Sunday, April 30, 2017

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 30 April 2017

 Bulletin

Mosiah 2:41

41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.


Sacrament Service

First Speaker

“Heavenly Father has given you agency, the ability to choose right from wrong and to act for yourself.” (For the Strength of Youth pamphlet)


2 Nephi 2:27

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.


“All beings who have bodies have power over those who have not. The devil has no power over us only as we permit him. The moment we revolt at anything which comes from God, the devil takes power” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 181).


“We are free to obey or to ignore the spirit and the letter of the law. But the agency granted to man is a moral agency (see D&C 101:78). We are not free to break our covenants and escape the consequences” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1990, 108; or Ensign, Nov. 1990, 84).


We need to look at the sin as bad, but not the person.


Second Speaker

Matthew 22

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.


John 14

15 ¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;


Part of loving our neighbor is to share the gospel with them.


Missionary work is mostly not big things, but a lot of little things.


Who can we help today?


Sunday School 

How important is reverence? 


“Irreverent conduct in our chapels is worthy of a reminder, if not reproof. Leaders should teach that reverence invites revelation.


“The reverence we speak of does not equate with absolute silence. We must be tolerant of little babies, even an occasional outburst from a toddler being ushered out to keep him from disturbing the peace. Unless the father is on the stand, he should do the ushering.” (Elder Boyd K. Packer, “Reverence Invites Revelation”, October 1991 General Conference)


“And as we move forward into a wonderful future, there are what some may regard as the lesser commandments but which are also of such tremendous importance.


“I mention the Sabbath day. The Sabbath of the Lord is becoming the play day of the people. It is a day of golf and football on television, of buying and selling in our stores and markets. Are we moving to mainstream America as some observers believe? In this I fear we are. What a telling thing it is to see the parking lots of the markets filled on Sunday in communities that are predominately LDS.


“Our strength for the future, our resolution to grow the Church across the world, will be weakened if we violate the will of the Lord in this important matter. He has so very clearly spoken anciently and again in modern revelation. We cannot disregard with impunity that which He has said.” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, “Look to the Future”, October 1997 General Conference)


“The journey of discipleship is not an easy one. It has been called a “course of steady improvement.” As we travel along that strait and narrow path, the Spirit continually challenges us to be better and to climb higher. The Holy Ghost makes an ideal traveling companion. If we are humble and teachable, He will take us by the hand and lead us home.” (Elder Larry R. Lawrence, “What Lack I Yet?”, October 2015 General Conference)


Coming to church is a harbor where we refill our vessels. 


Joint Priesthood and Relief Society

Spiritual Preparedness

We are children of God, but we are not perfect.  We are made in God's image, but we are infants. 


Joel 2

1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

28 ¶ And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.


Matthew 22

28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.


's talk "The Reality of Things" given at the 2021 General Conference. The quote reads:


"It is difficult to see blessings sometimes. The reality of what is happening around us can be overwhelming, and it can be hard to imagine how anything good could come from such pain and suffering. But the Lord has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us, and that He will always be with us, even in the midst of our darkest moments. If we will trust Him and keep our eyes open, we will see His hand in our lives, even in the most difficult of times." (I have not been able to find the source of this)


“that the Church would spread, prosper, grow and extend, and that in proportion to the spread of the Gospel among the nations of the earth, so would the power of Satan rise.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe (1954), 72.)


Dnc 45:26

26 And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men's hearts shall fail them, and they shall say that Christ delayeth his coming until the end of the earth.


One of Satan's tools is discouragement. 


Matthew 16:18

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.


Helaman 5:12

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.


Sunday, April 23, 2017

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 23 April 2017

 Bulletin

2 Nephi 32:3

3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.


Sacrament Service

First Speaker

“Everyone needs good friends. Your circle of friends will greatly influence your thinking and behavior, just as you will theirs. When you share common values with your friends, you can strengthen and encourage each other. Treat everyone with kindness and dignity. Many nonmembers have come into the Church through friends who have involved them in Church activities.” - For the Strength of Youth pamphlet


Second Speaker

“Heavenly Father has given you gifts and talents and knows what you are capable of achieving. Seek His help and guidance as you work to achieve your goals” (For the Strength of Youth, 40).


The speaker expressed that our spiritual bank account is not filled by obedient living, but by living a life of gratitude, even in sorrow and pain.


Isaiah 55:8

8 ¶ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.


Sunday School 

“The promise was made in the days of the primitive church of Jesus Christ that all who would repent, be baptized for the remission of sins and would be faithful, should receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. That same promise has been made to all who will accept the Gospel in this dispensation” (“Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith”, Chapter 14)


Dnc 46:13-27 - Gifts of the Spirit


“I have spoken of many different spiritual gifts. I have pointed out that these gifts come by the power of the Holy Ghost and that they are available to every member of the Church, male and female.


“We should seek after spiritual gifts. They can lead us to God. They can shield us from the power of the adversary. They can compensate for our inadequacies and repair our imperfections.” (Elder Dallin H Oaks, “Spiritual Gifts,” Ensign, Sept. 1986, 72)


“Spiritual gifts are endless in number and infinite in variety. Those listed in the revealed word are simply illustrations of the boundless outpouring of divine grace that a gracious God gives those who love and serve him” (Elder Bruce R McConkie, “A New Witness for the Articles of Faith” [1985], 371).


Elders Quorum 

The lesson was based on the talk “Lest Thou Forget” by Elder Ronald A Rasband, 2016 General Conference


Why do we go to church? 


Spiritual nourishment, building our ward family by being together and having a common experience, building our immediate family for the same reason, reminding ourselves to be loving, to become less self consumed, help us to recognize Satan’s counterfeit marketing,


Because the doctrines of Christ are simple, doesn’t make them easy. Hiking a mountain trail is simple, but is often challenging.


