Saturday morning session: Summaries from Latter-day Saint general conference

This opening session was very comforting me as my heart has been aching feeling like I have not been loved by our extended family-  when all I have wanted was to be apart of a family here in earth-  feeling the dysfunction in my own family I had to leave home as a young teen to survive emotionally and spiritually-  my step-father who sexually abused me growing up and then in prison, my mother an emotional wreck who was not protecting me - I had no choice but to leave to live in a better environment.  It was hard and has left a whole in my heart-  I had the desire to create a family I did not have growing up.  There were so many Challenges out of my control- but now as a young adult I had the power to make changes.  The church of Jesus was my life and strength thru those turbulent years- and still is !! I’m holding on for dear life - literally holding on to the iron rod.  With Shelly’s unkind word to me -  I have been doubting myself and feeling I’m a orphan who has not been loved and honored in the family tree.  I was deserted by my birth father at the age of three years old.  I did not have a father that loved and protected me in this life.  My own mother very challenging in so many ways.  When I married Craig we promised each other to break the cycle of dysfunction of family life in both of our families-  we have worked hard to built a better family in the power we have control of with our own children.  

This Conference session has been uplifting for me to let go of my hurt-  The Lord loves me - this earth life has fallen short but the Lord makes up for it in time.  

I yearned to hear the prophets voice of direction for me at this season in life- to our surprise the Prophet was the first speaker of the conference which usually is not the case in past conferences.  His message was very powerful to me speaking to my heart of sorrow.  

President Russell M. Nelson — Preaching the gospel of peace

In his opening remarks, President Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of  Latter day Saints, encouraged conferencegoers and church members to focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ to help with difficulties in the world.

He emphasized that he prays for those listening every day, and invited people everywhere to pray for others, help others and ask the Lord to help end conflicts in the world.

"As followers of Jesus Christ, we plead with leaders of nations to find peaceful resolutions to their differences," he said.

President Nelson said that prophets have foretold there would be contention at this time.

"The gospel of Jesus Christ has never been needed more than it is today. Contention violates everything the Savior stood for and taught," President Nelson said that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only solution to finding peace in the world. He emphasized that every young man in the church should prepare to serve a mission. He also encouraged young women and senior couples to pray about serving a mission, though, optional.

"Dear young friends, you are each vital to the Lord. He has held you in reserve until now to help gather Israel," he said.

President Nelson echoed his theme from a previous conference, to "let God prevail," and said that the gospel of Jesus Christ should be shared with everyone willing to let God prevail in their lives.

"May this conference be a time of peace and spiritual feasting for you. May you seek and receive personal revelation during these sessions," he said at the close of his talk.

He said that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only solution to finding peace in the world. He emphasized that every young man in the church should prepare to serve a mission. He also encouraged young women and senior couples to pray about serving a mission, though, optional.

"May this conference be a time of peace and spiritual feasting for you. May you seek and receive personal revelation during these sessions," he said at the close of his talk.I loved how he said to repent and end conflicts in your family now !! This spoke loud and clear to me how to move forward even when it is hard to do-  end the conflict -  we need peacemakers in the world not contention -