Saturday Morning Session
Elder Richard G Scott, The Power of Scripture
“Our Father in Heaven understood that for us to make desired progress during our mortal probation, we would need to face difficult challenges. Some of these would be almost overpowering. He provided tools to help us be successful in our mortal probation. One set of those tools is the scriptures.”
“The scriptures provide the strength of authority to our declarations when they are cited correctly. They can become stalwart friends that are not limited by geography or calendar. They are always available when needed. Their use provides a foundation of truth that can be awakened by the Holy Ghost. Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world.”
“Throughout the ages, Father in Heaven has inspired select men and women to find, through the guidance of the Holy Ghost, solutions to life’s most perplexing problems. He has inspired those authorized servants to record those solutions as a type of handbook for those of His children who have faith in His plan of happiness and in His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. We have ready access to this guidance through the treasure we call the standard works—that is, the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.”
“Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.”
“Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world.”
“Do you use all of the standard works, including the Old Testament? I have found precious truths in the pages of the Old Testament that are key ingredients to the platform of truth that guides my life and acts as a resource when I try to share a gospel message with others. For that reason, I love the Old Testament. I find precious jewels of truth spread throughout its pages.”
1 Samuel 15:22
“And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams”
Proverbs 3:11-13
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:
12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Alma 7:23
23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.
“May each of us avail ourselves of the wealth of blessings that result from scripture study,”
Sister Babara Thompson, Personal Revelation and Testimony
“The way to receive personal revelation is really quite clear. We need to desire to receive revelation, we must not harden our hearts, and then we need to ask in faith, truly believe that we will receive an answer, and then diligently keep the commandments of God.”
Doctrine and Covenants 46:13-14
13 To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.
14 To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.
1 Nephi 15:8-11
8 And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?
9 And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.
10 Behold, I said unto them: How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord? How is it that ye will perish, because of the hardness of your hearts?
11 Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.
Doctrine and Covenants 6:14-15;23
14 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, blessed art thou for what thou hast done; for thou hast inquired of me, and behold, as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my Spirit. If it had not been so, thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time.
15 Behold, thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind; and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of truth;
23 Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?
Doctrine and Covenants 9:8
8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.
Doctrine and Covenants 11:13
13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;
“As you appropriately seek for and apply unto the spirit of revelation, I promise you will ‘walk in the light of the Lord’ (Isaiah 2:5; 2 Nephi 12:5). Sometimes the spirit of revelation will operate immediately and intensely, other times subtly and gradually, and often so delicately you may not even consciously recognize it. But regardless of the pattern whereby this blessing is received, the light it provides will illuminate and enlarge your soul, enlighten your understanding (see Alma 5:7; 32:28), and direct and protect you and your family.” (David A. Bednar, “The Spirit of Revelation,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2011, 90.)
“The Lord desires to bless us with guidance, wisdom, and direction in our lives. He desires to pour down His Spirit upon us. Again, for personal revelation we need to desire to receive it, we must not harden our hearts, and then we need to ask in faith, truly believe that we will receive an answer, and then diligently keep the commandments of God. Then as we seek answers to our questions, He will bless us with His Spirit.”
L Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy, The Time Shall Come
“The little band of believers, eking out a living on the American frontier and moving to escape persecution didn’t look like the foundation of a faith that would cross international borders and penetrate hearts everywhere.”
Daniel 2:45
45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
“I testify that He appeared with His Father to Joseph Smith. Under the direction of the Father, He established His gospel anew upon the earth. He sent apostles, prophets, and priesthood keys to the earth again. He leads His Church through a living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. His Church is that stone cut out of the mountain without hands that rolls forward across the globe.”
President Thomas S Monson, As We Meet Again
After announing the rebuiding of the Provo Tabernacle to be a temple, President Monson went on to say,
“I am also pleased to announce new temples in the following locations: Barranquilla, Colombia; Durban, South Africa; Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and Star Valley, Wyoming. In addition, we are moving forward on our plans for a temple to be built in Paris, France.”
“I have mentioned in previous conferences the progress we are making in placing temples closer to our members. Although they are readily available to many members in the Church, there are still areas of the world where temples are so distant from our members that they cannot afford the travel required to get to them. They are thus unable to partake of the sacred and eternal blessings temples provide. To help in this regard, we have available what is called the General Temple Patron Assistance Fund. This fund provides a one-time visit to the temple for those who otherwise would not be able to go to the temple and yet who long desperately for that opportunity. Any who might wish to contribute to this fund can simply write in the information on the normal contribution slip which is given to the bishop each month.”
Jose L Alonso of the Seventy, Doing the Right Thing at the Right Time, without Delay
“Some have lost a sense of happiness and joy. The prophets have declared that true happiness is found in following the example and teachings of Christ. He is our Savior, He is our teacher, and He is the perfect example.”
“We learned that in order to go to our son’s rescue, we did not need planning meetings. We simply acted, going out in search of the one who had been lost. We also learned that our son never even realized that he was lost.”
“When we serve our neighbor, we help those who are in need. In the process we may find solutions to our own difficulties.”
President Boyd K Packer, Counsel to Youth
“I am now 87 years old. You may wonder, at my age what I can contribute to your lives. I have been where you are and know where you are going. But you have not yet been where I am.”
“The family is the center of that plan. The family depends on the worthy use of those life-giving powers that are in your body.”
“Dress modestly; talk reverently; listen to uplifting music. Avoid all immorality and personally degrading practices. Take hold of your life and order yourself to be valiant.”
President Dieter F Uchtdorf, You Matter to Him
“Our Heavenly Father created the universe that we might reach our potential as His sons and daughters.”
“This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation—worlds without end—within our grasp. And it is God’s great desire to help us reach it.”
“The great deceiver knows that one of his most effective tools in leading the children of God astray is to appeal to the extremes of the paradox of man.”
“The Lord doesn’t care at all if we spend our days working in marble halls or stable stalls. He knows where we are, no matter how humble our circumstances. He will use—in His own way and for His holy purposes—those who incline their hearts to Him.”
Saturday Afternoon Session
Elder David A Bednar, The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn
“Elder Russell M. Nelson has taught that the Spirit of Elijah is ‘a manifestation of the Holy Ghost bearing witness of the divine nature of the family’ (‘A New Harvest Time,’ Ensign, May 1998, 34). This distinctive influence of the Holy Ghost draws people to identify, document, and cherish their ancestors and family members”
“Many of you may think family history work is to be performed primarily by older people. But I know of no age limit described in the scriptures or guidelines announced by Church leaders restricting this important service to mature adults. You are sons and daughters of God, children of the covenant, and builders of the kingdom. You need not wait until you reach an arbitrary age to fulfill your responsibility to assist in the work of salvation for the human family.”
“My beloved young brothers and sisters, family history is not simply an interesting program or activity sponsored by the Church; rather, it is a vital part of the work of salvation and exaltation. You have been prepared for this day and to build up the kingdom of God. You are here upon the earth now to assist in this glorious work.”
