Saturday Evening Adult Session of Stake Conference

April 18, 2010 - 6 pm.

First Speaker – Sister ? Good

She shared the experience of adoption and the wonderful blessings of being sealed in the Temple.

She had a voice come to her mind often that said “You have a daughter, and you're daughter is missing.
The only way for this daughter to join your family is through adoption.”

She listened, ignored, fought with, and eventually followed the voice and they adopted a boy and a girl
who were sealed to them a month after the adoption was finalized.

All of the family was dressed in white. It was a life-influencing experience for their family.

She said her oldest son Tucker had a marvelous spiritually-filling experience as they waited in the
Temple and learned so much from what they were talking about in the kids room as he waited to join
his family. He had been baptized the night before. It was a very influential weekend for him (for
everyone) and he has never forgotten it... he remembers every detail of what they talked about.

When they talked about Temple marriage sealing in their homes Tucker asked

“Mom, do I have to marry a member of the church when I get married?

Sister Good responded, “No, you don't have to marry a member of the church, but if you want to get
married in the Temple, you do!” Tucker didn't understand that you could get married outside of the
Temple... he thought there was no other way and that it didn't make sense that you wouldn't get married
in the Temple! They had a good learning and teaching experience explaining to Tucker about the
difference and the blessings that come from preparing to be and meet a worthy companion and be
sealed forever with them in the Temple.

The Temple is a very important blessing to their family and these experiences that they've had in and
with the Temple have brought them closer together.

She encouraged members to go to the Temple often and to make it an important goal and topic of
discussion shared in our families. She counseled adults that when they go to the Temple to participate
in Sealings, as these will bless their lives and the words and covenants made there will help them
remember what they have promised to do in their lives.

Second Speaker – Brother Wayne ??

He talked about asking his children (if their house was broken into?... I can't remember if that was
exactly what he said, but you get the point), what did they think was the most valuable thing in their
home?

Two of his daughters looked around and chose a glass cake topper of the Temple that was placed on
their wedding cake when they got married.
He thought it was significant, that this cake topper was made of cheap glass and not worth much, but
the symbolic nature of the item, and the significance of the Temple to these girls was priceless!

What made the Temple so significant to their family?

-maybe it was the Family Home Evening lessons and other lessons they had when they talked
about the Temple
-maybe it was the Temple Memory cards they had made and played together
-maybe it was the dinnertime conversations they had about the Temple
-maybe it was the church meetings they attended where they learned about the Temple
-maybe it was the family trips they took to walk around and visit and go to Open Houses of
Temples.

Whatever it was... most likely a combination of these things, the Temple has been a focus for our
family and significant in our lives.

What is my duty to teach about the Temple?

He read: Moses 6:55-59:

55 And the Lord spake unto Adam, saying: Inasmuch as thy children are conceivedin sin, even so when
they begin to grow up, ssinonceiveth in their hearts, and they taste the bitter that they may know to
prize the good.
56 And it is given unto them to know good from evil; wherefore they are agents unto themselves, and
I have given unto you another law and commandment.
57 Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise
inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for, in the
language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man,
even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge, who shall come in the meridian of time.
58 Therefore I give unto you a commandment, to teach these things freely unto your children, saying:
59 That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye
were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust
a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and
be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin,
and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal
glory;

& then in D&C 109: 8

8 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a
house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of corder, a house of
God;

& then in D&C 68: 25-31

25 And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized,
that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God,
and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the
sin be upon the heads of the parents.
26 For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized.
27 And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and
receive the laying on of the hands.
28 And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.
29 And the inhabitants of Zion shall also observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
30 And the inhabitants of Zion also shall remember their labors, inasmuch as they are appointed to
labor, in all faithfulness; for the idler shall be had in remembrance before the Lord.
31 Now, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among
them; and their children are also growing up in wickedness; they also seek not earnestly the riches of
eternity, but their eyes are full of greediness.

He talked about how each Family Home Evening they had, they had a tradition that each child picked a
song and they would sing each song all the way through before they started the lesson.
Each FHE, he would choose the song “I love to see the Temple”
He said they look back and don't remember every lesson or every detail of every FHE, but they KNOW
that “I love to see the Temple” is their dad's song! They know that it is an important part of his life and
their family's lives.

The most effective way we teach our children is by the way we live
-teach by the Spirit
-we receive the Spirit by:
-being obedient to the commandments
-keeping our covenants

He recited the poem by Edgar Guest, “Sermons We See”

Sermons We See
by Edgar A. Guest
I'd rather see a sermon
than hear one any day,
I'd rather one would walk with me
than merely tell the way;

The eye's a better pupil

and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing,
but example's always clear;

The best of all the preachers

are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action
is what everybody needs.