Sunday, April 16, 2017

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 16 April 2017

Bulletin 

John 11:25

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:


Sacrament Service

First Speaker

Christ’s entire life was built to provide the atonement.


“Christ's agony in the garden is unfathomable by the finite mind, both as to intensity and cause. The thought that he suffered through fear of death is untenable. Death to Him was preliminary to resurrection and triumphal return to the Father from whom He had come, and to a state of glory even beyond what He had before possessed; and, moreover, it was within His power to lay down His life voluntarily. He struggled and groaned under a burden such as no other being who has lived on earth might even conceive as possible. It was not a physical pain, nor mental anguish alone, that caused Him to suffer such torture as to produce an extrusion of blood from every pore; but a spiritual agony of soul such as only God was capable of experiencing. No other man, however great his powers of physical or mental endurance, could have suffered so; for his human organism would have succumbed, and syncope would have produced unconsciousness and welcome oblivion. In that hour of anguish Christ met and overcame all the horrors that Satan, "the prince of this world" could inflict...

In some manner, actual and terribly real though to man incomprehensible, the Savior took upon Himself the burden of the sins of mankind from Adam to the end of the world…”

“...The further tragedy of the night, and the cruel inflictions that awaited Him on the morrow, to culminate in the frightful tortures of the cross, could not exceed the bitter anguish through which he had successfully passed.”  (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1916], pp. 613-14)


Whenever we have a bad day or bad emotion, he has felt that exact emotion.


Crucifixion was designed to be as painful and uncomfortable as possible.


Isaiah 1:18

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.


“As I pondered the history of Dresden and marveled at the ingenuity and resolve of those who restored what had been so completely destroyed, I felt the sweet influence of the Holy Spirit. Surely, I thought, if man can take the ruins, rubble, and remains of a broken city and rebuild an awe-inspiring structure that rises toward the heavens, how much more capable is our Almighty Father to restore His children who have fallen, struggled, or become lost?” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “He Will Place You on His Shoulders and Carry You Home”, April 2016 General Conference)


Second Speaker

“Those totally committed to Christ will come forth in the first resurrection.”


Sunday School 

The Law of Consecration 

Edward Partridge at first turned away early LDS missionaries as impostors. He later became the first bishop of the Church. 


Consecrate means to set aside for a specific use. Once it is consecrated, you give up the right to direct it. 


Doctrine and Covenants 42:30–31

30 And behold, thou wilt remember the poor, and consecrate of thy properties for their support that which thou hast to impart unto them, with a covenant and a deed which cannot be broken.

31 And inasmuch as ye impart of your substance unto the poor, ye will do it unto me; and they shall be laid before the bishop of my church and his counselors, two of the elders, or high priests, such as he shall appoint or has appointed and set apart for that purpose.


The law of consecration is about the words “all” and “love”. 


Doctrine and Covenants 59:5

5 Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.


“Those who do not see their weaknesses do not progress. Your awareness of your weakness is a blessing as it helps you remain humble and keeps you turning to the Savior. The Spirit not only comforts you, but He is also the agent by which the Atonement works a change in your very nature. Then weak things become strong.” (President Henry B. Eyring, “My Peace I Leave with You”, April 2017 General Conference)


Elders Quorum 

My lesson chapter 8

From the second paragraph under From the Life of Gordon B Hinckley till the end of that section

“We recently held an open house in the [Mesa] Arizona Temple. Following a complete renovation of that building, nearly a quarter of a million people saw its beautiful interior. On the first day of the opening, clergymen of other religions were invited as special guests, and hundreds responded. It was my privilege to speak to them and to answer their questions at the conclusion of their tours. I told them that we would be pleased to answer any queries they might have. Many were asked. Among these was one which came from a Protestant minister. 


“Said he: ‘I’ve been all through this building, this temple which carries on its face the name of Jesus Christ, but nowhere have I seen any representation of the cross, the symbol of Christianity.  I have noted your buildings elsewhere and likewise find an absence of the cross. Why is this when you say you believe in Jesus Christ?’ 


“I responded: ‘I do not wish to give offense to any of my Christian brethren who use the cross on the steeples of their cathedrals and at the altars of their chapels, who wear it on their vestments, and imprint it on their books and other literature. But for us, the cross is the symbol of the dying Christ, while our message is a declaration of the living Christ.’ 


“He then asked: ‘If you do not use the cross, what is the symbol of your religion?’


“I replied that the lives of our people must become the only meaningful expression of our faith and, in fact, therefore, the symbol of our worship. . . . 


“. . . No sign, no work of art, no representation of form is adequate to express the glory and the wonder of the Living Christ. He told us what that symbol should be when he said, ‘If ye love me, keep my commandments.’ (John 14:15.) 


“As his followers, we cannot do a mean or shoddy or ungracious thing without tarnishing his image. Nor can we do a good and gracious and generous act without burnishing more brightly the symbol of him whose name we have taken upon ourselves. 


“And so our lives must become a meaningful expression, the symbol of our declaration of our testimony of the Living Christ, the Eternal Son of the Living God. “It is that simple, my brethren and sisters, and that profound and we’d better never forget it.”


When I was on my mission we were teaching a lady.  One day we were in the chapel with her and she asked about why there were no crosses.  I asked her to think about what symbol churches would use to represent the Savior if he had been killed by hanging or beheading or by being shot.



This talks about tactics against Christ and his mission.  It says:

“[Jesus] fasted for 40 days and was tempted of the devil, who sought to take Him from His divinely appointed mission. To the adversary’s invitation, He responded, ‘Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God’ (Matt. 4:7), again declaring His divine sonship.”


We are not sons of God in the same way Jesus is The Son of God, but we are sons of God.  Thinking of Christ’s temptations, does Satan use the same temptations on us to attempt to take us away from our divine mission?


