Stake conference and such

Okay, so I swear I'll post a heads-up on my very first second date (does that make any sense?) sometime soon. For now, though, I just want to get some quotes from stake conference with Elder Uchtdorf down "on paper" (my notes are almost unintelligible--I won't be able to interpret them if I wait much longer).

Many--perhaps most--of these lines seem like platitudes or obvious or just too gift-wrapped to mean much, but they help remind me of the broader concepts that I couldn't write down fast enough.

Oh, and the quotes are all from Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf unless I note otherwise.


"The opportunity for happiness is within you. You find happiness through giving happiness." --the area authority whose name I can't remember

"You are truly the elect."

"You made covenants...which require you to live in a way which will bring great blessings to you."

"Make sure that you stay close to the Lord and are grateful for the blessings you receive."

"Look for those defining moments in your life to make decisions which will influence generations. ... Make sure that you plan five years ahead. Plan based on what your wishes are and what your righteous goals should be."

"Since our impact must be selective, reality requires that we set goals in terms of the outcomes we wish to receive." --Neal A. Maxwell (quoted by Elder Uchtdorf)

"Be aware of your destination. Set goals to reach it."

"Take your time to sleep, okay?"

"[Goals should be] a calm, periodic reassessment of what we cherish enough to do with our time." --Neal A. Maxwell

"Too many marriages have financial goals, but not enough specific, explicit spiritual goals." --Neal A. Maxwell

"Use the spiritual goal, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ, to find your eternal companion. Put courage into your heart and then let love fall into your life."

"Don't wait for the perfect partner. Be the perfect partner."

"We're far too serious about these things [dating], and far too judgmental about ourselves."

"Compare yourself not with other people, but with the attributes of Jesus Christ."

"Be flexible. We need to adapt and adjust to each other. You will see great things happen."

"You broaden your horizons and develop a judgment in your heart between good and bad by reading. Make reading a part of your life and your children's lives."

"It is not your talents which decide your future, but your choices." --Dumbledore, as quoted by Elder Uchtdorf!

"You can choose where you want to land. ... You need to decide, 'What do I want to become?'"

"Use the scriptures to find your way."

"Of course we all are converts, irrespective of whether we were baptized at age 25 or age 8. We had better all be converts. ... With age, we increase in our level of maturity, of insight, of testimony, of conversion."

"Conversion: a cognizant step of coming towards the will of God. It doesn't just happen. When we feel it in our hearts and then practice it, that is conversion. It is living what we know."

"Complete conversion comes after many trials and much testing."

"Conversion is a lifelong task. That is what we need to focus on."

"We need to have defining moments in our lives where we consciously say, 'Yes, I am choosing this path.'"

"According to the First Presidency, conversion consists of faith in Jesus Christ and strengthening our families."

"Obedience to covenants opens the windows of heaven, blessing our lives with the strength we need to affect the lives of those around us."

"The temple recommend questions give you the bar to measure yourself: Where am I? How am I doing?"

"When you live up to the topics in the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet, you are worthy to go to the temple."

"We are free to choose, but we cannot choose to be free of the consequences. ... It's like gravity. As a pilot, you learn about gravity." :-)

"Help each other. Support each other in this task. ... Dating is a wonderful thing." (Hmm...)

"In dating, there is not one perfect one. You will receive rejections. It's like missionary work. Expect a lot of rejections. So what? Enjoy it! It's part of the fun! Just think of what they're missing out on. ... Don't make it too complicated."

"Stay close to the word of God. It will help you to live up to the goals in 2 Nephi 25:26:

And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

"Communicate closely with our Heavenly Father. Speak with Him! Open your heart. ... Offer your personal weaknesses, your mind, your heart, upon the altar to Christ."

"Strengthen your families--not only the family you have now, but also the family you will have in the future."

"You are 'not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ' if you live it."

"There is no need to make the wrong decisions. The Holy Ghost will prompt you to make the right decisions."

"I love you. I admire you. I appreciate you. In many ways, I envy you."

"Generations to come will look back to you and wish they lived when you are living. Enjoy it. Don't fear it. Be relaxed. God is with you. He will go before you, beside you; he will carry you when you are weak."