Utah Vacation Day 2



Mylee coloring in her General Conference Activity Book

  The next day was Sunday and General Conference weekend so we went up to Temple Square to listen to the prophets! We met up with some of Blake's family there. For most of the time we sat on the lawn near the Tabernacle on temple square and listened. When our kids behaved we took them into the tabernacle to listen and watch on a big screen. That afternoon Blake and I had tickets so we left our kiddos with family and enjoyed a wonderful session together. It was especially exciting for me because I had never attended General Conference before in the Conference Center. It was a neat and special experience.

 My favorite talk of the whole conference was probably the talk given by Neil A. Anderson appropriately titled, "Children". It talked about the blessing children are in our lives and that it is a woman's highest honor to bear and rear children. Here are some quotes from this talk that I enjoyed:

Many voices in the world today marginalize the importance of having children or suggest delaying or limiting children in a family. My daughters recently referred me to a blog written by a Christian mother (not of our faith) with five children. She commented: “[Growing] up in this culture, it is very hard to get a biblical perspective on motherhood. … Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below the ability to go out at night at your leisure. Below honing your body at the gym. Below any job you may have or hope to get.” She then adds: “Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.”7

This story particularly touched and helped me feel good that Blake and I had made the right choice to not wait to have a family. It definitely has NOT been easy, but is has been SO worth it!!

Elder Mason had another experience just weeks after his marriage that helped him prioritize his family responsibilities. He said:


“Marie and I had rationalized that to get me through medical school it would be necessary for her to remain in the workplace. Although this was not what we [wanted] to do, children would have to come later. [While looking at a Church magazine at my parents’ home,] I saw an article by Elder Spencer W. Kimball, then of the Quorum of the Twelve, [highlighting] responsibilities associated with marriage. According to Elder Kimball, one sacred responsibility was to multiply and replenish the earth. My parents’ home was [close to] the Church Administration Building. I immediately walked to the offices, and 30 minutes after reading his article, I found myself sitting across the desk from Elder Spencer W. Kimball.” (This wouldn’t be so easy today.)

“I explained that I wanted to become a doctor. There was no alternative but to postpone having our family. Elder Kimball listened patiently and then responded in a soft voice, ‘Brother Mason, would the Lord want you to break one of his important commandments in order for you to become a doctor? With the help of the Lord, you can have your family and still become a doctor. Where is your faith?’”

Elder Mason continued: “Our first child was born less than a year later. Marie and I worked hard, and the Lord opened the windows of heaven.” The Masons were blessed with two more children before he graduated from medical school four years later.9

Daddy and his baby girl Lanaea

They'll go there someday

Daddy with his two oldest girls, SOOO CUTE!!

Later that evening we enjoyed spending time with my mom's family along with my step-dad Roland's family that was there visiting. I wish I had gotten some pictures of our time there. It was a pretty full house and I must have been distracted :(. We were able to get this family picture that evening too. It turned out nice.




Left to Right: Lanaea, Blake, Cami, Kelsey, Mylee, Spencer, Mary, Abby, Roland (Dad), Polly (Mom), Lizzy, Megan, Aaron, and Brighton.