Staying STRONG in the STORMS of Life

General Conference is this coming weekend and I thought I would write how you can get more out of general conference. How you can better enrich your life. Most of my comments will come from an article in the most recent issue of the April 2012 Ensign.

The spiritual enlightenment we each receive during general conference doesn't have to end Sunday afternoon. President Harold B. Lee strongly encourages us to let the conference talks "be the guide to their walk and talk during the next six months. These are the important matters the Lord sees fit to reveal to this people in this day." Not only has President Lee advised this concept, but so has President Ezra Taft Benson, "For the next six months, your conference edition of the Ensign should stand next to your standard works and be referred to frequently."

Life is hard and we all struggle with various trials and challenges. So, to help you all here are three suggestions to help you make the conference messages more meaningful into your life.

1. Prepare to receive inspiration.

• Elder David A. Bednar taught of this when he said, "the content of a message and the witness of the Holy Ghost penetrate into the heart only if a receiver allows them to enter. Receiving inspiration requires spiritual, mental, and physical exertion and not just passive reception."
• 3 ways to prepare:
• Set aside time and create a distraction-free environment in which you can receive spiritual promptings.
• Seek divine guidance through prayer.
• List personal questions or concerns for which you are seeking answers.

2. Understand the messages.

• 4 study methods to use while studying and pondering conference talks:
• Ask questions to help you understand the meaning.
• Write an outline of the important sections of the talk and summarize them.
• Identify various elements within the talk.
• Study the talk more than once and make note of new insights you receive each time.

3. Act upon what you learn.

• Making the right changes to life can be difficult, so ask yourself these questions, then write down your impressions:
• What does the Lord want me to do with what I learn?
• What have I learned that will help me in my family, work, or church calling?
• etc.

"General Conference is the time when the Lord reveals His WILL through His servants to you. I know that sincerely applying these suggestions into your life will help you accomplish everything. Not only that, but it will keep your testimony of the gospel strong and firm and you will be able to withstand all the STORMS that are placed along your path and in turn you will be directed towards the way of eternal life.