Reflections on General Conference

It's been four weeks now since General Conference. In today's Testimony meeting, several people made reference to Elder David A. Bednar's talk in the concluding session. Then, in Priesthood meeting, our instructor taught from the Priesthood session talks given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and President Gordon B. Hinckley.

All of this got me thinking about the notes I took while watching Conference, and I read through them again. Here are some of the things — one per talk, for the most part — that stick out in my mind, now that nearly a month has passed.

• We must remain humble despite our successes
  
• The scriptures have answers to things we need to know
  
• It is a privilege and a responsibility to have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
  
• Teaching children requires both desire and discipline
  
• Dedicated faith, hope, and love qualify us to enter God's presence
  
• The world is a perilous place; we cannot afford to be complacent
  
• Something as small as an unkind word can have lifelong, even eternal consequences
  
• Teach the Gospel with conviction and invite the Holy Ghost to confirm that teaching
  
• If you have been wronged, be ready to forgive
  
• Sacrifice is never convenient for the natural man
  
• The universal power of the Spirit transcends time and space
  
• Returning God's love through sacrifice and service
  
• Standing more often in holy places
  
• Practicing self-discipline and avoiding the low road through the world's evils
  
• Jesus' life was not free from trials or suffering, but it was free from fear
  
• The Lord often touches us through the hands of a friend
  
• Begin by doing the simple things
  
• The Book of Mormon is a tangible witness of both Jesus Christ and of His prophet, Joseph Smith
  
• A sincere desire to know the truth changes us
  
• The test of what is evil is not its degree, but its effect
  
• Our life is a work in progress in the hands of God
  
• Love is not just a word or a declaration, but a commandment
  
• Trials are not necessarily punishments
  
• The power of testimony as given by those of great wisdom and advanced years
  
• Faithfulness, obedience, and humility invite the Lord's tender mercies
  
• "It means God knows who I am."
  
• God does not keep a list of favorites, to which we can only hope our names will one day be added
  
• All mankind is our neighbor
  
• We work to assist others without worrying about who gets the credit
  

As I said, these are just a few of the ideas that resonated the most with me. I'm sure I'll come up with more as I re-read these talks over the next few months. And then it'll be time for Conference again.