Conference Link Up

1. Favorite Speakers? Jeffrey R. Holland, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Henry B. Eyring, President Thomas S. Monson

2. Favorite talk? President Uchtdorf. I loved the tree analogy. It’s perfect for where I am in my life right now.

3. Favorite hymn sung during Conference? Redeemer of Israel is always one of my favorites … one of the few I can play in Hymns Made Easy :).

4. Who wore the best tie? Totally missed the ties this time, but I do think President Monson wore a nice red one during one of the session.

5. Do you think conference had a “theme”? Simplify, Purify, Fortify – that is our new family motto for the next six months. There was also a lot about agency, choice, and listening to the Spirit.

6. Share a few of your favorite quotes (paraphrasing is fine).

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them,” Mother Theresa, as quoted by Pres. Monson

We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become. — Richard G. Scott

Be MOVED with compassion. — Barbara Thompson

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication — Leonardo Da Vinci as quoted by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

The Internet can be a heartless chamber of isolation — Dieter F. Uchtdorf. I am taping this name tag to my computer. Lots of good can come from it, but when I spend too much time on it … it becomes the Heartless Chamber of Isolation!

7. Something that made you smile during conference.

Loved, loved, loved President Monson’s window washing story in the Relief Society session.

8. Any evidence that your children paid attention?

I really wanted to be prepared for conference this year since I have two kiddos ages 3 and 1. I solicited all of my friends on facebook and even put in a call to my dear friend Melissa who just wrote an article about the topic for the Church Magazines. A few things worked really well. We hung the general authority insert from the last conference Ensign on the wall. With each new speaker, Lily find the new picture and put a sticker on it. This was especially popular with my nieces when we watched with them as well. She also enjoyed coloring and painting the print outs. I was able to listen fairly well with her a little more occupied.

9. If you had to give a talk in General Conference (don’t faint, this is hypothetical), what do you think you’d speak about?

It would be cool to share humanitarian aid stories. I loved reading so many of the beautiful stories from around the world when I interned at the church magazines.

10. What are some of your post-conference goals?

Daily family scripture study. I loved the story of the family who decided to consistently read three verses a day. One by Dad. One by Mom and one repeated by every child who could talk, but not read yet. We are starting that today!

Less media.

I also want to speak more positively of others and be more grateful. Cambria over at Live to be Inspired is doing a fantastic link up each week on this very topic that you should check out!

So what about you? Any goals in particular? Favorite quotes? Thoughts in general?