Sundae Sunday

Today is the anniversary of the icecream sundae – which is fitting, since it has been a very sweet LDS General Conference weekend!

We enjoyed the final two sessions of Conference in Salt Lake City, which had been transformed into a winter wonderland due to a late spring snowstorm. All sessions are now available to watch online or download as MP3 – the text of each talk will be available by April 7, 2011.

This weekend The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the Welfare Program which began on April 6, 1936 under the direction of President David O. McKay. There were several talks devoted to or touching upon this subject.

A few tasty Conference Quotes from Sunday sessions:

1. “I fear texts are being sent right now saying ‘He’s been talking for 10 minutes, and still no aviation analogy!'” – Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf

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2.  “Use your hands to text and blog the gospel message!” – Uchtdorf

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3. “Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.” – Uchtdorf



4. “The only way to see the view is to make the climb.” – Elder Paul V. Johnson

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5. “We want more than the Lord to say “Well, You’re Done”. We want Him to say “Well Done!” – Johnson

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6. “Fly to the relief of a stranger. . . and Be kind to the poor” – Bishop H. David Burton



7. “God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom.” – from a talk by President Spencer W. Kimball – quoted by both Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and Sister Sylvia Cook

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8. “I promise you will walk in the strength of the Lord” – Elder David A. Bednar

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9. “Sacrifice is always associated with temple building, and temple attendance.” – Pres. Thomas S. Monson



10. “All things are possible with the Lord. Remember, Eternity is a long time.” – Elder Richard G. Scott

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11. “Life isn’t about what we have DONE but what we have BECOME.” – Elder D. Todd Christopherson

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12. “When we obey God’s commandments, all are blessed.” – Elder Carl B. Pratt



13. “‘To BE or Not to Be?’ is A Very Good Question!” – Elder Lynn G. Robbins

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14. “We come to know the Savior through our afflictions and trials.” – Elder Benjamín De Hoyos

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15. “The Gospel is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable!” – Elder C. Scott Grow



16. “If you keep trying to hold Family Home Evening in spite of the bedlam that sometimes reigns in a houseful of Little Bedlam-ites, then give yourself high marks!” – Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

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17. “Every [Conference] sermon given is both a testimony of love, and a warning.” – Holland

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18. “May we be examples of honesty and integrity wherever we go and whatever we do.” – President Thomas S. Monson

And now for the “whipped cream with a cherry on top”; the beautiful Easter poem quoted by President Monson during his final remarks at the 181st Annual April 2011 LDS General Conference:

EMPTY LINEN

The linen which once held Him is empty.

It lies there,

Fresh and white and clean.

The door stands opened.

The stone is rolled away,

And I can almost hear the angels singing His praises.

Linen cannot hold Him.

Stone cannot hold Him.

The words echo through the empty limestone chamber,

“He is not here.”

The linen which once held Him is now empty.

It lies there,

Fresh and white and clean

And oh, hallelujah, it is empty.

 

– by Emily Harris