Friends, I had the incredible opportunity to go to BYU's Women's Conference with my generous mother-in-law and both of my sisters-in-law. This was my first time and the experiences I had I will cherish forever. I will tell you right off I will be sharing some personal and spiritual things. I am not trying to convert anyone or change how you believe in things, but I wanted to write down how I felt after such an amazing two days of being uplifted by the spirit.
Women's Conference is held at Brigham Young University, and is for women mostly, however there are some men that tag along. It is two days long filled with LDS speakers and talks. There are 15 or so talks to choose from each hour, for three hours. You get to choose which classes you want to go to and quite honestly if I had the time and will power I would have gone to much more than that. There is a morning session before we all break out into our classes of choice (all over campus) and then we all met back together for an afternoon session each day. Each class has helped me understand a little bit more about me, where my foundation of my testimony is and some things that I can do better at.
I have always been good at taking notes, I have countless journals and notebooks to prove it. To be honest I have a hard time remembering to read all of them and remember the feelings I felt from the various devotionals, conferences, blessings, or talks that I have written down. However, despite my note taking past, these past two days were a bit different. I had been praying for a while before the conference to receive some answers to some personal trials. I had no idea what I was looking for, but I can tell you one thing. I have had several prayers answered. I still took notes, but the amount of notes that I took was not like the normal page amount I like to write. I am grateful I was able to experience this with my Shiveley family, whom I love deeply. We shed tears and were lifted together as we heard the beautiful words of the whole conference.
The whole conference was based upon a scripture from 2 Nephi. @ Nephi 11:5 "My soul delighteth in the covenants of the lord..."
Thinking all of the classes would be the same, I can tell you, each class I learned something new, and was able to understand fully what it means to keep my covenants. Our covenants are a gift from God and as we keep them, blessings will fall upon us. We will be able to have more opportunities as we keep all of them throughout our lives. As Wendy Watson Nelson said, "There has never been a more important time to keep our covenants than now." Our covenants are a privilege from God and we have the choice to keep them.
I had an interesting experience on the first day of the conference I would like to share with you. I decided that this class in particular would be very helpful and went to this class by myself. The whole walk up there I prayed I would get some answers. The past little bit I have been very sensitive to the feelings and promptings from the spirit as I have dealt with some very hard personal trials. Although I am not going to come out and say what it is, just know this has been one that has truly tested my faith, yet has made me stronger than I would ever have imagined. The first speaker reminded me to never give up and that if I keep my commandments, my questions will be answered and things will be okay. As we prepare for the future by keeping the commandments, we will always know when the time is right to do things. She also said that as we look at our hardships (people, classes, the world, etc) look at them and face them as God would. That changed my whole perspective with my struggles. By this point I knew part of my prayers had been answered. The second part of the class brought a different speaker, who shared a story that had everyone in the room in tears. She shared a time where she had received a blessing that I resonated with and I felt as if this was directly being spoken to me.
Her blessing was a step into what it was like in Heavenly Father's care. Before we came to this world we all (I believe) had the opportunity to meet with Heavenly Father to discuss what we would like to do down on earth. He laid out what he had in store for us to accomplish. I believe that he said to each of us, "Now this is going to be your trial, (name the trial) and you have the agency to choose to accept it or choose to go in a different direction." Of course in Heaven everything seems as if it could be done simply. When we came to earth we have no recollection of what we were taught in heaven. I wish we did, but as accepting to come to earth and to be tried is part of the whole process of making it back to our Heavenly Father, to get through our trials that we were foreordained to do. This lady helped me realize that certain people, loved ones and friends were placed in our lives because of the gifts we have. So that we may be able to utilize them when trials arise. To know that they are here in our lives, meticulously placed at a certain time to help us as individuals grow is a miracle in itself. Not only are they here to help us, but we are to help them grow as well. Some may come in your life and have gifts you don't have to help you through struggles, which I have always known. However I never thought of it in reverse. Who knows how many people I or you have helped without knowing it because of this. Now some of these people you meet them once and never again. Some I believe are placed in you life for years, and it may seem like it's never going to end, but you are helping them whether they admit it or not. Relating this to what I have been struggling with changed everything. Yes, what I am struggling with is not easy, and I don't know how long trying to different ways to cope and grow from it will be, but I do know that as I meet more people, they are there for me. And I for them. Doesn't that change how you want to treat people? Even strangers? It sure does for me. I was also reminded of how prayers are answered. As I have been praying everyday on how I can change my life or how I act toward my struggles, I needed to be reminded of how my prayers could be answered: Yes, No, Not right now, I have something better for you. Once again, this changed the way I was asking my prayers to be answered. I am so grateful for this sweet lady and for her sharing her experience, to help me understand the true meaning of what I am struggling with. It is not the end, and this life was never intended to be easy, but I do know that as I keep those sacred covenants, I will be protected and in due time, I will understand the bigger picture of why this had to happen to me.
The rest of the conference was in simple words.... spectacular.
