Scotland

I have been strangely fascinated with Scotland, and I knew for a fact that the McGregors were Scottish, but I doubted anything else I figured the named conveniently all ended up leading me to Scotland because the records were good, but the more I search things the more Scottish I find that I am. My Mom's mom was a McGregor, who only rece4ntly came to America, but ends up my mom's dad is Scottish, as well as Dutch and French. I figured DeMott was either from Holland or France, turns out to be both. I did not even know that I was French, but I keep finding French ancestry in almost every family line. Alright, now the kicker! It ends up my dad's mother whom I just thought was all German is actually descended from the Campbells of Argyleshire and were in a terrible feud with the McGregor clan. As I matched the timelines up, the families are both in the same places at the same times, so it is fortunate that my parents lived to meet and marry. Even Robert the Red or Roy McGregor had a Campbell mother and for a time hid by assuming her maiden name I am so glad his children lived long enough to marry and have children! They do keep much better records in Scotland, I struggle with England and Ireland and nearly give up on any Scandinavian lines, which really ought to be of most interest to me as they are my most recent nationality other than American or Canadian, and I have been told that I look most like my Great great Grandmother Anna Maria Anderson. Infact, I was too young to recall, but my grandparents found any image they could find of that family because they say I look exactly like I belong with other Anderson girls. Who although born in Sweden, were half finnish. Funny the best friend I had in highschool of all the exchange students was from Finland, too, and there was a guy who sat next to me in the international band that formed in Bavaria who played the trombone, too and he was from Finland. I love doing work with Scottish names/records! I mean really really love!

Not what was expected

At first, being as I was so aware of it, I used to note it and feel ashamed that I almost always concluded or did the unexpected. it was like the expected was what I was supposed to do so I became, to myself, a blatant non-conformist, although I was troubled because I did not fit in with the other non-conformists. I just read about how we all need to belong, well, maybe the word need I a bit strong, we all desire to belong and we derive a whole lot of identity from belonging. I was always upset that I did not belong with my family, so I tried my darndest to create a place I belonged a "home". I was at peace. I was happy, then all of a sudden everything burst and I had to do over, so admittedly I had done something wrong. Lately, I have been feeling like it was all of my running to find home was actually running from it. I thought that dreaded "if only" start to creep up on me. I felt like I had really messed everything up, but I had intended to make things that were not right, right. Once again, the results were not expected. Seriously, should I have expected anything else? My thoughts right now are that getting back to good are wasted, not that I do not believe in the atonement, on the contrary I always seem to fall into that little area called the exception. So, it makes sense that I would be able to interpret a different way, to fit my exceptional life, to believe and apply the enabling power of the atonement in my life to keep going but go back to a happier starting point. I have a song in my mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8fQ3L_XPOk If you mess up a recipe It is assumed that you will end up with a messed up end product, sensible? Not really, you might end up with an unintended masterpiece. Just yesterday I was discussing veganism with someone, and we discussed how much better it is to just do what you do and not try to convince everyone that your way was better. but, After years of eating vegetables that a desired result happened and now everyone wants to match those results, but it is like a recipe...enjoy the journey not just the destination. Plus, because you cannot emulate every factor that was added to make the result. With baking things like elevation and humidity factor in too, more than you might think. The same is true with people, although a person has a desired quality to assume that it can be replicated through veganism might cause death if not done right. we also discussed how we thought it was better to just sort of fudge on a diet than stress over not allowing a thing you want. If it was you who wanted the diet, it is you who decides what to eat, and unless you can convince yourself that you need to stick to the diet it is just better to allow an occasional cheat. I loved what my cousin said about it. She said that her students asked her why she drank diet sodas, but then ate so unhealthily. And she said that she chose her battles. That is how any success is achieved. wars are won through several battles along the way. the best way to clean a huge mess is to focus on one thing at a time. Ultimately, how could you actually expect a result unless you were extremely controlling? Again, I think Of Jesus Christ. There is a scene on the 100 where a girl says to her brother that the people only need saving at all because of him. And that is sort of why We needed a savior, because we were given the ability to choose and really it was expected that things would fail, right? So, I can take a lot of comfort in that rather than believing that I could not be compensated for, it is nice to know going into the test that no matter how badly I fail, it was covered. The plans of a God can not be frustrated.