Elder Neil L Anderson, Children
“Many voices in the world today marginalize the importance of having children or suggest delaying or limiting children in a family. My daughters recently referred me to a blog written by a Christian mother (not of our faith) with five children. She commented: ‘[Growing] up in this culture, it is very hard to get a biblical perspective on motherhood. … Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below the ability to go out at night at your leisure. Below honing your body at the gym. Below any job you may have or hope to get.’ She then adds: ‘Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.’ “ (Rachel Jankovic, “Motherhood Is a Calling (and Where Your Children Rank),” July 14, 2011, desiringgod.org)
“ “[Brother Mason] explained that I wanted to become a doctor. There was no alternative but to postpone having our family. Elder Kimball listened patiently and then responded in a soft voice, ‘Brother Mason, would the Lord want you to break one of his important commandments in order for you to become a doctor? With the help of the Lord, you can have your family and still become a doctor. Where is your faith?’” “
Elder Iam S Ardem of the Seventy, A Time to Prepare
“Time is never for sale; time is a commodity that cannot, try as you may, be bought at any store for any price. Yet when time is wisely used, its value is immeasurable. On any given day we are all allocated, without cost, the same number of minutes and hours to use,”
“With the demands made of us, we must learn to prioritize our choices to match our goals or risk being exposed to the winds of procrastination and being blown from one time-wasting activity to another.”
“The poor use of time is a close cousin of idleness. As we follow the command to ‘cease to be idle’ (D&C 88:124), we must be sure that being busy also equates to being productive. For example, it is wonderful to have the means of instant communication quite literally at our fingertips, but let us be sure that we do not become compulsive fingertip communicators. I sense that some are trapped in a new time-consuming addiction—one that enslaves us to be constantly checking and sending social messages and thus giving the false impression of being busy and productive.”
“Let us be as quick to kneel as we are to text.”
“Satan will tempt us to misuse our time through disguised distractions.“
“I testify that there are great rewards for those who take time in mortality to prepare for immortality and eternal life.”
Elder Carl B Cook of the Seventy, It Is Better to Look Up
“In Exodus we read, ‘And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light.’9 His leading was constant, and I give you my humble witness that the Lord can do the same for us.
So how will He lead us today?”
“We must act on the direction we receive. We must look up and step up. And as we do, I know we will cheer up, for God wants us to be happy.”
Elder LeGrand R Curtis Jr. of the Seventy, Redemption
“‘To redeem’ is to buy or to buy back. As a legal matter, property is redeemed by paying off the mortgages or other liens on it. In Old Testament times, the law of Moses provided different ways that servants and property could be freed, or redeemed, by the payment of money (see Leviticus 25:31).
A prominent scriptural use of the word redeem concerns the delivery of the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt.”
“The theme of Jehovah redeeming the people of Israel from bondage is repeated many times in the scriptures. Often this is done to remind the people of the Lord’s goodness in delivering the children of Israel from the Egyptians. But it is also done to teach them that there would be another, more important, redemption for Israel. Lehi taught, ‘And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall’ (2 Nephi 2:26).”
My thoughts: Bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt was a symbol of Christ redeeming us from sin. As was the people being led to the Salt Lake valley. Both required the people to act in order to partake of salvation, just as our salvation requires our actions. These actions are at times difficult and sometimes very difficult.
“When we repent and come to Him, we can receive all of the blessings of eternal life. That we may do so, receiving our own story of redemption, is my prayer”
Elder D Todd Christofferson, The Divine Gift of Repentance
Alma 30:17-18
17 And many more such things did he say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime.
18 And thus he did preach unto them, leading away the hearts of many, causing them to lift up their heads in their wickedness, yea, leading away many women, and also men, to commit whoredoms—telling them that when a man was dead, that was the end thereof.
“On the surface such philosophies seem appealing because they give us license to indulge any appetite or desire without concern for consequences. By using the teachings of Nehor and Korihor, we can rationalize and justify anything. When prophets come crying repentance, it “throws cold water on the party.” But in reality the prophetic call should be received with joy. Without repentance, there is no real progress or improvement in life. Pretending there is no sin does not lessen its burden and pain.”
“‘We know that justification [or forgiveness of sins] through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true;
‘And we know also, that sanctification [or purification from the effects of sin] through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, to all those who love and serve God with all their mights, minds, and strength’ (D&C 20:30–31).”
“...the invitation to repent is an expression of love.” “A permissive parent, an indulgent friend, a fearful Church leader are in reality more concerned about themselves than the welfare and happiness of those they could help.”
“...repentance means striving to change. It would mock the Savior’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross for us to expect that He should transform us into angelic beings with no real effort on our part.”
“Perhaps as much as praying for mercy, we should pray for time and opportunity to work and strive and overcome.”
Elder L Tom Perry, Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear
“There are a number of things that we can do—that you can do—to advance an understanding of the Church. If we do it with the same spirit and if we conduct ourselves in the same way we do when we host a temple open house, our friends and our neighbors will come to understand us better. Their suspicions will evaporate, negative stereotypes will disappear, and they will begin to understand the Church as it really is.”
“We also believe that it is possible only through Christ to find ultimate contentment, hope, and happiness—both in this life and in the eternities. Our doctrine, as taught in the Book of Mormon, emphatically states: ‘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’ (2 Nephi 31:20).”
“...speak up about the Church. In the course of our everyday lives, we are blessed with many opportunities to share our beliefs with others. When our professional and personal associates inquire about our religious beliefs, they are inviting us to share who we are and what we believe. They may or may not be interested in the Church, but they are interested in getting to know us at a deeper level.”
1 John 4: 18
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Priesthood Session
Elder Jeffrey R Holland, We Are All Enlisted
“Satan, or Lucifer, or the father of lies—call him what you will—is real, the very personification of evil. His motives are in every case malicious, and he convulses at the appearance of redeeming light, at the very thought of truth.”
“He knows he will be defeated and cast out in the end, but he is determined to take down with him as many others as he possibly can.”
“Satan cannot directly take a life. That is one of many things he cannot do. But apparently his effort to stop the work will be reasonably well served if he can just bind the tongue of the faithful.”
“This is a life-and-death contest we are in...”
“And with the game on the line, what this coach is telling you is that to play in this match, some of you have to be more morally clean than you now are. In this battle between good and evil, you cannot play for the adversary whenever temptation comes along and then expect to suit up for the Savior at temple and mission time as if nothing has happened.”
“You cannot travel down what Lehi called “forbidden paths”5 and expect to guide others to the “strait and narrow”6 one—it can’t be done.”
“We need thousands of more couples serving in the missions of the Church.”
“Brethren of all ages, unbind your tongues and watch your words work wonders in the lives of those ‘who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.’10”
Bishop Keith B. McMullin, Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, The Power of the Aaronic Priesthood
Doctrine and Covenants 107:99
“Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.”
1 Timothy 4:12
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
“Shun profane and foolish chatter.”
1 Corinthians 13:11
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Elder W. Christopher Waddell of the Seventy, The Opportunity of a Lifetime
“...blessings of missionary service are not designed to end when we are released by our stake president. Your mission is a training ground for life. The experiences, lessons, and testimony obtained through faithful service are meant to provide a gospel-centered foundation that will last throughout mortality and into the eternities. However, for the blessings to continue after the mission, there are conditions that must be met. In the Doctrine and Covenants we read, “For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof” (D&C 132:5).”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Providing in the Lord’s Way
Doctrine and Covenants 52:40
“Remember in all things the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, for he that doeth not these things, the same is not my disciple”
“Unfortunately, there are those who overlook the temporal because they consider it less important. They treasure the spiritual while minimizing the temporal. While it is important to have our thoughts inclined toward heaven, we miss the essence of our religion if our hands are not also inclined toward our fellowman.”