Let’s read Matthew 4:1-11, thinking about the ways Satan has come at you to tempt you.  Think about the things that you would have been sacrificing if you caved to that temptation.


1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.


When you have declined to take Satan’s bait, have you ever felt Satan leave and angels minister unto you?


Would someone read the first two paragraphs in section 2 on Page 133? 

“There is a . . . battle being waged for the faith of men, but the lines are not always . . . clearly drawn, for even among the forces of Christianity there are those who would destroy the divinity of the Christ in whose name they speak. They might be disregarded if their voices were not so seductive, if their influence were not so far-reaching, if their reason were not so subtle.


“. . . Multitudes will gather on a thousand hills to welcome the dawn of the Easter day and to remind themselves of the story of the Christ, whose resurrection they will commemorate. In language both beautiful and hopeful, preachers of many faiths will recount the story of the empty tomb. To them—and to you—I raise this question: ‘Do you actually believe it?’”


They will recount the story of the empty tomb. We live in a day of rich stories of superheroes that heal and don't die, and of zombies and vampires that come back from the dead. 


Is Christ's resurrection just another story? Is the promise of our own resurrection to immortality just another story to make us feel powerful? 


Now let’s think about the questions that the lesson asks us next.

“Do you actually believe that Jesus was the Son of God, the literal offspring of the Father?


“Do you believe that the voice of God, the Eternal Father, was heard above the waters of Jordan declaring, ‘This is my beloved

Son, in whom I am well pleased’? (Matt. 3:17.)


“Do you believe that this same Jesus was the worker of miracles, the healer of the sick, the restorer of the infirm, the giver of life to the dead?


“Do you believe that following his death on Calvary’s hill and his burial in Joseph’s tomb, he came forth alive the third day?


“Do you actually believe that he yet lives—real, vital, and personal— and that he will come again as promised by the angels at

his ascension?


“Do you actually believe these things? If you do, then you are part of a shrinking body of literalists who more and more are being smiled at by philosophers, who more and more are being ridiculed by certain educators, and who more and more are being considered ‘out of it’ by a growing coterie of ministers of religion and influential theologians.”



President Hinckley goes on to say:

“. . . In the eyes of these intellectuals, these are myths—the birth of Jesus as the Son of God of whom the angels sang on Judea’s plains, the worker of miracles who healed the sick and raised the dead, the Christ resurrected from the grave, the ascension and the promised return.


“These modern theologians strip him of his divinity and then wonder why men do not worship him.


“These clever scholars have taken from Jesus the mantle of godhood and have left only a man. They have tried to accommodate him to their own narrow thinking. They have robbed him of his divine sonship and taken from the world its rightful King. . . .


“. . . I give our solemn witness that God is not dead, except as he is viewed with a lifeless interpretation. . . .”


Sunday, April 09, 2017

Church Services This Week at Oak Ridge Ward Layton North Stake Layton Utah 9 April 2017

Bulletin

Article of Faith 6

6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.


Sacrament Service

A brother who served in the Navy with President Monson told of how he spoke recently at a veteran’s home about his service with President Monson.


A brother bore testimony of stepping outside and recognizing that this earth was created and isn’t just an accident.  He also talked about that he has seen too much in life that affirms that the Church is the true Church of Christ.  I second that testimony.  He testified that we are not animals, but children of the creator of the Earth.


A brother shared that he felt the purpose of prayer is to change our focus to what is most important.  He expressed that when he watches the news or reads blogs or things like that, that he is often upset or confused.  He contrasted that with how he gains clarity and peace when he reads the Book of Mormon.


An eight year old that just got baptized bore his testimony that when he prays he feels good.


A brother talked about two men that were in the military with his father.  Because they lived their religion, his father wanted to know more and joined the Church.


A sister told of how she has seen Heavenly Father’s hand in the little things in her life.


Sunday School 

Lesson 13-Doctrine and Covenants

The teacher said that he admires Joseph Smith's work ethic in restoring the gospel. 


Over half the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants came while Joseph was translating the Bible. 


Dnc 5:10

10 But this generation shall have my word through you;


We have been told that we can substitute the word generation with the word dispensation. 


Moses 1:40-41

40 And now, Moses, my son, I will speak unto thee concerning this earth upon which thou standest; and thou shalt write the things which I shall speak.

41 And in a day when the children of men shall esteem my words as naught and take many of them from the book which thou shalt write, behold, I will raise up another like unto thee; and they shall be had again among the children of men—among as many as shall believe.


2 Nephi 3:11-15

11 But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins—and not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.

12 Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.

13 And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.

14 And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless; and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise, which I have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of my loins, shall be fulfilled. Behold, I am sure of the fulfilling of this promise;

15 And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation.


Article of Faith 8

8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.


We often do not have a very good picture of the very little understanding the early members of the Church had about doctrine compared to what we have today. 


There is a printers museum in Provo in a little house that you can go through for five dollars. 


The teacher recommended the book “Foundations of the Revelations”.


Elders Quorum 

Chapter 7 Teachings President Gordon B Hinckley

People expressed that conference had a lot of talks that touched on the Holy Ghost. 


The teacher said that some of the ideas for his lesson came from Elder Rasband’s talk. “Let the Holy Spirit Guide”


‘The Holy Ghost is the Testifier of Truth, who can teach [us] things [we] cannot teach one another.” - from the manual


“The Holy Ghost binds us to the Lord. By divine assignment, He inspires, testifies, teaches, and prompts us to walk in the light of the Lord. We have the sacred responsibility to learn to recognize His influence in our lives and respond.” - Elder Rasband


“That is the way it is. There is a still, small voice. It comes in response to prayer. It comes by the whispering of the Spirit. It may come in the silence of the night.


