Twenty-Twenty-Five!

I spent some time at the end of December downloading and organizing all of the conference addresses President Nelson has given since becoming President of the church.  

I need to download his #GiveThanks address
and bring the total to forty-one

There are 40 separate conference addresses (including opening and closing remarks—but even those are totally talks—he never "just" announces temples—he also gives encouragement and pronounces blessings and reminds us of promises . . . and is just awesome and powerful in general). I got each speech organized in a playlist and then loaded them on my phone.  

I've been listening to one every morning and it has made such a noticeable difference in my day, every day.  I have always loved conference talks and they are a regular part of my study (there are a few I have listened to and read so many times that I have them memorized, like "Mothers Who Know"), but listening to the prophet every single morning of this new year has blessed me with the gift of discernment on a micro-level that I could not have predicted. It has been so humbling and impactful.  

In just the last three weeks, I've been making little changes and course corrections: one of them was to remove social media from my phone.  It's just been lovely--I have felt less withdrawals from both Instagram and Facebook than I sometimes have in the past.  And WHOA, I am embarrassed how much more time I seem to have.  I am still utilizing Facebook on my computer, but only for what I need it for (church and community business, putting things up for sale on marketplace, et cetera).

It has been interesting and eye-opening to re-listen to President Nelson's addresses that he delivered during the pandemic.  I can't believe it has been five years since the world was changed so drastically.  I am hearing these messages through a different lens than when they were given, picking up new insights and noticing different angles.  With hindsight, it is incredible to witness just how, well, prophetic these messages are. It has strengthened my testimony of prophets and of revelation.  

When I reach talk number 40, I'm just going to start all over again—I can listen to each of his addresses nine times this year if I do one a day.