Youth Confrence 2011

Come Follow Me As I Follow Christ
(The reason the I is red is because in WWII men had a red one on their shoulder and if you followed them they lead you away from danger. We being leaders of Christ also want to lead you away from danger.)

Youth Conferenc 2011 was amaizng.

I am on the Stake Youth Council and I had the honor of helping plan this wonderful weekend. Its not that the activites were even better then all the other years of youth conference. This year i just had the most amazing attitude!  Let me give you a run through of what happened.

Day 1:
We met at the church where i then conducted in front of 300 or so youth and gave a quick talk... My talk Said: "This week the youth of our stake were challanged to read the talk 'Jesus: The Perfect Leader' by President Spencer W. Kimball. I would like to read the part to you that stood out most to me.

Each of us has more opportunities to do good and to be good than we ever use. These

opportunities lie all around us. Whatever the size of our present circle of effective influence, if we

were to improve our performance even a little bit, that circle would be enlarged. There are many

individuals waiting to be touched and loved if we care enough to improve in our performance.

We must remember that those mortals we meet in parking lots, offices, elevators, and elsewhere

are that portion of mankind God has given us to love and to serve.

Being leaders of christ means making a difference to everyone around you. I know its hard but for the next few days I would like to challange all of you to step outside of your friend group and get to know someone new. Touch other peoples lives as well as your own."

Then  we introduced the speaker. This marvoulous mans name was Brother Kelly Ogden. He spoke to us on being happy!!! He told us that our God is a happy God and he wants us to be happy too. We talked about how happiness is always a choice no matter what the curcimstances/situation. If you have a good attitude your going to have fun, and why wouldnt you want to have a good  attitude? You could either sit around and complain about something you have to do anyway, or you could have a good time doing it. The choice is always yours.  God put the phrase "cheer up" or "be of good cheer" 12 times in the scriptures. Obviously he wants us to be happy. So choose to be. Like President Hinkley said "Don't be a pickle sucker." It was a good way to start off youth conference. With the encouragement to have a good attitude.
After Brother Kelly Ogdens talk we all got in cars and drove up to Salt Lake City. Our first stop was Globus International. What we did there was box up usable medical items, and clothers. The medical items will go all over the world and most of the clothes were sent to tornado victims in Missouri. It was a very neat experience, we helped alot of people.
After the service project we then headed up to Utah State University were we would be staying. We had an amazing lunch and then went to listen to a speaker. He spoke to us about using the media to help spread missionary work. He told us about sites like http://mormon.org/ , using facbook/texting to share testimonies. It was a very good talk. We Then had a 30 minute break, I crashed on the couch. I was exhausted.

We then had Brother John Bytheway come speak to us and he did an amazing job he talked to us about the articles of faith whcih are.

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.

3. We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul--We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

-Joseph Smith

He taught us that Articles 1-12 is what we believe, and Article 13 is becoming what we believe. Believeing and Being are two whole different things. You can believe in honesty, but are you honest yourself? He also encouraged us to not follow others of the world, dare to be different. He showed a picture of a bunch of sheep running off a cliff. A lot fo them couldnt see the cliff becuase there were so many sheep in front of them, but one sheep was going the other direction saying "excuse me, excuse me, excuse me." He compared it to us and told us to ne the sheep going the oppaisite way and set an example to others to follow. You always have people watching you, and your always going to have people following you. So be sure to lead them in the right direction.

After John Bytheway we played water games. It was a blast. Flirting with boys, soaking my bishop as he sprayed us all with a hose, water game races, and much more. Many had fun and a few didn't. This is their own fault for the unwillingness to participate.  After water games we went and got ready for dinner/the dance. (while i got ready my mom had to blow dry my bra. haha) The food all weekend was awesome. it always tasted so good!!! After we ate we then went to the dance. I daanced every slow song and encouraged all the boys I know to dance with someone each slow song. I danced with the most amazing guy, but ill tell you more about him later. After the dance the SYC members stayed to help clean up. After we got everything all clean i walked back to the dorms with Blake, Skyler, Adam, Heather, and Jessica. I had so much fun with them. Those two girls know how to have fun, and the boys are gentlemen and very respectful to women. I love being a memeber of the Stake Youth Council. I stayed up all night with Jessica, Maddy, and McCall. Those girls are like my 3 little sisters. I love them all dearly! 

Day 2:

Kay Lynn, My Mom (Vicki), Me, Jessica

We all woke up and hiked Ensign peak. It was amazing looking over he SLC valley when we reached the top. It was gorgeous. After we finished hiking down we ate the most amazing breakfast burritos. I hate breakfast burritos, but these were good!! Then we began hiking down to temple square. All along the way we had speaker talk to us, but the one i remember most was about a man who would walk 22 miles to work on the temple because it was his calling. Well one day the man was milking his cow and she kicked him, they had to amputate his leg. He then carved himself a fake leg and limped 22 miles to the temple and 22 miles back home. This strong man reminds me of the quote given by John Taylor "If you do not magnify your callings, God will hold you responsible for those whom you might have saved had you done your duty." This man must have been a strong believer of that. Im glad I got to help plan this youth conference i hope that i also did magnify my calling.
After this hike we then again ate lunch and then had a rotation of activities. I however didnt get to participate in the activities because last minute I was in charge of one. I was in charge of games, and it was a blast. Each game group that came through the rotation was different. Some would be more willing to participate, and some even got crazy and almost out of hand. I had fun though. After this we all headed home and met for dinner. We ate again and then had an amazing analogy and testimony meeting.  The analogy was for the atonement. Rememeber how i said id talk about that boy later. well now is the time.

Skyler and Me

A man named Bishop Bentley taught the analogy. It started like this. "Who wnats a doughnut?" Almost everyone raised their hand (excpet me cause i hate doughnuts) Then he said. "Who will do 10 Pushups for a doughnut?" He then called an amazing boy named Skyler Payne up. Skyler stood on the stage with him. He then started reading names off a list, and one by one people would come up. Each person he would ask.."Do you want a doughnut?" They would answer "Yes." He would then turn to Skyler and ask "Skyler will you do ten push ups so this person may have a doughnut." This went on for about 45 minutes. Soon people started saying they didnt want a doughtnut because they didnt wanna see Skyler suffer, but Skyler had to do 10 push ups anyway for a doughnut they didnt even want. This was to shos that Christ suffered for all our sins. Even the ones willing to waste the atonement and not use it to repent. It was hard to see Skyler suffer as he did around 410 push ups, but he changed alot of peoples lives as did Bishop Bently. It was an amazing way to end youth conference.

Youth conference was an amazing experience and i can honestly say it turly strengthed my testimony of christ, and also my testimony of the effects good freinds have on you.

COME FOLLOW ME AS I FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST.