General Conference Weekend

We were able to enjoy General Conference from the comfort of our own home. The boys did better than I'd hoped. Here's what they did to keep themselves busy:My boys are really into legos and Brian insisted that we build a big trail of legos from the couch to the far wall on the other side of the room. We did it! Brian also loves play doh. He used his play doh scissors to cut up all his play doh.

In between the Saturday sessions of Conference, we checked out Stokes Nature Trail at the mouth of Logan Canyon. It was our first time there. Sam and Brian spotted a woolly mammoth (our big run in with nature). Sam picked up the woolly mammoth with a big stick so we could get a better look at him. Brian didn't care for a closer look, but Tyler loved it!

Along the trail, we saw signs that warned us to stay away from poison ivy! Aaahh, I was crossing my fingers that my curious boys wouldn't touch the plants. We made it out just fine. When we reached Stokes Nature Center, it was closed, but we did enjoy throwing rocks into the Logan River. What is it with boys and their fascination with rocks and water?!

During the second session of Conference, I whipped up some carmel dip, a new recipe. We tried the dip with some apples. It was yummy.

Here are some neighbor kids enjoying apples from our very own apple tree:

My favorite remarks made in General Conference were:

From President Thomas S. Monson: "I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish—and in effect save their lives."

"One very creative Primary sent a large jar containing hundreds of what they called “warm fuzzies,” each one representing an act of service performed during the year by one of the children in the Primary. I can only imagine the happiness these children experienced as they told of their service and then placed a “warm fuzzy” in the jar."

From David A. Bednar: "We can become more diligent and concerned at home as we are more faithful in learning, living, and loving the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

I want to suggest three ways each of us can become more diligent and concerned in our homes."

Suggestion Number One: Express Love—and Show It

"We should remember that saying “I love you” is only a beginning. We need to say it, we need to mean it, and most importantly we need consistently to show it. We need to both express and demonstrate love."

Suggestion Number Two: Bear Testimony—and Live It

"We should remember that bearing a heartfelt testimony is only a beginning. We need to bear testimony, we need to mean it, and most importantly we need consistently to live it. We need to both declare and live our testimonies."

Suggestion Number Three: Be Consistent

"In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes—none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. Many ordinary, individual brushstrokes work together to create a captivating and beautiful painting."

"Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. “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” (D&C 64:33). Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes."