General Conference Moments No One Saw Coming

I'm in a Living Prophets class this semester with Lloyd Newell. As in voice of Music & The Spoken Word and General Conference Lloyd Newell. It's fantastic. Want to know which sessions President Monson will be speaking in this conference? President Uchtdorf? Elder Holland? Hit me up. #InsideScoop

In order to prep for this weekend's General Conference, we spent some time today looking back at General Conference moments that no one saw coming. I was laughing my head off, so I didn't write down the references  for all the hilarious moments. Unfortunately, he hasn't posted the slides online (at least not yet), but I simply could not wait to share.

October 1930
Someone at KSL flipped the wrong switch during President Heber J. Grant's talk in priesthood session. Suddenly instead of hearing his talk through the Tabernacle sound system, everyone heard a play-by-play of the World Series! The presiding bishop (Bishop Sylvester Q. Cannon) ran to the broadcasting building to solve the problem. Meanwhile, the brethren at the priesthood session enjoyed 8 minutes of baseball.

Elder LeGrand Richards - October 1978
He was known for speaking longer than his allotted time, so a red light was installed on the podium to signal when he needed to be done. Elder Richards covered the light with his hand and kept on talking (seriously...he goes on for another 2 minutes after the red light!)

April 1989
President Hinckley delivered President Benson's talk "Beware of Pride." President Benson felt more comfortable with someone else delivering the address than himself. You can watch the video here.

President Hunter - April 1989

He had recently had surgery that left him weak, but he was determined to give his talk regardless. Standing at the podium with his walker, he fell backwards in the middle of his talk! He was helped up and went on with his talk as though it never happened. Later he found out he had broken 3 ribs in the fall!

President Hinckley - October 1993
I guess the air conditioning wasn't working. If you don't repent...

October 1997
I can't find a video of it, but President Hinckley challenged Elder Nelson to a duel! Elder Nelson had praised President Hinckley in his talk. President Hinckley got up after him and jokingly said, “I thought we were conducting general conference. It's turned out to be a funeral.” Everyone died laughing when he added, completely straight-faced, that Elder Nelson had “taken extreme liberty. I challenge him to a duel down in the basement of the Tabernacle right after this meeting.” Haha!  President Monson then got up to speak and said that he and President Faust would backup the prophet in the duel. Two talks later, President Hinckley cancelled the duel saying, “Brother Nelson, I’ve repented. Thanks very much for your kind words. We’ll postpone the duel.”

October 2007
President Hinckley jokingly knighted President Eyring right after he was sustained as a counselor in the First Presidency. President Hinckley's doctors advised him to carry a cane, so he did just that - he carried his cane (not using it for any support...just carrying it around and using it to knight people).

Elder Terence Vinson - October 2013
The infamous fly incident. Watch the video here. Seriously impressive self-control, Elder Vinson.

There are other great conference moments (think mission age change, the first talk given in the speaker's native language, President Monson wiggling his ears, etc.) but Greta is getting antsy to read my blog and figure out why I'm over here laughing so much.

Enjoy conference this weekend :)

Hallelujah!

This is my 1 millionth (4th) attempt to blog today. Words are just really hard sometimes.

So, here's this:

And this: Because of Him (Because it is maybe my favorite video of all time.)
And this: Always Remember Him (Because this is also maybe my favorite video of all time. And because due to sickness, stake conference, and a temple dedication, today was the first time in weeks that I got to take the sacrament. I was SO excited for today. I've been looking forward to church all week because I knew I would finally get to take the sacrament. It was a good day.)

And this: Stranger's Blog (WARNING: This blog will probably-definitely make you cry. She's a friend of a friend. I don't personally know her, but my heart aches for her.)
And this: Christ the Lord is Risen Today (Because I was really upset after reading the above blog, and these lyrics came into my mind.)

I don't know why words are so hard for me today, but I do know that Christ lives. And because He lives, it will all be okay. Hallelujah!

Ugly buildings and better

Once upon a time in high school...

Lisa:     Hey, Mom - can you take me to that boutique I drove past once with Dad?
Mom:   Umm...sure. Do you know what it's called?
Lisa:     No.
Mom:   Do you know how to get there?
Lisa:     No.
Mom:   Do you have any idea where it is?
Lisa:     It's somewhere in Baton Rouge by some big, ugly buildings.

