This past weekend I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Semi- Annual General Conference.
Being from out of state, I have never gotten the chance to go.
I have always wondered what it would be like to go and never thought I would be able to.
My sister came in town for the weekend and what better way to spend Sunday than at General Conference with our brother to listen to the prophet and counselors speak to us and give us council.
I love Conference.
I used to not really understand it, though.
I thought it was boring, pointless, and something that I could use almost as an excuse or a "hall pass" from regular 3 hour church.
It only came around every 6 months, so I think I just thought of it as a day off from church because we didn't actually go to the stake center like we normally do every Sunday.
My Mom would always make us listen to it growing up.
We didn't have BYU TV on our cable, so we would always stream it over the internet and play it around the house as we went about our normal Sunday things.
I was always the one passed out asleep on the couch after the second speaker was about done though.
It took me going to college, being on my own and making my own decisions, to realize how fortunate I am to have the knowledge I have of this Gospel.
I think a lot of the times, kids feel like they forced to go to church.
I thought that too.
Trust me- I hated going to the stake dances, seminary, mutual, and everything in between too.
But I sucked it up and went because I knew it was the right thing to do.
My mom must know what she was doing that whole time, threatening me to not be able to do something on the weekend if I didn't go to one thing during the week.
She never let me miss one thing. Not one.
So all of you young girls reading this who know what I'm talking about- I know exactly where you're coming from.
Just trust your Mom and Dad, they know what they're doing.
Even though I hated going to church functions and everything that comes with being a minority as a Mormon in my high school, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
Being a member of the church is the secret potion.
I take a step back a lot and look at the big picture.
I look at members of the church and I think to myself, "Wow. They have got it all figured out. "
Everything about my church makes sense to me.
"Who wouldn't want to be with their family for all time and eternity? You do love them more than anything in this world, right? "
"Why don't we drink, smoke, or do drugs? Cause they are bad for you and kill you. "
"Why don't we have sex before we're married? Because that's something you share with a husband because its the single most powerful thing on this planet and why throw that around like its nothing? I will never understand how people can abuse such a sacred thing."
"Why does the church have such a statement about avoiding pornography like the plague? Cause its filthy. And destructive. And is the single most detrimental thing that a man or women can bring into a marriage. Our bodies are sacred and not to be mistreated or used for visual entertainment or pleasure."
It just makes sense to me.
I have such a testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
I can honestly say I have never been happier in my life than I am now.
I don't know where I would be without it
I am so grateful for righteous parents who raised me in this gospel.
I might have kicked and scream when I was 15 going to church activities, but if i could do it all over again, I would do it so much differently.
I would have actually payed attention in church, seminary, and sunday school.
I'll never get that back, but I can learn from it.
I am a firm believer in the church saying "every member and missionary".
Be an example to others.
They'll see it.
They will wonder why you have such a light about you.
When you have the spirit with you, you glow- and people will notice.
Take the challenge and share the light of Christ to people around you.
Share the secret potion.
xoxoiamamormon
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