Impressions of General Conference (Part 1)

I just had the opportunity to listen to the words of the modern-day prophets and apostles today and yesterday (over a 10-hour period).  This happens twice a year and I love it.  I am so grateful that the God is an 1) unchangeable being 2) that He is no respector of persons and 3) that He love this generation just as much as He did to the Israelites in ancient times, and as a result he had called prophets and apostles to teach us of Christ and how to return to live with him in heaven.

The following thoughts are personal impressions that I jotted down while listening to their words.

1. The holy scriptures, the Bible and the Book of Mormon together, establish the Word of God and bring power into the lives of those people who study from their pages.  I need to re(memorize) selected verse of scripture so that they will be a source of strength to me in times of affliction/trouble.  Pondering upon the scriptures is KEY to obtaining personal revelation.
2. Recieving personal revelation is a privelege and a blessing the Lord expects of us.  Because he loves us all, he wants us to have that personal witness of the truths contained in the scriptures.  In addition to searching the scriptures, we need to "inquire of the Lord".
3. Because the Lord loves us, he has provided a way for families to be together forever, and the Temple is where this happens.  I am grateful for this knowledge especially in light of our family makeup.
4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints IS the stone that was cut out of the mountain without hands in King Nebekenezar's Dream which Daniel interpreted.  It is filling the entire earth now with members, congregations, and temples world-wide and it will continue to fill the world.  Nothing can stop that from happening--persecutions, mobs, wars--nothing.
5. Satan is real.  He has a very real destructive power. But with the scriptures, and by striving to keep God's commandments, and by entering into covenants with Him (i.e. baptism) Satan's power over us is greatly diminished. 
6. Striving to live so that we are worthy of the constant companionship of the Holy Spirit is fundamental to recieving personal revelation and spiritual strength. This means that I need to do those things that invite the spirit on a daily basis, and reject those things that detract from it.  This includes listening to only good, wholesome music and watching TV shows/movies that are uplifting and invite those feelings.  This also means talking with respect and with reverence about spiritual things.