Singing in General Conference Part 2

The Mother's with their Children from our ward that were performing in the Saturday Afternoon LDS General Conference Session.

LtR: Melodie Lund with Sterling, Alison Bundy with Sarah, Tara Names with Isaac, Crystal Albrecht with Cambree, Heidi McDermott with Brooke, Ashlee Frisbey with Kaleb, and Blanca Vidalas with Dylan.

The Children from our Stake (Western Springs Stake) who performed in the Choir

I have one last experience I wanted to record here on our Family Blog that I feel impressed to write about. While carpooling with several of the other mothers and their children downtown and driving around the streets of down town as we neared the Temple and Conference Center( trying to find a place to park our car), there were several protesters standing on the corners with their anti-mormon posters and shouting their messages. It was disheartening and Kaleb asked what they were doing. I explained briefly that they were protesting our beliefs and our religion for they did not agree with what we believe. There was a sad feeling in our car among me, the other mothers and their children. It hit me the most as we were walking our children through the streets as we made our way to the conference center for the protesters grew quiet as we passed. I was thankful they stopped shouting their hateful messages towards our church when we came near. This wasn't the case when we left the conference center after the session. The protesters, even though they were few in numbers after the session were protesting loudly. As I grabbed Kaleb's hand and made my way through the protesters with the other moms my heart felt empty and sad and uneasy. As we neared the street corner, there were Elders from our church singing on both sides of the side walk. They were singing hymns. Immediately, I felt a comfort as we walked between the men and the spirit was incredibly strong. My thoughts turned to the story from the book of Mormon about Lehi and his family as they made their way holding onto the iron rod and maneuvering their way to the Tree of  Life. In this dream of Nephi's,  many people tried to coerce Nephi's family to let go and to fall away from staying the course and holding onto the iron rod. I felt this exact same way as we made our way through the protesters. My heart was immediately comforted when I heard the men singing their hymns on both sides of the sidewalk and I felt like I could and would press forward with Kaleb to get to the safety of our car so we could return home. Through this experience, it was a great reminder to me that Satan's influence on me and my children in close by. How easy it could of been for us to stop and listen to what these men were preaching and get side tracked. These men could easily distract me or my son from what was most important in this life. I hope that me and my family can stay the course and not be easily influenced by Satan. I know that God Lives and so does our brother and Savior Jesus Christ. I hope that me and my family will be a forever family and can be with each other forever!

Singing in General Conference

Kaleb had the most wonderful opportunity to sing in General Conference during the Saturday afternoon session this past weekend.  Several Stakes in the Riverton area were asked to participate and our stake (Western Springs Stake) was included. Kaleb along with 7 other children (Dylan Vidalis, Sara Bundy, Cambree Albrecht, Brooke McDermott, Sterling Lund, Isaac Names and Kaleb) were chosen to participate from our ward. 

The kids had practices at our local Stake Center every Sunday evening for two hours during the month of September and one dress rehearsal down town at the Conference Center on a Saturday morning, that was held a week prior to the performance. Listening to them during their rehearsals each week was amazing. The spirit was so strong at each practice and the kids sounded like angels. Tears flowed from my face at many rehearsals because of the incredible feeling and spirit that I felt. I have never experienced anything like this! I was also overcome with emotion on many occasions as the thought came to my mind how incredibly special these primary children were. My heart just burst with feelings of how proud I was of Kaleb for making the decision to accept this call from our Bishop and sing.

The day of their performance was a special one for many reasons but the one that sticks out the most is because 3 new general authorities were announced and sustained during this session. Elder Rasband, Elder Stevenson, and Elder Rendlund were the men that were called to the Quorum of the Twelve to replace Elder L Tom Perry, Elder Richard G. Scott and Pres. Boyd K. Packer all who have passed away over the course of the past 6 months. Elder Richard G. Scott passed away just 12 days before conference. I was so thrilled for Kaleb to see this process take place and to be able to sustain them as newly called apostles. I hope Kaleb will never forget this monumental lifetime experience. I was incredibly touched by so many talks during this session and watching the newly called apostles take their seats on the stand next to Pres Monson.

These talks during the session stood out to me and spoke to my heart:

1. Elder Rober D. Hales talk: "Meeting the Challenges of Today's World."

2. Elder Jeffery R. Holland: "Behold They Mother"

3. Elder Bradley D. Foster: "Its never too early and it's never too Late."

 I felt incredibly humbled and the spirit testified to me many times how important my job is as a mother and how important my job is to teach my children the importance of choosing the right as we prepare for the winding up scene before the Saviors return to the earth! Many days/times I feel so inadequate as a mother in hoping that I am teaching Kaleb and Karmindy the things that they need to know; especially teaching them the things that they need to learn to safe guard themselves against Satan's temptations and influence- I feel like I fall short everyday. I have felt like Satan's influence is all around us and is knocking on our door to our home quite frequently; especially this past year. I don't want me, Mark or our beautiful kids to succumb to Satan's temptations- there is nothing I want more than for us to be a forever family!! I know how important it is to continue to make good choices because the spirit remains with us when we do. Many days I fall short by not saying my prayers or reading my scriptures but I know that when I do I feel safe guarded from Satan's temptations. The kids and I have been trying to read the comic scriptures before they leave for school in the mornings and say family prayers. I can tell on the days that we don't read and don't say prayers that our days don't go as well. The messages from the talks that were given on this day were great reminders that I am doing my best, even though I am not perfect but as long as I am pressing forward that I am doing what my Heavenly Father and Savior want me to do.

The kids performed 3 songs during conference, Beautiful Savior, Search, Ponder and Pray and I think when I read that sweet Story of old Medley, Come Follow Me. Each was so beautiful to listen to. They sounded like angels singing. During their musical numbers, my heart swelled not only because of how proud I was of Kaleb but because of the spirit that I felt. I really wished Mark and Karmindy could have been in attendance to hear the children sing and feel the spirit. We were only given one ticket for Mark and I to attend and Kaleb had me go with him. I was thankful for the opportunity to attend with my son and see him perform and to hear the apostles and prophets speak. It will be an experience that I will treasure for the rest of my life. I also hope Kaleb will treasure this experience as well and will remember how special it was to participate in this session. I also hope Kaleb will remember the special spirit that was felt, as well as the great peace that was felt, there in that great conference center.