“Do I have any question of that? None whatever. I have seen it in instance after instance.” - from the manual


When we have the spirit with us we learn more. Things make more sense. 


“The Spirit speaks words that we feel. These feelings are gentle, a nudge to act, to do something, to say something, to respond in a certain way. If we are casual or complacent in our worship, drawn off and desensitized by worldly pursuits, we find ourselves diminished in our ability to feel.” - Rasband


“You impose upon yourselves each Sunday a renewal of your pledge and covenant to take upon yourselves the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Did you ever think of that, of how important that is, of what it means to take upon yourselves the name of the Lord Jesus Christ with a pledge and a promise to keep His commandments? And He makes a pledge and a promise to you that He will give you His Spirit to be with you. What a wonderful thing that is.” - from the manual

Saturday, April 01, 2017

This Week at Church April 2017 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Saturday Morning Session
President Henry B Eyring, Gathering the Family Of God
“...it has been going on continuously since the early days of the Restoration of the Church, and it has been hastening in recent years. I refer to the gathering of the family of God.”

“Because He loves us with the love of a perfect Father, He wants us to progress and advance and become like Him. He ordained a plan by which we would come to earth, in families, and have experiences that would prepare us to return to Him and live as He lives.”

“The central element of this plan was the promise that Jesus Christ would offer Himself as a sacrifice, to rescue us from sin and death. Our task in that plan is to accept the Savior’s sacrifice by obeying the laws and ordinances of the gospel.”

“But we were not sent here completely in the dark. Each of us was given a portion of God’s light, called the “Light of Christ,” to help us distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong. This is why even those who live with little or no knowledge of the Father’s plan can still sense, in their hearts, that certain actions are just and moral while others are not.”

“Families are the basic organizational unit of the eternal realms, and so He intends for them also to be the basic unit on earth. Though earthly families are far from perfect, they give God’s children the best chance to be welcomed to the world with the only love on earth that comes close to what we felt in heaven—parental love. Families are also the best way to preserve and pass on moral virtues and true principles that are most likely to lead us back to God’s presence.”

“Our Heavenly Father is anxious to gather and bless all of His family. While He knows that not all of them will choose to be gathered, His plan gives each of His children the opportunity to accept or reject His invitation. And families are at the heart of this plan”

“At ever-increasing rates, people seem drawn to their ancestry with more than just casual curiosity.”

“Why is all of this happening? For lack of a better term, we call it the “spirit of Elijah.” We could also equally call it “fulfillment of prophecy.” I bear testimony that Elijah did come. The hearts of the children—of you and me—have turned to our fathers, our ancestors. The affection you feel for your ancestors is part of the fulfillment of that prophecy. ”

“...to gather and unite God’s family requires more than just warm feelings. It requires sacred covenants made in connection with priesthood ordinances.”

7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

“...the best technology can never be a substitute for revelation from heaven...”

“...many youth have discovered that giving of their time to do family history research and temple work has deepened their testimony of the plan of salvation. It has increased the influence of the Spirit in their lives and decreased the influence of the adversary. It has helped them feel closer to their families and closer to the Lord Jesus Christ. They have learned that this work saves not just the dead; it saves all of us (see D&C 128:18).”

M Joseph Brough, His Daily Guiding Hand
“My prayer is that each of you will recognize in your experiences that Heavenly Father is leading, guiding, and walking beside you and, with that knowledge, you will proceed with confidence, knowing you are never really alone.”

“Tolerating improper behavior without loving correction is false compassion and reinforces the common notion that wickedness might in fact be happiness. ”

16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

“Let your covenants be paramount and let your obedience be exact. Then you can ask in faith, nothing wavering, according to your need, and God will answer. He will sustain you as you work and watch. In His own time and way He will stretch forth His hand to you, saying, ‘Here am I.’” (D. Todd Christofferson, “The Power of Covenants,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 22)

Elder Weatherford T Clayton, Our Father’s Glorious Plan
“The world sees birth and death as the beginning and the end. But because of God’s holy plan, we know that birth and death are actually just milestones on our journey to eternal life with our Heavenly Father.1They are essential parts of our Father’s plan—sacred moments when mortality and heaven intersect.”

“There in the Garden of Gethsemane, He began to pay the price for our sins and our sicknesses, our pains and our infirmities.19 Because He did, we will never be alone in those infirmities if we choose to walk with Him.”

Elder Dale G Renlund, Our Good Shepherd
“We get a glimpse into our Heavenly Father’s character as we recognize the immense compassion He has for sinners and appreciate the distinction He makes between sin and those who sin.”
“As we become more like Him, we learn to treat others as He does, regardless of any outward characteristic or behavior.

“All the same, should the scabs of the sheep cause the shepherd to recoil?” (The narrator asks, Toutefois, la gale de la brebis doit-elle faire reculer le pasteur? (Hugo, Les Misérables [1985], book 1, chapter 10, page 67). Gale, in veterinary pathology, refers to any of a variety of skin diseases caused by parasitic mites and characterized by loss of hair and scabby eruptions (“mange” in English). This phrase has been translated in various ways into English.)

“This shepherd, our Good Shepherd, finds joy in seeing His diseased sheep progress toward healing.”

“While God is empathetic, we should not mistakenly believe that He is accepting and open-minded about sin. He is not. The Savior came to earth to save us from our sins and, importantly, will not save us in our sins.16

“However, in our lifelong quest to follow Jesus Christ, His example of kindness to those who sin is particularly instructive. We, who are sinners, must, like the Savior, reach out to others with compassion and love.”

21 Now there was a strict law among the people of the church, that there should not any man, belonging to the church, arise and persecute those that did not belong to the church, and that there should be no persecution among themselves.

“The guiding principle for Latter-day Saints is the same. We must not be guilty of persecuting anyone inside or outside the Church.”

