This is General Conference weekend. During the two days of Conference Faithful Mormons drop everything and listen or watch Conference to hear the messages that the Lord would have us hear. Conference talks are modern scripture to us as Saints, and we believe that when the Lord Jesus Christs mouthpiece, the Prophet, speaks, it is as though he was here among us, speaking in person.
We had a beautiful day yesterday. The weather, although windy, was warm and sunny. I really enjoyed General Conference and plan to live blog this fourth session of the sunday morning broadcast. For me, the higlight of both sessions yesterday was the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing Come Thou Fount, which is my favotire hymn. Here it is:

Here is a copy of the combined BYU choirs singing Come Thou Fount with full Philharmonic Orchestra as the finale to their Thanksgiving of American Folk Hymns Concert.
You can purchase the DVD of this concert here.

I sang with the University Chorale during the year that I was at BYU, and really enjoyed being a part of that huge, fun choir. Those who make it into the elite BYU Choirs are mostly music or voice majors and the competition is fierce.
Here is my own simple acapella version of Come Thou Fount:

If you felt a special spirit as you watched and listened to the music, if you feel like something is opening up in your heart, I would like to testify to you that what you are feeling is the Holy Spirit whispering to your soul that what you have heard is true. I would like to bear my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Heavenly Fathers kingdom on the earth. I know that prophets walk on the earth again and that the heavens are open and God is very much alive and available to his children on the earth.
If you would like to be baptized into this church, I would like to challenge you to learn more of its doctrines by going here. And then take the opportunity to contact our missionaries wherever you live. They would be thrilled to come teach you the basic principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our sunday sacrament meetings are open to the public, and you are very welcome to attend. Go here for a meetinghouse locator to find the church closest to you.
As for liveblogging General Conference, I will simply share a couple of links and simple synopsis of each talk. If you would like to listen to conference live or see it on the internet, just go here
Jenny Hatch
Motab is starting with Rejoice the Lord is King
President Hinckley is conducting
Opening Hymn: The Lord my pasture will prepare
Opening Prayer
Hymn: I am a child of god
Speaker one: James E. Faust
The Healing Power of Forgiveness.
The Story of the Amish whose children were murdered by a 32 year old milkman. He killed five wounded five and then took his own life. Among the Amish, anguish but no anger. Hurt but no hate. Amish Leaders visited the Milkmans father, wife, and children and expressed love and forgiveness.
Forgiveness is not always instantaneous, our natural response is sometimes anger.
Def Forgiveness: Forgiveness is freeing up and putting to better use the energy we had previously used to hold grudges.
Most of us need time to work through pain and loss.
If we can forgive, we can enjoy higher self esteem. Forgiveness is a liberating gift that people can give themselves.
President Faust has just shared several stories of forgiveness.
For a feeling of forgiveness, the Savior will help us. Of course society needs to be protected from hardened criminals, mercy cannot rob justice. Precious peace comes through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
We need to forgive to be forgiven. Forgive all men.
Speaker Two: Dallin H. Oaks
Divorce
He will speak plainly about the impact of divorce, which affects all members of the church, and how it relates to our hope of Eternal Families as part of the gospel plan.
We live in a world where the whole concept of marriage is in question.
Modern Prophets have warned that looking at marriage as a casual thing is evil especially when children are involved.
In temples of the Lord marriage is for all eternity.
He spoke first to those who have been divorced, then to those who are married and contemplating divorce. Divorce is not an all purpose solution.
Children are the first victims of divorce.
He then shared several stories and studies that outlined how staying together is better than divorce.
Then finished by claiming that if you love the Lord, Keep his commandments, and endure to the end, you will not be denied any blessings in eternity. All things work together for them that Love God.
Now to those planning to marry:
Dating, followed by carful courting, fiancees should learn everything they can about the families they are going to join. To obtain the happy marriage means long hard economizing.
Testifys of the sweetness of family life outlined in the Proclamation on the Family.
Speaker 3 – Neil L Anderson
Its True isn’t it? Then what else matters.
Gospel of Jesus Christ is true, shares story of man who gave up much to join the church.
Joseph Smith restored the Pristhood, and we have a charge to be a light to the world as the gospel rolls forth to every corner of the world.
How do we find our way through the many things that matter?
Simplify and focus on the essentials.
Faith is not only a feeling, it is a decision.
Are we motivated by great and powerful convictions of faith? We know what is right. Excuses can impede our progress. Srength of faith move the gospel forward.
Many of the deep acts of faith are only known to God, but they are recorded in heaven.
Speaker four: Vicki Matsumori
I love the Book Of Mormon. Message is for first generation members of the church.
Story of the people of Ammon.
Persistance is the key during the difficult passages of the Book of Mormon, especially the Isaiah chapters in 2nd Nephi.
We can ask Heavenly Father to help us with our scripture study.
Making covenants increases faith. Baptism and the Sacrament helps us keep our promises to the Lord. As first generation members of the church we have the duty to teach the children.
Rest Hymn: High on the Mountain Top
Speaker Five: Glen L. Pace
A Winess of the Spirit
Let’s pause for a moment and talk about what you are remembering. It is our responsibility to help the investigators learn to know when they are feeling the holy spirit.
