Text in quotes are from the talk being noted, unless otherwise indicated. Text without quotes are my own commentary.
President Thomas S. Monson - As We Meet Together Again
New Temples
“We continue to build temples. This morning I am pleased to announce five additional temples for which sites are being acquired and which, in coming months and years, will be built in the following locations: Lisbon, Portugal; Indianapolis, Indiana; Urdaneta, Philippines; Hartford, Connecticut; and Tijuana, Mexico.”
I have been a member of the Church for almost 25 years. When I first joined the Church the closets temple to much of Indiana was Chicago. In March of 2000 the Louisville temple was dedicated, which allowed for a much closer temple for the central and southern parts of the state.
With several other states having multiple temples, I always longed for a temple in my state. I had always hoped the time was getting close for Indiana to have a temple, but it seemed like it was always “someday”.
We were watching this session of conference via the internet. The microphone for the speakers seemed to not be connected to the internet stream. We could hear the choir sing, but no the speakers. Consequently we missed President Monson’s talk, so I had no idea new temples had been announced. I logged onto Twitter to see my feed of people watching conference and I saw someone say “Indianapolis Indiana Temple”. I was sure it was true, but it was still unreal. I instant messaged a good friend in Indiana and asked if President Monson really said that. He confirmed it, but it still didn’t really hit me.
Later I found that the video from President Monson’s talk was online. I watched it and when he said the words Indianapolis Indiana I got choked up. I think some of it was the feeling that he is aware of us. I showed the video to each of my kids at various times in the day and each time it hit me really hard.
We moved from Indiana a few years ago, but it still feels good that Indiana is getting a temple.
They were talking about temples in primary the weekend after conference and one of the little girls talked of a temple being built in Brigham City and it being close to her grandparents. My daughter spoke up excitedly and said that there was going to be a temple build in Indianapolis. The room went silent. Not sure if no one know where Indianapolis is or if it is just not a big deal to them, since it is so far away.
Missionary Service
“Missionary service is a priesthood duty—an obligation the Lord expects of us who have been given so very much.”
“And now to you mature brothers and sisters: we need many, many more senior couples”
Elder Jeffery R. Holland - Because of Your Faith
“And to the near-perfect elderly sister who almost apologetically whispered recently, ‘I have never been a leader of anything in the Church. I guess I’ve only been a helper,’ I say, ‘Dear sister, God bless you and all the ‘helpers’ in the kingdom.’ Some of us who are leaders hope someday to have the standing before God that you have already attained.”
Rosemary M. Wixom - Stay on the Path
Alma 24:14
14 And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our asouls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the bplan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations.
“When our intent is to hold tight to the word of God, our reading of the scriptures can be just one verse at a time. It’s never too late to begin. You can start now.”
Elder Claudio R. M. Costa - Obedience to the Prophets
Amos 3:7
7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, abut he brevealeth his csecret unto his servants the dprophets.
Articles of Faith 6
6 We believe in the same aorganization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, bprophets, cpastors, dteachers, eevangelists, and so forth.
“First: The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything”
“Second: The living prophet is more vital to us than the Standard Works.”
“Eleventh: The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich. “(1980 Devotional Speeches of the Year [1981], 26), see also (Ezra Taft Benson, “Fourteen Fundamentals,” 26) and (Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet, Liahona, June 1981).
There were two talks in General Conference that cited these 14 points from Elder Ezra Taft Benson, four years before he became prophet.
President David M. McConkie, General Sunday School President - Gospel Learning and Teaching
“Think for a moment of a teacher who really made a difference in your life. What was it about him or her that caused you to remember what was taught, to want to discover the truth for yourself, to exercise your agency and act and not just to be acted upon—in other words, to learn? What was it about this teacher that set him or her apart from the rest?”
“What matters most is the attitude or spirit by which the teacher teaches.”
“I would like to discuss four basic principles of gospel teaching.”
“First...We cannot love what we do not know. Develop a habit of daily scripture study, separate and apart from your lesson preparation. Before we can teach the gospel, we must know the gospel.”
“Second, apply in your life the things that you learn.”
“Third, seek heaven’s help.”
Doctrine and Covenants 42:14
14And the Spirit shall be given unto you aby the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the bSpirit ye shall not teach.
“Fourth, brothers and sisters, it is of utmost importance that we exercise our agency and act, without delay, in accordance with the spiritual promptings we receive.”
