I'm technically cheating...

Matt and I are doing a 'media fast' for this week before conference, so I'm not sure if blogging counts as that or not? But Matt's been on ksl and facebook at least once that I've seen so there's my justification. ;)

I just wanted to share a couple of talks I read, while I've been off my screen time. 

The first one is "Lord, I Believe" from Elder Holland.

I love love loved this one! I find myself getting caught up in the 'trend' of admitting what I don't know and understand first and talking about what I fall short in first rather than bearing testimony of what I do know.

He told the story about the father who wanted the apostles to bless his son and heal him, and Christ comes to them and asks what he wants, the father says, "If thou cast do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us." The Savior answers with, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."

"And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

Elder Holland lists his 3 observations of this story, which are

1- Assert our strength first, and then acknowledge our limitations and ask for help. Heavenly Father is waiting to bless us, of course, but he wants us to learn and grow by doing what we can first and then asking.

2- Don't lead with your unbelief- acknowledge what we do know first. 'Be true to the faith you do have' :) He also pointed out that we have more faith than we realize, and quoted the scripture, "ye shall know them by their fruits". 

3- When we're struggling, don't be afraid to ask for help. "If we want it as humbly and honestly as this father did, we can get it." 

I just really loved it because I've noticed that what Elder Holland said is so true! It's like it's more honorable to admit your shortcomings than to bear testimony of what you do have faith in. Plus, faith isn't knowing anyway. Who cares if you don't know yet? Just believe, and keep plugging along in your current faith and it always grows. 

The second is "The Hope of God's Light" from President Uchtdorf.

He talks about how we all get lost sometimes in life's dark moments, and that Christ is what illuminates that darkness.

He told a story of a young woman who was abused in her child hood, and was 'resigned to the darkness'. Later in her life, though, she found the gospel and realized that we should accept that darkness exists but we don't have to dwell there, and that light also exists and we get to choose to exist in light instead of dark.

He outlined how we open our eyes to the hope of God's light:

1- first, start where you are. We don't have to be perfect to receive blessings of the gospel! :)

2- Turn your heart to the Lord. Pour out your heart and tell him where you're at and what's in your heart. Tell him your struggles and your desires. He's listening, and he's always there to help us when we've reached our limit.

3-Walk in the light. We've been taught since primary what choosing the right means, and when we're doing that we're in his light. It doesn't matter how many times you stumble or get lost, you can always start back walking in the Lord's light. :) 

Obviously these two brethren tell their talks much better than my summaries, so go read them! I loved the hope they instantly brought to me, and helped me be in a better frame of mind for Conference this weekend. :) I'm excited to hear what their challenges/commitments for us are over the next 6 months!

(I think this was a good breach of media fasting. :p)

(P.S. Tomorrow we get to see our tiny and find out if we're buying pink or blue!! :D I can't even tell you how excited I am!)