Balm for My Soul

Most of the talks last weekend spoke to me, probably because this was the first time in many years that I was able to take notes during Conference. It was much more difficult than usual to pull out my favorites. After pondering this question for the last week, I've narrowed down my list to my top seven eight (I had to add one more when I read over my notes):

• Elder Holland's Fear Not: Believe Only!

• Elder Kearon's He Is Risen With Healing in His Wings

• Sister Porter's Lessons at the Well
• What she said about light really hit me:
• "How much light does it take to pierce the darkness in a room? One small ray. And that ray of light in a dark place can emanate from the power of God in you. Even though you may feel alone as the storms of life are raging, you can shine a light in the darkness of misunderstanding, confusion, and unbelief. Your light of faith in Christ can be steady and sure, leading those around you to safety and peace."

• Sister Craven's Do What Mattereth Most
• This one might be my very favorite. She had three of my favorites quotes:
• "Boss your brain."
• "If you want to know anything, you will have to do something."
• "The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of action and a gospel of joy! Let us not underestimate our capacity to do those things that matter most."

• President Bingham's Covenants With God Strengthen, Protect, and Prepare Us for Eternal Glory
• I love that she encouraged young women to go to the Temple as soon as they felt spiritually prepared after they turn 18, no need to wait for a wedding or a mission call!

• Elder Renlund's Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny

• Sister Wright's Christ Heals That Which Is Broken
• A few more favorite quotes:
• "Waiting upon the Lord can be a sacred place—a place of polishing and refining where we can come to know the Savior in a deeply personal way."
• "With the depiction of this father in the parable of the prodigal son, the Savior emphasized that forgiveness is one of the noblest gifts we can give one another and most specifically ourselves."
• "Exercising faith in Christ means trusting not only in God’s will but also in His timing. For He knows exactly what we need and precisely when we need it. When we submit to the will of the Lord, we will ultimately receive substantially more than that which we had desired."

• President Nelson's The Power of Spiritual Momentum
• Okay, one more:
• "Positive spiritual momentum will keep us moving forward amid the fear and uncertainty created by pandemics, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and armed hostilities. Spiritual momentum can help us withstand the relentless, wicked attacks of the adversary and thwart his efforts to erode our personal spiritual foundation."