Spencer W Kimball once said, "To be a righteous woman during winding up scenes of the earth, is a noble calling." How wonderful of a promise is that. Sister Cheryl Lant said in her class, "Sometimes our blessing are our challenges. Sometimes our opportunities are our challenges." I believe that as we strive to keep our commandments and covenants we will see each thing that is placed in front of us as an opportunity to grow closer to Heavenly Father. We don't have to be perfect in life, that comes as progress and return to the presence of Christ and Heavenly Father. As women, we need to stand as a witness at all times even when no one is watching.
In Sister Peggy Worthen's talk, she spoke about how the smallest things are the most important things for us to accomplish. The small things are the things that hold everything together when large hardships and trials fall upon us. In order to continue to get our spiritual endorphins, we need to keep our covenants and the love we have for Heavenly Father will continue to grow and the love he has for us will continue to grow as well. Her husband Kevin reminded us that we have the agency to choose to accept to keep our covenants. But as we keep them, God and his angels will never leave us.
Again every class I went to reminded me that as challenges and trials come, we must have faith and push forward. Miracles will happen if we keep our covenants. Diane Golden quoted Joseph Fielding Smith, "Everything that Heavenly Father requires of us is necessary for us to return back in his presence." Ummm WOW! That goes back to our foreordained life and trials. We need them to get back to him. We need to keep our covenants in order to be in his presence. So I guess that should make things a little easier to deal with, at least in my opinion. But how you ask... Sister Golden also said, " We cannot keep our covenants if we cannot remember what they are." We need to take the sacrament weekly, go to the temple often, do all of the primary answers... read your scriptures, say daily prayers, serve others, be a good example, etc. By the grace of God we are what we are. We know what we need to do to be what we want to be. I could go on and on. I was simply dumbfounded after this class.
In John Bytheway's class I learned that "What you sincerely think in your heart of Christ will show who are really are and want to become," ~David O McKay. As we are consistent in our gospel studies our lamps will be filled and we will be prepared for whatever is in store for us. As we have questions it's okay to ask them, but not to lose our faith while obtaining our answers. We need to rely on the covenants we have made as our guide, not anything else such as the internet, especially google.
Can you tell I had a wonderful time? The concluding speaker for the two day session was Elder M. Russell Ballard. He gave an incredible talk about the importance of women and of mother's. We are wonderfully different than men. "We are essential for the progress in the church," He pointed out how we should not be critical of other women's trials or choices, because we are all different. Our duty as covenant women is to build the kingdom of God and press forward with faith, enduring to the end. My testimony grew a little stronger these past few days. I am not sorry for sharing my beliefs on social media, because it is me. I am sorry if I offended anyone, but that was not the point. I simply wanted to share my experience of such a wonderful conference. I hope I am able to continue to go back year after year.
Women's Conference is held at Brigham Young University, and is for women mostly, however there are some men that tag along. It is two days long filled with LDS speakers and talks. There are 15 or so talks to choose from each hour, for three hours. You get to choose which classes you want to go to and quite honestly if I had the time and will power I would have gone to much more than that. There is a morning session before we all break out into our classes of choice (all over campus) and then we all met back together for an afternoon session each day. Each class has helped me understand a little bit more about me, where my foundation of my testimony is and some things that I can do better at.
I have always been good at taking notes, I have countless journals and notebooks to prove it. To be honest I have a hard time remembering to read all of them and remember the feelings I felt from the various devotionals, conferences, blessings, or talks that I have written down. However, despite my note taking past, these past two days were a bit different. I had been praying for a while before the conference to receive some answers to some personal trials. I had no idea what I was looking for, but I can tell you one thing. I have had several prayers answered. I still took notes, but the amount of notes that I took was not like the normal page amount I like to write. I am grateful I was able to experience this with my Shiveley family, whom I love deeply. We shed tears and were lifted together as we heard the beautiful words of the whole conference.
The whole conference was based upon a scripture from 2 Nephi. @ Nephi 11:5 "My soul delighteth in the covenants of the lord..."
Thinking all of the classes would be the same, I can tell you, each class I learned something new, and was able to understand fully what it means to keep my covenants. Our covenants are a gift from God and as we keep them, blessings will fall upon us. We will be able to have more opportunities as we keep all of them throughout our lives. As Wendy Watson Nelson said, "There has never been a more important time to keep our covenants than now." Our covenants are a privilege from God and we have the choice to keep them.
I had an interesting experience on the first day of the conference I would like to share with you. I decided that this class in particular would be very helpful and went to this class by myself. The whole walk up there I prayed I would get some answers. The past little bit I have been very sensitive to the feelings and promptings from the spirit as I have dealt with some very hard personal trials. Although I am not going to come out and say what it is, just know this has been one that has truly tested my faith, yet has made me stronger than I would ever have imagined. The first speaker reminded me to never give up and that if I keep my commandments, my questions will be answered and things will be okay. As we prepare for the future by keeping the commandments, we will always know when the time is right to do things. She also said that as we look at our hardships (people, classes, the world, etc) look at them and face them as God would. That changed my whole perspective with my struggles. By this point I knew part of my prayers had been answered. The second part of the class brought a different speaker, who shared a story that had everyone in the room in tears. She shared a time where she had received a blessing that I resonated with and I felt as if this was directly being spoken to me.