“There are many good people and organizations in the world that are trying to meet the pressing needs of the poor and needy everywhere. We are grateful for this, but the Lord’s way of caring for the needy is different from the world’s way. “ “...the Lord’s way has always included self-reliance and service to our neighbor in addition to caring for the poor.”
“Brethren, please do not think that this is someone else’s responsibility. It is mine, and it is yours. We are all enlisted. ‘All’ means all—every Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood holder, rich and poor, in every nation. In the Lord’s plan, there is something everyone can contribute.”
“The Lord’s way is not to sit at the side of the stream and wait for the water to pass before we cross.”
“It is your mission to open your eyes, use your priesthood, and go to work in the Lord’s way.”
“To implement divine welfare principles, you need not look always to Salt Lake City. Instead you need to look into the handbooks, into your heart, and into heaven. Trust the Lord’s inspiration and follow His way.”
“...roll up our sleeves, go to work, and build a bridge or a boat to cross the waters of our challenges.”
“Whether we are rich or poor, regardless of where we live on this globe, we all need each other, for it is in sacrificing our time, talents, and resources that our spirits mature and become refined.”
President Henry B. Eyring, Preparation in the Priesthood: “I Need Your Help”
“Most of us must wonder to ourselves at times, ‘Am I prepared for this assignment in the priesthood?’ My answer is, ‘Yes, you have been prepared.’ My purpose today is to help you recognize that preparation and draw courage from it.”
“Because a veil of forgetfulness was placed over our minds at birth, we have had to find a way to relearn in this life what we once knew and defended.”
“Our priesthood preparation always includes others who have already been prepared to offer us the opportunity to accept the gospel and then choose to act by keeping covenants to get them down into our hearts.”
1 Timothy 4:13-16
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
“...spiritual staying power comes from working past the point when others would have taken a rest.”
President Thomas S. Monson, Dare to Stand Alone
“We live in a time when we are surrounded by much that is intended to entice us into paths which may lead to our destruction. To avoid such paths requires determination and courage.”
“Brethren, none within the sound of my voice should be in any doubt concerning what is moral and what is not, nor should any be in doubt about what is expected of us as holders of the priesthood of God.”
“You cannot afford to do anything that would place a curtain between you and the ministering of angels in your behalf.
“You cannot be immoral in any sense. You cannot be dishonest. You cannot cheat or lie. You cannot take the name of God in vain or use filthy language and still have the right to the ministering of angels.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Personal Worthiness to Exercise the Priesthood,” Liahona, July 2002, 59; Ensign, May 2002, 52)
“When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past.”
“May we ever be courageous and prepared to stand for what we believe, and if we must stand alone in the process, may we do so courageously, strengthened by the knowledge that in reality we are never alone when we stand with our Father in Heaven.”
Elder Richard G Scott, The Power of Scripture
“Our Father in Heaven understood that for us to make desired progress during our mortal probation, we would need to face difficult challenges. Some of these would be almost overpowering. He provided tools to help us be successful in our mortal probation. One set of those tools is the scriptures.”
“The scriptures provide the strength of authority to our declarations when they are cited correctly. They can become stalwart friends that are not limited by geography or calendar. They are always available when needed. Their use provides a foundation of truth that can be awakened by the Holy Ghost. Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world.”
“Throughout the ages, Father in Heaven has inspired select men and women to find, through the guidance of the Holy Ghost, solutions to life’s most perplexing problems. He has inspired those authorized servants to record those solutions as a type of handbook for those of His children who have faith in His plan of happiness and in His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. We have ready access to this guidance through the treasure we call the standard works—that is, the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.”
“Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.”
“Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world.”
“Do you use all of the standard works, including the Old Testament? I have found precious truths in the pages of the Old Testament that are key ingredients to the platform of truth that guides my life and acts as a resource when I try to share a gospel message with others. For that reason, I love the Old Testament. I find precious jewels of truth spread throughout its pages.”
1 Samuel 15:22
“And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams”
Proverbs 3:11-13
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:
12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Alma 7:23
23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.
“May each of us avail ourselves of the wealth of blessings that result from scripture study,”
Sister Babara Thompson, Personal Revelation and Testimony
“The way to receive personal revelation is really quite clear. We need to desire to receive revelation, we must not harden our hearts, and then we need to ask in faith, truly believe that we will receive an answer, and then diligently keep the commandments of God.”
Doctrine and Covenants 46:13-14
13 To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.
14 To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.
1 Nephi 15:8-11
8 And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?
9 And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.
10 Behold, I said unto them: How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord? How is it that ye will perish, because of the hardness of your hearts?
11 Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.
Doctrine and Covenants 6:14-15;23
14 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, blessed art thou for what thou hast done; for thou hast inquired of me, and behold, as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my Spirit. If it had not been so, thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time.
15 Behold, thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind; and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of truth;
23 Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?
Doctrine and Covenants 9:8
8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.
Doctrine and Covenants 11:13
13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;
“As you appropriately seek for and apply unto the spirit of revelation, I promise you will ‘walk in the light of the Lord’ (Isaiah 2:5; 2 Nephi 12:5). Sometimes the spirit of revelation will operate immediately and intensely, other times subtly and gradually, and often so delicately you may not even consciously recognize it. But regardless of the pattern whereby this blessing is received, the light it provides will illuminate and enlarge your soul, enlighten your understanding (see Alma 5:7; 32:28), and direct and protect you and your family.” (David A. Bednar, “The Spirit of Revelation,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2011, 90.)
“The Lord desires to bless us with guidance, wisdom, and direction in our lives. He desires to pour down His Spirit upon us. Again, for personal revelation we need to desire to receive it, we must not harden our hearts, and then we need to ask in faith, truly believe that we will receive an answer, and then diligently keep the commandments of God. Then as we seek answers to our questions, He will bless us with His Spirit.”
L Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy, The Time Shall Come
“The little band of believers, eking out a living on the American frontier and moving to escape persecution didn’t look like the foundation of a faith that would cross international borders and penetrate hearts everywhere.”
Daniel 2:45
45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
“I testify that He appeared with His Father to Joseph Smith. Under the direction of the Father, He established His gospel anew upon the earth. He sent apostles, prophets, and priesthood keys to the earth again. He leads His Church through a living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. His Church is that stone cut out of the mountain without hands that rolls forward across the globe.”
President Thomas S Monson, As We Meet Again
After announing the rebuiding of the Provo Tabernacle to be a temple, President Monson went on to say,
“I am also pleased to announce new temples in the following locations: Barranquilla, Colombia; Durban, South Africa; Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and Star Valley, Wyoming. In addition, we are moving forward on our plans for a temple to be built in Paris, France.”
