President Dallin H. Oaks, “Introduction”
“In a solemn assembly, we will sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, voting by quorums and groups. We do this only in the first conference where a new President and prophet of the Church has been called.”
“At this Easter season, I reaffirm our testimony of the resurrected Lord and recognize that He is the head of this Church.”
Solemn Assembly
“In this solemn assembly, as noted, we will vote by quorums and groups. We will call on each quorum or group in turn. Wherever you are, you will then be invited to stand and express by your uplifted hand that you choose to sustain those whose names will be presented. You should vote only when asked to stand with your quorum or group.”
Elder Patrick Kearon, “About His Business”
“I was baptised into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in my mid-20s in London, joining a host of new young single adult friends in my newfound faith. During the first sacrament meeting following my baptism, I was asked to come to the front of the chapel, and the congregation was invited to raise their hands as a sign of welcome to the ward and to the Church.
“This was an unfamiliar practice to me. But I looked into those smiling faces, and I felt as if they were cheering me on, genuinely thrilled that I had discovered faith in Jesus Christ and a desire to follow Him.”
“With those raised hands and encouraging smiles, we were participating in common consent, where we can choose to sustain, by the raising of the right hand, those called to serve. Common consent is not a mere formality but a beautiful mix of our agency, unity, and faith. It is a voluntary, personal commitment to support, uphold, and help the Lord’s called servants in their responsibility, whether bishopric member, Young Women adviser, Sunday School teacher, or stake Primary president. We sustain each other with our prayers, our love, our patience, and our faith. Will we always agree with those we are invited to sustain? Will we always think they are doing a good job and serving as the Saviour would? Perhaps not, and we might be right, but as we pray for them and they for us, important bridges of unity are built.”
“I came to understand why everyone serves one another in a ward or branch: it affords us all the opportunity to pursue Christ and His virtues”
“You might serve in a very visible role for a time, only later to be called to quiet, unseen service—or to support those with less experience.”
“I also acknowledge that there are those who, owing to exceptional circumstances, are unable to respond to a calling at a given time. Careful leaders will be sensitive to this, and through prayer, the Lord can help you know when the time is right for you to serve again.”
“Our service is a choice, an offering to God, and a blessing.”
“Have we also come to see our callings as having a foundational role in the expansion of our faith?”
“There was nothing half-hearted about those friends I talked about. They were living their faith at full speed, and it was contagious. I could see the joy that came to them from their whole-souled devotion—which brings us to today.”
“This is a call he didn’t seek or aspire to. The weight of this responsibility is colossal and sobering.”
“Now, 42 years later, we joyfully sustain him as the Lord’s chief Apostle, as his whole soul once again responds to a call, claiming no infallibility while trusting in the Lord’s guiding hand.”
“While today is certainly solemn in purpose, it is also a day full of gratitude and rejoicing at the opportunity for the whole Church to come together and exercise common consent. We have signified our willingness to uphold President Oaks with our confidence, faith, and prayers.”
“When 12-year-old Jesus was found by His parents teaching in the temple, He told them that He had been “about [His] Father’s business.” And we can be too. Every calling, whatever it may be, is “His business” when embraced with a humble and willing heart and a desire to lift and comfort His children and share His good news. We are not merely filling an assignment when we respond to an inspired call but joining the Saviour of the world in His infinite, redeeming work. He needs you, and He needs me. Life is better—everything is better—when we are about His business.”
Sister Kristin M. Yee, “Ministering—’That Ye Love One Another; as I Have Loved You’”
“I remember seeing changes in my father during that time. He became aware and attentive to the needs of others. He took better care of his health.”
“Because these humble and devoted disciples of the Savior quietly ministered to a seemingly lost and dejected man, my family and I have been eternally blessed.”
“Ministering by the Spirit invites the Savior’s healing into our lives and the lives of those we minister to. I often find peace, clarity, healing, and purpose when I minister. I find the Savior when I minister. This is by divine design.”
