Time out for Women!!!!

Last weekend I had the privilege to go to Time Out for Women.  The tickets were sold out, after I promised my girlfriend Diane we would go together. Luckily, I mentioned it to my friend Camille and she knew where I could get an extra ticket!!!  Thank you, thank you.    These notes are more for me, to remember the weekend and spirit there.

As mentioned in another post, below are some of my favorite quotes or thoughts.

Sheri Dew (CEO of Deseret Book)

 I LOVE Sheri Dew.  She is such a gifted speaker conveying so much emotion and strength.  She use to live right above my old neighborhood and she served as the stake Relief Society president.
She talked about 5 points.
1.  We know whose church we belong to and what that means.  The Lord doesn't do things as man does it.  The Lord has always been the champion of women.
2. Women are vital to the church.  Nothing is held back from us in the temple.  She talked about how when the church was established women couldn't own land, or vote.  Yet, Joseph Smith, organized the R.S and nothing was ever held back from women like it was during this time period.
3. We know that women are eligible for the highest blessings.  She said that everyone has had difficult  as well as excellent experiences with priesthood brethren.  Forgive them,  we are all just human.
4.  We have just as much access to priesthood power as men do.
5.  The curriculum of how the Lord feels about us is in the temple and the scriptures.  Always ask, what does it mean and how does it apply to me?
What does the Lord need for me to do?  Women have power, influence, and great spiritual promptings.
 Virginia Pearce (daughter of Gordon B. Hinckely)

"When we have a problem with another person.  The real relationship that is estranged is our relationship with the Savior.
Forgiveness is only possible when we have a strong covenant with the Savior.  When we desire the best for whoever hurt us, that is a great indicator that we have forgiven them.
She talked a lot about Pahoran and how he dealt with the letters written by Moroni.   She said she believes that he chose not to be offended when he realized  that even though Moroni's actions were less than perfect,  that his motives were good.
To help us forgive others, it is a good idea, to remember someone we have hurt so we will be more  likely to have more compassion for them.
We always have a choice to be rude or kind.
Forgiveness is between us and the Lord, it really is never between  us and the person we feel has offended us."     She also shared how her husband had passed away from a terminal illness in the last few years. 
Jenny Oaks Baker (violinist and daughter of Dallin Oaks)

Jenny is such a talented violinist.  I have never heard her before live. It was fun to listen to her talk and share some of her experiences about her life.


 Chris Williams (he is the author of  Let it Go) I had just finished reading his book that I got at the library so it was fresh on my mind.

"After the accident, I knew nothing would be okay for a while, but I had the assurance that the Savior had already borne my grief and I knew that one day I would be made whole.

You can't feel the master's touch without feeling his mercy.
What burden could I lay at the foot of the Savior?   He did a video that I highly recommend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7zwQ_7q-fU

Mercy River

I have heard Mercy River live at BYU's Women's Conference.  They are such down to earth women who share such a powerful testimony through their music.   They shared their testimonies between songs.  There husbands surprised them and showed up and they each shared stories about their wife. 

Our Best Bites cookbook authors 

These two were so real!!!!  They were a HOOT and they shared stories about their daily struggles with motherhood and life.  They talked about how we need to enjoy the little things because someday they will be the big things.  They talked about how families are messy.  They talked about how we mother others every day.  Sara lost her mother at a young age (I could so relate to her struggles).  But she talked about how others have mothered her, to the friend who gives her advice, to someone who teaches her an important lesson.  I had never thought about it that way.  It really encouraged me to look for opportunities to love and serve others.

Brad Wilcox

 

He talked about how well we know the name of the Savior and how opportunity at discipleship.  How well we knew his name.   He  talked about the different names Christ has been given and what each of them mean to him.     He said that mothers need to remember, "that it isn't a reflection on us what our children choose to become, if we have talked them correct principles."  Then he asked, "Which trials of yours are your mercy in disguise?"  I loved this question. 

John Bytheway

 He said that looking at his problems helps us know how BIG our God is.  He talked about Faith not being in what we could do, but in what the Lord has planned. Not in what we plan or think we need.   He talked about marinating meat and how marinate means that we soak up what is around us.  The way we spend our days we become.  If we surround ourselves with greatness we will become great.  He said you are the average of the 5 people you hang around with the most.  He talked about how God is a cheerful, pleasant, lively person.  He said he knew that because that is how he feels when he has his spirit with him.    He asked us how old our soul was, not how old our body was.  Who is more your father, the father of your spirit or of your body?   He said to fill our mind with thoughts of Christ and fill our hearts with the love of Christ.   

  

Emily Freeman
I had never heard Emily Freeman speak before.  I LOVED her.  She is so wise and gentle.  She talked about the middle of our story. She said too often people focus on the end of their story and not the middle that was HARD.
1.  The Lord is aware of us and he knows the obstacles that seem hard.  She challenged us to put our hearts in the right place even when it seems impossible.
2.Trust his word and that he will be with you.
3. Trust  his timing.  peace=contentment  She told about two families that were praying for the opposite of each others to illustrate her point.
4.  Learn to trust his example.
5.  Trust sacrifice will lead to miracles.  Maybe not always in this life time.  Ask yourself, "What is it I need to learn or sacrifice?