“Everyone, including people of religion, has the right to express his or her opinions in the public square. But no one has a license to be hateful toward others as those opinions are expressed.”

“He loves us so much that He provided the way for us to repent and become clean so we can return to Him and our Heavenly Father.32 In doing so, Jesus Christ also set the example for us to follow—to show respect to all and hatred toward none.”

Elder Ulisses Soares, Confide in God Unwaveringly
“Through His life, suffering, death, and Resurrection, He removed every impediment to our rejoicing and finding peace on this earth.”

“Brothers and sisters, if we are not rooted by steadfast trust in God and the desire to serve Him, the painful experiences of mortality can lead us to feel as though we are burdened by a heavy yoke; and we can lose the motivation to live the gospel fully. Without faith, we will end up losing the capacity to appreciate those designs of our God regarding the things that will happen later in our life.11

Elder Mark A Bragg, Brighter and Brighter until the Perfect Day
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

“Brothers and sisters, please take comfort that there is light available to us. May I suggest three areas where we will always find light:”

  1. The Light of the Church
  2. The Light of the Gospel
    “Now more than ever, our families must be sources of great light to everyone around us.“
  3. The Light of Christ
“The Spirit of Christ is always there. … The Light of Christ is as universal as sunlight itself. Wherever there is human life, there is the Spirit of Christ.” (Boyd K. Packer, “The Light of Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, Apr. 2005, 13.)

“May we be strengthened by the light that is available to us through greater participation at church and greater application of gospel principles in our families.”

President Russell M Nelson, Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives
“...our Heavenly Father never intended that we would deal with the maze of personal problems and social issues on our own.”

“It is doctrinally incomplete to speak of the Lord’s atoning sacrifice by shortcut phrases, such as “the Atonement” or “the enabling power of the Atonement” or “applying the Atonement” or “being strengthened by the Atonement.” These expressions present a real risk of misdirecting faith by treating the event as if it had living existence and capabilities independent of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.”

“the fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 49.)

“When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him—when He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life—you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do.”

“When you spiritually stretch beyond anything you have ever done before, then His power will flow into you.”

Saturday Afternoon Session
Elder Robert D Hales, Becoming Disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ
“What does it mean to be a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ? A disciple is one who has been baptized and is willing to take upon him or her the name of the Savior and follow Him. A disciple strives to become as He is by keeping His commandments in mortality, much the same as an apprentice seeks to become like his or her master.

“Many people hear the word disciple and think it means only ‘follower.’ But genuine discipleship is a state of being. This suggests more than studying and applying a list of individual attributes. Disciples live so that the characteristics of Christ are woven into the fiber of their beings, as into a spiritual tapestry.”
“...we cannot obtain one Christlike characteristic without also obtaining and influencing others. As one characteristic becomes strong, so do many more.”

“As we faithfully live the gospel, we will have power to be virtuous in every thought, feeling, and action. Our minds become more receptive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and the Light of Christ.10 We embody Christ not only in what we say and do but also in who we are.”

“From temperance to patience and from patience to godliness, our natures change. We gain the brotherly kindness that is a hallmark of all true disciples. Like the Good Samaritan, we cross the road to minister to whoever is in need, even if they are not within the circle of our friends.19 We bless them that curse us. We do good to those who despitefully use us.20 Is any attribute more godly or Christlike?”

“Brothers and sisters, we are all called to be disciples of our Savior. Let this conference be your opportunity to ‘begin as in times of old, and come unto [Him] with all your heart.’25

Elder Jeffrey R Holland, Songs Sung and Unsung
“In those moments when the melody of joy falters below our power of expression, we may have to stand silent for a time and simply listen to others, drawing strength from the splendor of the music around us. “

“Diversity is not cacophony, and choirs do require discipline…”

“The declarations of heaven cry out to us that the only way complex societal issues can ever be satisfactorily resolved is by loving God and keeping His commandments, thus opening the door to the one lasting, salvific way to love each other as neighbors.”

“These kinds of sanctified moments remain unuttered because expression, even if it were possible, might seem like desecration.”

“‘Come as you are,’ a loving Father says to each of us, but He adds, ‘Don’t plan to stay as you are.’ We smile and remember that God is determined to make of us more than we thought we could be.”

Elder Gary B Sabin, Stand Up Inside and Be All In
“When we are complacent with our covenants, we are complicit with the consequences. ”

8 Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen.

“My 97-year-old father recently passed away. Whenever someone asked him how he was doing, his consistent reply was ‘On a scale of 1–10, I’m about a 25!’ Even when this dear man could no longer stand or even sit and had great difficulty speaking, his answer was still the same. He was always standing up inside.”

Elder Valen V Cordo, The Language of the Gospel
19 And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should obtain these records, that we may preserve unto our children the language of our fathers;

50 My servant Newel K. Whitney also, a bishop of my church, hath need to be chastened, and set in order his family, and see that they are more diligent and concerned at home, and pray always, or they shall be removed out of their place.


Elder Neil L Andersen, Overcoming the World
“Overcoming the world is keeping our promises to God—our baptismal and temple covenants and our oath of faithfulness to our eternal companion. Overcoming the world leads us humbly to the sacrament table each week, asking for forgiveness and pledging to ‘remember him and keep his commandments,’ that we ‘may always have his Spirit to be with [us].’14

“Our love for the Sabbath day does not end when the chapel doors close behind us but instead opens the doors to a beautiful day of resting from routine tasks, studying, praying, and reaching out to family and others who need our attention. Instead of breathing a sigh of relief when church is over and frantically running in search of a television before the football game begins, let our focus remain on the Savior and upon His holy day.”

“The happiness of our spouse is more important than our own pleasure.”

Elder M Russell Ballard, Return and Receive
“Some have difficulty differentiating between a goal and a plan until they learn that a goal is a destination or an end, while a plan is the route by which you get there.”

