Thoughts and stories, by Pal

I visited with the daughter of a neighbor of mine.  Her husband works for the Church Security system, and they have many duties to perform , especially during General Conference.  If anyone gets sick, needs an ambulance, gets lost (a family member), etc., they have to help.  This article is titled: General Conference from behind the scenes: View 4 photos » A woman laughs with a young woman at a previous general conference. IRI Summary Staging an event the size of general conference is a major undertaking that requires careful planning both temporally and spiritually. LDS Church News The LDS Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The publication's content supports the doctrines, principles and practices of the Church. Staging an event the size of general conference is a major undertaking that requires careful planning, both temporally and spiritually. While speakers carefully prep...

This article from Meridian Magazine, gives us good thoughts on how to get the most we can from Conference coming up in 2 days!  I have added the colored highlights myself.   For other great ideas, check out blog # 387, published on April 2, 2015, which gives other ideas on how to learn a lot from Conference. LINE UPON LINE How Big Is Your Container? By Anne Hinton Pratt  · September 30, 2015, from Meridian Magazine The other day my daughter Kristi gave me a beautiful analogy:  “One day, a neighbor offers to give you some of your favorite fruit. You’re excited that he is offering it, because it is rare and delicious. You grab a small container and rush over to his house, because you don’t want to impose on his generosity with anything larger. When you arrive, he tells you, “Oh I have so much fruit, please take home as much as you can carry?”  But alas, you only have your small container, and aren’t able to take more than what will fit i...

I know I've had other articles about the new apostles which will be presented in the upcoming Conference, but this gives added understanding of the callings. LDS UPDATE 4 Things to Understand about Choosing an Apostle By Maurine Proctor  · September 29, 2015, from Meridian Magazine We saw three empty seats among the Quorum of the Twelve at Elder Richard G. Scott’s funeral this week and we assume that we will have three new apostles called at this weekend’s General Conference. This is the most vacancies The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has had in the Quorum of the Twelve since 1906. These three new apostles will be called without much fanfare. Their names will be read and they will come up and assume these empty seats on the stand and we will go on with the conference as simply as that. Yet these are momentous callings to know the Savior as a special witness. At Elder Scott’s funeral, a remark of his was remembered by Elder D. Todd Christ...

VERY TIMELY ! ! ! This is a MUST READ!  Aren't we glad Conference is in just 4 days!  In my almost 81 years of life I have seen many times of near panic among good people.  In about 1961 many around us were building bomb shelters in a town in Utah!   This article counsels us to be prepared, but be sure to get our counsel from THE PROPHET!     Why Do Some Latter-day Saints Flock to False Prophets of Doom? By Maurine Proctor  · September 27, 2015 September 27, 2015 Blood Moon photo taken by Scot Facer Proctor. Special thanks to Vern G. Swanson and Del Benson for their thoughts in this article. Last week the LDS Church officially distanced itself from author Julie Rowe’s book,  A Greater Tomorrow  on a  page  directed to institute and seminary teachers under the heading “Spurious Materials in Circulation.” Her book is not endorsed by the Church and should not be recommended to students or used as a res...

This is very interesting, and has determined the seniority in the Quorum of several apostles we now have.  What wonderful inspired leaders! Calling Multiple Apostles: What You Need to Know by Jake Healey   Makes You Think   Mormon Life President Boyd K. Packer, Elder L. Tom Perry, and Elder Richard G. Scott were with us for a long time—since 1970, 1974, and 1988, respectively. Their combined 103 years of apostleship left a mark on our Church that can never be replicated or replaced. We’ll never forget President Packer’s wisdom, Elder Perry’s good humor, or Elder Scott’s tenderness. But now, three empty spots in the Quorum of the Twelve need to be filled, and it will likely happen at the approaching general conference. The brethren are not cut from a particular mold—each of them have individual strengths, backgrounds, and a unique way of touching the lives of others. In fact, when considering the characteristics of these m...