The Opportunity to hear from 3 apostles

I had a unique opportunity yesterday (Sunday) that I just had to blog about (even though it will push my Conference Predictions back a post or two). I heard from 3 of the Lord's special witnesses. This post will briefly highlight what I learned from each of them.

First, Elders Russell M. Nelson and Richard G. Scott spoke at a regional conference attended by all who live in Utah and Wasatch Counties. It was great to hear the inspiring addresses from these two men. Elder Nelson spoke of the ministering of angels, and particularly the role they played in bringing about the restoration of all things in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times. He talked of the ministering of angels as a very personal thing. What interested me most about his address is that he has had a personal experience with ministering angels. Many of you will recall an incident that happened four years ago in Mozambique. Elder Nelson was there on a church assignment when he and his wife, along with two other couples, were attacked and robbed while dining one night. Elder Nelson mentioned to us something that the news outlets didn't report--apparently there was an attempt to kidnap everyone. Through the providence of God, they escaped with merely only scrapes and bruises. In fact, news outlets reported that Elder and Sister Nelson continued their assignment in the region as scheduled after this incident. I admire their courage. I'm not sure I'd have the courage or strength to continue to fulfill an assignment after being attacked and robbed. How grateful I am that the angels were on duty to protect Elder and Sister Nelson! Elder Nelson called on his wife to speak, and she spoke on the importance of doing indexing and temple work, which was something I needed, but didn't want, to hear. With as much as I've got going on in my life, it's hard to be told I need to make time for one more thing. But then I remember the blessings I saw come into my life as I was involved in extraction and frequent temple attendance, and I can't deny that these are blessings I want back in my life again.

Elder Scott spoke on the subject of personal prayer. He has spoken on that subject a lot.  I have heard him say the same things about it over and over again, but perhaps that's because it's something I still haven't grasped and that I needed to hear again. Lately, I'm ashamed to admit, my personal prayer record has been spotty at best. I still try to pray every night before going to sleep, but I only average praying in the morning about 2-3 times a week nowadays. This will come as a shock to most people who know how religiously I used to do it. I'm ashamed to admit I've been allowing other things to get in the way of my relationship and regular daily conversations with my Father in Heaven. I know He's just waiting for me to return in prayer regularly to Him. I know it's something I need to get back to doing regularly. Definitely need to work on that.

Then tonight was a CES fireside for young adults. I missed the live broadcast but was able to watch it later on lds.org. The featured speaker was Elder D. Todd Christofferson. He talked of losing our lives for the gospel's sake. Yet another thing I need to work on. I have been neglecting my daily study of the scriptures and regular study of my patriarchal blessing. I'm lucky if I take time to thumb through the Church magazines, let alone sitting down to read them. I have let worldly things take the place of heavenly things far too much in my life. I took Elder Christofferson's talk as a personal call to repentance. I know that I'm not necessarily an evil person, but I do give in to the natural man far too much, especially lately. If the Savior were here, He might very well give me the rebuke He gave Peter when Peter suggested He didn't have to suffer and die for mankind. That's a sobering thought. I'd better shape up. Thank goodness for second chances! Thank goodness for the miracles of repentance and forgiveness! I will be eternally grateful for the gift the Savior has given me of His Infinite Atonement, through which I can change and become better if I am willing to make the effort and take the time to. And how blessed I feel knowing that even if after all I can do, I fall short, if I have done my best, He will make up the difference. That is the miracle of it. I testify that He is truly our Advocate with the Father and also our merciful Judge. None of us is too far gone. As long as there's life, there's hope.

How grateful I am for the messages of these three servants of the Lord. I testify that the words of the scripture are true: "...whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." I joyfully and gratefully testify of the principles of ministering angels, prayer, and losing our lives for the gospel's sake, and I do so in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

General Conference Predictions

I was originally going to wait and do this post closer to conference time, but since other bloggers have begun to post their General Conference Predictions, I thought I'd better get busy and do the same. After each General Conference ends, I analyze special files and facts and figures I have about General Conference and make predictions about the next one. This post will reveal three such predictions: two are mine, and one I am posting a link to. My thanks to Brandon Sanderson, with whom I have shared such predictions in the past. It was his inspiration for me to post these predictions on my blog.

