My ideas for talks used to come from our family's experiences in the garden and around the home, when Mom would tell family secrets. Writing in the blog is not much different, except that I don't know so many family secrets that I can share. With Rosie's permission, I will include pictures of her experience to illustrate this thought about General Conference, April 2010.

First, remember that our family of seven children grew up during the '70's and early '80's -- a time of inflation and devaluation in Mexico, where we were a one-income family. Our children had most of the good things that money couldn't buy, but they had million dollar wishes and a 10 cent pocketbook. Many of the things we did of necessity, they hoped never to do. As times changed and they became independent, there was no need to wash the plastic bags, for instance.

However, as they went on missions, established their own homes and are raising their own families, in the world of 1998-2010, we have seen that their early training sometimes proves to be very useful. They survive in other cultures, raise gardens, freeze and bottle fruit and vegetables, do household repairs, use "Grandpa and Grandma Packham" furniture, and even take home with them some of their baby clothes we stored. On occasion they call to ask us how to do things, and we are glad to share ideas, if we can remember :)

We usually ate homemade bread, in fact we rarely had anything else, so "store bread" was a treat. There were times when we made whole wheat bread using the Mill and Mix that my parents gave us. Rosie recently told us they had bought a wheat grinder and she planned to use it with their wheat storage to make the flour for whole wheat bread. (Her enthusiastic voice on the phone last week informed us that she was making the bread and wanted to know if she should grease the pans.)

All looks well.
Mmmm, tastes good, too.

The finished product -- success!
Her success is very satisfying to us as parents. What she has seen us do, now seems possible for her, and by following a recipe she has prepared yummy, nutritious food.

Now, to relate that to General Conference. ... We have been taught to follow the counsel of the living prophets, but sometimes their words fall on ears that are less-receptive. However, if parents treasure these words, use them and testify of their worth in daily life, especially when children need encouragement or correction, the children can build upon them and find increased happiness.
Rosie may not have thought she would enjoy making bread from scratch, but as she was growing up, she saw it done on a regular basis. We hope this good experience reinforces our encouragement for her to continue to store essential food, to learn to use it, and to gain confidence in her homemaking skills.
Watching General Conference has been a tradition in our family and we are glad to see that our children and their families continue to do so.

David posted a video on Facebook of the talk given by Elder Bradley D. Foster and said, "A fine tribute to mothers by my mission president back in the day." He replied to comments about his message by saying, " Knowing a celebrity doesn't make you famous, but it was nice to see him deliver a good talk in GC. Furthermore, how is it possible that he looks younger now than he did 16 years ago?"

This year we enjoyed a casual couple of days, only going out of our apartment to eat dinner with the Smith neighbors. As usual, Gerhard attended the Priesthood session and took notes so he could tell me about the talks.

On Saturday, April 3 and Sunday, April 4, 2010, many of the leaders gave counsel to strengthen the family unit. That is really the only unit we can have much influence over, and if families are righteous, society will be uplifted and progress. The Young Women session and the Priesthood session had themes appropriate to their audiences, and we all can learn from them.

It has been suggested that we come to Conference with a question for our own enlightenment, so here are some of the ideas I gained from the Conference talks about how to become more worthy of the guidance of the Holy Ghost to serve our family and those who come to the Temple.

Pres. Boyd K. Packer - "...power in the priesthood comes through faithful and obedient living in honoring covenants.: "You have the power of the priesthood directly from the Lord to protect your home. There will be times when all that stands as a shield between your family and the adversary's mischief will be that power."

Relief Society Pres. Julie Beck answered one of my questions- "The ability to qualify for, receive and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life," she said. "Qualifying for the Lord's Spirit begins with a desire for that Spirit and implies a certain degree of worthiness."
"We are doing well when we increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help others who are in need. We know we are successful if we live so that we qualify for, receive and know how to follow the Spirit."

Elder Wilford W. Anderson - "hope, with its attendant blessings of peace and joy, does not depend upon circumstance. ... the true source of hope is faith — faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in His infinite atonement, the sure foundation upon which to build our lives."

Elder M. Russell Ballard offered suggestions on how mothers and daughters can take full advantage of the special relationship of a mother and her daughter. "Young women, your mothers adore you. They see in you the promise of future generations. Everything you accomplish, every challenge you overcome, brings them pure joy. And likewise, your worries and heartaches are their worries and heartaches."
Bp. Keith McMullin (2nd Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric) - "An inevitable consequence of faithfully fulfilling one's duty to God and Jesus is the strong desire to serve others." Our inspired prayer will be to know those things God would have us do, and for us older folks, that means enduring faithful to the end.

President Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, spoke of the importance of teaching children ways to develop the faith necessary to resist temptation.

Concluding, Elder Perry asked the Lord to bless the mothers and fathers of Zion. "He has entrusted to your care His eternal children. As parents we partner, even join with God, in bringing to pass His work and glory among His children. It is our sacred duty to do our very best."

There is no social justice without personal righteousness. "God uses scripture to enlarge our memory, unmask erroneous thinking, false traditions and sin with its devastating effects and bring us to Christ," Elder Christofferson said.

Elder Koichi Aoyagi concluded, "May we follow the counsel and example of the prophet and each day seek out those in need, that we might be the hands of the Lord in helping and saving His children."

Elder Bednar "outlined a spiritual early warning system that (parents can use to apply) to children of all ages and contains three basic components: (1) reading and talking about the Book of Mormon with children, (2) bearing testimony of gospel truths spontaneously with children, and (3) inviting children as gospel learners to act."

Elder Holland - ideas to avoid temptation and maintain "the highest and holiest relationship God gives us in mortality — the love that a man and a woman have for each other and the desire that couple has to bring children into a family intended to be forever."

We know that "The tuition of diligence and of learning by study and also by faith must be paid to obtain and personally 'own' such knowledge. Only in this way can what is known in the mind also be felt in the heart. Only in this way can a child move beyond relying upon the spiritual knowledge and experiences of parents and adults and claim those blessings for himself or herself."

During the next 6 months, we will study these talks and ideas for application will come as we seek for ways to bless our family and receive the information necessary for wise decisions.