VACATION AT EDUCATON WEEK - Aug. 18-21, 09

Dad and I so enjoyed going to Education Week at BYU. We took lots of notes and learned a lot. As you can imagine my personal journal is full of thoughts from the lectures we attended. The spirit there was awesome. We narrowed our classes down to the following: Second coming, Being a Zion person and people, Prayer,the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and Temples. We attended most of the classes together, except Dad attended one on Temples and I attend lectures from an author names Anita Canfield. She was truly inspiring and the spirit was so sweet in the lectures that I attended.
Of course, I want to share a few thoughts with you all. This was truly a feast and we would so like to share all of it; but that would be impossible. I will state the speaker and then just thoughts.
Robert Millet - We Talk of Christ - We Rejoice in Christ
We often talk about what we know instead it should be with the spirit and what we have have been asked. We need to live the part we believe. What we think of Christ is what we will portray. We will be what we say, how we live; and it will determine
our lives. Live Christ centered lives. Jesus pleads for us as a lawyer and then becomes our judge.
Pres. Hinckley stated that if Christ is living in us our behavior will show it.
President Boyd K. Packer Education Week Devotional -
President Packer was very bold in his speaking. He talked mainly about the dangers facing us all. Here are a few thoughts from his message. We need to protect our nest. We need to know that Satan exists and what he does. We live in a very dangerous world. The adversary is about us. He can destroy our families, he can destroy our body and soul. In these last days there are perilous times. We must be every watchful. We are at war with the adversary; Satan is abroad in the land.
Wicked spirits have their bounds. All beings have power over their bodies; Satan can only be in us if we allow him. We have moral agency to choose good or evil.
Tolerance is a virtue. There is a consequence to our choices. Teach your family to understand and feel the spirit in their lives. We will all be tested and we will go through adversity. Stay close to the spirit by having FHE. FHE was put on Monday Night in 1965. The Proclamation to the family was issued in 1995; at the same time National Football games started on Monday nights. Live the gospel in your home. Do not let Satan in. Safety is found in the Covenants we have made. Prayer, Scriptures, Church Attendance, Temple Attendance, Service are all key to keeping the spirit and keeping your homes safe. Be hopeful, have faith and serve others. Faith is the real power. We are to bring up our children in light and truth. If we are righteous and faithful our prayers will be answered.
Rand Packer - Surviving the Latter-day adversity and calamity
Pres. Faust: "Observe the leaves of the fig tree, but don't sit around looking @ the tree." He went over things that have occurred and will still occur before the second coming. One of these was that the gospel will be preached in all the world. As of 2003 the gospel was in 168 countries and that was 87 % of the world. We are in 2009. As we all know Natural disasters, diseases have increased at an unbelievable rate from 1960 to 2009. In Oct. 2001 CR by President Hinckley spoke of Pharaoh's dreams. We have had good years over the last 7 years; exactly 7 years in 2008 the stock market and economy fell. We are now in the lean years. Be obedient and be prepared.
Pres. Monson said: "We think a thought to death, but until we take action there is not Change". Even with all of this going on we can be a happy people. Pres. Hinckley has taught us to "Keep A Smile On Your Face". Follow the prophet; when the prophet speaks DO IT! Have faith and trust in the Lord. Elder Oaks: "Testimony is to know and to feel; Conversion is to do and become."
Robert Millet - What comes first Church or Family? God comes first; the spirit can whisper to you what comes 2nd. What does it mean to consecrate our minds to the good things. Study, teach, make better choices on what you do with your mind. Satisfying the mind is soothing to the heart.
Bruce R. McConkie: "Becoming perfect in Christ; is a process of time". Set your sites on Eternal life and grow grace by grace. Chart your course and follow it.
There was just so much and the spirit was so great in all of the classes. Sometime if you would like us to share with you more thoughts about Zion, Adam-ondi-ahman and the Temple; we would love to.
Remember that the Savior is both the Sheppard and the Lamb; he will protect and lead us.
We would like to have you all read your blessings; you all have so many great promises. We love you all and pray always that you will have the spirit in your lives and that you will teach your children to know and feel the spirit in their lives. Love you all very much! Dad and Mom