Her blessing was a step into what it was like in Heavenly Father's care. Before we came to this world we all (I believe) had the opportunity to meet with Heavenly Father to discuss what we would like to do down on earth. He laid out what he had in store for us to accomplish. I believe that he said to each of us, "Now this is going to be your trial, (name the trial) and you have the agency to choose to accept it or choose to go in a different direction." Of course in Heaven everything seems as if it could be done simply. When we came to earth we have no recollection of what we were taught in heaven. I wish we did, but as accepting to come to earth and to be tried is part of the whole process of making it back to our Heavenly Father, to get through our trials that we were foreordained to do. This lady helped me realize that certain people, loved ones and friends were placed in our lives because of the gifts we have. So that we may be able to utilize them when trials arise. To know that they are here in our lives, meticulously placed at a certain time to help us as individuals grow is a miracle in itself. Not only are they here to help us, but we are to help them grow as well. Some may come in your life and have gifts you don't have to help you through struggles, which I have always known. However I never thought of it in reverse. Who knows how many people I or you have helped without knowing it because of this. Now some of these people you meet them once and never again. Some I believe are placed in you life for years, and it may seem like it's never going to end, but you are helping them whether they admit it or not. Relating this to what I have been struggling with changed everything. Yes, what I am struggling with is not easy, and I don't know how long trying to different ways to cope and grow from it will be, but I do know that as I meet more people, they are there for me. And I for them. Doesn't that change how you want to treat people? Even strangers? It sure does for me. I was also reminded of how prayers are answered. As I have been praying everyday on how I can change my life or how I act toward my struggles, I needed to be reminded of how my prayers could be answered: Yes, No, Not right now, I have something better for you. Once again, this changed the way I was asking my prayers to be answered. I am so grateful for this sweet lady and for her sharing her experience, to help me understand the true meaning of what I am struggling with. It is not the end, and this life was never intended to be easy, but I do know that as I keep those sacred covenants, I will be protected and in due time, I will understand the bigger picture of why this had to happen to me.
The rest of the conference was in simple words.... spectacular.
Spencer W Kimball once said, "To be a righteous woman during winding up scenes of the earth, is a noble calling." How wonderful of a promise is that. Sister Cheryl Lant said in her class, "Sometimes our blessing are our challenges. Sometimes our opportunities are our challenges." I believe that as we strive to keep our commandments and covenants we will see each thing that is placed in front of us as an opportunity to grow closer to Heavenly Father. We don't have to be perfect in life, that comes as progress and return to the presence of Christ and Heavenly Father. As women, we need to stand as a witness at all times even when no one is watching.
In Sister Peggy Worthen's talk, she spoke about how the smallest things are the most important things for us to accomplish. The small things are the things that hold everything together when large hardships and trials fall upon us. In order to continue to get our spiritual endorphins, we need to keep our covenants and the love we have for Heavenly Father will continue to grow and the love he has for us will continue to grow as well. Her husband Kevin reminded us that we have the agency to choose to accept to keep our covenants. But as we keep them, God and his angels will never leave us.
Again every class I went to reminded me that as challenges and trials come, we must have faith and push forward. Miracles will happen if we keep our covenants. Diane Golden quoted Joseph Fielding Smith, "Everything that Heavenly Father requires of us is necessary for us to return back in his presence." Ummm WOW! That goes back to our foreordained life and trials. We need them to get back to him. We need to keep our covenants in order to be in his presence. So I guess that should make things a little easier to deal with, at least in my opinion. But how you ask... Sister Golden also said, " We cannot keep our covenants if we cannot remember what they are." We need to take the sacrament weekly, go to the temple often, do all of the primary answers... read your scriptures, say daily prayers, serve others, be a good example, etc. By the grace of God we are what we are. We know what we need to do to be what we want to be. I could go on and on. I was simply dumbfounded after this class.
In John Bytheway's class I learned that "What you sincerely think in your heart of Christ will show who are really are and want to become," ~David O McKay. As we are consistent in our gospel studies our lamps will be filled and we will be prepared for whatever is in store for us. As we have questions it's okay to ask them, but not to lose our faith while obtaining our answers. We need to rely on the covenants we have made as our guide, not anything else such as the internet, especially google.
Can you tell I had a wonderful time? The concluding speaker for the two day session was Elder M. Russell Ballard. He gave an incredible talk about the importance of women and of mother's. We are wonderfully different than men. "We are essential for the progress in the church," He pointed out how we should not be critical of other women's trials or choices, because we are all different. Our duty as covenant women is to build the kingdom of God and press forward with faith, enduring to the end. My testimony grew a little stronger these past few days. I am not sorry for sharing my beliefs on social media, because it is me. I am sorry if I offended anyone, but that was not the point. I simply wanted to share my experience of such a wonderful conference. I hope I am able to continue to go back year after year.
Shiveley Women 2015
You are an amazing girl and I'm so thankful you are my daughter-in-law!
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