General Conference Weekend

hey everyone,
how did everyone like conference?
i hope you all watched it and could really learn from it and feel the spirit.  I remember how it is, when i wasn´t exactly jumping up and down for joy for the oppurtunity to watch conference, but when we feel the change in our hearts like it says in alma 5 and like they mentioned at least 5 times in the conference, we really start to understand and feel the importance of listening to the prophet and apostles of the Jesus Christ.  I think sometimes we overlook the importance of it.  I keep telling people, if moses or peter james and john were speaking, would you go and listen and pay attention? becuase it is the same.  We have a prophet with the same power and authority as moses of old.  Its pretty awesome to see how much God loves us, that he calls prophets in our day. 
Also they lowered the age for Elders and Sister missionaries to leave!  thats sso crazy!  Tell all the boys in the ward that they better start some hard core prep. I know Kade Skousen is right there close, i think he is already 18 in may right? Tell him i love him and he needs to go on a mission.  also all the other kids in the ward. 
I, like the majority of you guys, loved Elder Holland´s talk.  I feel like we all sometimes need a little shake to wake us up.  Because when we got baptized, we PROMISED that we would follow Christ, and take His name upon us.  We PROMISED to do that forever! Not just for a while, Not just until things get hard, but we all have this obligation to complete with our part of the covenant.  And when we do, we are always blessed.  It is Never the right decision to distance ourselves and leave the church.  Like Someone in conference said its like leaving the storm shelter right when the tornado is in sight. (i heard it in spanish, i dont know if thats exactly what he said...)  but those words rung true to me.  I also noticed again the importance of our families.  They really talked alot about family and about our personal conversions.  They said that we need testimony and conversion.  Testimony is not the destination, its the departure point. Conversion is something that requires our constant effort and attention.  We need to be truly converted to the Gospel of Christ and act like it.  I forgot to bring my notes, so i cant really tell you everything i liked, but it really was such an amazing conference.  I also encourage all of you to study the talks over again.  We will find things we didnt hear that will help give us more insight and testimony. 
I also encourage you and really really hope that you will start if you havent already, reading the scriptures every day, praying every day, having family home evening every week, family prayer and study every day.  I know that doing this will bless our family sooo much.  it really does make a difference and it really does take an effort on Everyone´s part.  Also go to the temple!  there are so many blessings that await us when we really become converted and do these things. 
I love you all and am so thankful for each of you, for the testimony I have, and the blessings that I see every day of my life.  I hope we can all remember always the most important things in life. 

Stay true to the faith.  Don´t forsake the Savior. 

With all my Love,

Elder Skousen