General Conference

This past weekend I (Rylan) had the opportunity to attend General Conference Priesthood session with my Dad and brother-in-law Mike. It was a wonderful experience. The vastness of the Conference Center is almost overwhelming - and to see it completely filled with honorable holders of the Holy Priesthood is truly amazing when one considers the power in that room! The spirit was very strong. As soon as the First Presidency entered the auditorium, the restlessness and the busy voices hushed almost immediately. A reverent hush overcame the auditorium in a wave as everyone stood in reverence. You literally could hear a pin drop. This sight brought tears to my eyes. The respect shown to the newly sustained Prophet of God and his counselors was quite emotional. To think that we were going to hear President Monson's first address during this conference was a treat. To all who were present, I'm sure that his talk will be forever memorable - the laughs, the ear wiggles, the stories, and the emotional experiences of a dedicated missionary that brought grown men to tears. Each talk was wonderful.

I thoroughly enjoyed the choir, the music and the spirit of the entire meeting. It was truly a blessing to be present. Overall, I was impressed with the general feeling that the message was to be better. To be a better Priesthood holder, a better friend, a better son, a better husband - and that more was expected of us. I feel like we were asked to serve a little better and a little more.

Before the session began, I was also impressed with the emphasis that was placed on "being courteous to those outside who wish to disrupt the spirit of this conference." I was also impressed with the missionaries as they lined the walls of Temple Square to sing hymns as members went to and from the Conference Center. The spirit all around Temple Square was very present and almost "palpable." You could tell this was a special conference.

The first session of Conference was amazing. I can vaguely recall my first experience during a Solemn Assembly when Pres. Hinckley was sustained, and was on my mission when Pres. Hunter was sustained. Even watching on TV and standing up in the living room, the spirit was very strong and tears came easily as I sustained a new Prophet of the Lord. To me, Pres. Monson seemed almost overwhelmed (I can't think of a better way to explain it), but seemed to have literally been strengthened and rejuvenated as Conference weekend progressed.

When the spirit was as strong as it was this past weekend, one cannot help but know - really know - that it's all real. It's all true! This weekend, the spirit has time and again confirmed and reconfirmed to me that the Church is true. That we are indeed led by a living Prophet of God in Pres. Monson. To think that he is the 16th President of this dispensation is amazing - and especially considering how he has been groomed since being called as a Bishop at age 22 and Apostle at 36! Wow. I'm sure appreciative for times like this where I can soak up the spirit of Conference and have my testimony renewed in such a powerful way.

It was also quite a treat to go to Molly's Temple Square reunion. It was fun to watch her re-acquaint herself with old missionary buddies and companions. To see them recognize each other, but forget names, or to look at their name tags to remember first names or their new married names. I will let Molly write about her reunion experiences. Suffice it to say that Temple Square, (despite it's inherent "drama" of having so many sisters there) - and I don't mean that to be rude - and the Sisters and the senior missionary couples that serve there definitely carry a special spirit about them which was still very present and noticeable during the reunion.