President Dieter F. Uchtdorf - Second Counselor in the First Presidency (Audio, Video)
The Sustaining of Church Officers
He led a Solemn Assembly. We sustained President Monson as the new prophet and the new first presidency and the new Quorum of the Twelve Apostles today. They did it with a solemn assembly, which each quorum votes individually starting with the First Presidency and ending with the Young Women of the Church.
Elder Russell M. Nelson - Apostle (Audio, Video)
Salvation and Exaltation
Why did God give prophets and apostles? Ephesians 4:11-14
Article of Faith 3 "We believe that through the aAtonement of Christ, all bmankind may be csaved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel."
An example of a law would be "Thou shalt not kill." An example of an ordinance would be baptism.
Obeying Jesus is possible or he wouldn't have told us to.
Elder Nelson stated that the development of faith in the Lord is an individual matter. Salvation and repentance is also an individual matter. It can not be coerced by a government or group.
Resurrection or being saved from physical death is free. Exaltation or Eternal Life or being saved from spiritual death is a conditional gift. Heb. 5: 9 "And being made aperfect, he became the bauthor of eternal csalvation unto all them that obey him; " (see also Matt. 6: 24, Luke 16: 13, Acts 5:32)
Moses taught, "And thou shalt ateach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt btalk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. " Deut. 6: 7, Deut. 11: 19
Elder Nelson counseled us, "Parents love each other and treat our children as an heritage from the Lord."
We are release from church callings, but we are never released as parents.
The Church is to assist and not replace parents in their sacred responsibilities.
Do not try to control your children. Listen to them.
He reminded us of what God's work is. Moses 1:39 - "For behold, this is my awork and my bglory—to bring to pass the cimmortality and deternal elife of man. "
We will be judged by the desires of our hearts as well as by our actions.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband - Presidency of the Seventy (Audio, Video)
Special Experiences
"These solemn assemblies confirm to us that this is the Lord's true and living church." I find living church to be an interesting phrase.
D&C 1: 23 - "That the afulness of my bgospel might be cproclaimed by the dweak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before ekings and frulers."
"Our personal journey through life provides us with many special experiences that become building blocks of faith and testimony."
"Let us remember our own spiritual experiences" They will be to us spiritual building blocks.
Cheryl C. Lant - Primary General President (Audio, Video)
Righteous Traditions
What are our traditions? Do are our traditions lead us to where we want to go?
Elder Kenneth Johnson - Seventy (Audio, Video)
Restoring Faith in the Family
I have often thought that religion is a type of science. You read the materials of authorities in the field and then apply the principles they outline.
Elder Johnson stated, "Scientists gain their knowledge mainly through research, conducting experiments, and the application of intellect.
Disciples of Christ receive their witness by studying His words, observing His works, putting gospel principles into practice, and receiving the spirit of inspiration."
He also talked of the necessity of education. " It is, therefore, our responsibility to safeguard the home as a center of learning where these virtues can be instilled in an atmosphere of love and through the power of example."
You can also see some counsel on this in Proverbs 22:6.
He stated that he learned loyalty, integrity, and dependability in the home of his parents.
"...never be satisfied with anything less than your best efforts."
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin- Apostle (Audio, Video)
Concern for the One
Elder Wirthlin stated, "True disciples of Jesus Christ have always been concerned for the one." He then quoted Matthew 18:11. (See also Luke 15:4.)
11 For the aSon of man is come to bsave that which was clost.
12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred asheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
He stated that three reasons people get lost is because they are different, they are weary, or they have strayed.
He spoke of having compassion for those that are different. He related a story of a child that was picked on when he was in school. After a while he stood up for the boy. He thought this would damage his friendship with the boys doing the teasing, but rather they drew closer to him and they had increased compassion for the boy they had teased.
The Lord often chooses the weak things of the word. The Lord is aware of their limitations and also their strengths.
The question is not if we will trip or fall. It is how we will respond to those trials.
1 Cor. 2: 14
14 But the anatural man breceiveth not the things of the cSpirit of God: for they are dfoolishness unto him: neither can he eknow them, because they are fspiritually gdiscerned.
President Henry B. Eyring - 1st Counselor in the First Presidency (Audio, Video)
The True and Living Church
Elder Eyring stated, "This is the true Church, the only true Church, because in it are the keys of the priesthood. Only in this Church has the Lord lodged the power to seal on earth and to seal in heaven as He did in the time of the Apostle Peter. Those keys were restored to Joseph Smith, who then was authorized to confer them upon the members of the Quorum of the Twelve.
When the Prophet Joseph was murdered, the enemies of the Church thought that the Church would die. They thought it was the creation of a mortal man and therefore would perish with him. But their hopes were dashed. It was the true Church, and it also had the power to live on, even when those chosen for a time to lead it died.
Those that killed the prophet Joseph thought that it was the church of a man and would die with him."
Because of the disobedience of the members of the church following Christ's day, the church was removed from them. this was called the apostasy. If we are not obedient we will lose that which we have as well.
"Those who never give up will find that God never gave up and that He will help them."
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