19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

“Satan’s plan to accomplish his diabolical goal applies to every individual, generation, culture, and society. He uses loud voices—voices that seek to drown out the small and still voice of the Holy Spirit that can show us ‘all things’ we should do to return and receive.”

“It’s kind of like having a personal, private interview with yourself. And if that sounds unusual, think about it: who in this world knows you better than you know yourself? You know your thoughts, your private actions, your desires, and your dreams, goals, and plans. And you know better than anyone how you are progressing along the road to returning and receiving.”

“As we increase our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ’s power to give rest unto our souls by forgiving sins, redeeming imperfect relationships, healing the spiritual wounds that stifle growth, and strengthening and enabling us to develop the attributes of Christ, we will more deeply appreciate the magnitude of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Without the living Christ, our fondest expectations will be unfulfilled.”

Priesthood Session
President Monson, “Kindness, Charity, and Love”
44 If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.
45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

“Kindness is the essence of a celestial life. Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others. Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes.
“Jesus, our Savior, was the epitome of kindness and compassion.”(Joseph B. Wirthlin, “The Virtue of Kindness,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2005, 26)
41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—

Elder Bednar, Called to the Work
“In the culture of the Church, we often talk of being called to serve in a country such as Argentina, Poland, Korea, or the United States. But a missionary is not called to a place; rather, he or she is called to serve.”

“The spiritual gifts of prophecy and revelation attend all mission calls and assignments.”

“Perhaps one of the lessons the Savior is teaching us in this revelation is that an assignment to labor in a specific place is essential and important but secondary to a call to the work.”

“I am addressing this subject today because not a single member of this Church should carry an unnecessary burden of misunderstanding, uncertainty, anguish, or guilt about an assignment to labor.”

“Three interrelated words define a pattern of preparation and progression for sons of God: priesthood, temple, mission. Sometimes as parents, friends, and Church members, we focus so extensively upon missionary preparation for young men that we may neglect to a degree the other vital steps along the covenant pathway that must be fulfilled before beginning full-time missionary service.”

“Please learn to love being and remaining worthy. Be worthy. Stay worthy.”

“As priesthood, temple, and mission blessings are gathered ‘together in one … in Christ’13 and synergistically interact in the heart, mind, and soul of a young missionary, he can qualify for the work.14 His capacity is increased to fulfill the responsibility to represent authoritatively the Lord Jesus Christ.“

“As you diligently prepare now through selfless priesthood and temple service, your witness of the Lord’s living reality will be strengthened.”

Presiding Bishop Gerald Causse, Prepare the Way
“The service I rendered during those teenage years helped me build my testimony and anchor my life in the gospel. I was surrounded by good and compassionate men who were committed to using their priesthood to bless the lives of others. I wanted to be like them. In serving with them, much more than I realized at the time, I learned to be a leader in the Church and also in the world.”

“Just think of what would take place in our priesthood quorums if the relationships between the holders of the two priesthoods were inspired by the pattern established by Jesus and John the Baptist.”

“John the Baptist was given one of the most noble missions to ever exist: ‘prepare the way of the Lord,’1 to baptize Him with water, and to make ready a people to receive Him. This ‘just … and … holy [man],’2 who had been ordained to the lesser priesthood, was perfectly aware of both the importance and the limits of his mission and his authority.”

“I invite you to reflect upon each of the young Aaronic Priesthood holders in your ward. Not one of them should ever feel left out or useless. Is there a young man whom you and other priesthood brethren could help? Invite him to serve alongside you. Too often we try to entertain our young men and relegate them to a spectator role, when their faith and love for the gospel can be best developed by magnifying their priesthood. By actively participating in the work of salvation, they will be connected with heaven and they will gain awareness of their divine potential.”


President Dieter F Uchtdorf, The Greatest Among You
“Harriet and I reminded ourselves that the temple dedication was not about us. It wasn’t about who deserved to be invited or who did not. And it wasn’t about our feelings or our sense of entitlement.”

“President Faust was kind enough to use the time to instruct and teach me. One lesson I will never forget. Said he, ‘The members of the Church are gracious to the General Authorities. They will treat you kindly and say nice things about you.’ Then he briefly paused and said, ‘Dieter, always be thankful for this, but don’t you ever inhale it.’”

“To be effective Church leaders, we must learn this critical lesson: leadership in the Church is not so much about directing others as it is about our willingness to be directed by God.”

“Opportunities to go about doing good and to serve others are limitless. We can find them in our communities, in our wards and branches, and certainly in our homes.”

“Our service—whether great or small—refines our spirits, opens the windows of heaven, and releases God’s blessings not only upon those we serve but upon us as well.”

“He understood that one kind of service is not above another.”

“There is nothing wrong with wanting to serve the Lord, but when we seek to gain influence in the Church for our own sake—in order to receive the praise and admiration of men—we have our reward. When we ‘inhale’ the praise of others, that praise will be our compensation.”

“What is the most important calling in the Church? It is the one you currently have.”

“My dear friends and brethren in the priesthood, lift where you stand!”

President Henry B Eyring, Walk with Me
“The rich young man was asked to sell everything he had and give to the poor and follow the Savior; your future progress may not require that, but it will require a measure of sacrifice.”

“Even so, it’s natural to feel some inadequacy when we consider what the Lord has called us to do. In fact, if you told me that you feel perfectly capable of fulfilling your priesthood duties, I might worry that you do not understand them.”

“This is just as true for me in my calling as it is for you in yours. None of us can do the work of the priesthood, and do it well, relying solely on our own wisdom and talents.”

“One way to respond to such awe-inspiring descriptions of the power of the priesthood is to assume that they do not apply to us. Another way to respond is with soul-searching questions, asked in our own hearts,”

“Such feelings are the first step toward becoming the kind of men that priesthood service is meant to produce.”

