Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me

I love General Conference weekend!  It is one of the most amazing things in the world to hear our church leaders speak the messages they have been inspired to relate to us.  We have always been told to listen to the Spirit while we watch Conference.  Though the speakers always convey their messages clearly and eloquently, it is the Spirit that is the true teacher that carries the messages we personally need to hear into our hearts.  I made a goal this year to write down impressions rather than to take notes on what was said, to make the Holy Ghost a more active participant in my experience with General Conference.  And I can tell you that it worked!  As I focused more on what I was feeling rather than on what I was hearing, I felt the truth of the gospel as it applied to me personally.  Any emotional person can relate to the Tissue-Box-Pulling Fest I experienced over the last two days. Needless to say, I am very glad I chose to watch Conference alone in my room this year ;)

The main themes I picked out from this Conference were these:

• We need to cling tighter to our values and standards in a world that considers good morals to be old-fashioned and outdated.
• We need to gain a testimony but having knowledge of truth is not enough.  We must have a mighty change of heart and be truly converted, becoming doers of the word rather than just proclaimers of the word.  Faith without works is dead.
• We can be happy now.  No matter what circumstances we may find ourselves in and no matter what trials we may be going through, we can be happy and have hope through the Atonement of Christ.
• Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are involved in the details of our lives.  It is usually through other people that the Lord meets the needs of his children.  We need to be open to the Spirit so that we can be instruments in His hands to help and lift those around us.
• We need to be true followers and disciples of Christ.  Once we have taken upon ourselves covenants to serve, we cannot go back.  We cannot justify "petty" sins.  If we are to be true Christians, we must strive with all our might, mind, and strength to become more like Christ for that is true discipleship.

I loved that there were several references to Peter in Conference.  I have gained a lot of respect for Peter over the years.  One of my Bishops at BYU liked to tell the story of Peter's attempt to walk on water.  As you may recall, Peter began to walk out on the water to meet the Savior but fear overcame him and he began to sink.  But the part of the story that we all forget is that Peter walked on water!  He started out with the faith necessary to do so.  So it is with us.  We may not be walking on water but we can overcome our fears if we remain focused on the Savior and allow him to be our "pilot."

When I was a freshman at BYU (April 2008), I had the opportunity to sing at General Conference with other members of the BYU choirs.  It was probably one of the most profound spiritual experiences of my life.  I had the opportunity to bear my testimony of Jesus Christ through music before the entire world (well, at least all the people who were watching Conference that day).  I'll never forget how I felt as I sang the hymn, Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me (Hymn #104).  The lyrics seemed especially applicable to Peter's story.

Jesus, Savior, pilot me

Over life's tempestuous sea;

Unknown waves before me roll,

Hiding rock and treach'rous shoal.

Chart and compass came from thee;

Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

As a mother stills her child,

Thou canst hush the ocean wild;

Boist'rous waves obey thy will

When thou say'st to them be still!"

Wondrous Sov'reign of the sea,

Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

When at last I near the shore,

And the fearful breakers roar

'Twixt me and the peaceful rest,

Then, while leaning on thy breast,

May I hear thee say to me,

"Fear not; I will pilot thee."

Here is the footage (you might have to copy and paste the link) of us singing that song in Conference. (Please ignore my lack of expression.  I was a freshman and had no idea at the time of how weird I look when I sing.)

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/music/2008/04?lang=eng&session=2&song=13&media=video 

I hope you were all as inspired as I was this weekend.  I know that as we rely on the Savior and his Atonement, we too can overcome the frightening rocks and waves of this life and make it safely to shore.