Ward Conference

Yesterday we had Ward Conference and we had an amazing Sacrament Meeting and I wanted to share with you some ideas. Our Bishop told a story of his youth-hood. He grew up in Southern California and therefore grew up on the beach. He and his friends lived in the water and surfing was their life (meaning they didn't work, go to school or do anything- he even commented they were not even interested in girls).  After they graduated from High School and didn't change their lives (get a job, go to college, ect) all of their parents cut them off. They decided to go to Catalina Island (about 26 miles off the coast) and live like bums on the beach; catching their own fish, living in the water and sleeping on the shore.  

One of the guys had a motor powered raft and so they decided to take that to the island (instead of paying for a boat ride). As said earlier they lived in the water, so they understood the swells of the water, the depth and distance so going on a raft was not a big deal. Expecting the fog to burn off (like it always does in So Cal) they set out one foggy morning toward their new lives.  After a couple of hours, still in the fog, they realized they had gotten about 25 miles out (because of the change of depth and wave), they couldn't see the island and the waves were getting worse. In the fog they got turned around and did not know where they were so they were really lost (they did pulled out a trusty boy scout compass but found it was broken). They discussed going back but did not have enough gas, if they just stopped the boat to wait, the large waves would tip it. Needless to say they were nervous, it was at this time that 'they found religion' and began to pray for help and they continued on, not being able to see where they were going. 

After another hour the fog began to clear a little and they saw a white figure in the distance so, not having anything else to follow, they followed that figure. As they got closer they saw that it was a man, dressed all in white, on a white sail boat. They asked him where the island was and he pointed in a certain direction (90 degrees off where they were going- they were headed to  Japan). They followed him and, although they did not know how he knew where he was going, he led them straight to the island in safety.  Bishop Waldrip then compared this to the idea, "If ye are prepared, ye need not fear." This was a great analogy for life (which I won't go through the time explaining- hopefully you caught it) and was really interesting to me. (I did not do the story justice, he is a good story teller.)

Then our stake president spoke. President Williams, is an amazing scriptorian, sometimes when he speaks he just just pulls scriptures from his head, quoting them verbatim. He spoke about D&C 38 and talked about many principles. One thing he said that really stood out to me was in D&C 38: 14 which says, "...I will be merciful unto your weaknesses." I don't know why but this really hit me. You always hear the idea of Christ giving you strengths and making weak things strong unto you but he does not just change weaknesses to strengths automatically, as we know, so what happens when we are still weak? The idea that the Lord is forgiving of my weaknesses is a comfort to me. It helps me know that even when I mess up, I am still loved as a Child of God.  It makes me feel like I do not have to hide myself from the Lord (kind of like the idea of 'hiding your mess' given in the Women's Conference yesterday) but I can be honest and open and I will not be judged. 

I love ward, stake and general conference because I get to hear from the leadership of the church. I know that they are called of God and therefore their teachings are relevant to me and my life. Next week is Stake Conference and then General Conference is right around the corner and I am very excited!