Sunday, April 3, 2011

April 2011 General Conference

There are always conference packets to be found online for children and youth. I actually saw one for adults and printed out a few of the pages. It had the following areas:

Picture of the Apostle
Name
circle which session he spoke at
the topic of the talk
fun facts about the apostle
scriptures he used (which, have you noticed, they rarely give references--you have to look them up or wait for the Ensign to come out if you don't already know the reference)
My personal insights/thoughts
and a large section for notes.

There was another site that gave 2 different sections that I kind of liked:
promises
warnings

What I want to add is:
things we were asked/told to do

My list of things we were asked to do will certainly grow, but for now this is my "to do" list:

Pres Thomas S. Monson: donate money to the general missionary fund, have a picture of a temple in each child's bedroom

Pres. Henry B. Eyring: Prepare yourself spiritually for a Day of Service


Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf: Be sensitive to the needs of others (and serve as the Savior did), open my mouth

Elder L. Tom Perry: Be prepared (and have kids be prepared) for the Sabbath by being well rested, properly dressed, and spiritually prepared

Elder Russell M. Nelson: Be more exemplary and courageous

Elder Richard G. Scott: Be kind and supportive to spouse and children

Elder David A. Bednar: Just keep pressing forward

Elder D. Todd Christofferson: Seek Godly correction

Elder Kent F. Richards:  Become a Saint through the Atonement

Bishop H. David Burton: Be kind to the poor

Elder Lynn G. Robbins: Never let failures progress from an action to an identity (stupid, clumsy...)

From the Young Women's Broadcast last weekend:
Sis. Mary N. Cook: Do one Samaritan-like act this week--extend beyond what is easy to do

Sis. Elaine S. Dalton: Make some decisions only once by making a list of "always do" and "never do" items

Pres. Henry B. Eyring: Claim the promise of Moroni often (feast, pray, be obedient)



My favorite talks:
Saturday morning:
Pres. Henry B. Eyring on the poor and the needy Opportunities to Do Good

Saturday afternoon:
Elder Russell M. Nelson on the difficult days ahead Face the Future with Faith
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the importance of righteous desires Desire

Sunday morning:
Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf on not waiting for dramatic events to make us move, but take small steps now Waiting on the Road to Damascus
Elder Paul V. Johnson on trials More than Conquerors Through Him that Loved Us
Elder David A. Bednar on the spirit of revelation and how it compares to light The Spirit of Revelation

Sunday afternoon:
Elder Carl B. Pratt on tithing The Lord's Richest Blessings
Elder Lynn G. Robbins on being vs. doing What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be?

Monday, March 21, 2011

Mormon Media--the Mormon Channel on lds.org

I've heard about "Conversations" several times...how you can access radio interviews that were given by some of the Apostles and their wives. I finally figured out how to do that and now I'm posting it here so I can always have the instructions (I don't download things to my MP3 player very often and it always takes me a while to relearn how to do it, so now I'll have a place I can find with the written instructions).

These conversations don't have to be listened to on an MP3 player...there are other formats or you can just listen to it from your computer. And it turns out the interviews aren't just with Church Apostles, but that's all I'm downloading for now.

Open up Windows Media Player and have it on the sync page and have the "recently added" file open. Have your mp3 player plugged into your computer.

click on this link:

http://radio.lds.org/programs/conversations?lang=eng or:

go to lds.org
on the lower left choose "Mormon Channel" from the related sites menu
on the upper left click on "Programs"
Then click on "Conversations"

to download an interview to your computer:
right click on the little mp3 symbol next to the episode you want

click on "save link as" and a little box will appear where you can choose the place you want to send the file (downloads)

If the correct location is being shown, click on "save" in the little box (if it's not being shown, hunt for it)

When your file is finished downloading it should appear on the "recently added" list after a few seconds

when your file appears, drag it over to your sync list
click "start sync" on the bottom of the right hand column and wait for all to download and the "You can now disconnect 'Beth's MP3'" to appear before you unplug your mp3 player from the computer.

Pat yourself on the back for doing it without your children having to help you for a change.

Here is a list of current interviews:


Conversations

Conversations features interviews with people of interest to the LDS community—General Authorities, Auxiliary leaders, and faithful Latter-day Saints.  Some are joined by their spouses, who contribute an additional dimension.  Each has an interesting story and a unique perspective.  These discussions are done in a style which allows the listener to become acquainted with those being interviewed in an informal way.   This is particularly interesting with the featured general authorities, who are known to most only in formal settings.  Conversations offers advice, wisdom and interesting stories that will lift your spirit and inspire your thoughts.