Brain dump

President Nelson touched hearts directly in the priesthood session, please encourage others to watch it.

Our apostles are friends of God.

How do we know that this is the True Church?

It is suffeint that we know it is true although we do not ask why.

English is your first language, so what is your excuse.

Do you think with Google you think you could write the Book of Mormon?

I am grateful to be a member of this, Jesus' True church

Heavenly Father knows us personally/individually.and he cares about us and blesses us, although sometimes we do not understand it.

Sometimes we are inspired inspite of us.

Music can deeply moveus.

Pretend that this was the last bit of life we were going to have on this world. What would we do? For a yoga class... but we know that this life, our death is more "like a see ya later." There are tjings that can only be done here.

Children that we are teaching now  will be our leaders tommorrow.

An Alton Telegraph of sharing the gospel gave the spiritual injection that we all need on ocassion.

Patriach must live worthily to be so in tune that we may speak for God.

Preisthood is like an umbrella, wife may not hold it, but it covers her.

Sun afternoon session

Robert D Hales

Light of Christ vs Holy Ghost

Parents follow the example of Joseph Smith's parents and use the Holy ghost to listen to what your children say.

Pray to the father,
Listen to the Holy Ghost
Follow the promptings.

Gerrit Gong

How can we always remember Jesus when we forget so many things.

Just keep in mind his aasurances and promises.

Acknowledge the Lords hand in our life.

Forgiving others.

Life is not as cruel as it sometimes seems.

Story of the guy who went to wash the dishes when he was told to clean his hands before going to the temple.

Remember the sick and the needy.

Patrick Kearon

Ina as much as ye have done it unto the least of these... ye have done it unto me."

1 in 22 are refugees. Most of them are children.

We need to help and assist any need we see around us.

Stakes of zion are to be a refuge from the storm.

Being a refugee may be a defining moment, but it does not define them, but our response will degine us.

Dallin H. Oaks

The significance of opposition in making choices.

Adam and Eve could have done no Good because they knew no evil.

We were never meant to avoid sorrow and or grief.

Do not be at Ease in Zion.

People argue what Joseph did or did not do.

We must believe in what the holy ghost says, God will not force us into knowing what to do.

Kent E. Richards

We need the temple!

The real power of the temple are in the ordinances (the manifestation of the power of God).

Everything we do in the church is to prepare us to go to the temple and be sealed.

Paul Johnson

His daughter died after she grew up and became a wife and mother.

Ressurrection is the greatest feat of all mankind, and knowing it is a gift that brings great peace of mind.

A resurrected body is perfect, never to be separated from our spirit again.

Being seperated is a damnation. But the resurrection resolves that.

Jesus has alreafy provided a cure.

Jeffery R. Holland

You sing and pray where ever you are, you are the miracle of the church.

It is inevitable that we will eventually return to our life after great illumination.

I am thinking about how Moses face was still glowing, and Jehovah was giving commandments and at the foot of the mountain making a golden calf idol.

Interesting, he spoke aboutvtge same thing next.

Laman and Lamuel saw angels and they returned to murmuring.

Do not give up if life and it's contrasts depresses you,  but use it as hope, keep trying!

In the gospel we get credit for the things we only seek to do. If not not many would be rewarded at all.

Everyone stumbles. Call out, Christ will be there to help you. You will get the success you seek.

At least seek blessings you need or want right now.

If you love God with all of your heart, you will not have any left to give any heed to anything that seems us down.

The greatest truth of the universe is that God loves us. He cannot allow us to suffer needlessly especially if we intend the things of God that have been taught in conference.

Heavenly Father WANTS to bless us and like it says in Abraham, whatever he has in his mind to do, he will do.

Bless us tomorrow to feel as we did today.

Sat afternoon session

Dieter F. Uchtdorf sustaining.

15 million members.

Donald Rasband

We just got to sustain prophets alive today.

He shared  his story about recently being sustained "....we sustained you and love you."

Questions are evidence of a desire to knuw, just as our church was founded by a questiom. Christ was answered important questions.

Do we really listen to a prophets voice?

"I, the Lord am with you and will stand by you."

We are supposed to reach out and help one another! This has always been the case.

When we follow our leaders we are following the Lord. So, who do you follow? The answer is always the same we follow the Lord who leads this church

" it is I, be not afraid.... Come." Though reasonable it was not. Would the world advise you not to go try to walk on the water? But, he rescued peter if he ever needed help.