“I have mentioned in previous conferences the progress we are making in placing temples closer to our members. Although they are readily available to many members in the Church, there are still areas of the world where temples are so distant from our members that they cannot afford the travel required to get to them. They are thus unable to partake of the sacred and eternal blessings temples provide. To help in this regard, we have available what is called the General Temple Patron Assistance Fund. This fund provides a one-time visit to the temple for those who otherwise would not be able to go to the temple and yet who long desperately for that opportunity. Any who might wish to contribute to this fund can simply write in the information on the normal contribution slip which is given to the bishop each month.”
Jose L Alonso of the Seventy, Doing the Right Thing at the Right Time, without Delay
“Some have lost a sense of happiness and joy. The prophets have declared that true happiness is found in following the example and teachings of Christ. He is our Savior, He is our teacher, and He is the perfect example.”
“We learned that in order to go to our son’s rescue, we did not need planning meetings. We simply acted, going out in search of the one who had been lost. We also learned that our son never even realized that he was lost.”
“When we serve our neighbor, we help those who are in need. In the process we may find solutions to our own difficulties.”
President Boyd K Packer, Counsel to Youth
“I am now 87 years old. You may wonder, at my age what I can contribute to your lives. I have been where you are and know where you are going. But you have not yet been where I am.”
“The family is the center of that plan. The family depends on the worthy use of those life-giving powers that are in your body.”
“Dress modestly; talk reverently; listen to uplifting music. Avoid all immorality and personally degrading practices. Take hold of your life and order yourself to be valiant.”
President Dieter F Uchtdorf, You Matter to Him
“Our Heavenly Father created the universe that we might reach our potential as His sons and daughters.”
“This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation—worlds without end—within our grasp. And it is God’s great desire to help us reach it.”
“The great deceiver knows that one of his most effective tools in leading the children of God astray is to appeal to the extremes of the paradox of man.”
“The Lord doesn’t care at all if we spend our days working in marble halls or stable stalls. He knows where we are, no matter how humble our circumstances. He will use—in His own way and for His holy purposes—those who incline their hearts to Him.”
Saturday Afternoon Session
Elder David A Bednar, The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn
“Elder Russell M. Nelson has taught that the Spirit of Elijah is ‘a manifestation of the Holy Ghost bearing witness of the divine nature of the family’ (‘A New Harvest Time,’ Ensign, May 1998, 34). This distinctive influence of the Holy Ghost draws people to identify, document, and cherish their ancestors and family members”
“Many of you may think family history work is to be performed primarily by older people. But I know of no age limit described in the scriptures or guidelines announced by Church leaders restricting this important service to mature adults. You are sons and daughters of God, children of the covenant, and builders of the kingdom. You need not wait until you reach an arbitrary age to fulfill your responsibility to assist in the work of salvation for the human family.”
“My beloved young brothers and sisters, family history is not simply an interesting program or activity sponsored by the Church; rather, it is a vital part of the work of salvation and exaltation. You have been prepared for this day and to build up the kingdom of God. You are here upon the earth now to assist in this glorious work.”
Elder Neil L Anderson, Children
“Many voices in the world today marginalize the importance of having children or suggest delaying or limiting children in a family. My daughters recently referred me to a blog written by a Christian mother (not of our faith) with five children. She commented: ‘[Growing] up in this culture, it is very hard to get a biblical perspective on motherhood. … Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below the ability to go out at night at your leisure. Below honing your body at the gym. Below any job you may have or hope to get.’ She then adds: ‘Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.’ “ (Rachel Jankovic, “Motherhood Is a Calling (and Where Your Children Rank),” July 14, 2011, desiringgod.org)
“ “[Brother Mason] explained that I wanted to become a doctor. There was no alternative but to postpone having our family. Elder Kimball listened patiently and then responded in a soft voice, ‘Brother Mason, would the Lord want you to break one of his important commandments in order for you to become a doctor? With the help of the Lord, you can have your family and still become a doctor. Where is your faith?’” “
Elder Iam S Ardem of the Seventy, A Time to Prepare
“Time is never for sale; time is a commodity that cannot, try as you may, be bought at any store for any price. Yet when time is wisely used, its value is immeasurable. On any given day we are all allocated, without cost, the same number of minutes and hours to use,”
“With the demands made of us, we must learn to prioritize our choices to match our goals or risk being exposed to the winds of procrastination and being blown from one time-wasting activity to another.”
“The poor use of time is a close cousin of idleness. As we follow the command to ‘cease to be idle’ (D&C 88:124), we must be sure that being busy also equates to being productive. For example, it is wonderful to have the means of instant communication quite literally at our fingertips, but let us be sure that we do not become compulsive fingertip communicators. I sense that some are trapped in a new time-consuming addiction—one that enslaves us to be constantly checking and sending social messages and thus giving the false impression of being busy and productive.”
“Let us be as quick to kneel as we are to text.”
“Satan will tempt us to misuse our time through disguised distractions.“
“I testify that there are great rewards for those who take time in mortality to prepare for immortality and eternal life.”
Elder Carl B Cook of the Seventy, It Is Better to Look Up
“In Exodus we read, ‘And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light.’9 His leading was constant, and I give you my humble witness that the Lord can do the same for us.
So how will He lead us today?”
“We must act on the direction we receive. We must look up and step up. And as we do, I know we will cheer up, for God wants us to be happy.”
Elder LeGrand R Curtis Jr. of the Seventy, Redemption
“‘To redeem’ is to buy or to buy back. As a legal matter, property is redeemed by paying off the mortgages or other liens on it. In Old Testament times, the law of Moses provided different ways that servants and property could be freed, or redeemed, by the payment of money (see Leviticus 25:31).
A prominent scriptural use of the word redeem concerns the delivery of the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt.”
“The theme of Jehovah redeeming the people of Israel from bondage is repeated many times in the scriptures. Often this is done to remind the people of the Lord’s goodness in delivering the children of Israel from the Egyptians. But it is also done to teach them that there would be another, more important, redemption for Israel. Lehi taught, ‘And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall’ (2 Nephi 2:26).”
My thoughts: Bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt was a symbol of Christ redeeming us from sin. As was the people being led to the Salt Lake valley. Both required the people to act in order to partake of salvation, just as our salvation requires our actions. These actions are at times difficult and sometimes very difficult.
“When we repent and come to Him, we can receive all of the blessings of eternal life. That we may do so, receiving our own story of redemption, is my prayer”
Elder D Todd Christofferson, The Divine Gift of Repentance
Alma 30:17-18
17 And many more such things did he say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime.
18 And thus he did preach unto them, leading away the hearts of many, causing them to lift up their heads in their wickedness, yea, leading away many women, and also men, to commit whoredoms—telling them that when a man was dead, that was the end thereof.
“On the surface such philosophies seem appealing because they give us license to indulge any appetite or desire without concern for consequences. By using the teachings of Nehor and Korihor, we can rationalize and justify anything. When prophets come crying repentance, it “throws cold water on the party.” But in reality the prophetic call should be received with joy. Without repentance, there is no real progress or improvement in life. Pretending there is no sin does not lessen its burden and pain.”
“‘We know that justification [or forgiveness of sins] through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true;
‘And we know also, that sanctification [or purification from the effects of sin] through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, to all those who love and serve God with all their mights, minds, and strength’ (D&C 20:30–31).”
