We thank thee O God for a prophet

Can I just say that I LOVE General Conference? I wish it was every four months instead of every six months. The music, the inspired messages, the new temple announcements, the general holiday spirit in Utah; I love it all! Not gonna lie, I didn't appreciate Conference like I should have when I was younger. In high school, it was a weekend of wearing PJs and napping on the couch. I missed a lot of sessions for marching band competitions and school trips. I always knew how important the weekend was, but it just didn't quite click with me until college. Then, my first semester at BYU, I was able to attend a session in person. Wow. Just wow. Everyone should attend a session at least once in their life. Since then, particularly as I've grown spiritually and gained a stronger testimony of the Gospel, General Conference has taken on a much more important meaning in my life. Living here, Conference weekend feels like a holiday, as visitors from all over come to listen to prophets and apostles speak to the world. I particularly love going to Salt Lake City and Temple Square and seeing all the families marveling in the Spirit there.

I'm so glad I got to spend this last weekend in Salt Lake with friends. Friday, I was able to spend a few hours at Temple Square. It was so peaceful, which is something I needed right before starting finals. And the flowering trees are beautiful! I haven't been to Temple Square when it was warm since 2010, so this was a great experience. I love going to see the Christmas lights, but we all know how much I hate cold weather, so this time I was able to appreciate the beauty of the grounds much more.











Can I just brag about how great this picture is? Oh iPhone camera, you never fail me. I actually took a lot of pictures of the trees and the temple, but I won't bore you with all of those. Oh, and coolest part of my time at Temple Square? Walking into the room with the Christus and hearing the recording in French! I guess there were some Francophone people visiting for Conference who requested it. It was super cool!








Saturday afternoon, I was able to attend a session of Conference in the Conference Center, which I haven't had an opportunity to do since freshman year. It was an amazing feeling, being in that room, sustaining the prophet and apostles with hundreds of other Latter-day Saints, and knowing that there were millions around the world doing the same thing. Also, being at the Saturday afternoon session meant that I heard Elder Holland's talk in person, and that was definitely one of my favorite talks this year. I love the quote: "Why should you be jealous because I choose to be kind?" Elder Holland's talk was definitely something that I needed to hear. I know that I need to stop comparing my blessings with others', because "We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those." He really knows how to make it personal, doesn't he? Second favorite talk? Elder Andersen, with his "What thinks Christ of me?" That was definitely a talk destined to provoke some soul-searching, at least in me.

Other highlights from my Conference weekend (other than the GORGEOUS weather Friday and Saturday):
Seeing Hermana Natalie Newton!

And, on a secular side-note, a little shopping at City Creek Mall. New favorite mall, easily. Any mall with an H&M wins major points. The above outfit is from there, and even though that's not a very good picture of me, I assure you, the outfit is cute. Here's a better picture, except I bought the skirt in pink:

Ok, I'm done showing off my clothes...

Also, a big shout out to Ali and Mariah, whose parents let me stay at their houses during the weekend. You ladies are great!