What I Learned At Conference

I've been totally having a rough time the last couple of months. Basically, I feel like my life has sucked like a mouthful of Sour Skittles. I'll be happy sometimes, but not a day goes by when I don't think about what happened to my mother and it hurts.

I just listened to some of the voicemail messages my mom had saved on her cell phone. She had messages from Jaron and Scott and from her brother, Georgie, and from Grandpa and Grandma Robbins. There are a couple left on August 18th from one of her friends who thinks she's mad at him because she won't call him back. The last one was from a little girl on August 19, 2008. I don't know who she is, but she sounds really upset. She tells my mom, "Ms. Robbins, I miss you. I miss you alot."

I've found that sometimes the only thing that pulls me out of my slump is reminding myself why we are here. Listening to conference was like a dose of some super medicine for my spirit. It came at the perfect time because I was feeling really bad. My mom always loved going to Temple Square for conference. We would take blankets and snacks and sit on the lawn and listen to the speakers. Mostly we just hung out because it was really hard to hear outside. But for the first time in my life I sat down on Saturday and Sunday and took notes as I listened to the speakers. Some of the things that were said that stuck to me were these:

Elder Russell M. Nelson says: The earth was created and the gospel was restored so that families could be created and sealed for eternity. Men and Women are that they might have joy. That joy comes when we choose to follow the Lord's commandments.

Elder Quentin L. Cook says: Many hardships will be experienced (in this life) and some will have lasting consequences. "Thine adversity and afflictions will be but a small moment." This life is a time of testing and proving. Some things that promise the most reward are the most bitter. Good will overcome evil. Rain falls on the just and unjust. Every cloud we see does not bring rain. There is no pain so great that the love of Christ cannot heal.

President Thomas S. Monson says: Time never stands still. This is our only chance at mortal life. Find joy in the journey now. Deal with circumstances the best we can, but do not lose sight of what is important. Rather than dwelling on the past, do your best to focus on now. The Gospel provides answers to life's greatest questions. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."