General Conference

It's that time of year again. I really enjoyed watching 3 out of the 4 sessions of Conference this time around. I accidentally slept through the Sunday Afternoon session. I laid down with a very cranky Zoe and ended up falling asleep and taking a longer nap than she did. Luckily I remembered to program the DVR to record it, so I can watch it at a future date.

General Conference also means it is Cheese Waffle time at the McDonald Household. One of the many "Thueson" traditions I have managed to pass down to my kids. This was Jackson's first time partaking of cheese waffles. He seemed to really enjoy himself.
Noah and Zoe also approved of the waffles. I think Noah ate more waffles than I did. I don't know what I am going to do with that boy. He has developed a big appetite these days.

This year we got a special treat, Grandma Sandi and Papa Tim were able to spend part of the weekend with us. They were on their way home from a week long trip seeing the other grand kids for birthdays and such and decided to sleep over. Papa Tim even approved of our breakfast choice, especially since he didn't have to make them. Growing up it was his responsibility to make all of the waffles and we usually had a house full of extras. He had the habit of inviting ward members over for conference, it started out while he was the Bishop and just continued on from there. It was one of the ways he would justify having a big screen TV and satellite. He would always say that the main reason he had satellite TV was so that he could watch General Conference in his own home, and loved sharing that convenience with others.

My favorite talk of this Conference was given in the Saturday Morning Session by Neil L. Anderson. It was titled "Children". He brought up several good points and reminded us all of the sacredness of bearing children. I think it was a good testimony builder for those of us who struggle with infertility, or for those who have not had the opportunity to marry. I also think it was a good reminder to those who mean well, but often cross the line, when asking if or when you are going to have more children.

Here are some of my favorite excerpts from his talk:

• When to have a child and how many children to have are private decisions to be made between a husband and wife and the Lord. These are sacred decisions—decisions that should be made with sincere prayer and acted on with great faith.

• My daughters recently referred me to a blog written by a Christian mother (not of our faith) with five children. She commented:“[Growing] up in this culture, it is very hard to get a biblical perspective on motherhood. … Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below the ability to go out at night at your leisure. Below honing your body at the gym. Below any job you may have or hope to get.” She then adds: “Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.”

• As the world increasingly asks, “Are these all yours?” we thank you for creating within the Church a sanctuary for families, where we honor and help mothers with children.

• To a righteous father, there are no words sufficient to express the gratitude and love he feels for his wife’s incalculable gift of bearing and caring for their children.

• In April general conference, President Thomas S. Monson said: “If you are concerned about providing financially for a wife and family, may I assure you that there is no shame in a couple having to scrimp and save. It is generally during these challenging times that you will grow closer together as you learn to sacrifice and to make difficult decisions.”

• In the most beloved story of a baby’s birth, there was no decorated nursery or designer crib—only a manger for the Savior of the world.

• In “the best of times [and] … the worst of times,” the true Saints of God, acting in faith, have never forgotten, dismissed, or neglected “God’s commandment … to multiply and replenish the earth.” We go forward in faith—realizing the decision of how many children to have and when to have them is between a husband and wife and the Lord. We should not judge one another on this matter.

• The bearing of children is a sensitive subject that can be very painful for righteous women who do not have the opportunity to marry and have a family. To you noble women, our Heavenly Father knows your prayers and desires. How grateful we are for your remarkable influence, including reaching out with loving arms to children who need your faith and strength.

• The bearing of children can also be a heartbreaking subject for righteous couples who marry and find that they are unable to have the children they so anxiously anticipated or for a husband and wife who plan on having a large family but are blessed with a smaller family.

• We cannot always explain the difficulties of our mortality. Sometimes life seems very unfair—especially when our greatest desire is to do exactly what the Lord has commanded. As the Lord’s servant, I assure you that this promise is certain: “Faithful members whose circumstances do not allow them to receive the blessings of eternal marriage and parenthood in this life will receive all promised blessings in the eternities, [as] they keep the covenants they have made with God.”

• Brothers and sisters, we should not be judgmental with one another in this sacred and private responsibility.

• What a wonderful blessing we have to receive sons and daughters of God into our home.

• Families are central to God’s eternal plan. I testify of the great blessing of children and of the happiness they will bring us in this life and in the eternities

I think I could relate to his talk on several levels. I remember how hard it was to be so "old" and single according to the church standards. I also know how it feels to struggle with infertility. We've experienced many difficulties in trying to add to our family as well as a recent heartbreaking loss. So, this is an extra sensitive subject for me right now. I basically was holding back tears by the end of this talk.

My second favorite talk was on Sunday morning by Elaine S. Dalton, titled "Love Her Mother". She asked, "How can a father raise a happy, well-adjusted daughter in today’s increasingly toxic world?" The following excerpts answer this question:

• The answer has been taught by the Lord’s prophets. It is a simple answer, and it is true—“The most important thing a father can do for his [daughter] is to love [her] mother.”

• By the way you love her mother, you will teach your daughter about tenderness, loyalty, respect, compassion, and devotion.

• She will learn from your example what to expect from young men and what qualities to seek in a future spouse.

• You can show your daughter by the way you love and honor your wife that she should never settle for less.

• Your example will teach your daughter to value womanhood.

• You are showing her that she is a daughter of our Heavenly Father, who loves her.

• A temple marriage for time and all eternity is worthy of your greatest efforts and highest priority.

• The “manner of happiness” is found in the temple. It is covenant keeping. Don’t let any influence come into your life or your home that would cause you to compromise your covenants or your commitment to your wife and family.

• Today’s popular culture tries to erode and demean your eternal role as a patriarch and father and minimize your most important responsibilities. These have been given to you “by divine design,” and as fathers you “are to preside over [your] families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for [your] families.”

• Fathers, you are the guardians of your homes, your wives, and your children. Today “it is not an easy thing to protect one’s family against intrusions of evil into [their] minds and spirits. … These influences can and do flow freely into the home. Satan [is very clever]. He need not break down the door.”

• You are your daughter’s guardian in more than the legal sense. Be present in your daughter’s life. Let her know your standards, your expectations, your hopes and dreams for her success and happiness. Interview her, get to know her friends and, when the time comes, her boyfriends. Help her understand the importance of education. Help her understand that the principle of modesty is a protection.

• Be an active part of her life. And if in her teenage years she should not come home from a date on time, go get her. She will resist and tell you that you have ruined her social life, but she will inwardly know that you love her and that you care enough to be her guardian.

• Fathers, you are your daughter’s hero.

• So how do you raise a girl? Love her mother. Lead your family to the temple, be guardians of virtue, and magnify your priesthood. Fathers, you have been entrusted with our Heavenly Father’s royal daughters. They are virtuous and elect. It is my prayer that you will watch over them, strengthen them, model virtuous behavior, and teach them to follow in the Savior’s every footstep—for He lives!

The thing I really enjoyed this talk it that it gave me hope for the future. Our society is going down the tubes fast. It is very common for TV shows and the media to put fathers down or portray them as idiots. I am very grateful for the influence my father has had on my life and I want the same for Zoe. I want her to grow up idolizing her father the way I did mine. I'm hoping the two of them can stay close as she goes through the trials of growing up. I'd also like the world to see how valuable fathers are and how much they can and do make a difference in the lives of their children.

I really enjoyed listening to the insights the Prophet and other general authorities have for me, in this day and age. I can't wait to hear what they have to say in April.