring. Like the song, "Oh How Lovely Was The Morning" where Joseph "undaunted, still he trusted, in his Heavenly Father's care"....so can we be, "but undaunted, still she trusted, in her Heavenly Father's care." She told remarkable stories of Latter-day Saint women, who were undaunted with their trials and trusted in the care of our Heavenly Father.

Ann Dibb (counselor in the YW General Presidency and daughter of President Monson) - her message was to develop faith to be diligent, faith to be determined, and faith to be dedicated.

Camille Fronk Olson (I believe she's a BYU professor of religion) talked of spiritual strength in challenging times. She said there are times when God is actually lifting us up that we may think He is letting us down. That is because without suffering we cannot be made perfect. But suffering alone does not develop faith. It's how we respond to the uncertainties. Are we willing to go where He leads us? She talked about the parable of the unprofitable servant. An unprofitable servant in the Hebrew language means "slave." But a slave in the times of Jesus is not as we would think of a slave today. A slave then was not of lesser education, or class, or economics, but rather to become a slave was to advance or improve one's life-style and was often temporary. We are likened unto the unprofitable servant, bought by He who is the perfect Master. He bought us with a price, with His perfect blood. By taking His name upon us we become His servants--something considered of good fortune. But no matter how much we do for the Master, we are still unprofitable servants. The closer we come to the Savior the more we are aware of our nothingness before the Savior. However, we can learn to become more profitable servants or more worthy in doing God's work. "Worth" is to be rendered "worthy." We are a work in process. The Savior (or Master) did not call the servant unprofitable. He knows the value of our service. The Apostle Paul felt unworthy to be in the service of God, but he said, "..rather than looking at things which are behind...I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of Jesus Christ" (Phillipians 3:13,14) "...I have learned to be content in whatsoever state I am in." (Phillipians 4:11) "If God be for us, who can be against us?" President Monson said, "Your future is as bright as your faith."

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