3 Conference Takeaways for Young Parents
If you didn’t catch all of general conference, here are three insights that might be especially helpful during this busy, stressful time of life.
Conference weekend, like the rest of my life since my daughter was born, was different this year. Instead of quietly listening, my husband and I spent lots of time feeding, changing, playing with, and holding our little girl. If you’re a young parent, chances are you were dancing a similar dance.
But those of us who didn’t catch every word of conference shouldn’t miss out on the powerful spiritual messages. So this one’s for you, new moms and dads!
Praying Rests the Weary
Becoming a parent is one way to truly learn what it means to be tired. I rarely get more than a couple hours of sleep at a time, and I often dread nighttime for this reason.
In one of the opening hymns on Saturday morning, I heard these lines: “Oh, how praying rests the weary! Prayer will change the night to day.”1
I have sung this song a million times, but it hit differently as a parent. Several of the speakers focused specifically on prayer. Here are three quotes that stood out to me:
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From President Jeffrey R. Holland, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “Our prayers are our sweetest hour, our most ‘sincere desire’ [Hymns, no. 145], our simplest, purest form of worship.”2
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From President Susan H. Porter, Primary General President: “Heavenly Father will guide you when you ask Him what you can do and what you can learn. …
“Share with [Him] what is in your heart. As you sincerely ask for His help, you will receive His Spirit to guide you.”3
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From Elder Taylor G. Godoy of the Seventy: “Praying—calling—can be a sign of our hope. But taking action after praying is a sign that our faith is real—faith that is tested in moments of pain, fear, or disappointment.”4
No matter our circumstances, we can pray. Even while holding a bottle, changing a diaper, or rocking a child to sleep. God wants to be with us in all our moments, and He will help change our nights to day.
Stillness for the Soul
Do you ever feel anxious as a parent? Because babies’ schedules are so unpredictable, especially in the first few months, it can be really stressful to try and make concrete plans or know if you’re doing enough to take care of them.
And it can also be daunting to look to the future and think, “Wow, I’ll be doing this for a long time. Do I have it in me?”
Thankfully, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles promised, “As we build the foundation of our lives on the ‘rock’ of Jesus Christ, we can be blessed by the Holy Ghost to receive an individual and spiritual stillness of the soul.”5
As we trust and act on this promise, the anxious moments and the whirlwind of a young child’s needs can give way to stillness and peace.
You Find What You Look For
There are times I feel guilty for not enjoying taking care of my daughter every second. It can be easy to focus on the negative, especially during rough days.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles suggested a solution for when we’re feeling swamped by the negative. He said:
“We rarely find something we are not looking for.
“Are you looking for joy?
“Seek, and ye shall find.”6
We will naturally have negative thoughts. But if the low moments are all we see, we will miss out on the joys that also come with raising God’s children. If we seek the good, we will find it.
Go Back to Conference
Prayer, stillness, and perspective are not the only blessings young parents can take away from conference. They are just a few that touched my heart and have already blessed my life as I’ve tried to apply them.
So maybe next time you need some extra strength, turn to general conference. Read or listen to a talk that inspires you. Heaven has help to send you.