General Conference

This is weekend is General Conference. It is one of my favorite things about being Mormon. Growing up I hated it. Just sitting around for 8 hours doing nothing but listen to people talk, I could never get anything out if it. I started loving it when I was at Utah State. Before I get into that, I just want to say that in the LDS church we have a general worldwide meeting for all members of the church every six months. They always happen during the first weekend of April and October. The leaders of the church pray and fast in preparation for the messages that they will give us, they are not assigned topics but rather listen to what God would have them say. Then we gather in front of the TV and watch the live broadcast. It is a great way to hear the Prophet of the world speak to us and I invite anyone to click here who would be interested in listening.
Back to Utah State...
I was a freshman and had a great group of friends. There was about 10 girls and 2 boys who we hung out with all the time. When conference came around we gathered in the basement of our dorm room and had a big party. We all actually took notes, this was the first time I had EVER done this. I don't remember what I got out of the meeting that month but I do remember having the feeling of looking forward to the conference that would be held in April.
I kept up this excitement and then it grew exponentially when I was a missionary.
Being a missionary isn't all that glamorous as some people may want you to think. After a few weeks of being in the field, I was tired, exhausted more like it, hot, and kind of getting grumpy with my situation. I had different expectations of what the mission would be like and I was finding out very quickly that those expectations weren't entirely true. I needed a break and General Conference offered that to me.
I remember sitting in the chapel of our ward and hearing Elder Jeffrey R. Holland give this amazing talk here. I cried, thinking he must know how I am feeling. I decided then that no matter how bad the mission would get, I was going to stick it out. I committed to be there for 18 months and I was going to finish. I can proudly say that I did finish and it was one of the best experiences of my life.
Since that time, conference has always had a bit of inspiration for me to look forward to. We all have questions in life, what to do about certain situations, if we should move apartments, if we should quit our jobs, whatever it is and I can tell you that the spiritual instruction we receive at conference can help answer your questions.
I hope that you all have time to watch a little bit of it, even if it is one talk or a musical number. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is great to listen to and have beautiful hymns that help us worship the Savior. General Conference has always been a great break from the world for me, and I am so glad I get to share it all with you.

How awesome is that choir? Can't wait to hear them this weekend. 

XO

Caitlin