“...the Lord’s work is not just to solve problems; it is to build people. “

“...you may find that sometimes what seems like the most efficient solution is not the Lord’s preferred solution because it does not allow people to grow.”

Sunday Morning Session
President Thomas S Monson, The Power of the Book of Mormon
Five new temples announced.
I would like to announce five new temples which will be built in the following locations: Brasília, Brazil; greater Manila, Philippines, area; Nairobi, Kenya; Pocatello, Idaho, USA; and Saratoga Springs, Utah, USA.”

once obtained, a testimony needs to be kept vital and alive through continued obedience to the commandments of God and through daily prayer and scripture study.


Sister Joy D Jones, A Sin Resistant Generation
We honor children who strive to live pure and obedient lives.

Fortifying children to become sin-resistant is a task and a blessing for parents, grandparents, family members, teachers, and leaders. We each bear responsibility to help. However, the Lord has specifically instructed parents to teach their children ‘to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost’ and ‘to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.’

Perhaps being sin-resistant comes as a blessing from repeatedly resisting sin.”

In today’s world where integrity has all but disappeared, our children deserve to understand what true integrity is and why it is so important...”

“Keeping commitments prepares people [including very young people] to make and keep sacred covenants.” (Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service (2004), 196)

“When we talk about covenant keeping, we are talking about the heart and soul of our purpose in mortality.” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Keeping Covenants: A Message for Those Who Will Serve a Mission,” New Era, Jan. 2012, 2)

Helping children understand, make, and keep sacred covenants is another key in creating a sin-resistant generation.”

Teaching children to keep simple promises when they are young will empower them to keep holy covenants later in life.”

A succession of small, successfully kept promises leads to integrity.”

As you teach, lead, and love children in the Savior’s way, you can receive personal revelation that will aid you in creating and arming valiant, sin-resistant children.”

Elder Yoon Hwan Choi, “Don’t Look Around, Look Up!”
“Never permit yourself to become a weak link in the chain of your generations.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Keep the Chain Unbroken” (Brigham Young University devotional, Nov. 30, 1999), 3, speeches.byu.edu; emphasis added.)

“Do not lose your faith because of the people around you, but build a strong relationship with Jesus Christ. Don’t look around, look up!”
“Do not lose your faith because of the people around you, but build a strong relationship with Jesus Christ. Don’t look around, look up!”
“If you choose to become inactive or to leave the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where will you go? What will you do? The decision to ‘walk no more’ with Church members and the Lord’s chosen leaders will have a long-term impact that cannot always be seen right now.” (M. Russell Ballard, “To Whom Shall We Go?” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 91.)

“May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong.”(Thomas S. Monson, “Choices,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 86.)

Elder Ronald A Rasband, Let the Holy Spirit Guide
“The Holy Ghost binds us to the Lord. By divine assignment, He inspires, testifies, teaches, and prompts us to walk in the light of the Lord. We have the sacred responsibility to learn to recognize His influence in our lives and respond.”

“Remember the Lord’s promise: ‘I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy.’4 I love that assurance. Joy that fills our souls brings with it an eternal perspective in contrast to day-to-day living. That joy comes as peace amidst hardship or heartache. It provides comfort and courage, unfolds the truths of the gospel, and expands our love for the Lord and all God’s children. Although the need for such blessings is so great, in many ways the world has forgotten and forsaken them.”

“When we keep this sacred covenant, the promise is given that we “may always have his Spirit to be with [us].”5

“How do we do that?

First, we strive to live worthy of the Spirit.”

Second, we must be willing to receive the Spirit.”

Third, we must recognize the Spirit when it comes.”

The Spirit speaks words that we feel. These feelings are gentle, a nudge to act, to do something, to say something, to respond in a certain way. If we are casual or complacent in our worship, drawn off and desensitized by worldly pursuits, we find ourselves diminished in our ability to feel.”

Fourth, we must act on the first prompting.”

45 Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder.

When we begin to second-guess, even third-guess, our feelings—and we all have—we are dismissing the Spirit; we are questioning divine counsel. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that if you will listen to the first promptings, you will get it right nine times out of ten.”


“The Lord knows the needs of all His children—and He knows who is prepared to help. If we let the Lord know in our morning prayers that we are ready, He will call on us to respond. If we respond, He will call on us time and time again and we will find ourselves on what President Monson calls ‘the Lord’s errand.’”


Elder L Whitney Clayton, Whatsoever He Saith unto You, Do It
“Over time, that young bishop and I have observed that those who are deliberate about doing the “small and simple things”7—obeying in seemingly little ways—are blessed with faith and strength that go far beyond the actual acts of obedience themselves and, in fact, may seem totally unrelated to them.”

“Some rewards of obedience do come quickly; others come only after we are tested.”

“The trial of our faith will always involve staying true to simple, daily practices of faith.”

“Trust in the Lord, and ‘whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.’”

Elder Dallin H Oaks, The Godhead and the Plan of Salvation
18 ¶ To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?

“Any person that had seen the heavens opened knows that there are three personages in the heavens who hold the keys of power, and one presides over all. …
“… These personages … are called God the first, the Creator; God the second, the Redeemer; and God the third, the Witness or Testator.
“[It is] the province of the Father to preside as the Chief or President, Jesus as the Mediator, and the Holy Ghost as the Testator or Witness.” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 42)
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

“the first fundamental truth advocated by Jesus Christ was this, that behind, above and over all there is God the Father, Lord of heaven and earth.” (David O. McKay, in Conference Report, Oct. 1935, 100)

The third member of the Godhead is the Holy Ghost, also referred to as the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord, and the Comforter. He is the member of the Godhead who is the agent of personal revelation. As a personage of spirit (see D&C 130:22), He can dwell in us and perform the essential role of communicator between the Father and the Son and the children of God on earth.”

