General Conference is right around the Corner

******* UPDATE - FINAL DRAFT FOR DOWNLOAD BELOW ******

I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE!  In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint we have a worldwide General Conference every six months.  On the first weekend of April and October each year members are invited to listen to the words of living prophets and apostles. I look forward to these weekends all year long.  Actually, I am either planning for the upcoming conference or reviewing the information from the last conference every day all year long.  I love to listen to a talk everyday as I get ready for the day.  I review my notes and hang little cards with quotes throughout my house.  I highlight scriptures that were emphasized. I strive to understand the Lord's will for me and my family through the words of those that have been called to speak for Him. You can find more information here: Mormon.org or here Restoration

I am a ferocious note taker. I take notes in every meeting and many conversation.  You can imagine how my note-taking slips in to hyper drive with something as beloved and important as General Conference!  I have stacks of paper and notebooks and Ensigns, not to mention highlights and tags on my LDS Library App. I'm desperate for a better system!

I've used lots of different note taking methods. This time I'd like to create my own with a few specific ideas in mind.

• Several times I have taken notes only to go back and check the transcript of the talk and what I wrote down is nowhere to be found.  Yet, I distinctly remember hearing and writing down something that touched me.  I finally figured out that this was the Holy Ghost prompting or teaching me something specific for me.   
• Over the last few years I have diligently looked for invitations to act from the speakers.  Often, speakers will follow the invitation with a promise or a blessing.   Keeping track of these invitations and  blessings has helped strengthen my testimony and commitment to the gospel.  I can see how my family has been blessed and enriched as we have followed the counsel of our leaders.
• I like to scripture chain.  Some people call it mapping.  I like to mark the first scripture in a talk and list the reference for the next scripture beside it. I go through all the references sited, ending with the reference for the first scripture next to the last one creating a Doctrinal or Topical scripture chain. 
• I like to focus on the doctrine or principle the Lord, through the speaker, is trying to teach me.  Putting the talk in a doctrinal context helps me to remember the talk better and dig deeper than an interesting story or some nice platitudes.  Elder Boyd K. Packer has said: "True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior" The whole point of General Conference is to help change, grow and develop into the person my Heavenly Father created me to be.

With these ideas in mind, I've come up with the note templates below.  Feel Free to download and print as many copies as you like.  The file includes full page and 2 per page templates..

Enjoy!!

The pdf version for a closer look.
General Conference Notes Template

If you would like to use this format for other meetings you may make edits with this Excel File.
Excel General Conference Notes Template

CHOICES - Words of the Prophet

My goodness, I am easily distracted and very inconsistent with this blog!  I'm also quite behind in putting together my list of insights from the April 2016 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You can find more information here. LDS General Conference Apr 2016

Years ago I heard a story of a Latter-day Saint telling an acquaintance about the marvelous gift of a living prophet and modern revelation. The question was asked, "Well, what does this prophet have to say?" Unfortunately, the Latter-day Saint hadn't studied General Conference or the Ensign and didn't know.  I promised myself I would keep current on the words of the prophet and live his words so that I could share by example and through discussion the will of the Lord for his children today.  

To accomplish this goal, I study all of the talks from general conference, but make a special effort to keep the words of the Prophet and President of the Church before my eyes.  At my house, this means it's posted on the Fridge! :-)   I'm finally getting  around to posting here: Click the link below to download. 

Words of the Prophet Apr 2016

 

For a full transcript or to watch or listen to the talk, click here: Choices by Thomas S. Monson

I follow the guidance given in Amos 3:7  Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. I want to know the will of the Lord God and I want to be prepared to share it with others.  I know that Thomas S. Monson is the living prophet on the earth today and that as we follow his guidance we will reach the goal of Living with our Father in Heaven again.