I soon can learn to do it,

if you'll let me see it done,
I can watch your hands in action,
your tongue too fast may run;

The lectures you deliver

may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons
by observing what you do;

I may not understand

the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding
how you act and how you live.

Not only were the Stripling Warriors (starting in Alma 56) taught by their mothers,
but we sometimes forget that it was their fathers that made covenants to bury their weapons of war
and their fathers who taught them to be strong and stand fast.

John 8:28-29
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he,
and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that
please him.

We teach by example. How can we help our children?

-We can help them develop habitual practices

-be consistent in prayer
-be consistent in attending Sunday meetings
-be consistent in observing the Sabbath Day
-We can teach them behaviors necessary for attending the Temple
BY EXAMPLE

-Our children weren't given the option of going to church – it was expected

-When I was young my father asked me to weed the yard. I weeded the garden and my dad came home
after I was done and pointed out the one weed I had missed. I was mad that he noticed the one thing I
didn't do after all that I had done, but this experience taught me that when you do a job, you do it right,
you finish what you start.

-Cleanliness is next to Godliness... I was taught this all growing up. My mother was sometimes
accused of being a little too clean... but we kept our home clean and orderly and ourselves clean and
kept.

-Temple worship through example – we made this a family affair, going to the Temple sometimes with
extended family – we went as a group and we made it a point so that our children and family knew how
important this was to us and to God.

-We set the example of going to the Temple

-sometimes even once a week
-Live the gospel of Jesus Christ by teaching our children exhalting principles in the home, just as we
learn exhalting principles in the Temple.

We can become active participants in God's work and we do that by teaching our children about the
Temple.

Third Speaker - Sister Karen Smith

She spoke on how to help teenagers grow in faith, get ready for missions, help others,
etc. - They are quick, they are strong, they know!

She read the definition of “Faith” from the Bible Dictionary...

Faith - BIBLE DICTIONARY

Faith is to hope for things which are not seen, but which are true (Heb. 11: 1; Alma 32: 21), and must
be centered in Jesus Christ in order to produce salvation. To have faith is to have confidence in
something or someone. The Lord has revealed himself and his perfect character, possessing in their
fullness all the attributes of love, knowledge, justice, mercy, unchangeableness, power, and every other
needful thing, so as to enable the mind of man to place confidence in him without reservation. Faith is
kindled by hearing the testimony of those who have faith (Rom. 10: 14-17). Miracles do not produce
faith but strong faith is developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ; in other words, faith
comes by righteousness, although miracles often confirm one’s faith.
Faith is a principle of action and of power, and by it one can command the elements and/or heal the
sick, or influence any number of circumstances when occasion warrants (Jacob 4: 4-7). Even more
important, by faith one obtains a remission of sins and eventually can stand in the presence of God.
All true faith must be based upon correct knowledge or it cannot produce the desired results. Faith in
Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel and is more than belief, since true faith always moves its
possessor to some kind of physical and mental action; it carries an assurance of the fulfillment of the
things hoped for. A lack of faith leads one to despair, which comes because of iniquity.
Although faith is a gift, it must be cultured and sought after until it grows from a tiny seed to a great
tree. The effects of true faith in Jesus Christ include1 an actual knowledge that the course of life one is
pursuing is acceptable to the Lord (see Heb. 11: 4);2 a reception of the blessings of the Lord that are
available to man in this life; and3 an assurance of personal salvation in the world to come. These things
involve individual and personal testimony, guidance, revelation, and spiritual knowledge. Where there
is true faith there are miracles, visions, dreams, healings, and all the gifts of God that he gives to his
saints. Jesus pointed out some obstacles to faith in John 5: 44 and John 12: 39-42 (cf. James 1: 6-8).
The most complete and systematic exposition on faith is the Lectures on Faith, prepared for and
delivered in the School of the Prophets in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1832. Other references to faith include JST
Gen. 14: 26-36; Rom. 10: 14-17; 2 Cor. 5: 7; Eph. 2: 8-9; Heb. 11: 1-40; James 2: 14-26; 1 Pet. 1: 8-9;
Enos 1: 6-8; Alma 32; Moro. 10: 11; D&C 46: 13-16.

-Having discussions together on doctrine

-our greatest potential for missionary work is through our YOUTH! -they interact w/ others at school
& in activities
So how do we foster that faith?
-Repetitiveness helps us to REMEMBER!