While listening to this talk I saw someone say on Twitter that President McConkie is Bruce R McConkie’s nephew.
“age and maturity and intellectual training are not in any way or to any degree necessary to communion with the Lord and His Spirit.” (J. Reuben Clark Jr., Ensign September 2002, Excerpts from The Charted Course of the Church in Education)
Elder D. Todd Christofferson - Reflections on a Consecrated Life
“Life offers you two precious gifts—one is time, the other freedom of choice, the freedom to buy with your time what you will. You are free to exchange your allotment of time for thrills. You may trade it for base desires. You may invest it in greed. …” (Man’s Search for Happiness (pamphlet, 1969), 4–5. See also Man’s Search for Happiness)
“I would like to consider with you five of the elements of a consecrated life: purity, work, respect for one’s physical body, service, and integrity.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf - Of Things That Matter Most
“This is a simple but critical lesson to learn. It may seem logical when put in terms of trees or turbulence, but it’s surprising how easy it is to ignore this lesson when it comes to applying these principles in our own daily lives. When stress levels rise, when distress appears, when tragedy strikes, too often we attempt to keep up the same frantic pace or even accelerate, thinking somehow that the more rushed our pace, the better off we will be.”
Trees and turbulence teach us to slow down and focus on the basics when encountering adversity.
“It is said that any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice.”
“There is more to life than increasing its speed.” (Mahatma Gandhi, in Larry Chang, Wisdom for the Soul (2006), 356.)
“When we look at the foundational principles of the plan of happiness, the plan of salvation, we can recognize and appreciate in its plainness and simplicity the elegance and beauty of our Heavenly Father’s wisdom. Then, turning our ways to His ways is the beginning of our wisdom.”
“Strength comes not from frantic activity but from being settled on a firm foundation of truth and light. It comes from placing our attention and efforts on the basics of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It comes from paying attention to the divine things that matter most.”
President Thomas S. Monson - As We Meet Together Again
New Temples
“We continue to build temples. This morning I am pleased to announce five additional temples for which sites are being acquired and which, in coming months and years, will be built in the following locations: Lisbon, Portugal; Indianapolis, Indiana; Urdaneta, Philippines; Hartford, Connecticut; and Tijuana, Mexico.”
I have been a member of the Church for almost 25 years. When I first joined the Church the closets temple to much of Indiana was Chicago. In March of 2000 the Louisville temple was dedicated, which allowed for a much closer temple for the central and southern parts of the state.
With several other states having multiple temples, I always longed for a temple in my state. I had always hoped the time was getting close for Indiana to have a temple, but it seemed like it was always “someday”.
We were watching this session of conference via the internet. The microphone for the speakers seemed to not be connected to the internet stream. We could hear the choir sing, but no the speakers. Consequently we missed President Monson’s talk, so I had no idea new temples had been announced. I logged onto Twitter to see my feed of people watching conference and I saw someone say “Indianapolis Indiana Temple”. I was sure it was true, but it was still unreal. I instant messaged a good friend in Indiana and asked if President Monson really said that. He confirmed it, but it still didn’t really hit me.
Later I found that the video from President Monson’s talk was online. I watched it and when he said the words Indianapolis Indiana I got choked up. I think some of it was the feeling that he is aware of us. I showed the video to each of my kids at various times in the day and each time it hit me really hard.
We moved from Indiana a few years ago, but it still feels good that Indiana is getting a temple.
They were talking about temples in primary the weekend after conference and one of the little girls talked of a temple being built in Brigham City and it being close to her grandparents. My daughter spoke up excitedly and said that there was going to be a temple build in Indianapolis. The room went silent. Not sure if no one know where Indianapolis is or if it is just not a big deal to them, since it is so far away.
Missionary Service
“Missionary service is a priesthood duty—an obligation the Lord expects of us who have been given so very much.”
“And now to you mature brothers and sisters: we need many, many more senior couples”
Elder Jeffery R. Holland - Because of Your Faith
“And to the near-perfect elderly sister who almost apologetically whispered recently, ‘I have never been a leader of anything in the Church. I guess I’ve only been a helper,’ I say, ‘Dear sister, God bless you and all the ‘helpers’ in the kingdom.’ Some of us who are leaders hope someday to have the standing before God that you have already attained.”
