The Sisters Nailed It

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One of the good things about being on the high council is I get to occasionally sit in on General Women’s Conference.  This is the second for all sisters, and I think sets a very high standard for all General Conferences. First, the meeting had a clear theme: Temples and Covenants.

Next, the videos were well done. Six months ago, they had a video that seemed a little kitschy, kind of like having too many knickknacks on display.  However, beginning with a Korean Primary, dressed in traditional robes, singing “I love to see the temple” in their native language, while standing in front of the temple doors was tremendous. It quickly reminded me of my military time there in 1985, when the temple was built and dedicated (I was in the English choir).

Later, another video displayed sisters bearing their testimonies in their native languages of the temple. The stories of a young girl converting and taking her deceased mother’s name to be baptized, or the Haitian mother who lost her 6 children in the earthquake, finding joy of eternal families in the temple, were definite high marks of the meeting.

The talks were excellent, giving great examples of covenants and the spiritual and revelatory power of the temple. I applaud the sisters who spoke on a level that could touch all the sisters in attendance, from 8 to 108. (We often will have General Priesthood meetings, where someone will speak only to the deacons, or a specific group, and seems to leave others out, so this is a great example to next week’s speakers).

Finally, President Uchtdorf said something that I was excited to hear.  He called the Women’s Meeting the “opening session” of General Conference, as training will be conducted this following week for General Authorities and Auxiliary leaders, culminating in the final sessions next weekend for all members.  To officially recognize General Women’s Meeting as the opening meeting of General Conference, gives the meeting its appropriate recognition and importance to Conference.

I hope all sisters listen to this session. Then, I hope they have their husbands and sons also listen. There is some great counsel we can all gain from these talks. I hope that next weekend’s talks can be of the same high caliber!

 

This entry was posted in Conference/Symposium, Events, Mormon Women Stand, Temples, Zion by rameumptom. Bookmark the permalink.

About rameumptom

Gerald (Rameumptom) Smith is a student of the gospel. Joining the Church of Jesus Christ when he was 16, he served a mission in Santa Cruz Bolivia (1978=1980). He is married to Ramona, has 3 stepchildren and 7 grandchildren. Retired Air Force (Aim High!). He has been on the Internet since 1986 when only colleges and military were online. Gerald has defended the gospel since the 1980s, and was on the first Latter-Day Saint email lists, including the late Bill Hamblin's Morm-Ant. Gerald has worked with FairMormon, More Good Foundation, LDS.Net and other pro-LDS online groups. He has blogged on the scriptures for over a decade at his site: Joel's Monastery (joelsmonastery.blogspot.com). He has the following degrees: AAS Computer Management, BS Resource Mgmt, MA Teaching/History. Gerald was the leader for the Tuskegee Alabama group, prior to it becoming a branch. He opened the door for missionary work to African Americans in Montgomery Alabama in the 1980s. He's served in two bishoprics, stake clerk, high council, HP group leader and several other callings over the years. While on his mission, he served as a counselor in a branch Relief Society presidency.

12 thoughts on “The Sisters Nailed It”

  1. I noticed Elder Uchtdorf’s point as well and I was cheering that! I’ve always thought the Women’s Meetings to be the start of GC, even if no one ever said it before. 🙂

  3. “Finally, President Uchtdorf said something that I was excited to hear. He called the Women’s Meeting the “opening session” of General Conference, as training will be conducted this following week for General Authorities and Auxiliary leaders, culminating in the final sessions next weekend for all members. To officially recognize General Women’s Meeting as the opening meeting of General Conference, gives the meeting its appropriate recognition and importance to Conference.”

    Awesome!

  4. I didn’t watch it live, because I like to have my wife come home and tell me about it afterwards. Plus … I haven’t been invited. I look forward to watching/reading the talks in the next little bit.

  5. Great session – I put together a post with my notes, complete with audience reaction to certain aspects. Our young women with leaders and female relatives had gathered at our Patriarch’s home to watch the broadcast. Everything is better when your belly is full of chocolate cake, cheese cake, and popcorn.

  6. Meg, that sounds like a heck of a tradition that should be continued.

    Also, out of some sick morbid curiousity, that I really should address one of these days, I went to go see what the sltrib.com had to say about the session. Apparently Peggy Fletcher Stack is bent out of shape because she wasn’t let in.

  7. I watched it at home with my wife and eight year old daughter. Loved it and was pleasantly surprised to notice that the meeting was conducted by a sister. Is this a first? Hasn’t a member of the first presidency always conducted even the women’s meetings? Or am I mistaken on that?

  8. Rame, thanks for this writeup.

    My wife says she had a great time watching the opening of General Conference and was clearly spiritually uplifted. I am thankful.

  10. I loved the WC especially the sweet korean babies singing I Love To See The Temple, it brought tears to my eyes.
    The conference was so well put together, that it reminded me what our Stake President said a few years back in a Stake conference, “If you want something, right and on time, give it to the Relief Society sisters”

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