Sunday General Conference

Wow, just when you thought that the prior conference could not be beat as far as the wonderful talks and messages that were given, another conference simply blew me away. What a marvelous conference this was again! As I sat in my family room listening to the talks, I kept having "Warm Fuzzies" sort of like those in the jar that a Primary sent to President Monson.No.... really my warm fuzzies came from the Spirit continually testifying to me of the truth of what was being said. If I could pick just one talk that was my favorite, and there were many, but I would have to say that the Talk given by Jeffery R. Hollandwas one that touched me the very most. His entire talk was a fervant testimony of the Book of Mormon and what a powerful experience. I don't know about you, but I could barely contain myself as tears flowed down my face and my heart felt like it was in my throat. The spirit testified to me the truth of what he was saying.,After Conference I was pondering the words of Elder Hollands talk and I remembered the testimonies of so many other leaders of our church. I began to mentally make a list of where I had read or seen these testimonies. I think when I get some time, I will make a link list of where these testimonies can be found so that others can be reminded of how powerful the testimony of our Prophets and church leaders are.

When music and testimony are combined, they become a powerful expression and I guess because I have such a love for music, two songs of Testimony come to mind right away.The first one that came to mind immediately was the testimony written in song by Bruce R. McConkie..."I believe in Christ" You can find it at http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection=1&searchseqstart=134&searchsubseqstart=%20&searchseqend=134&searchsubseqend=ZZZ I can't get through this song without crying. You can also hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing this powerful song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjMT9xlyMw

Another powerful yet simple song of testimony is that of President Gordon B. Hinckley's testimony, put to music by G. Homer Durham called "My Redeemer lives". It can be found at http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection=1&searchseqstart=135&searchsubseqstart=%20&searchseqend=135&searchsubseqend=ZZZ I wrote an Easter Program some years back that included the story of how this song came about. It goes like this... “When President Gordon B. Hinckley was first counselor in the first presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he wrote his testimony in a poem, which appeared in the New Era magazine in April 1983. Composers were asked to submit
musical settings to be chosen to accompany this hymn, which would be put in the hymnbook in 1985. President Hinckley wanted the music simple, or as he phrased it “something that he could easily sing to the cows while milking them.” Elder G. Homer Durham was one of many who submitted a tune, and when President Hinckley was making his selection, he was pleased to find out the identity of Elder Durham’s
submission, as the two men had been lifelong friends, from grade school through college, mission days and beyond.” By the way, this easter program can be found here: www.defordmusic.com/eastermessagesfromourprophets.doc
The words of the song can be found here in the April 1983 New Era.. http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=a3e6ad74be99b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=024644f8f206c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRDOnce again, what a wonderful Conference and I can't wait until the talks are available to read online and when the Conference issue of the Ensign comes out. I think they will get me throught until the next Conference. Katie G.