She got us to the boutique, in case you were wondering.

Once upon a time last week...

Lisa:     Hey, Megan - what's that song called that says "better"?
Megan: Better?
Lisa:     Yes, better.
Megan: Any other words?
Lisa:     I can't remember. But the song won't get out of my head and it's frustrating because I only know one word. *hums tune and sings only the word "better"*
Megan: Oh! I know what song you're talking about. I can't think of what it is though. But it says "no    more."

Two more words = success. Carine later solved the mystery. It's Adele's "Send My Love (to your new lover)". I know all the words now.

I really appreciate all the Sherlocks in my life.

First names, pants, and boys.

It's been a year.

There are very few people who still call me "Sister Hamilton." I'm really good at wearing pants (see my first post after I got home...pants were a struggle for awhile). And boys. Well, that's still a struggle.

Sister Hamilton's journal - March 21, 2015
Quarantine. ...Because of the meningitis outbreak on campus, we all have to stay in our apartments for the next week! We can't even go to church, and we had to cancel all of our appointments. They are bringing us a pill that will kill the bacteria if its in us. ... I'll get the pill and then they'll let me go home. ... It's like my mission just ended without warning. 

My heart broke that day. It was really hard. I cried. A lot. But I also recorded in my journal some really cool answers to prayers I got that day. God is so good.

We ended up getting permission to go to church as long as we didn't touch anyone (but let's be real...it was my last day in the field so there was plenty of hugging). And that's the last time I saw Tabsie.

Exactly a year after that last Sunday, I drove to Brigham City to see Tabatha and Drew sealed for time & eternity. My heart. Gosh, I don't even know how to write about how I felt on Tuesday. It was perfect.

Tabatha got baptized my last transfer, and Drew was my ward mission leader. They started dating soon after her baptism and were married last summer. He is the best fellowshipper <3 I love them.

It was fun to see some other Eugene people at the sealing, too! They still call me Sister Hamilton sometimes, and I love them for that.

I still hold to the comment I made in last year's blog post:

It was the best 18 months of my life. But this is going to be the best 18 months of my life, too. I figure as long as you are exactly where the Lord wants you to be, every 18 months can be the best. So here's to the next 18 months and whatever they might bring.

Dreams Come True

Just about every time I go on a date, I invite my roommates.

"Are you sure you don't want to come?"

"Yes, Lisa. He wants to go on a date with you. We aren't invited."

"But it would probably be more fun if y'all were there..."

"Lisa, you cannot invite us on your date."

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind..."

"Lisa. No."

"Fineeeeeee."

It's a common conversation. So when Caroline got called into work and couldn't make last night's double date, I was excited to get to drag Carine on the date with me.  AND THEN *drum roll* the boys came to pick us up and insisted Megan come too. Elliot is on Spring Break in California so she was going to spend the night home alone studying, but my dreams came true and I got to bring my besties on my date. It was as wonderful as I always imagined it would be. The bad news is that I will continue to want them to come on all my dates with me, because I was right: dates are more fun when they are there.

Whale Shark seeking companionship of a Blue Tang

Picture this: I'm at the movies with my pals. A Finding Dory preview comes on. Bailey the whale shark is introduced (see around 0:50 of the above clip). "It was so much fun because I'd tell you a story and then you'd completely forget about it and I'd get to tell it to you over and over again!" 

I feel my friends turn to face me. I look to my left, Greta is looking at me and smiling. I look to the right, Megan is doing the same. Their eyes meet and they burst out in laughter. So I have a little bit a reputation for telling stories over and over...and over. And evidently my friends have great memories.

Haha, Greta just informed me that I have significantly improved over the years we've been friends. #Progress.

Choosing J O Y

I love that my roommates have been reading Brene Brown. She is very important in my life, and it is so nice to have people to talk to that get it. Usually. Except when they use Brene against me. They like to remind me that I tend to numb through busyness. Which is true, I guess. I  do that sometimes. But there are also times when I am busy because I am choosing JOY. This weekend has been packed full with things that have made my heart happy.

I spent Friday morning with a group of the coolest 6th graders around. 1,100 5th & 6th graders from underprivileged schools came to visit BYU and get pumped about going to college one day. It was so much fun. I felt so alive. I was totally inspired by those kids. I needed them a million times more than they needed me.