“...the invitation to repent is an expression of love.” “A permissive parent, an indulgent friend, a fearful Church leader are in reality more concerned about themselves than the welfare and happiness of those they could help.”
“...repentance means striving to change. It would mock the Savior’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross for us to expect that He should transform us into angelic beings with no real effort on our part.”
“Perhaps as much as praying for mercy, we should pray for time and opportunity to work and strive and overcome.”
Elder L Tom Perry, Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear
“There are a number of things that we can do—that you can do—to advance an understanding of the Church. If we do it with the same spirit and if we conduct ourselves in the same way we do when we host a temple open house, our friends and our neighbors will come to understand us better. Their suspicions will evaporate, negative stereotypes will disappear, and they will begin to understand the Church as it really is.”
“We also believe that it is possible only through Christ to find ultimate contentment, hope, and happiness—both in this life and in the eternities. Our doctrine, as taught in the Book of Mormon, emphatically states: ‘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’ (2 Nephi 31:20).”
“...speak up about the Church. In the course of our everyday lives, we are blessed with many opportunities to share our beliefs with others. When our professional and personal associates inquire about our religious beliefs, they are inviting us to share who we are and what we believe. They may or may not be interested in the Church, but they are interested in getting to know us at a deeper level.”
1 John 4: 18
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Priesthood Session
Elder Jeffrey R Holland, We Are All Enlisted
“Satan, or Lucifer, or the father of lies—call him what you will—is real, the very personification of evil. His motives are in every case malicious, and he convulses at the appearance of redeeming light, at the very thought of truth.”
“He knows he will be defeated and cast out in the end, but he is determined to take down with him as many others as he possibly can.”
“Satan cannot directly take a life. That is one of many things he cannot do. But apparently his effort to stop the work will be reasonably well served if he can just bind the tongue of the faithful.”
“This is a life-and-death contest we are in...”
“And with the game on the line, what this coach is telling you is that to play in this match, some of you have to be more morally clean than you now are. In this battle between good and evil, you cannot play for the adversary whenever temptation comes along and then expect to suit up for the Savior at temple and mission time as if nothing has happened.”
“You cannot travel down what Lehi called “forbidden paths”5 and expect to guide others to the “strait and narrow”6 one—it can’t be done.”
“We need thousands of more couples serving in the missions of the Church.”
“Brethren of all ages, unbind your tongues and watch your words work wonders in the lives of those ‘who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.’10”
Bishop Keith B. McMullin, Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, The Power of the Aaronic Priesthood
Doctrine and Covenants 107:99
“Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.”
1 Timothy 4:12
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
“Shun profane and foolish chatter.”
1 Corinthians 13:11
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Elder W. Christopher Waddell of the Seventy, The Opportunity of a Lifetime
“...blessings of missionary service are not designed to end when we are released by our stake president. Your mission is a training ground for life. The experiences, lessons, and testimony obtained through faithful service are meant to provide a gospel-centered foundation that will last throughout mortality and into the eternities. However, for the blessings to continue after the mission, there are conditions that must be met. In the Doctrine and Covenants we read, “For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof” (D&C 132:5).”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Providing in the Lord’s Way
Doctrine and Covenants 52:40
“Remember in all things the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, for he that doeth not these things, the same is not my disciple”
“Unfortunately, there are those who overlook the temporal because they consider it less important. They treasure the spiritual while minimizing the temporal. While it is important to have our thoughts inclined toward heaven, we miss the essence of our religion if our hands are not also inclined toward our fellowman.”
“There are many good people and organizations in the world that are trying to meet the pressing needs of the poor and needy everywhere. We are grateful for this, but the Lord’s way of caring for the needy is different from the world’s way. “ “...the Lord’s way has always included self-reliance and service to our neighbor in addition to caring for the poor.”
“Brethren, please do not think that this is someone else’s responsibility. It is mine, and it is yours. We are all enlisted. ‘All’ means all—every Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood holder, rich and poor, in every nation. In the Lord’s plan, there is something everyone can contribute.”
“The Lord’s way is not to sit at the side of the stream and wait for the water to pass before we cross.”
“It is your mission to open your eyes, use your priesthood, and go to work in the Lord’s way.”
“To implement divine welfare principles, you need not look always to Salt Lake City. Instead you need to look into the handbooks, into your heart, and into heaven. Trust the Lord’s inspiration and follow His way.”
“...roll up our sleeves, go to work, and build a bridge or a boat to cross the waters of our challenges.”
“Whether we are rich or poor, regardless of where we live on this globe, we all need each other, for it is in sacrificing our time, talents, and resources that our spirits mature and become refined.”
President Henry B. Eyring, Preparation in the Priesthood: “I Need Your Help”
“Most of us must wonder to ourselves at times, ‘Am I prepared for this assignment in the priesthood?’ My answer is, ‘Yes, you have been prepared.’ My purpose today is to help you recognize that preparation and draw courage from it.”
“Because a veil of forgetfulness was placed over our minds at birth, we have had to find a way to relearn in this life what we once knew and defended.”
“Our priesthood preparation always includes others who have already been prepared to offer us the opportunity to accept the gospel and then choose to act by keeping covenants to get them down into our hearts.”
1 Timothy 4:13-16
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
“...spiritual staying power comes from working past the point when others would have taken a rest.”
President Thomas S. Monson, Dare to Stand Alone
“We live in a time when we are surrounded by much that is intended to entice us into paths which may lead to our destruction. To avoid such paths requires determination and courage.”
“Brethren, none within the sound of my voice should be in any doubt concerning what is moral and what is not, nor should any be in doubt about what is expected of us as holders of the priesthood of God.”
“You cannot afford to do anything that would place a curtain between you and the ministering of angels in your behalf.
“You cannot be immoral in any sense. You cannot be dishonest. You cannot cheat or lie. You cannot take the name of God in vain or use filthy language and still have the right to the ministering of angels.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Personal Worthiness to Exercise the Priesthood,” Liahona, July 2002, 59; Ensign, May 2002, 52)
“When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past.”
“May we ever be courageous and prepared to stand for what we believe, and if we must stand alone in the process, may we do so courageously, strengthened by the knowledge that in reality we are never alone when we stand with our Father in Heaven.”
Sunday Morning Session
President Henry B Eyring, A Witness
[When we were baptized], we promised to become charitable. Second, we promised to become witnesses of God. And third, we promised to endure.”
Elder Robert D Hales, Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done
“As we wait upon the Lord, we are ‘immovable in keeping the commandments,’26 knowing that we will ‘one day rest from all [our] afflictions.’27
“And we ‘cast not away … [our] confidence’28 that ‘all things wherewith [we] have been afflicted shall work together for [our] good.’29”
“These mortal challenges allow us and our Heavenly Father to see whether we will exercise our agency to follow His Son. He already knows, and we have the opportunity to learn, that no matter how difficult our circumstances, ‘all these things shall [be for our] experience, and … [our] good.’13”
Doctrine and Covenants 67:13
13 Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected.
“We may not know when or how the Lord’s answers will be given, but in His time and His way, I testify, His answers will come. For some answers we may have to wait until the hereafter.”
My Thought: We have trouble being patient and waiting on the Lord, but how many wait upon us to help them or be the answer to their prayers.