Lord often reaches out to us by our family.

We are frequently called out to, like peter who jumped out and tried to walk but needed to reach out and grab the Savior's hand.

Niel L Andersen

The Gospel pattern is constant., it has and never will change.

Huge support offered to those who come to christ without a mother or father to be with them.

Story of boy who didn't have a parent to stand with him so he just stayed away.

Although our earthly family may not be picture perfect. They still have perfect DNA, and desire righteous things.

Story about "Max" and how he knew he was in the right place, and knew his name.

Boys who could not do baptisms in the temple, could still find mames in the family history center. What can my kids do while I go to the temple?

God loves his children.

Mervyn Arnold

When asked to save the Children of Israel Moses was afraid and doubted his ability to save anyone, but the Lord said do it anyway. and a way was provided a way  that it could be done.

Story of the boat that was pleading for rescue, then when rescue came they delayed and both were lost. Do not pause to consider how it is not reasonable. Never give up.

Take he who needs help.

The worth of ONE soul is worth it.

It is never too late to help the savior. No matter how old or pointless it may seem.

The tools are present if we go to the rescue.

Jaino mazgardi

All religions were acceptable to God.

Classes were so good that they made us hope that the week would go by quickly.

wondered Why there? About restoration of the gospel.

David A. Bednar

Always retain a remission of sins.

The Holy Ghost has a often not mentioned ability to putify and burn out the unholy parts of our person. Without the Holy Ghost ordinances could not be performed by us as unworthy people, but we need to be fit for the preisthood power.

Cleansing starts with baptism, if we do what we promise we can recoeve the Holy Ghost which can help us retain that purity needed to enter Heaven.

Sacrament as an act does not remit sins, but if we do so worthily it can allow us to re evaluate our lives and renew our previous covenants.

We ought to get to feel a clean constantly as we take the sacrament.

We can become unspotted, cause we have help to become increasing spiritual strength and knowledge.

Russel M Ballard.

Ironic that we do not recognize mych of parentimg until we do not have littke children.

Family counsel is not FHE where we learn.

1)general- all. Need compassionate consideration. Family can become much like a ward to all involved come part of helping. Maybe on Sundays to plan for the week.

How to do if single?
2)executive - good to deal with. Issues that need to be discussed.
3) limited - maybe informal making choices, maybe recording is important for accountability.
4) 1 on 1 - provides a special time for bonding. Good idea to plan this ahead.

Electronic media can attack from within even though we think we are locking all harm out, maybe not.

As we need prayer to counsel with our father, likewise we need counsels to make home a Heaven on Earth.

It is promised that the Lord will be there, he will come if invited.

FAMILY COUNSEL is utmost important to identifying and addressing troubles

Always turn off devices

Sunday morning session

Thomas S. Monson

4 new temples

Equador, zimbabawe, brazil, lima peru.

Choices we make determine our destiny.

If you do not care where you go it does not matter which way you choose, but we do want  a specific destination.

Bonnie Oscarson

Do you believe it or not?

Are families truly eternal, and do we actually live again after we die?

Sometimes we take blessing  for granted and do not live it as much as we like to come learn and associate with good people, whoch is surely a part of the gospel, but not the gospel itself.

Temples are literally the houses of God, and the things we do in them are not a routine, but ordinances that are available in temples because of tge Savior.

Get the gospel from our heads into our heart.

Greatest temptation facing us today is the constant pressure of the great and spacious building.

What is worse is those who after tasted were ashamed or embarassed.

Chriatopher Waddell

Sonetimes it is hard to think about Jesus.

EVERYONE will experience sorrow, our divine ability and peace comes from how we deal with things not how we avoid it.

1)Learn
2)Listen
3)Walk

3 steps to comming unto God.

We will find peace.

If we keep our covenant we will be with those children that are yours. There is a great peace in this.

Consider tasting versus partaking in Lehi's vision.

D Todd Cristoferson

We believe in the ideal of Fathers who care for their families.

Fatherhood is divine it began with our Father in heaven and Adam, the father of our living bodies.

Key to instilling peace in children is setting and example of how to behave in a worthy way towards their father in Heaven.

Honor your parents by righteous living.

I know that my father loved me because I love my children.