Conversations Episodes

Episode 1:Elder David A. Bednar and Sister Susan Bednar 
Episode 2:Herbert Klopfer 
Episode 3: David R. Morris 
Episode 4: Elder L. Tom Perry and Sister Barbara Perry 

Episode 5:  Michael F. Moody 

Episode 6:  Elder Richard G. Scott and his daughter Linda Scott Mickle 
Episode 7: Sister Elaine S. Dalton and Brother Stephen E. Dalton
Episode 8:  Elder Walter F. González and Sister Zulma González 
Episode 9:  Elder Dallin H. Oaks and Sister Kristen Oaks 
Episode 10:  Elder M. Russell Ballard and Sister Barbara Ballard 
Episode 11:  Dr. Kelly and Marcia Ogden 
Episode 12:  Kitty de Ruyter-Bons 
Episode 13:  Gary Ceran  
Episode 14:  Pete Czerny 
Episode 15:  Sister Julie B. Beck and her daughters Gerilyn and Heidi  
Episode 16:  Elder Claudio R. M. Costa and Sister Margareth Costa   
Episode 17:  Sister Susan Easton Black 
Episode 18:  Elder Craig C. Christensen  
Episode 19:  Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi  
Episode 20:  Elder Steven E. Snow and Sister Phyllis Snow  
Episode 21:  Ed and Carol Brandt  
Episode 22:  Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and Sister Patricia Holland  
Episode 23:  Bishop H. David Burton and Sister Barbara Burton  
Episode 24:  Stewart Glazier  
Episode 25:  Connie Gunnell  
Episode 26:  Stephanie and Christian Nielson  
There are many other cool features to check out besides just Conversations, too. I haven't really had time to look, but there is a "legacy" page too where you can read and/or hear "great stories from church and family history:"




http://radio.lds.org/programs/legacy?lang=eng

Legacy

Legacy
 
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is its unique history. Throughout the world, great stories from faithful Church members have only added to that history. This weekly program on the Mormon Channel, created in cooperation with the Family History and Church History Departments of the Church, shares some of these incredible stories of faith, perseverance, hope, and inspiration.
 
Legacy Episodes


Episode 1:  Winter Quarters 
Episode 2:  Joseph Smith Jr. Birthplace—Sharon, Vermont 
Episode 3:  Willard and Rebecca Bean, Palmyra, New York 
Episode 4:  Emma Smith History 
Episode 5:  Eliza R. Snow and Nauvoo Relief Society Minutes 
Episode 6:  Harmony, Pennsylvania 
Episode 7:  Gadfield Elm Chapel   
Episode 8:  The Mormon Trail 
Episode 9:  The Great Tabernacle 
Episode 10:  History of Music in the Church 
Episode 11:  Journals and Documents 
Episode 12:  Liberty Jail 
Episode 13:  Nauvoo 
Episode 14:  Family History Center 
Episode 15:  Oral Histories
Episode 16:  History of Media in the Church, part 1 
Episode 17:  History of Media in the Church, part 2 
Episode 18:  Joseph Smith Papers  
Episode 19:  History of Disability Services  
Episode 20:  Brigham Young, part 1 
Episode 21:  Brigham Young, part 2 
Episode 22:  St. George 
Episode 23:  Recap 
Episode 24:  Palmyra 
Episode 25:  Kirtland
Episode 26:  A Funny Thing Happened 
Episode 27:  Historical Conservation 
Episode 28:  WW Phelps 
Episode 29:  The Lion and the Lioness 
Episode 30:  Gardens of Temple Square 
Episode 31:  Early Salt Lake City 
Episode 32:  Give Up All and Follow Your Lord 
Episode 33:  Early Church Organization 
Episode 34:  Lucy Mack Smith 
Episode 35:  History of the Translation Department
Episode 36:  Joseph Smith in Washington 
Episode 37:  Liberty to the Downtrodden - The Life of Thomas Kane 
Episode 38:  Study by Faith  
Episode 39:  Mormon Myths  
Episode 40:  The Pratt Brothers  
Episode 41:  Record and Remember 
Episode 42:  Helmuth Hubener  
Episode 43:  Ordinary Saints  
Episode 44:  Archeological Research in Nauvoo  
Episode 45:  Porter Rockwell  
Episode 46:  Those They Left Behind  
Episode 47: Matthew Cowley - Man of Great Faith  
Episode 48: Carry on, Carry on - The Life of Ruth May Fox  
Episode 49: The Sweetwater Rescue  
Episode 50: The Life of Karl G. Maeser   
Episode 51: Kanesville, Iowa   
Episode 52: The Life of David O. McKay   
Episode 53: Temples to Dot the Earth   


I was baptized 36 years ago today...what a rich, full life I've had largely due to my membership in the Church. I love having all these new resources to further enrich my life!

Monday, March 7, 2011

more family research and Andrew's fall plans

So, once again I've been contacted by an unknown cousin...or at least we're pretty sure we're cousins. There's no direct proof, but a lot of circumstantial evidence and this is on one of my brick walls, Mary Elizabeth Pinner Russ.

The only piece that doesn't fit is that somewhere it was written down that her mother's name was Hannah, but according to cousin Mark, her mother's name was Mary Rourke. Since I don't know who said her mother's name was Hannah to begin with it's not too big of a hiccup...especially since Mark has some family stories that look like they link my my great-great grandmother and his 3rd great grandfather.

Meanwhile we are working on getting Andrew set up for BYU in the fall...Adam came up with the idea of rooming together, but when I called today all the spots were gone. Apparently Fall housing is filling up fast. I am now tracking down the family of a previous companion of Andrew's, but I'm doubting that will work out either (I'm feeling a little negative at the moment...not being able to have Adam, Alicia, and Andrew in the same ward has me feeling a little depressed).

At least Andrew's mission president told the missionaries they can get online and register for their classes, so I won't have to do that. I have a friend whose daughter's mission president didn't want the missionaries to deal with that...so my friend had to make all the arrangements and hoped her daughter liked what she chose (and she did).

I need chocolate.