“Let us therefore be kinder to one another and kinder toward ourselves. Let us remember that as we wait upon the Lord, we are becoming ‘saint[s] through [His] atonement, … submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [us], even as a child doth submit to his father.’36”
“...’in my Gethsemane’43 and yours, we are not alone.”
Tad R Callister, Of the Presidency of the Seventy, The Book of Mormon—a Book from God
“Years ago my great-great-grandfather picked up a copy of the Book of Mormon for the first time. He opened it to the center and read a few pages. He then declared, ‘That book was either written by God or the devil, and I am going to find out who wrote it.’”
“But why is the Book of Mormon so essential if we already have the Bible to teach us about Jesus Christ? Have you ever wondered why there are so many Christian churches in the world today when they obtain their doctrines from essentially the same Bible? It is because they interpret the Bible differently. If they interpreted it the same, they would be the same church. This is not a condition the Lord desires, for the Apostle Paul declared that there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). To help bring this oneness about, the Lord established a divine law of witnesses. Paul taught, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1).
The Bible is one witness of Jesus Christ; the Book of Mormon is another. Why is this second witness so crucial? The following illustration may help: How many straight lines can you draw through a single point on a piece of paper? The answer is infinite. For a moment, suppose that single point represents the Bible and that hundreds of those straight lines drawn through that point represent different interpretations of the Bible and that each of those interpretations represents a different church.
What happens, however, if on that piece of paper there is a second point representing the Book of Mormon? How many straight lines could you draw between these two reference points: the Bible and the Book of Mormon? Only one. Only one interpretation of Christ’s doctrines survives the testimony of these two witnesses.”
"There exist various modes of baptisms in the world today even though the Bible tells us the manner in which the Savior, our great Exemplar, was baptized: '[He] went up straightway out of the water' (Matthew 3:16). Could He have come up out of the water unless He first went down into the water? Lest there be any discord on this subject, the Book of Mormon dispels it with this straightforward statement of doctrine as to the proper manner of baptism: 'And then shall ye immerse them in the water' (3 Nephi 11:26)."
“A belief in the cessation of revelation causes the doctrine that ‘God is the same yesterday, today, and forever’ (Mormon 9:9) to fall; it causes the doctrine taught by Amos that ‘surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets’ (Amos 3:7) to fall; and it causes the doctrine that ‘God is no respecter of persons’ (Acts 10:34) and thus speaks to all men of all ages to fall.”
Elaine S Dalton, Love Her Mother
“How can a father raise a happy, well-adjusted daughter in today’s increasingly toxic world? The answer has been taught by the Lord’s prophets. It is a simple answer, and it is true—’The most important thing a father can do for his [daughter] is to love [her] mother.’1 By the way you love her mother, you will teach your daughter about tenderness, loyalty, respect, compassion, and devotion. She will learn from your example what to expect from young men and what qualities to seek in a future spouse. You can show your daughter by the way you love and honor your wife that she should never settle for less. Your example will teach your daughter to value womanhood. You are showing her that she is a daughter of our Heavenly Father, who loves her.”
“Don’t let any influence come into your life or your home that would cause you to compromise your covenants or your commitment to your wife and family.”
“Did you know that your testimony has a powerful influence on your daughters? I knew my father had a testimony. I knew he loved the Lord. And because my father loved the Lord, I did too.”
Elder M Russell Ballard, The Importance of a Name
“The Lord’s Church in both ancient and modern times has had nicknames. The Saints in New Testament times were called Christians because they professed a belief in Jesus Christ. That name, first used derogatorily by their detractors, is now a name of distinction; and we are honored to be called a Christian church.”
“While Mormon is not the full and correct name of the Church, and even though it was originally given by our detractors during our early years of persecution, it has become an acceptable nickname when applied to members rather than the institution.”
President Thomas S Monson, Stand in Holy Places
“‘There are large parts of [the world] where religion is a thing of the past and there is no counter-voice to the culture of buy it, spend it, wear it, flaunt it, because you’re worth it. The message is that morality is passé, conscience is for wimps, and the single overriding command is ‘Thou shalt not be found out.’ ‘1”
“Our Father in Heaven is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The prophet Mormon tells us that God is ‘unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.’3 In this world where nearly everything seems to be changing, His constancy is something on which we can rely, an anchor to which we can hold fast and be safe, lest we be swept away into uncharted waters.”
Sunday Afternoon Session
Elder Russle M Nelson, Covenants
“The Moscow Russia Stake was created on Sunday, June 5, 2011.”
“In the Bible we read of men and women in the Old World who were identified as children of the covenant. What covenant? ‘The covenant which God made with [their] fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.’9”
“Children of the covenant have the right to receive His doctrine and to know the plan of salvation. They claim it by making covenants of sacred significance.”.
Elder Dallin H Oaks, Teachings of Jesus
“some who call themselves Christians praise Jesus as a great teacher but refrain from affirming His divinity.”
“Jesus also taught that His appearance was the same as His Father’s. To His Apostles, He said:
“If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
“Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:7–9).
Later the Apostle Paul described the Son as being “the express image of [God the Father’s] person” (Hebrews 1:3; see also 2 Corinthians 4:4).”
“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10)
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness” (John 8:12) - My Comment: We will not have to guess what is right and wrong or what the right way to solve the worlds problems.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21)
“‘Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
‘And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity’ (Matthew 7:22–23).
“Who then will enter the kingdom of heaven? Not those who merely do wonderful works using the name of the Lord, Jesus taught, but only ‘he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.’”
“He gave priesthood power to His Apostles (see Matthew 10:1) and to others. To Peter, the senior Apostle, He said, ‘And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven’ (Matthew 16:19; see also Matthew 18:18).
Luke records that ‘the Lord appointed … seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come’ (Luke 10:1). Later these Seventy joyfully told Jesus, ‘Even the devils are subject unto us through thy name’ (Luke 10:17). I am a witness of that priesthood power.”
“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17)
Matthew O Richardson, Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency, Teaching after the Manner of the Spirit
“My daughter’s success was a result of her diligent effort and how well she hiked after the manner that I hiked. As she synchronized her movement with mine, we achieved a rhythm together, allowing me to utilize my full energy. Such is the case when we teach ‘after the manner of the workings of the Spirit.’ As we align the manner of our teaching to match that of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit strengthens us and, at the same time, is not constrained.”
“...the Holy Ghost teaches individuals in a very personal way. This makes it possible for us to intimately know truth for ourselves. Because of our different needs, circumstances, and progression, the Holy Ghost teaches what we must know and do so we may become what we must be. Please note that while the Holy Ghost teaches ‘the truth of all things,’4 He does not teach all truth all at once. The Spirit teaches truth ‘line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.’5
“Those who teach after the manner of the Spirit understand they teach people, not lessons. As such, they overcome the urge to cover everything in a manual or teach all they have learned on the subject and focus instead on those things that their family or class members need to know and do. ...they intentionally pause to listen, carefully observe, and then discern what to do next”
Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita, Of the Seventy, Missionaries Are a Treasure of the Church
“Your attitudes and the love that you show toward others are very significant messages.”
“Your message is a message of love, a message of hope, and a message of faith. Your attitude and your actions invite the Spirit, and the Spirit enables us to understand the things that are important.”
