October Conference 2012

This is the first time in years that I haven't seen all five sessions of Conference.  I'd be disappointed except that Saturday was the first time I got to spend a day with my family in a long while.  It ended up taking the entire morning and a good chunk of the early afternoon.  When I got home for the day, my roommates informed my immediately about the change happening to missionary service: men leaving at age 18 and women at 19.

I'm honestly really excited about this change and I sure do see the inspiration behind it.

But a lot is already going to be said about that for several years to come I'm sure, and nobody's interested in my opinion on that.

The thing that mattered most to me was the one talk I caught at the Saturday afternoon session: Elder Oaks sermon on the children of the world.  Of all the talks given that day and all Sunday, this was the one that touched my heart the most.

He used example after example of all the trials and sufferings that children go through everyday in our world.  And so many of the trials are because of the things that the grownups, we who have an obligations to protect and care for them, are hurting them.  It brought a whole new meaning to the scripture for those who offend these little ones, that it would be better to have a millstone tied about their neck.

It's reminded me that every decision I make that will affect the society I live in, the question I should always ask is, "Will this help or hurt the children?"  I feel that of all our duties, this will always come first and fulfilling that obligation, we'll be able to meet all our other requirements.

Current Status

I have another blog where I discuss most things serious, not-serious, but nearly always about entertainment.  I've wanted to have a place set apart for strictly my views on God, what I've learned and am now learning, and hopefully do good to somebody out there in need.

For the record, I am a Latter-day Saint and have been all my life.  I was asked to serve in two different teaching callings several months back: the first as a Gospel Doctrine teacher and the second as an Elder's Quorum instructor.  The Gospel Doctrine class is a Sunday School based on scriptures, and this year, the subject is the Book of Mormon (in which we are currently halfway through Helaman.)  Elder's Quorum is the men's group in which I teach one lesson per month, in which my job this year is to teach from selected sermons given by George Albert Smith, one of the past presidents of my church.

I love my callings.  I can honestly say that I'll be sad when I'm finally released from them (as such will be inevitable) but for now, I'm happy for the privilege to teach.

In the future, I hope to post my observations on Latter-day Saint life and why it matters to me.  Moreover, I hope this will help to explain why I believe in God.