Spiritual witnesses come to those at a young age to those who are exposed to spiritual experiences, and then have a chance to recognize those feelings for what they are.
Spiritual 6th sense which cannot be mistaken. This spiritual sense vibrates only when activated by the Holy Ghost.
D & C 11: 13-14
Speaker Six: M Russell Ballard
The Holy Bible is a Miracle.
It teaches us to know God and understand his law. The best gift God has given Man.
It is not by chance or coincidence that we have the Bible Today.
The dark ages were dark because the light of the gospel was hidden from the people.
We own much to the many reformers like Luther, Tyndale, Wycliffe, and the countless martyrs who gave their lives so that we might find the path to eternal happiness.
How grateful we should be for the Holy Bible. Without the bible we would not have the fullness of his gospel now.
I love the perspective and the peace that comes with reading the Holy Bible.
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as our savior and that we believe, and love, and revere the Holy Bible.
Jesus taught that we should search the scriptures.
The scriptures are rich in history, doctrines, testimony..all of which are essential to Heavenly Fathers children.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God.
The Bible is one of the pillars of our faith.
The Bible is the bedrock of all Christianity.
The Book of Mormon does not dillute or diminish the Bible.
The Book of Mormon is the third testament and the subtitle of it is Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Each of these three testaments is part of a whole of the revealed words of God to his children. Those that think that one part is more true and more whole than another is missing an important truth.
The name of the church is The Church of Jesus Christ.
We are true and full believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. We not only believe the Bible, we strive to live its concepts and teach its precepts.
To all people, we extend our love to you and invite you to accept all that God has revealed.
Hymn: For he shall give his angels to watch over thee and When Faith Endures (Another one of my favorite hymns. I love this hymn and the message it proclaims so much that I chose it to be the theme for the Husband/Wife Home Birth Conference I organized in 2001. Click on this link to hear Susan Baigs talk from the conference which includes me singing this hymn to introduce her talk.
Text of When Faith Endures:
I will not doubt, I will not fear;
God’s love and strength are always near.
His promised gift helps me to find
An inner strength and peace of mind.
I give the Father willingly
My trust, my prayers, humility.
His Spirit guides; his love assures
That fear departs when faith endures.
President Hinckley:
The wind is blowing and I feel like the last leaf on the street. 97th year.
My testimony, the things of which I know, I speak to you this morning.
Constantine: He gathered the great people of his day together in 325, the argument grew more heated. Compromise was the Nicean creed. Personally, I cannot understand it, to me the creed is confusing. To me, it is comforting to know that we do not rely on any man made rule for our belief, we claim and believe that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ came to Joseph Smith in person, and told him not to join any church, but rather that he would be the means of restoring Christs true church in the latter days.
Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, watch over you in your sleep, and when you are awake, and if ye do these things, you will be lifted up at the last day.
Prophet had a vision, it is that Jesus Lives, he is the living Christ. He is the Messiah of the Old testament, and the Savior of the New.
In the Beginning was the word, all things were made by him. He was the great creator. It was his finger that wrote the commandments on the mount.
Duing his brief ministry he healed the sick, raised the dead, and in the garden of gethsemane he suffered so greatly that he sweat drops of blood, but this was part of his great atoneing sacrafice. He carried his cross, and called out to his father, Forgive them for they know not what they do.
Three days later on that first easter morning, the tomb was empty. He appeared to his apostles, he told them, other sheep I have which are not of this fold. There shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
He appeared to those assembled in the Land Bountiful in the new world. This is all recorded in detail in the book of mormon, which stands as a second witness to the Bible.
The father appeared and said, This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.
There would be no christmas if there were no easter.
Restoration of the Priesthood.
Restored under the hands of John the Baptist, and Peter, James, and John.
Fact it does not make any difference if a man is a priest or an apostle. The priest hold the key to the ministering of angels. The melchezedik or higher priesthood allows those who hold it to give blessings.
Temples: Offer blessings that are had no where else. It has to do with the eternal nature of man. Here husband, Wives, and children are sealed together for all eternity.
It also allows us to perform ordinances for our departed loved ones.
This is my testimony which I solemnly share with you.
In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Closing Hymn: O My Father
1. O my Father, thou that dwellest
In the high and glorious place,
When shall I regain thy presence
And again behold thy face?
In thy holy habitation,
Did my spirit once reside?
In my first primeval childhood
Was I nurtured near thy side?
2. For a wise and glorious purpose
Thou hast placed me here on earth
And withheld the recollection
Of my former friends and birth;
Yet ofttimes a secret something
Whispered, “You’re a stranger here,”
And I felt that I had wandered
From a more exalted sphere.
3. I had learned to call thee Father,
Thru thy Spirit from on high,
But, until the key of knowledge
Was restored, I knew not why.
In the heav’ns are parents single?
No, the thought makes reason stare!
Truth is reason; truth eternal
Tells me I’ve a mother there.
4. When I leave this frail existence,
When I lay this mortal by,
Father, Mother, may I meet you
In your royal courts on high?
Then, at length, when I’ve completed
All you sent me forth to do,
With your mutual approbation
Let me come and dwell with you.
Text: Eliza R. Snow, 1804–1887
Music: James McGranahan, 1840–1907
Closing Prayer