He expressed 3 things that a missionary should do before his mission and then take with them when they go on their mission.
Elder Randall K. Bennett, Of the Seventy, Choose Eternal Life
“That day I made a poor choice that produced potentially serious consequences for me and for my family. As we now consider together the gift of choice, I pray that the Holy Ghost will help each of us individually evaluate the choices we are making.”
“Our beloved prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, has taught: ‘I can’t stress too strongly that decisions determine destiny. You can’t make eternal decisions without eternal consequences.’1”
"My dear brothers and sisters, your eternal destiny will not be the result of chance but of choice. It is never too late to begin to choose eternal life!”
Elder J Devn Cornish, Of the Seventy, The Privilege of Prayer
“Little children, young people, and adults alike, please believe how very much your loving Heavenly Father wants to bless you. But because He will not infringe upon our agency, we must ask for His help.”
“‘Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done’ (Matthew 6:10; Luke 11:2). We freely acknowledge our dependence on the Lord and express our desire to do His will, even if it is not the same as our will.”
“Honesty is essential in requesting things from God. It would not be fully honest, for example, to ask the Lord for help on a test in school if I have not paid attention in class, done the homework assigned, or studied for the test.”
“An essential and sometimes forgotten part of personal prayer is repentance. For repentance to work, it must be specific, profound, and lasting.”
“We must not only say our prayers; we must also live them.”
“Like learning a foreign language, it takes practice and effort.” - Wiki Answers to prayers
“Prayer is the means by which we approach our Father in Heaven, who loves us”
“Because He answers me, including sometimes in predictive and miraculous ways, I know He lives.”
Elder Quentin L Cook, Apostle, The Songs They Could Not Sing
“Whenever tragedy occurs, we mourn and strive to bear one another’s burdens”
.
“Why does a just God allow bad things to happen...”
“First, we have a Father in Heaven, who knows and loves us personally and understands our suffering perfectly.
“Second, His Son, Jesus Christ, is our Savior and Redeemer, whose Atonement not only provides for salvation and exaltation but also will compensate for all the unfairness of life.
“Third, the Father’s plan of happiness for His children includes not only a premortal and mortal life but also an eternal life as well, including a great and glorious reunion with those we have lost. All wrongs will be righted, and we will see with perfect clarity and faultless perspective and understanding.
“From the limited perspective of those who do not have knowledge, understanding, or faith in the Father’s plan—who look at the world only through the lens of mortality with its wars, violence, disease, and evil—this life can seem depressing, chaotic, unfair, and meaningless. Church leaders have compared this perspective with someone walking into the middle of a three-act play.”
...“the clarification and resolution that come in the third act, which is the glorious fulfillment of the Father’s plan.”
“The wicked will be held accountable for the atrocities they perpetrate.”
“..the Atonement covers all of the unfairness of life”
.
President Thomas S Monson, Until We Meet Again
“I thank you for the service you so willingly give to one another. We are God’s hands here on this earth, with a mandate to love and to serve His children.”
President Henry B Eyring, A Witness
[When we were baptized], we promised to become charitable. Second, we promised to become witnesses of God. And third, we promised to endure.”
Elder Robert D Hales, Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done
“As we wait upon the Lord, we are ‘immovable in keeping the commandments,’26 knowing that we will ‘one day rest from all [our] afflictions.’27
“And we ‘cast not away … [our] confidence’28 that ‘all things wherewith [we] have been afflicted shall work together for [our] good.’29”
“These mortal challenges allow us and our Heavenly Father to see whether we will exercise our agency to follow His Son. He already knows, and we have the opportunity to learn, that no matter how difficult our circumstances, ‘all these things shall [be for our] experience, and … [our] good.’13”
Doctrine and Covenants 67:13
13 Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected.
“We may not know when or how the Lord’s answers will be given, but in His time and His way, I testify, His answers will come. For some answers we may have to wait until the hereafter.”
My Thought: We have trouble being patient and waiting on the Lord, but how many wait upon us to help them or be the answer to their prayers.
“Let us therefore be kinder to one another and kinder toward ourselves. Let us remember that as we wait upon the Lord, we are becoming ‘saint[s] through [His] atonement, … submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [us], even as a child doth submit to his father.’36”
“...’in my Gethsemane’43 and yours, we are not alone.”
Tad R Callister, Of the Presidency of the Seventy, The Book of Mormon—a Book from God
“Years ago my great-great-grandfather picked up a copy of the Book of Mormon for the first time. He opened it to the center and read a few pages. He then declared, ‘That book was either written by God or the devil, and I am going to find out who wrote it.’”
“But why is the Book of Mormon so essential if we already have the Bible to teach us about Jesus Christ? Have you ever wondered why there are so many Christian churches in the world today when they obtain their doctrines from essentially the same Bible? It is because they interpret the Bible differently. If they interpreted it the same, they would be the same church. This is not a condition the Lord desires, for the Apostle Paul declared that there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). To help bring this oneness about, the Lord established a divine law of witnesses. Paul taught, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1).
The Bible is one witness of Jesus Christ; the Book of Mormon is another. Why is this second witness so crucial? The following illustration may help: How many straight lines can you draw through a single point on a piece of paper? The answer is infinite. For a moment, suppose that single point represents the Bible and that hundreds of those straight lines drawn through that point represent different interpretations of the Bible and that each of those interpretations represents a different church.
What happens, however, if on that piece of paper there is a second point representing the Book of Mormon? How many straight lines could you draw between these two reference points: the Bible and the Book of Mormon? Only one. Only one interpretation of Christ’s doctrines survives the testimony of these two witnesses.”
"There exist various modes of baptisms in the world today even though the Bible tells us the manner in which the Savior, our great Exemplar, was baptized: '[He] went up straightway out of the water' (Matthew 3:16). Could He have come up out of the water unless He first went down into the water? Lest there be any discord on this subject, the Book of Mormon dispels it with this straightforward statement of doctrine as to the proper manner of baptism: 'And then shall ye immerse them in the water' (3 Nephi 11:26)."
“A belief in the cessation of revelation causes the doctrine that ‘God is the same yesterday, today, and forever’ (Mormon 9:9) to fall; it causes the doctrine taught by Amos that ‘surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets’ (Amos 3:7) to fall; and it causes the doctrine that ‘God is no respecter of persons’ (Acts 10:34) and thus speaks to all men of all ages to fall.”
Elaine S Dalton, Love Her Mother
“How can a father raise a happy, well-adjusted daughter in today’s increasingly toxic world? The answer has been taught by the Lord’s prophets. It is a simple answer, and it is true—’The most important thing a father can do for his [daughter] is to love [her] mother.’1 By the way you love her mother, you will teach your daughter about tenderness, loyalty, respect, compassion, and devotion. She will learn from your example what to expect from young men and what qualities to seek in a future spouse. You can show your daughter by the way you love and honor your wife that she should never settle for less. Your example will teach your daughter to value womanhood. You are showing her that she is a daughter of our Heavenly Father, who loves her.”
“Don’t let any influence come into your life or your home that would cause you to compromise your covenants or your commitment to your wife and family.”