She read: Helaman 5:12

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the
Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds,
yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall
have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock
upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot
fall.
13 And it came to pass that these were the words which Helaman taught to his sons; yea, he did teach
them many things which are not written, and also many things which are written.

If they know that YOU have a sure foundation, then they will see that and build from it too.

We have symbols all over our house to help remind us...

Once in a while I'll put a note on the door that they'll see when they leave that says
“You are a prince!” - an heir to Heavenly Father's Kingdom!
They think that I'm weird or tell me that's weird but they remember it and know it's true!
Those reminders help them.

Beware of Moral Decay... even in your own homes.

Elder Bednar said:
“...a spiritual early warning system that can help parents in Zion to be watchful and discerning
concerning their children. This early warning system applies to children of all ages and contains three
basic components: (1) reading and talking about the Book of Mormon with your children, (2) bearing
testimony of gospel truths spontaneously with your children, and (3) inviting children as gospel
learners to act and not merely be acted upon. Parents who do these things faithfully will be blessed to
recognize early signals of spiritual growth in or challenges with their children and be better prepared to
receive inspiration to strengthen and help those children....
bear witness that parents who consistently read and talk about the Book of Mormon with their children,
who share testimony spontaneously with their children, and who invite children as gospel learners to
act and not merely be acted upon will be blessed with eyes that can see afar off (see Moses 6:27) and
with ears that can hear the sound of the trumpet (see Ezekiel 33:2–16). The spiritual discernment and
inspiration you will receive from the combination of these three holy habits will enable you to stand as
watchmen on the tower for your families—“watching . . . with all perseverance” (Ephesians 6:18)—to
the blessing of your immediate family and your future posterity. I so promise and testify in the sacred
name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.” -Saturday Afternoon Session, 180th General Conference April
2010

Do this... so they know what you believe.

If our children know our testimonies and hear us repetitiously share it, they will never forget it!
-we can be unified in knowing the gospel
Pray for discernment to have moments to share what you know/have experienced w/ the gospel
= you will bond and grow

Share experiences you've had with The Spirit with each other.

Fourth Speaker – Bro. (Did not get his name!)

I think of the significance of Lehi's dream...

How can we be like those in the dream who were “continually holding fast” to the iron rod.
The following things, consistently...
-prayer
-scripture study
-worship
-family Temple attendance

I gauge success in my life on the cleanliness of my kids' bedrooms!

Once I asked my daughter to pick up the clothes in her room and she said
“Dad! I'll pick up my clothes if you do!”
Lehi struggles, persisted, & he took the fruit first, then he invited his family to do likewise.

When I do what I say and ask my kids to do, I must be faithful.

My children know my habits, my hypocrisies, my weaknesses, etc.
I must be consistent in striving to overcome these and consistent in doing and setting an example for
what I expect them to do.

Elder Bednar spoke of a picture of a wheat field that he has on his wall
He spoke about how each event is a brush stroke on the canvas of our souls

D&C 64:33-34
33 Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of
small things proceedeth that which is great.
34 Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the
good of the land of Zion in these last days.

My kids have their own issues. Not everything has always been easy nor has everyone always attended
each time... but perhaps those who need help will remember family moments.
-like Enos did!
Enos 1...

Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man—for he taught me in his
language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord—and blessed be the name of my God for
it—
2 And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.
3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak
concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.
4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer
and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night
came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.
5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.

Fifth Speaker – President Smith

We knelt as a Stake Presidency before planning this conference
We arose from kneeling and Pres. Winters said “We need to teach the parents to teach the children &
the youth” And then we watched General Conference and that's exactly what happened there as well.
Please revisit General Conference.

I got up Saturday morning at 5 a.m. to go to the Temple. As I was driving I remembered something my
father-in-law said as we were coming to the pageant a few weeks ago...
“Drive down Country Club to 1st Ave. and drive up 1st Ave. to the Temple.”
Just as I was driving up first ave. the sun came up right along the side of the Temple and as it did, the
Son of God testified to me that The Temple is His house.

Where is our 1st Ave? What roads are we driving down? There were many stoplights between the
Temple and I. It was frustrating. But I got there!

I asked a lady who loves her husband and family and has a great life why we are here. She didn't know.
She couldn't answer me.
What we take for granted! What little I know, I layed out for her.
At the end she had tears in her eyes and said “That's all too good to be true.”
I said, “But it is true! All of it.”
She came to church Sunday and was overwhelmed w/ the sincerity of the testimonies of the speakers.
MAY WE BE DILIGENT IN WHAT WE KNOW.
MAY WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET EVERY LIVING THING THE TRUTH.

