"Parents In Zion Rise Up"

Today we had a special Stake Conference and we were lucky enough to have Elder Bednar speak to us. He gave a great talk that I was lucky enough to listen to - well, mostly. The kids did amazingly well considering we were there two hours early.

Elder Bednar told a story of a friend who's truck was stuck in the snow. The friend filled the bed of the truck with firewood, and the added weight from the load was able to help the truck get out. (I obviously paraphrased that story A LOT).

He then likened this story to the loads that each of us carry in our lives. He said that, "Happiness is not the absense of a load, but what we choose to put in our load." What sort of activities are we loading our lives down with? Do we have the "spiritual traction" we need to get out of tough situations?

He also talked to parents and told them not to expect the church to teach and raise their children. The church is here to help, but it is the parents' responsibility to make sure their children learn the gospel. As he said, "Parents in Zion rise up!"

It was a wonderful talk and it really made me contemplate my own life. What am I choosing to occupy my time with? Are they they right sort of things? And how can I better prepare my children for the life that awaits them?

Hopefully I will continue to be inspired as I try to improve.

Wonderful day!