“Did you know that your testimony has a powerful influence on your daughters? I knew my father had a testimony. I knew he loved the Lord. And because my father loved the Lord, I did too.”
Elder M Russell Ballard, The Importance of a Name
“The Lord’s Church in both ancient and modern times has had nicknames. The Saints in New Testament times were called Christians because they professed a belief in Jesus Christ. That name, first used derogatorily by their detractors, is now a name of distinction; and we are honored to be called a Christian church.”
“While Mormon is not the full and correct name of the Church, and even though it was originally given by our detractors during our early years of persecution, it has become an acceptable nickname when applied to members rather than the institution.”
President Thomas S Monson, Stand in Holy Places
“‘There are large parts of [the world] where religion is a thing of the past and there is no counter-voice to the culture of buy it, spend it, wear it, flaunt it, because you’re worth it. The message is that morality is passé, conscience is for wimps, and the single overriding command is ‘Thou shalt not be found out.’ ‘1”
“Our Father in Heaven is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The prophet Mormon tells us that God is ‘unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.’3 In this world where nearly everything seems to be changing, His constancy is something on which we can rely, an anchor to which we can hold fast and be safe, lest we be swept away into uncharted waters.”
Sunday Afternoon Session
Elder Russle M Nelson, Covenants
“The Moscow Russia Stake was created on Sunday, June 5, 2011.”
“In the Bible we read of men and women in the Old World who were identified as children of the covenant. What covenant? ‘The covenant which God made with [their] fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.’9”
“Children of the covenant have the right to receive His doctrine and to know the plan of salvation. They claim it by making covenants of sacred significance.”.
Elder Dallin H Oaks, Teachings of Jesus
“some who call themselves Christians praise Jesus as a great teacher but refrain from affirming His divinity.”
“Jesus also taught that His appearance was the same as His Father’s. To His Apostles, He said:
“If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
“Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:7–9).
Later the Apostle Paul described the Son as being “the express image of [God the Father’s] person” (Hebrews 1:3; see also 2 Corinthians 4:4).”
“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10)
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness” (John 8:12) - My Comment: We will not have to guess what is right and wrong or what the right way to solve the worlds problems.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21)
“‘Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
‘And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity’ (Matthew 7:22–23).
“Who then will enter the kingdom of heaven? Not those who merely do wonderful works using the name of the Lord, Jesus taught, but only ‘he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.’”
“He gave priesthood power to His Apostles (see Matthew 10:1) and to others. To Peter, the senior Apostle, He said, ‘And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven’ (Matthew 16:19; see also Matthew 18:18).
Luke records that ‘the Lord appointed … seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come’ (Luke 10:1). Later these Seventy joyfully told Jesus, ‘Even the devils are subject unto us through thy name’ (Luke 10:17). I am a witness of that priesthood power.”
“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17)
Matthew O Richardson, Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency, Teaching after the Manner of the Spirit
“My daughter’s success was a result of her diligent effort and how well she hiked after the manner that I hiked. As she synchronized her movement with mine, we achieved a rhythm together, allowing me to utilize my full energy. Such is the case when we teach ‘after the manner of the workings of the Spirit.’ As we align the manner of our teaching to match that of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit strengthens us and, at the same time, is not constrained.”
“...the Holy Ghost teaches individuals in a very personal way. This makes it possible for us to intimately know truth for ourselves. Because of our different needs, circumstances, and progression, the Holy Ghost teaches what we must know and do so we may become what we must be. Please note that while the Holy Ghost teaches ‘the truth of all things,’4 He does not teach all truth all at once. The Spirit teaches truth ‘line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.’5
“Those who teach after the manner of the Spirit understand they teach people, not lessons. As such, they overcome the urge to cover everything in a manual or teach all they have learned on the subject and focus instead on those things that their family or class members need to know and do. ...they intentionally pause to listen, carefully observe, and then discern what to do next”
Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita, Of the Seventy, Missionaries Are a Treasure of the Church
“Your attitudes and the love that you show toward others are very significant messages.”
“Your message is a message of love, a message of hope, and a message of faith. Your attitude and your actions invite the Spirit, and the Spirit enables us to understand the things that are important.”
He expressed 3 things that a missionary should do before his mission and then take with them when they go on their mission.
- Have a desire to preach the gospel. Desire to share what you have to bless the lives of others.
- Develop your testimony.
- Love others.
Elder Randall K. Bennett, Of the Seventy, Choose Eternal Life
“That day I made a poor choice that produced potentially serious consequences for me and for my family. As we now consider together the gift of choice, I pray that the Holy Ghost will help each of us individually evaluate the choices we are making.”
“Our beloved prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, has taught: ‘I can’t stress too strongly that decisions determine destiny. You can’t make eternal decisions without eternal consequences.’1”
"My dear brothers and sisters, your eternal destiny will not be the result of chance but of choice. It is never too late to begin to choose eternal life!”
Elder J Devn Cornish, Of the Seventy, The Privilege of Prayer
“Little children, young people, and adults alike, please believe how very much your loving Heavenly Father wants to bless you. But because He will not infringe upon our agency, we must ask for His help.”
“‘Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done’ (Matthew 6:10; Luke 11:2). We freely acknowledge our dependence on the Lord and express our desire to do His will, even if it is not the same as our will.”
“Honesty is essential in requesting things from God. It would not be fully honest, for example, to ask the Lord for help on a test in school if I have not paid attention in class, done the homework assigned, or studied for the test.”
“An essential and sometimes forgotten part of personal prayer is repentance. For repentance to work, it must be specific, profound, and lasting.”
“We must not only say our prayers; we must also live them.”
“Like learning a foreign language, it takes practice and effort.” - Wiki Answers to prayers
“Prayer is the means by which we approach our Father in Heaven, who loves us”
“Because He answers me, including sometimes in predictive and miraculous ways, I know He lives.”
Elder Quentin L Cook, Apostle, The Songs They Could Not Sing
“Whenever tragedy occurs, we mourn and strive to bear one another’s burdens”
.
“Why does a just God allow bad things to happen...”
“First, we have a Father in Heaven, who knows and loves us personally and understands our suffering perfectly.
“Second, His Son, Jesus Christ, is our Savior and Redeemer, whose Atonement not only provides for salvation and exaltation but also will compensate for all the unfairness of life.
“Third, the Father’s plan of happiness for His children includes not only a premortal and mortal life but also an eternal life as well, including a great and glorious reunion with those we have lost. All wrongs will be righted, and we will see with perfect clarity and faultless perspective and understanding.
“From the limited perspective of those who do not have knowledge, understanding, or faith in the Father’s plan—who look at the world only through the lens of mortality with its wars, violence, disease, and evil—this life can seem depressing, chaotic, unfair, and meaningless. Church leaders have compared this perspective with someone walking into the middle of a three-act play.”
...“the clarification and resolution that come in the third act, which is the glorious fulfillment of the Father’s plan.”
“The wicked will be held accountable for the atrocities they perpetrate.”
“..the Atonement covers all of the unfairness of life”
.
President Thomas S Monson, Until We Meet Again
“I thank you for the service you so willingly give to one another. We are God’s hands here on this earth, with a mandate to love and to serve His children.”
No comments:
Post a Comment