“President James E. Faust stood at this pulpit 13 years ago and said, ‘As a small boy … , I remember my grandmother … cooking our delicious meals on a hot woodstove. When the wood box next to the stove became empty, Grandmother would silently … go out to refill it from the pile of cedar wood outside, and bring the heavily laden box back into the house. I was so insensitive … [that] I sat there and let my beloved grandmother refill [that] box.’ Then, his voice choking with emotion, he said, ‘I feel ashamed of myself and have regretted my omission for all of my life. I hope someday to ask for her forgiveness.’”
Rosemary M. Wixom - Stay on the Path
Alma 24:14
14 And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our asouls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the bplan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations.
“When our intent is to hold tight to the word of God, our reading of the scriptures can be just one verse at a time. It’s never too late to begin. You can start now.”
Elder Claudio R. M. Costa - Obedience to the Prophets
Amos 3:7
7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, abut he brevealeth his csecret unto his servants the dprophets.
Articles of Faith 6
6 We believe in the same aorganization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, bprophets, cpastors, dteachers, eevangelists, and so forth.
“First: The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything”
“Second: The living prophet is more vital to us than the Standard Works.”
“Eleventh: The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich. “(1980 Devotional Speeches of the Year [1981], 26), see also (Ezra Taft Benson, “Fourteen Fundamentals,” 26) and (Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet, Liahona, June 1981).
There were two talks in General Conference that cited these 14 points from Elder Ezra Taft Benson, four years before he became prophet.
President David M. McConkie, General Sunday School President - Gospel Learning and Teaching
“Think for a moment of a teacher who really made a difference in your life. What was it about him or her that caused you to remember what was taught, to want to discover the truth for yourself, to exercise your agency and act and not just to be acted upon—in other words, to learn? What was it about this teacher that set him or her apart from the rest?”
“What matters most is the attitude or spirit by which the teacher teaches.”
“I would like to discuss four basic principles of gospel teaching.”
“First...We cannot love what we do not know. Develop a habit of daily scripture study, separate and apart from your lesson preparation. Before we can teach the gospel, we must know the gospel.”
“Second, apply in your life the things that you learn.”
“Third, seek heaven’s help.”
Doctrine and Covenants 42:14
14And the Spirit shall be given unto you aby the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the bSpirit ye shall not teach.
“Fourth, brothers and sisters, it is of utmost importance that we exercise our agency and act, without delay, in accordance with the spiritual promptings we receive.”
While listening to this talk I saw someone say on Twitter that President McConkie is Bruce R McConkie’s nephew.
“age and maturity and intellectual training are not in any way or to any degree necessary to communion with the Lord and His Spirit.” (J. Reuben Clark Jr., Ensign September 2002, Excerpts from The Charted Course of the Church in Education)
Elder D. Todd Christofferson - Reflections on a Consecrated Life
“Life offers you two precious gifts—one is time, the other freedom of choice, the freedom to buy with your time what you will. You are free to exchange your allotment of time for thrills. You may trade it for base desires. You may invest it in greed. …” (Man’s Search for Happiness (pamphlet, 1969), 4–5. See also Man’s Search for Happiness)
“I would like to consider with you five of the elements of a consecrated life: purity, work, respect for one’s physical body, service, and integrity.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf - Of Things That Matter Most
“This is a simple but critical lesson to learn. It may seem logical when put in terms of trees or turbulence, but it’s surprising how easy it is to ignore this lesson when it comes to applying these principles in our own daily lives. When stress levels rise, when distress appears, when tragedy strikes, too often we attempt to keep up the same frantic pace or even accelerate, thinking somehow that the more rushed our pace, the better off we will be.”
Trees and turbulence teach us to slow down and focus on the basics when encountering adversity.
“It is said that any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice.”
“There is more to life than increasing its speed.” (Mahatma Gandhi, in Larry Chang, Wisdom for the Soul (2006), 356.)
“When we look at the foundational principles of the plan of happiness, the plan of salvation, we can recognize and appreciate in its plainness and simplicity the elegance and beauty of our Heavenly Father’s wisdom. Then, turning our ways to His ways is the beginning of our wisdom.”
“Strength comes not from frantic activity but from being settled on a firm foundation of truth and light. It comes from placing our attention and efforts on the basics of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It comes from paying attention to the divine things that matter most.”
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