“Essential to the plan [of salvation] is our Savior, Jesus Christ. Without His atoning sacrifice, all would be lost. It is not enough, however, merely to believe in Him and His mission. We need to work and learn, search and pray, repent and improve. We need to know God’s laws and live them. We need to receive His saving ordinances. Only by so doing will we obtain true, eternal happiness. …” (Thomas S. Monson, “The Perfect Path to Happiness,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 80–81)

President Dieter F Uchtdorf, Perfect Faith Casteth Out Fear
Fear rarely has the power to change our hearts, and it will never transform us into people who love what is right and who want to obey Heavenly Father.

He wants to change more than just our behaviors. He wants to change our very natures. He wants to change our hearts.

Most of all, we are blessed to have the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which gives us a unique perspective on the world’s dangers and shows us how to either avoid these dangers or deal with them.

He has given us an abundance of reasons to rejoice. We just need to find and to recognize them.

In our homes, in our places of business, in our Church callings, in our hearts, let us replace fear with Christ’s perfect love. Christ’s love will replace fear with faith!

Sunday Afternoon Session
Elder D Todd Christofferson, The Voice of Warning
7 ¶ So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

The motivation for raising the warning voice is love—love of God and love of fellowman.

Sometimes those who raise a warning voice are dismissed as judgmental. Paradoxically, however, those who claim truth is relative and moral standards are a matter of personal preference are often the same ones who most harshly criticize people who don’t accept the current norm of ‘correct thinking.’

Elder Joaquin E Costa, To the Friends and Investigators of the Church
“...please consider my experiences, and (1) take the missionaries very seriously, (2) go to church and remember spiritual feelings, (3) read the Book of Mormon and ask the Lord if it is true, and (4) experience repentance and be baptized.”

Elder S Mark Palmer, Then Jesus Beholding Him Loved Him
In that moment, I knew it was not just the hearts of some of our missionaries that needed changing. It was my heart as well. The question no longer was ‘How does a frustrated mission president get a struggling missionary to behave better?’ Instead, the question was ‘How can I be filled with Christlike love so a missionary can feel the love of God through me and desire to change?’ How can I behold him or her in the same way the Lord beheld the rich young man, seeing them for who they really are and who they can become, rather than just for what they are doing or not doing? How can I be more like the Savior?

As we learn to see others as the Lord sees them rather than with our own eyes, our love for them will grow and so will our desire to help them. We will see potential within others they likely do not see in themselves. With Christlike love we will not be afraid to speak with boldness, for ‘perfect love casteth out fear.’4 And we will never give up, remembering that those who are hardest to love need love the most.

Elder Gary E Stevenson, How Does the Holy Ghost Help You
For those of you who are preparing to be baptized and confirmed, those who recently have been, or even those who were a long time ago, it is vital to our physical and spiritual safety that we keep the gift of the Holy Ghost. We begin to do so by striving to keep the commandments, having individual and family prayer, reading the scriptures, and seeking loving and forgiving relationships with family and loved ones. We should keep our thoughts, actions, and language virtuous. We should worship our Heavenly Father in our homes, at church, and, whenever possible, in the holy temple. Stay close to the Spirit, and the Spirit will stay close to you.

Elder C Scott Grow, And This IS Life Eternal
Jesus Christ taught many truths that explain Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness and your place in it. I’ll focus on two of these to help you understand your identity as a child of God and know your purpose in life.

“First: ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ (John 3:16)
“Second: ‘And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.’(John 17:3)
“Please keep these truths in mind—they teach why—as I seek to describe how you and all of us can come to know God.
In addition to individual study, studying the scriptures as a family is important.

Scripture study becomes the channel for the Spirit to give each of us a customized tutorial. As you study the scriptures each day, alone, and with your family, you will learn to recognize the voice of the Spirit and will come to know God.”

Elder Benjamin De Hoyos, That Our Light May Be a Standard for the Nations
30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.

While there are many things we can do to be a light and an ensign to others, I would like to focus on the following three: observing the Sabbath day, hastening the work of salvation on both sides of the veil, and teaching in the Savior’s way.”

The light that we are talking about comes from the devotion that we give to Sabbath day observance, in the Church as well as in the home; it is the light that grows as we keep ourselves unspotted from the world; it is the light that comes from offering up our sacraments on His holy day and from paying our devotions to the Most High—all of which enable us to always have His Spirit with us. It is that light that grows and becomes visible when we return home with the feeling of forgiveness...”

“The goal of every gospel teacher—every parent, every formally called teacher, every home teacher and visiting teacher, and every follower of Christ—is to teach the pure doctrine of the gospel, by the Spirit, … to help God’s children build their faith in the Savior and become more like Him” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way [2016]).

“Right now, thousands of our faithful teachers hold up a light as they learn how to teach in the Savior’s way. In this context the new teacher council meeting is a way to rise and shine as the students meet around the standard of the doctrine of Christ, for ‘the key to teaching as the Savior taught is to live as the Savior lived’ (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 4).

Elder Quentin L Cook, Foundations of Faith
This has been a magnificent general conference. We have truly been edified. If there is one preeminent objective of general conference, it is to build faith in God the Father and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Physical, mental, and spiritual development have much in common. Physical development is fairly easy to see. We begin with baby steps and progress day by day, year by year, growing and developing to attain our ultimate physical stature. Development is different for each person.

What about the aids to translation—the Urim and Thummim, the seer stones? Were they essential, or were they like the training wheels on a bicycle until Joseph could exercise the faith necessary to receive more direct revelation?

My Thoughts
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Woman with issue of blood mentioned more than once in conference.  Always good to pay attention to things mentioned multiple times in conference.

}