#3: Some thoughts on General Conference

Now that I have had a few days to think about it, here are a few of my thoughts from General Conference:


1. Elder Ian S. Ardern's talk about not wasting time was superb. In fact, I think it was my favorite talk of the whole conference. His talk was actually the reason I decided to start this blog. In particular, when he said, "I know our greatest happiness comes as we tune in to the Lord (see Alma 37:37) and to those things which bring a lasting reward, rather than mindlessly tuning in to countless hours of status updates, Internet farming, and catapulting angry birds at concrete walls. I urge each of us to take those things which rob us of precious time and determine to be their master, rather than allowing them through their addictive nature to be the master of us."

His words hit me personally and deeply.  I'm not saying that I waste tons of time, because that's not true.  I'm actually quite good about how I spend my time.  But I do DESIRE to waste lots of time.  Although I rarely do it, there is probably nothing I would rather do than sit down and play Nintendo for an hour each night.  I love to be entertained.  In fact, I live for it.  


But, as I listened to Elder Ardern's talk, I realized I needed to change.  And I knew that I COULD change.  As a result, I am now really trying to change the focus of MOST OF my free time from playing, relaxing, and checking Facebook to learning, serving, and blogging.  Trust me, I will still play, and I will love every minute of it.  But I'm going to work to change my desires so that I don't LIVE for it anymore.  


I was so impacted by Elder Ardern's talk, that as I listened to it, I felt like Grand Moff Tarkin was shooting the Death Star laser directly at my Alderaanian heart....but in a pleasant way that made me want to start using my time more wisely, rather than in a painful way that blew my planet to bits.  

This is Grand Moff Tarkin, firer of the literal Death Star laser (painful).
This is NOT Elder Ian S. Ardern, firer of the metaphorical Death Star laser (pleasant).

2. I always love it when my aunt Elaine S. Dalton speaks.  She is always so funny and cheerful at our family picnics.  Okay, so I'm lying.  She's not my aunt, but we are related in the sense that "we are all children of God".  Close enough for me.

Aunt Elaine

3. Elder Tad R. Callister gave a great talk about the relationship between the Bible and the Book of Mormon.  At one point in the talk, he put up a picture of a white circle representing the Bible.  He then connected it with a blue line to another white circle representing the Book of Mormon. It reminded me of this picture, although there was only one of them.

Q-Tips and/or figurative representation
of the Bible and the Book of Mormon

4. I am really glad I was at Priesthood Session on Saturday night, rather than watching the University of Utah v. Washington football game.  That's all I'm going to say.


5. Overall, I felt that General Conference was wonderful.  It is always uplifting and makes me want to try harder to be a better person.  In case you are interested, you can view, listen to, read, or download any General Conference talk at http://lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2011/10?lang=eng.


Until next time, stay righteous, my friends.