Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Lame? Or Consistency. . .



This past Easter weekend was our Stake Conference. Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve was here. AMAZING. There is a lot I could share but I'll just share a few tid-bits. Elder Bednar several times mentioned. . ."I think you're realizing that I tell it like it is. ." That's for sure. He talked about REALLY "Feasting on the word", as well as the basics of prayer, scripture study, family togetherness. He said so many times when he asks if people are having family prayer, family scripture study, FHE, he gets handed everything--"It's just so hard with everyone's schedule", "we try but. . .", "We're just so busy." He flat out said, "I'm here to tell you that that is LAME." Called us out on the carpet right there. LAME. No holding back. It's so true isn't it?? Any excuse I try to come up with for why we can't quite figure out a good time for FHE is LAME. We just need to do it! Matt and I were quietly smiling to each other that just a week ago we set up a new plan with the girls for family scripture reading. . .so we're sittin' good right? We've done great so far. One thing (well several things) he said really impressed me. He spends more time at conferences in countries where they don't even have the scriptures yet (not translated, not in each home), than he does in countries where pretty much each member home has them. Wow. I need to be more thankful for that.

The other thing has to do with consistency. Consistency with our children, with our own prayer, scripture reading. He shared several stories of his own 3 boys (only 3? See, it's ok I only have 3.). Humorous stories of early morning reading with kids hanging off the couch upside down, half asleep and the only the good about it was that they all quit giggling about the funny word in the scriptures long enough to have a short prayer. It won't be perfect every time. It may be quite awful some, or a lot of the time, but the key is consistency. He said that if you asked his boys about their scripture reading as children they would not say that it was an amazing spirit filled experience every time, but they would say that they never missed.

He told about a painting he has hanging in his office of a large wheat field (fitting for a Nebraska Stake Conference.) If you stand up close to it, the little strokes look like rather boring, little lines. Not really going anywhere or doing anything. Just a plain little shade of yellow, or white, or brown. A lot of them. But when you stand back, it's a masterpiece. Blending, and highlighting, beautiful. He said "it's consistency in simple things that is the key."

So, when all that I'm doing seems plain and boring, not going anywhere and seemingly unimportant and maybe distracting even. . .maybe just maybe when I stand back and take a look years down the line I'll see the masterpiece.

15 comments:

Hollie said...

I'm glad you wrote about this because I didn't remember half of what you mentioned from conference. Mckenzie was probably freaken out when he talked "reveled" about the family scripture reading, I honestly don't even remember that part when he talked about his kids.

What I did hear and I though was very interesting would be when the stake president is speaking he is reveling, and not to tell him that he gave a good talk. Instead, tell him you are working on it. It's one of those things I already knew, but slips my mind when it's actually happening, ya know. I know he's reveling things to us, but why don't I listen. Well, this time I was listening and we're working on it. Although, I did feel good about the FHE too. Once I heard the promise that your children will be obedient (in Primary, by the Primary Presidency) it's been every Monday since then, baby! Then, there was the roof story:)

Cute family pictures!

wendysue said...

The part I wrote about was mainly from the Sat. night adult session, did you get to go to that one? That night they also had a man that bore his testimony, and he mentioned that his wife at just given birth that day at 3:55 (their 4th boy), and the meeting was at 6:30. . .Elder Bednar got right up after he was done and said, Now, you won't hear this very often, but as an apostle, I am telling you that you don't need to be at this meeting, and you should go and be with your wife! I was great!

Christy said...

I missed the adult session so I'm glad you wrote about this. Beats my post about his nose hair (or lack thereof) and his BYU ring.

Hollie said...

How funny! Well, now I don't feel like I wasn't listening on Sunday. Obviously, I should of made it to the adult session, without Mckenzie. Thanks for writing about it.

Bek said...

Seriously,

Who leaves their wife two hours after birth to go to church? I guess that is being obedient, but I would be mad...if my husband was going ANYWHERE a few hours after I gave birth it would be to get me a Reuben Sandwich or jewelry. :-)

Thanks for the summary of the talk. It is always good to hear that stuff.

Wendy, you still look 18...how do you have three kids?

QueenScarlett said...

I'm with Bednar... get the hell back to your wife man - where are your priorities? He does know he can't enter the best pearly gates without his wife right?? ;-)

I love the themes you mention... reminds me what I need to do better - and LOVE your family pics.

wendysue said...

The guy that bore his testimony was previously assigned to be part of the meeting--sorry I didn't explain that (he had a rough childhood and actually spent some time in prison before he found the church--neat story, his wife is a law-student now. . .) So, I think he figured, hey if the Stake President has assigned me to be there, I'd better go (and I'm sure his wife told him to). I think Elder Bednar was pretty surprised he was there too, but it was an amazing testimony. But I was thinking "what better excuse could you find to not have to speak at Stake Conference??" The guy was very humble and sweet about it. . .

and Bek, for me it would be out to get a huge Dr. Pepper or a cinnamon roll from this great place called "Grateful Bread." MMM.

Melzie said...

I love that-- "consistency in little things"

I'm so glad I found your blog, and that I came across this. :)

C. Jane Kendrick said...

I LOVED reading your conference notes. So interesting and lots of stuff to think about.


P.S. I sent you an e-mail. I hope that is ok. You like e-mail right?

Suzie Petunia said...

Good things to be reminded about... thank you!

Lorien said...

I love the painting metaphor. Boy does that hit home for me. Just a bunch of boring little strokes right now. Hopefully I'll be able to stand back someday....

Deb said...

Okay, I am officially bummed that I missed the adult session. I was sitting there during the Sunday session thinking "why did I have to help my sister paint last night????" But thank you for giving a summary.

All of my excuses are LAME. It brings me to a great old saying from Yoda, "Do or do not, there is no try."

Sister Pottymouth said...

You have a beautiful family! Wendy, you are one gorgeous woman. Your hubby is a lucky man. Even luckier since he has three beautiful girls to go along with you. ;-)

So...how do we get Elder Bednar to speak here in Provo? Sounds like it was an awesome talk. The painting metaphor was beautiful! Sometimes I get to see a brief (okay, more like fleeting, as in look-out-the-window-of-a-speeding-car) glance of the masterpiece, and although these glances are few and far between, they still bring hope of things to come.

Beautifully written, friend.

wendysue said...

A few of us were wondering the same thing, what brought Elder Bednar here? We wondered if he was checking out our Stake Pres. for a position possibly? He's been Stake Pres. in a couple different areas across the country, so maybe. . . just a LOT of speculation.

and believe me, I spend a lot of time looking for that masterpiece through all the craziness.

Lorien said...

I like that Elder Bednar and Yoda were mentioned all in the same blog.