Quentin L. Cook

Mirrors ingraved with word "see yourself at the temple."

If you have not been to the temple you have not recieved the fullness of the gospel in your life.

Dieter F Uchtdorf

Lost sheep is saved because he is loved.

He KNOWS when and how you are lost and he loves his children and he loves you, yes, you! But, you must do more than just wait to be rescued.

There is nothing good unless you do it.

I love the metaphor of how a warctorn city that seemed ruined can and has become a grand city again. If men can do this. Then, surely God can do this for us.

Not bent into something we are not, but shown what we are made of revealing the heavenly nature within us, as God sees us.

We are worthy of rescue! Just pray, he will rescue you!!!

Sat. Morning session

Pres. Eyring

Listening to conference is a way to actively draw closer to God, and find the reassurance that we need to continue our strugle to grow heavenward.

It is a blessing to see the weakening of our testimonies, if we were haphazard we would not even notice, like satan's flaxen cords that seem of no consequence.

We. All united our prayers and intensity increased as Conference drew near.

When anyone speaks to us and we listen with the same spirit, we will understand and be eddified.

Even songs are prayers!!! Pray so lately as the song, and the speakers talk, and we will still recieve the truth we need.

Surely, God knows and Loves us.

Mary Durham

Story of desperate father in water trying to save himself and daughter driwning in a lake. He literally had to kick off the weight of the thing that tied him down.

Act and do not be acted upon.

Encourage children to develop and cherish the great spiritual abilites that they have.

Facilitate recognition in children.

Speak fluently and immerse children in the spirit so they we feel His influence and adapt to what they naturally are and know.

Recognize things that come from the Holy Ghost.

Donald L. Hallstrom

It is basic to recognize that we are all children of God, but what does that really mean? Moses rebuked Satan because he figured his worth and parentage was such that he was too greater to listen to what the adversary had to say.

How do you identify your self?

Heaven is the best place to be because we get to be with our Heavenly Father.

What happens when we have a difficulty? Do we remember who we are and what
we gave learned that we should do.

Some things are not easy, but the fact that they are difficult makes them almost "electric".

Lesson learned by the enthusiasm of saints meeting together in liberia. They were an example of Sons and Daughters of God who knew it.

But, I am too timid. (Recurring thought)
(I am almost always alone,  how long am I going to "deal with it")

Gary E. Stevenson
Looking for the Keys to get into a car to be warmed as is the natural state of the body, which dod enjoy being out of it's state on a ski hill.

This is like the apostasy, do you see why? It will be clear if you wonder "where are the keys".

If we didn't have the keys we would never be able to "get in".

Gathering of Israel. How is it done?
A key is being turned  in doing Family History.

Temples are all over, and will be so stay worthy.

Abrahamic covenant.... possible because key restored by Elias.

Where are the keys??? When you loose them remember that God will not leave us without keys.

Kevin R. Duncan

No need to be bothered by not forgiving.

The savior allows a full recovery, like a sliver with ointment.

How long will we allow it to bother us.

Hah, that reminds me of the sliver I had that I thought had been removed.

God sees us as we could become not as we are..

No one should or will be judged by thevworst thing we gave done.

Steven Snow

Songs are prayers. The story of how our Hymns were organized.

Accidents, admitting them is humbling. But, it can make us stronger by enduring.

What if we could be humble before we had to suffer?

It is better to be humbled by ones self.

The best thought of humility was recorded in Ether and as a woman read and pondered this  (sister rolley) she wrote a great Hymn.

Dale A Renlund

The greater the distance between the giver and reciever, the more sense of entitlement. The church anonymity helps us be more grateful.

How is this like our gift from God?
Example of Nephi drawing closer to God and Laman and Lemuel far from God and so they attributed things to nephi or lehi and they mumurred and became contentious.

The closer we are to Christ the more  we appreciate.

Swedish Christmas Carol about how good God was to come down to Earth. I do not want my sins so, thank you. And I do not want to ever cause you grief again.

The best way to draw near to God is to prepare and worthily take of the Sacrament.

Is it the servant who is responsible for the deed or God himself. Story of woman who did not get to take the sacrament but was later asked to step aside and a man prepared and blessed just for her.

When men broke bread with Jesus they recognized him.

Because we are ressurected we can know things are just and fair.

Draw near, even if it means alone.