Friday afternoon I helped out with a focus group of graduate students. We ended up going an hour over our allotted time because a couple students really opened up about some of their faith struggles and things professors had done/said that had really brought them out of some dark places. As they shared their struggles and triumphs, I felt the Spirit rush into the room and testify of God's love for them and for me. It was beautiful.

Saturday morning, Greta and I volunteered at the Rex Lee cancer run. There is nothing better than seeing a group of people come together to support others.

This weekend was also Stake Conference. Satan tries so hard to get me to not pay attention. Sometimes he succeeds and I give in to boredom. But when I can push him away and really pay attention, I learn soooo much! It's amazing what the Spirit can teach you.

After church, Greta and I headed up to the temple to read. This nice weather rolling in is doing wonders for my attitude. When the sun is shining, it seems a little easier to believe it will all work out.

Life is good. I choose joy.

Betsy Phillips.

You know what's great? A song that just gets you. You know what's better? An artist that just gets you.

Betsy Phillips. I just cannot get enough. I love every single song. Unfortunately, she has only released five songs. FIVE. I know me. I will listen to those five songs on repeat until I can't stand them. So I really need her to release new music ASAP. Probs she's broke and needs to be more famous so she can afford to record more. Everyone go listen to her music right now. Let's make her super duper Taylor Swift famous overnight so that I'll never have a Betsy Phillips song shortage.

If you use Spotify, you can access all 5 songs. SoundCloud has 3. YouTube has a couple if you dig. Or you can buy all 5 songs for only $4.95 on iTunes (which you should seriously do).This is a serious situation, people. She only has 78 followers on SoundCloud (including me). 744 instagram followers (again including me). PEOPLE - she is fantastic! And she needs more support so that I can continue to listen to my life in song form.

UPDATE: I am becoming a bigger fan every minute. Greta encouraged me to send her a message on instagram. I did. Betsy responded and she is seriously the sweetest person. You are all going to love her.

I'm alive.

HELLO WORLD! I am alive. After three days of not leaving my bed, I ventured back into the world today. Boy oh boy, there is nothing so wonderful as health. Sickness is such a good reminder to be grateful for health. I'm kind of a baby about being sick. It's really hard for me to remember that I was healthy before and I will be healthy again. But once I'm healthy it's really hard for me to remember how awful being sick is. Knowing this, my roommates gauge how well I am feeling by our topics of conversation:

Valid.

And now, a list of Lisa Lately stories:

• On Thursday (when I was sick, but not bedridden sick) Greta had a hot date. I had Facebook stalked the guy, naturally, but I hadn't seen him in person yet and I wanted a glimpse. So when I heard the knock at the door and Greta got up to answer it, I said "NOOO! Let me get it!" And jumped out of bed and ran to the door. Unfortunately, Carine beat me to it. When I saw Carine was at the door, I got distracted and ran straight into a wall--just in time for Greta's date to see, of course. 
• I also walked into a door this weekend. I don't have a good excuse for that one. But I was carrying a glass of water, and it made for a really great Seaworld reenactment. 
• While we're on this spilling water thing, I also learned that, no matter how good of an idea it seems at 4am, drinking water while laying down is impossible without a straw. Let's just say I dumped a class of water all over myself. Too tired to do anything about it, I flipped my pillow over and went right back to sleep.
• I think my sensitive gag reflex might have made its grand return. Lovely. I coughed so much a threw up. Kind of understandable. But then I threw up because I brushed my teeth. Gagging while brushing teeth? Normal. Actually vomiting? Not okay. It went something like this:
• Brush. Vomit. Re-brush, because umm...gross vomit taste in my mouth. Vomit, because evidently I can't have a toothbrush in my mouth without dying. Brush, again. Vomit. Give up. 

Shout out to all the lovely friends who brought me food while I was sick! You da best.

6'2

I often live my life through lyrics. I hear songs and think "YESSSSSS! That's the thing!" And then I feel so validated because somewhere out there is a songwriter who gets me.

Last night, I shared my current songs-that-really-get-me with the roommates. They laughed at the perfectness of the songs and then said "Lisa, where in the world do you always find songs that describe your life so perfectly?!" It's fate. And Pandora. And Spotify. But mostly fate.

So here's to patience (until July 1st) and trying to give up my ideas for His.