…For Mormons, General Conference is an exciting time when large numbers gather to hear sermons, sacred music and news. But the most satisfying, profound and exhilarating thoughts and feelings of inspiration come when one person receives an answer to a serious personal question or is reassured by a connectedness to God and others. (LDS Newsroom)
Our family joined millions of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Saints (informally known as Mormons) this past weekend for General Conference. Some were able to be present at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City for this wonderful event. Many more watched the live broadcast in select Church meetinghouses around the country and around the world. My family participated from home.
For us, General Conference this past week was an amazing emotional experience. We laughed and we cried. We were inspired, uplifted and motivated. Questions were answered. More importantly, we felt loved. We felt again how much our Heavenly Father cares for us. In the next few posts, I’d like to share just a few of our inspirational experiences, those “Aha” moments, from this latest General Conference.
Watching General Conference from home has many advantages: you don’t have to drive somewhere else, the kitchen is just a few steps away if one needs a drink, and everyone can have their pick of the best and most comfortable seats in the house. On the other hand, participating from home means dealing with some distractions: frequent visits to the kitchen or bathroom, the overly comfortable seats can lull some family members to sleep rather than pay attention, and there is a tendency to do other things while watching General Conference. Because we were aware of these distractions from past experiences, we were able to minimize them significantly. As a result we were able to fully enjoy the spirit of General Conference.
Participating in the Solemn Assembly made the sustaining of our newly called Prophet and leaders profoundly personal. From our living room, we each raised our hands, and stood up to show our love and support for our leaders. At first, our sons thought it was odd to participate in such a manner. After all, we were at home and there was no one else there to see us. They giggled nervously the first couple of times we raised our hands to the square. However, by the time we got to the part where we were called to stand up by quorum, and as a Church body, they were fully engaged in the sacredness of the occasion.
I know that my children will treasure what they felt during the Solemn Assembly for a long time. They saw for themselves that in the Church, their sustaining vote counts. Each of them felt special and needed. They gained a greater understanding of how important each of us is to the Lord and to His work. In that meeting, our children saw clearly how every single one of us, even little ones, matter to the Lord.
The Solemn Assembly both inspired and humbled me. I remember thinking during this solemn occasion that the Lord does love us equally regardless of our station in life or our race and color. The Solemn Assembly reminded me that no one is too simple or too insignificant for Him to know and notice.
