Family Home Evening, October 8, 2007

Dad and I had a wonderful time at Sundance last week-end. The leaves were at their peak, we had sunshine and snow and enjoyed all of it. Thank you again for the great gift, it was very thoughtful of you.



A few quotes from General Conference:
President Gordon B. Hinckley: "The church has become one large family scattered across the earth. There are now more than 13 million of us in 176 nations and territories. A marvelous and wonderful thing is coming to pass. The Lord is fulfilling his promise that his gospel shall be as a stone cut out of the mountain without hands, which would roll forth and fill the whole earth as Daniel saw in vision." (President Hinckley is 97 and sharp as ever! In the early 1950's, W. Ernest Young, Robert's grandfather, was working as a historian at LDS headquarters in SLC and one day pointed to Gordon Hinckley and said: "He is the smartest man in the church.")



President Henry B. Eyring, new Second counselor in the First Presidency: "Taking time in a busy world to remember God's blessings is one way to invite the influence of the Hold Ghost. . . . . Remember what the Lord has done. . . . Forgetting God has been a persistent problem for humankind. Especially those who are abundantly blessed may forget the source of those blessings. It is easy to begin to feel the blessings were granted not by a loving God on whom we depend but by our own power. All men have the Spirit of Christ, if not the Holy Ghost, to help them remember the goodness of God." (Elder Eyring earned a PhD at Harvard and was President of the American Chemical Society.)



Elder Quentin L. Cook, newest Apostle called to the Quorum of the Twelve: "Life experience teaches that we must live by faith and not by fear. We live in precarious times when the world is in desperate need of the gospel. I believe we can raise righteous children anywhere in the world if they are taught righteous principles in the home." (Elder Cook earned his law degree from Stanford and was head of the California Healthcare System.)



Sister Julie B. Beck, Relief Society President: "The responsibility mothers have today has never required more vigilance. More than at any time in the history of the world, we need mothers who know. Mothers who know are willing to bear children. They honor sacred ordinances and covenants and adhere to gospel teachings. They are leaders and teachers. Mothers who know 'do less.' . . . less distractions and things that do not bear good fruit eternally or draw children away from the home and gospel. They are willing to live on less to have more time at home. They should be the very best in the world at upholding, nurturing and protecting families." (Sister Beck earned her degree from BYU in family science and lived as a child in Brazil.)



Elder Robert D. Hales, Quorum of the Twelve: "Prophets receive personal revelations to help them in their own lives and in directing the earthly affairs of the church. Our responsibility is to seek personal revelation for ourselves and for the responsibilities the Lord has given us. We prepare to receive personal revelation as the prophets do, by studying the scriptures,fasting, praying and building faith. Faith is the key. 'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God . . .but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.' By unwavering faith we learn for ourselves that it is by faith that miracles are wrought." (Elder Hales has a Harvard MBA and was the president of Papermate Company and other corporations.)

I love the insights I receive at Conference and how I always want to try harder to be better, more loving, more focused on the important things in life. Best wishes for a terrific week.

Love, Mom and Dad xoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxo


Immy will be 3 years old on October 13.

Sydney will be 2 years old on October 13.