This work is true and incredibly fun.

Sixth Speaker – President Winters

D&C 38:27
I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.

Let us be one in our homes, in our wards, in this stake.

The adversary is not actively disrupting our church meetings but he is persistent in attacking our homes
and our families.

Moroni 7: 45-47

45 And charityth long, and is bkkkkkkkkindenenenenviethd up, seeketh not her own, is not easily
dproproproproproproproprovokediceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things,
believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth.
Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
47 But charityis the pure llovef Christ, and it endureth forever and whoso is found possessed of it at
the last day, it shall be well with him.

Mosiah 4:29
29 And finally, I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways
and means, even so many that I cannot number them.
30 But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your
words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye
have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And
now, O man, remember, and perish not.

This applies in our family!

*it starts with our thoughts – the things that are in our minds.
-usher off unkind feelings
-these lead to words and actions
*words – life is not a joke... be careful about the words we speak, sarcasm, teasing, etc. words can hurt
and words can be powerful

Moroni 7:48
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be
filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ;
that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see
him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

Family unity is a gift of Christ!

He quoted:
“The Savior of the world spoke of that unity and how we will have our natures changed to make it
possible. He taught it clearly in the prayer He gave in His last meeting with His Apostles before His
death. That supernally beautiful prayer is recorded in the book of John. He was about to face the
terrible sacrifice for all of us that would make eternal life possible. He was about to leave the Apostles
whom He had ordained, whom He loved, and with whom He would leave the keys to lead His Church.
And so He prayed to His Father, the perfect Son to the perfect Parent. We see in His words the way
families will be made one, as will all the children of our Heavenly Father who follow the Savior and
His servants:
“As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
“And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that
the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:18–21).
In those few words He made clear how the gospel of Jesus Christ can allow hearts to be made one.
Those who would believe the truth He taught could accept the ordinances and the covenants offered by
His authorized servants. Then, through obedience to those ordinances and covenants, their natures
would be changed. The Savior’s Atonement in that way makes it possible for us to be sanctified. We
can then live in unity, as we must to have peace in this life and to dwell with the Father and His Son in
eternity.”
-Henry B. Eyring, “Be One,” Ensign, Sep 2008, 4–9

Don't be discouraged, do not despair.

Time & Truth are on our side.

I testify that if we do these things, we'll have the unity that we seek.

Seventh Speaker - President Weathersby

We've heard spiritual pearls...

We started a little early this adult session of conference to set a pilot time to encourage you to go out
with each other afterward and visit with each other about the spiritual pearls that you've heard.
Talk about them with each other as friends, talk about them with your spouse.

His mother had to go to a baptism on the East side of Phx tonight, and didn't think she'd make it back in
time for the session... the last thing she told him b/f she left was “Don't give your good talk tonight!
Save it for tomorrow when I'm back!”

Shared funny story about how they went to a trapeze school for his grandson's birthday.
(You can see the video on www.cherylweathersby.blogspot.com)

He was supposed to hold on tight to the bar, he had two tethers on both sides of a harness that was
around his waste, and he had a strong net below him. When he went to let go his knees locked and he
wouldn't move... he got a little push and he swung, but his ears started ringing and he couldn't hear any
of the instructions that the man was yelling to him. So... he eventually lost his swing and had to let
himself drop... his fear paralyzed him from being able to do what he needed to do.
He explained how he really had no need to fear b/c the net was a strong professional net that would
hold any weight, the tethers were holding him up, and he had someone giving him set instructions to
follow, which if he had, he would've found success. But he froze in fear.
He said we can make a lot of parallels to this story.

We're tethered to a loving God, and because of a loving Elder Brother we can be redeemed.
We're tethered with spiritual rope... we can be pulled up fast

Act with exactness and don't hesitate.

The key is to learn how to listen, recognize, & act on what we've learned.

Alma 53:20-21
20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength
and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever
thing they were entrusted.
21 Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of
God and to walk uprightly before him.

Alma 56:47-48
47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of
their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did
not doubt, God would deliver them.
48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew
it.

These boys were taught to keep the commandments of God & to walk uprightly.
They were trusted.
They were taught with love.

Teach your children while they are young... while they are VERY young.

Teach them exactness

-the mean age for boys to be first exposed to pornography is 11 to 13
-the mean age for girls is 12-14