This was the first time I remember seeing a children's choir be the choir for a session of conference. Although some say I am crazy and this is done all the time. It was kind of interesting.
I'm still getting use to seeing the new First Presidency. Maybe it is because Elder Eyring was just new to the first presidency. Maybe it is because Elder Uchtdorf was fairly new to the Quorum of the Twelve when he was called into the first presidency.
He talked about opposition and dealing with and enduring it with a good attitude. He said that some think that the leaders of the Church are free from pains and trials. He assured everyone that everyone on the stand has drunk deeply from the cup of disappointment at times in their life.
He shared a story about his daughter waiting for a blind date. She went out to the car with her date that seemed to everyone to be a little old. She went to the car and shortly after came back red faced and related that he was there to pick up another daughter to babysit his and his wife's children.
He stated that the Savior will be with us in our trials and come to our aid. He may not remove the trial, but he will make it lighter for us to bear.
Adam and Eve's biggest concern was not the trials they would face, but their separation from God. God knew this would be hard for them and their children. He sent them prophets. At times of special need angels appeared to the children of Adam and Eve.
He expressed that occasionally the angels show themselves, but there are always angels near watching over us.
He said that at times we may feel due to global or personal issues that we are distanced from God. He testified that God will not give up on trying to save all of us and that angels are all around us.
He spoke of being as a child. Children sometimes give some of the greatest gospel answers. He also talked of being able to explain gospel principles well enough that a child would understand them.
At eight years of age a child can have sufficient understanding to make a covenant with God and be baptized.
He talked of the captain that refused to obey Elijah's instructions to be clean because of how foolish it sounded. His servant asked him if the prophet had commanded him some great thing would he not do it and yet he would not do this simple thing. He agreed and went and did it and was healed and made clean.
He gave his testimony of several things about the Savior and the Holy Ghost.
A popular philosophy of men is to do things our own way and don't let anyone tell you what to do. The said that he is the way and the life. The only way.
Life is hard, but not the gospel.
Jesus is the Christ, may we have the good sense to follow him.
He talked of the city of Enoch and the Zion the established. He contrasted it with the city of Babylon of the time.
Doctrine and Covenants 115:5-6
5 Verily I say unto you all: aArise and shine forth, that thy blight may be a cstandard for the dnations;
He also shared the attempts of the early saints of this dispensation to establish Zion. The Lord stated that they failed due to their selfishness.
He asked if we are free from contention.
He quoted from President Monson's talk from last conference (Looking Back and Moving Forward).
"In the private sanctuary of one’s own conscience lies that spirit, that determination to cast off the old person and to measure up to the stature of true potential. In this spirit, we again issue that heartfelt invitation: Come back. We reach out to you in the pure love of Christ and express our desire to assist you and to welcome you into full fellowship. To those who are wounded in spirit or who are struggling and fearful, we say, Let us lift you and cheer you and calm your fears. Take literally the Lord’s invitation, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.'”
"In the private sanctuary of one’s own conscience lies that spirit, that determination to cast off the old person and to measure up to the stature of true potential. In this spirit, we again issue that heartfelt invitation: Come back. We reach out to you in the pure love of Christ and express our desire to assist you and to welcome you into full fellowship. To those who are wounded in spirit or who are struggling and fearful, we say, Let us lift you and cheer you and calm your fears. Take literally the Lord’s invitation, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.'”
I think I captured the quote he shared correctly, "Let us once and for all establish our residence in Zion and give up our summer cottage in Babylon" - Neal A. Maxwell
Elder Christofferson stated, “As we pursue the cause of Zion, each of us should prayerfully consider whether we are doing what we should and all that we should, in the Lord’s eyes, with respect to the poor and the needy.”
Prayer
Principles to make prayer more meaningful:
- Council with God in all our doings.
-The scriptures tell us to pray always. The scriptures tell us to ask sincerely and in faith and we will receive.
-God is our Father and we are His children.
-Prayer is the spiritual creation of the day before the temporal execution. - Express heartfelt gratitude in our prayers.
- Pray for others with real intent and a sincere heart, including our enemies.
Alma 37: 36
36 Yea, and acry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy bdoings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy cthoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.
Evening prayer is a continuation of our morning prayer and a preparation for a our morning prayer the next day.
3 Nephi 17:17
17 And no atongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.
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