First, the one with the link. I follow a blog that tracks LDS Church Growth. The author of that blog, Matthew Martinich, has done extensive research to find out facts about LDS Church Growth. Round about Conference time, one thing he does is predict potential temple sites that may be announced in the upcoming Conference. His latest blog post highlights his current prediction. It is interesting to me that he has not changed his prediction from last time. Not totally surprising, though, considering no new temples were announced last conference. Before I post a link to his predictions, I should mention that it was also Brandon's suggestion that I suggest to Matt that Matt and I swap predictions. I heard back from Matt today, giving me permission to post a link to his predictions, as long as I gave him full credit for them. So I want to be clear that these are Matthew Martinich's predictions, not mine. That said, the link follows:
 Matthew Martinich's October 2014 Temple Announcement Predictions

Now for my predictions. First, here's what changes I predict in Church leadership for October 2014:

First Quorum of the Seventy: Elders Carlos H. Amado and William R. Walker released and granted Emeritus Status. (Both are 70.)

Area Seventies: Releases and sustainings.

 Usually, there might be more changes in Church leadership, but none of the other First Quorum members are 70, and none of the Second Quorum members have served for the average 6 year period that seems to be the standard practice nowadays. I have noticed that if a Second Quorum member is near or past 70, the First Presidency will release them unless they are on assignment somewhere. Right now Elder Koichi Aoyagi fits that description. There's always a chance that there might be a change in the Presidency of the Seventy, but they usually announce those in advance if there is going to be one in October. (It will typically be announced with the new Area Leadership Assignments within a month or so after April general conference, and the change would have taken effect on August 1.) The Young Men General Presidency (with the exception of Brother Ridd, who was called in April last year) has been serving for more than the now-standard five year period, but I notice they don't typically make changes in Auxiliary Presidencies in October. It's only happened once or twice in October that I know of.

And here's my predictions for who will speak when during general conference in October 2014:

October 2014 Conference Predictions [Text in brackets indicates what actually happened.]

Session	Conducting	Speaker
Saturday Morning	President Henry B. Eyring	President Thomas S. Monson
		Elder L. Tom Perry
		Elder Lynn G. Robbins
		Carol F. McConkie
		Elder Jörg Klebingat
		Elder D. Todd Christofferson
		President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Saturday Afternoon	President Dieter F. Uchtdorf	President Henry B. Eyring (Sustaining of Church Officers)
		President Boyd K. Packer
		Elder Dallin H. Oaks
		Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong
		Elder Larry S. Kacher
		Elder Hugo E. Martinez
		Elder Neil L. Andersen
		Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Saturday Priesthood	President Henry B. Eyring	Elder Quentin L. Cook
		Bishop Dean M. Davies
		Elder Craig C. Christensen
		President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
		President Henry B. Eyring
		President Thomas S. Monson
Sunday Morning	President Dieter F. Uchtdorf	President Henry B. Eyring
		Elder Russell M. Nelson
		Cheryl A. Esplin
		Elder Eduardo Gavaret
		Elder Robert D. Hales
		President Thomas S. Monson
Sunday Afternoon	President Henry B. Eyring	Elder M. Russell Ballard
		Elder David A. Bednar
		Tad R. Callister
		Elder Carlos A. Godoy
		Elder James J. Hamula
		Elder Allan F. Packer
		Elder Richard G. Scott
		President Thomas S. Monson

 Again, I typically have 60-80% accuracy in my general conference predictions. Stay tuned after General Conference for an accuracy report. Oh, and here's an additional prediction that I have made but I don't have written down anywhere. Since we heard from the General Presidents (Rosemary M. Wixom, Bonnie L. Oscarson, and Linda K. Burton) of the Women's Auxiliary Organizations (Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society) and from President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, last General Women's Meeting, I predict that this General Women's Meeting, we will likely be hearing from the First Counselors of each Women's Auxiliary (Jean A. Stevens, Carol F. McConkie, and Carole M. Stephens) and from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency.

Well, there you have it. All the predictions you need to follow along with for October General Conference. Please post here with any questions or comments you may have. Or you can comment on Facebook, where I will be posting a link. I hope you enjoyed reading these predictions about general conference as much as Matt and I enjoyed making them. Best wishes to all my readers until I post again!