Gocta/General Conference

 This week was great. Last Pday we went to Gocta. I love that place so much. Definately one of my favorite places on earth. 

General conference was incredible. It is like Christmas as a missionary. It is one of the things I will miss most about the mission I think. This was my 4th and final one in Perú. Every single time it is seriously so awesome. I went all out and bought so many snacks. I had all my favorite fruits, some esprites, some pecsi, chifles, you name it.

I think the theme of the conference was pretty obvious. The Lord is coming. Soon.  

This time I didn't just write down everything that was said like I have before. The notes I have taken on other conferences were great and all but after reading them I basically had just copied everything that was said. This time I only wrote down what the spirit told me or phrases that really stuck out to me. Here are a few of my main takeaways. Some of them just seem more powerful to me in the Spanish translation so I will leave them in Spanish. 

Prayer and scripture study can "restore our lives" 

Many are called, but few choose to be chosen. 

The Lord has "DESTRUIDO LA MUERTE" (destroyed death)

Give the Lord our time, not just our left over time. 

"La mejestuosidad de este momento" (the majesty of this moment) 

Set apart time consistently to contemplate the divinity of the atonement. 

There is a difference between doing good and doing our best 

"Esta es su iglesia" (this is his church)

The best way to grow closer to the Lord is serving his people 

The law of chastity is not a law. It is pure protection and love from on high. 

The preisthood is a beautiful gift from God. We need to treat it that way. 

The best thing we can do to prepare for the uncertain complex and scary future is follow the simple straight forward peaceful teachings of Christ. 

God wants us to be US. HE WANTS US TO BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF OURSELVES 

Our meetings dont need to be perfect. The spirit of love is what will teach.

 We dont need to change people to be like us, but help them to be like Christ and be what he wants them to be 

The way we live is the best form of worship 

Pray EXECTING to receive an answer and ACT on it. 

The commandments dont save us because we check them off a list. The people we become as we live them with love is what saves us. 

God doesnt want perfection. Peter lead the church and wasn't perfect. The church was restored through the prophet Joseph and he wasn't perfect.

 

When we consecrate our best efforts, even if they are a disaster, they will be consecrated by the Lord. 

Heaven is not for the perfect. It is for the forgiven. 

God cares more about how we react to our sins than he cares about our sins.

"Arrepentíos, arrepentíos = os amo, os amo" (repent, repent = I love you, I love you) 

We dont stay on the covenant path for not sinning, but for repenting from our sins

Satan wants us to think WE are our errors

Obedience brings blessings, but our value is not one of them. It never changes.

Perfectionism is not healthy and is not not what God wants. In fact, that is what satan wanted. 

Oposition>growth

Charity is love in action. 

When we try to justify or hide our sins we are like adam and eve when they hid from god after eating the fruit. They looked silly for that. We do as well. God knows our sins but also knows how to help us. 

"Todos tropezamos sin dejar de progresar." (We all stumble without stopping our progress) 

The Lord always loves us, but especially when we repent 

Baptism is a commandment

 Depend on christ. He will never fail us

Slow down to remember that we are sons of God.

 We can CHOOSE to be happy if we live the Gospel. 

Charity and virtue bring us confidence before God

Contention never leeds to inspired solutions 

The Lord is COMING 

What a blessing to be lead by prophets, seers, and revelators in these, the last times. 

I read these verses this week and they really impacted me. 

Mosiah 14: 4-7 (Isaiah) 

4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 

6 All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all.

My heart is full. I am grateful to be apart of the greatest work on earth. 

Elder Pohlman