Dearest General Conference,

I love you.

Love, me.

General Conference never fails me. It is exactly what I need. ALWAYS!

I don't know what it is. I go to church every Sunday. I read my scriptures. I go to institute. All are wonderful and they make life bearable, but there is something about General Conference that changes my life. I suppose it is true that life becomes the most difficult right before moments of greatest inspiration. My hardest moments come the month before I have the opportunity to hear the Prophet speak. It isn't that I have much to complain about. I just get bogged down with my situation: things that are going on, things that I don't have, things that I want but seem impossible, etc. And then... Conference.

President Monson and his wife Frances 

I don't exactly know how to communicate the feelings of my heart. All I can say is that watching even Sunday conference has healed wounds that I didn't even know I had. I received answers to questions that I know I haven't voiced aloud. I received validation in what is going on in my life right now. I was reminded that life does not happen according to my time table and that blessings are still available in the years ahead. What a blessing conference is in my life.

To fully understand my comprehension of April 2011 Conference, I'll relate my experience the last few days.

I was on vacation in San Diego (details and stories to come in the upcoming week- Promise!) for the past week. It was a little unusual to prepare for such a weekend while doing so many other things away from home. Yet, I did what I could. After arriving back home late Friday night, I awoke on Saturday without feeling quite as prepared as I like. It came as a surprise when 10:00 rolled around and it was time to turn on the television. But from the first few notes of the Tabernacle Choir reached my ears, the Spirit touched me with a smile that has lasted since that time. 

I was scheduled to work at JSMB at 11:30 am so I was only able to watch President Monson's welcome. Then came a shower and preparation for work in my ninja suit. I attempted to listen while getting ready, but all I could hear was the murmur of Elder L. Tom Perry's voice coming from my radio. It resembled the teacher's voice in Peanuts, but still, it touched me. I don't know his message yet, but I do know that it comes from the Lord. Running out the door, I listened to Elder Russell M. Nelson in Maggie's car. I do better watching conference so I only know a few nuggets that struck me. The same feeling that came during Perry's talk continued through Nelson's. 

I didn't plan on being able to watch any of Saturday Conference due to the fact that I was helping to serve in the Nauvoo Cafe. When I arrived in the Empire room, I was met by Betty Sue, one of the managers of the Cafe. When she saw me, her eyes lit up. "Are you helping us over here?" she asked. When I answered that I thought so, she was beaming and shared with me her apple slices. I had worked last conference in the same area and knew how things work: Box Lunches in the Empire room with drink= $10. Then my dear friend Katelyn walked in and announced that I had been assigned across the room. Fine with me, but poor Betty Sue was crushed. I felt loved.

Working in the Cafe was fun. I worked with Richard and Gigi. We helped to clear trays and wash tables and keep everything stocked. It surprises me how the Joe is hopping between noon and 1:30 pm. This year was the same as always. Lots of people came in, glowing from the messages they just heard or excited for the session they are about to enjoy. It makes me feel better that I am missing Saturday sessions as I feel that I am a part of these different people's conference experience. It was so loud in the room that I couldn't hear conference on the radio. I did hear President Uchtdorf present Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's name to be sustained. I was scheduled from 11:30 to 3 but everything slowed down a bunch at 2. I helped Katelyn take down tables in the Bonneville room and we bonded over stacking chairs and rolling up linens. I remembered just how much I miss Omega girls and having such close friends. Especially how much I miss Katelyn.

I was done working a little before 3, along with a the majority of my server friends. I took the opportunity to go to the Mezzanine floor and watch the last hour of Conference. I mentioned the idea to Nakana, a fellow server and friend, and he came with me. We walked through the different rooms and finally settled down in the President's room. It was definitely something else, watching conference surrounded by portraits of every past prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including current prophet President Thomas S. Monson. Everything was perfect except for the fact that I had forgotten my "church journal" at home and had to find another way to remain completely focused on conference and not letting my mind wander. Poor Nakana had been working for much longer and had a hard time staying awake. But I wouldn't trade that hour for much. I loved it!

I called my mother after conference and after work to know what my next step should be. Turned out that I rode the trax train up to 900 East and then walked to my Oma's house. I spent the next 3 or so hours helping my mother help my Oma but watering her plants, changing her sheets, picking her flowers to bring into the house, and telling her stories from my recent vacation. My dear Oma. She is such a wonderful lady. I was able to serve and feel how much she loves me. I left her house with Mom, feeling that I was worth a million bucks.

After quickly changing my clothes, my mother, sisters, and I drove over to West Valley to meet up with the Hortin clan for dinner at Village Inn. Dad started this tradition last conference- the Priesthood of that side of the family goes to Priesthood session together and then we all meet up together afterwards. (I learned that Justin is going to be in Madrigals next year. He is really quite the stud. It surprises me how much that boy has really grown up in the last few years. He showed up in a three-piece suit. I have never seen a three-piece suit I didn't like... :) ) The food was great and the company was even better. I was able to see both my grandmas in one day! What a lucky girl am I!!! I was reminded of the importance of family and its centrality to the Gospel. Oh how I love them!

I had the great pleasure of enjoying Sunday Conference with my immediate family while tasting the bliss of April Conference crepes. It was more than delightful. And I was able to receive answers to questions that I haven't voiced out loud. At this moment, I feel complete again. I am encouraged once again to go out and conquer my world. I really can do this. I seem to forget that large detail more often than I should. 

The First Presidency

I will never understand how anyone could bypass the experience of Conference. It has too often been the answer in which I was searching that I don't know what I would do or who I would be without the Semi-Annual reminder and course-correction I receive. 

Happy Conference Weekend to You All!!! I hope you had an equally illuminating experience, although hopefully, you didn't have to work on Saturday ;)

*Pictures copied from The Deseret News