10 Things I Loved about Elder Bednar's YSA Fireside

Here are the 10 things that stood out to me about Elder Bednar's 2-hour Q&A session with the Bay Area YSA. 

Discussion after the list.

The List

1.  Most of us worry too much.
1. Many of Elder Bednar's answers included the "don't worry about it" phrase.
2. Elder Bednar made forts in the dirt of the Oakland Temple construction pits.
1. He's a local to the bay area, and while his parents were setting up for weddings/activities at the large stake center now adjacent to the temple, young David could be found playing in the dirt.
3. "There are no jammies".
1.  Our culturally-induced perspective of eternal families is biased by mortality.  We see "eternal family" as a mom, dad, and a few little kids fresh out of the bath, in clean, good-smelling jammies.  We imagine each family in their own little hut. 
2. The "welding link" spoken of in D&C refers to the entire family of Adam and Eve.  "There's only one hut."

A Tribute to Mamma Sweet

This is my mom:

Hard to believe, huh?  She barely looks a day past 22.  But 38 years ago last month, she gave birth to Sarah Rupert Wilson (not pictured) and ever since has been wiping butts, making meals and teaching principles.  She has been the epitome of motherly love, so below is a list of 38 memories of my mom.  Let me preface the list with the following acknowledgement:

To understand Mamma Sweet, you have to know that she chose to live the "highest of all callings, that of a wife and a mother in Israel".  Her decision to serve and teach constantly sustains her greatness - which is in direct contrast to those who forgo family to chase a career or some other selfish dream.

Testimony Stock - What's Yours Worth?

"My testimony took a 20% hit when I moved to Provo."  "Her testimony stock went up three points when she got her mission call."  "Their stock tripled after being sealed."  ...What is "testimony stock" and how do we get more of it?

tes-ti-mo-ny stock    noun
plural testimony stock
Could refer to:

1. volume of tears cried from pulpit each Fast Sunday (in cubic centimeters): SPIRITUAL TEARS
2. number of generations your family has been in the church: SPIRITUAL PEDIGREE
3. current state before the Lord: OIL IN LAMP
4. the prestige of your calling (in stewardship head count): SPIRITUAL POSTER-CHILD

Ok - so clearly the third is the only real definition.  And that "oil in the lamp" reference could be an entire post on its own...

AoF: Articles on the Articles

The Articles of Faith summarize the beliefs of the Lord Jesus Christ's restored church.  Recently in General Conference, we were encouraged by Elder L. Tom Perry to study the Articles of Faith:

I tend to study better when I either plan to teach what I study, or when I write about it.  That being said, I intend to do a series of articles on the Articles for these three reasons:

1. Elder Perry just recommended it.  (Twice, actually:  Elder Perry with more hair in 1998.)
2. I need to structure my scripture study habits better for 2014.
3. I see too much garbage being posted and propagated online.  My method of combating the nonsense is to offer clarity.  What better way than to echo the gospel?

I am currently re-reading Elder Talmage's "The Articles of Faith", and my posts will coincide with my sequential progress through that book as well as my collection of other references and revelation.

The reader should know that I write these posts of my own desire, and that my opinion in no way represents that of the Church.  The resources I use are church approved, however.  I'll do my best to provide reference links to the quotes of interest.