“[Ministering] is not a program or a checklist; ministering is the essence of who God is and who we can become as we follow Him.”
“We are not called to or released from ministering. It is part of fulfilling the covenants we made at baptism and in the temple.”
“Our Father in Heaven carries out His eternal work by ministering to the individual needs of His children one by one.”
John 13:34
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
“Through the Savior’s Atonement we can come to love in ways that may feel impossible.”
“Our love of God and our fellow man is the ultimate test of the condition of our spirit. If we love God, we will keep His commandments. And if we love our fellow men, we will serve them and essentially be the Savior’s hands.” (Quentin L. Cook, “Being Prepared to Meet the Savior” (First Presidency’s Christmas devotional, Dec. 8, 2024))
“A young sister shared that she often feels nervous about ministering because she doesn’t know how others will respond. I asked how she works through that. She smiled and said, ‘I go—and it usually turns out much better than I thought.’ She exercises faith, and the Lord helps her.”
“As President Jeffrey R. Holland taught, we are invited to give ‘the God and Father of us all a helping hand with His staggering task of answering prayers, … drying tears, and strengthening feeble knees.’”
“I testify that ministering not only “brings forth the blessings of heaven,” it is the way of heaven. I testify that Jesus Christ lives. As we emulate His sacrifice by loving and ministering as He would, we will be blessed to find our own joy, healing, and relief in Him. We will become even as He is.”
Elder Clark G. Gilbert, “Come Home”
“I will devote my whole heart, might, mind, and strength to the great trusts placed in me, especially to the responsibilities of a special witness of the name of Jesus Christ in all the world.” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Why Do We Serve?,” Ensign, Nov. 1984, 12)
“Today I echo that same declaration. I pledge my life to be a witness to the name of Jesus Christ. Today, I will specifically witness to the names of Redeemer and Repairer, as I focus on Christ’s invitation for all of us to come home.”
“William Shakespeare’s famous words pronounce that missed opportunities can bind our future:
‘There is a tide in the affairs of men
‘Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
‘Omitted, all the voyage of their life
“Is bound in shallows and in miseries.’
Choices do have consequences, but we know in the gospel of Jesus Christ that when we lose our way spiritually, the Savior still allows us to change.”
“Because God has hesed for those who have covenanted with Him, He will love them. He will continue to work with them and offer them opportunities to change. He will forgive them when they repent. And should they stray, He will help them find their way back to Him.
“Once you and I have made a covenant with God, our relationship with Him becomes much closer than before our covenant. Now we are bound together. Because of our covenant with God, He will never tire in His efforts to help us, and we will never exhaust His merciful patience with us. Each of us has a special place in God’s heart. He has high hopes for us.” (President Russell M. Nelson, “The Everlasting Covenant,” Liahona, Oct. 2022, 6.)
“In my weekend assignments as a General Authority, I have repeatedly witnessed people finding their way home. It may not always have come quickly, but it happened—over and over again.”
“she eventually confided she still had faith in the Savior and even a testimony of the Book of Mormon. But she faced a few triggering issues that kept her from coming back to church. We promised them that as they anchored in the things they did believe, the Lord would help with the things they didn’t.”
“As President Oaks recently taught, ‘You live in a season in which the adversary has become so effective at disguising truth that if you don’t have the Holy Ghost, you will be deceived.’”
“Feeling we don’t belong, struggling with doubts, or being limited by traditions are just a few of the reasons we don’t immediately answer the call to come home. But even as societal pressures pull people away from their faith, life’s deeper questions do not go away.”
“As President Nelson taught, ‘The truth is that it is much more exhausting to seek happiness where you can never find it!’”
“President Oaks declared that the journey home starts by reanchoring on the Savior.”
“Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling—
“Calling for you and for me.
“Patiently Jesus is waiting and watching—
“Watching for you and for me!
“Come home! Come home! Ye who are weary, come home!
“Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling—
“Calling, O sinner, come home!” (“Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling,”, Hymns for Home and Church)
“Students who had already found their seats began to turn their phone flashlights on to signal to the late-arriving students that there was still space. It was as if they were holding up a light to say, ‘Please come sit with me; we saved a seat just for you.’”
Elder David A. Bednar, “All Who Have Endured Valiantly”
“In relation to physical exercise, the word endure suggests maintaining intense physical and mental effort over an extended period of time. Many of us also may associate the word endure with the unpleasant drudgery of routine work and responsibilities. But in a spiritual context, enduring is far more than merely persevering tenaciously to complete demanding duties or challenges.”
Doctrine and Covenants 14:7
7 And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.
“The Savior’s restored gospel invites us to be spiritually transformed—not merely to improve our behavior. As we align our character, desires, actions, and what we truly love more closely with God’s will, the Savior can bring about a comprehensive and complete change in us.”
“Mormon testified that ‘charity is the pure love of Christ’ and “the greatest of all” spiritual gifts. Significantly, the word endure is used in the scriptures to define and describe charity.”
Moroni 7:47
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
“We can possess charity, but ultimately charity should possess us.”
“For disciples of the Savior, charity encompasses both what we do and what we can become as this spiritual gift ultimately possesses us.”
“Please consider how these two overarching dimensions of charity are described in the thirteenth article of faith. The first half of the statement emphasizes charitable and gracious acts: ‘We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men.’
The second half of the statement emphasizes the ongoing nature of our spiritual transformation: ‘We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.’”
“The Savior’s divine nature and sublime character were the wellsprings of perfect compassion during His mortal ministry.”
“As we live as He invites us to live and with His help, our nature and character over time increasingly become more like His.”
“As we follow, love, and serve the Savior, we gradually focus less on our own desires and interests and more on understanding and addressing the needs of others. We do not merely perform benevolent deeds; rather, our state of being is changed and becomes increasingly Christlike. Charity, then, ultimately possesses us.”
Moroni 7:48
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
Doctrine and Covenants 93:13
13 And he received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness;
“As children of God, we also can receive of His fulness ‘in due time,’ following the same ‘grace for grace’ pattern as did the Savior.”
“The Savior taught His ancient Apostles: ‘He that endureth to the end [or is possessed of the pure love of Christ] shall be saved.’
“Nephi testified: ‘I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end [or is possessed of the pure love of Christ], the same shall be saved.’
“Alma declared: ‘He that findeth mercy and endureth to the end [or is possessed of the pure love of Christ] the same shall be saved.’”
“Enduring to the end is linked inextricably to the spiritual gift of charity. Enduring to the end is not merely a relentless determination to grit our teeth, hold on to the limits of our physical strength and mental capacity, and push through the challenges and adversities of mortal life; it is so much more than that.”
“As our love for Him grows ever stronger and deeper, we can be blessed to receive spiritual perspective, the Lord’s empowering grace, and exceedingly great and indescribable joy.”
Doctrine and Covenants 121:29
29 All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“I joyfully witness that each of us, with the Lord’s grace and mercy, can believe all things, hope all things, and endure valiantly all things.”
Elder Michael John U. Teh, “Follow the Prophet; He Knows the Way”
“Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice. It is a continuous commitment and way of life that should guide us at all times and in all places. His teachings and His example define the path for every disciple of Jesus Christ. And all are invited to this path.” (President Dallin H. Oaks, “Following Christ,” October 2024 General Conference)
“When my parents joined the Church, little did they know that they were embracing yet another set of values and traditions—even the gospel culture, based on the plan of salvation, God’s commandments, and the words of living prophets.”
“Over time, as our family strived to fully embrace the gospel, my parents discovered that some of our well-loved traditions were not consistent with gospel culture. It became apparent to them that they needed to make a choice.”
“And so began the difficult undertaking of weeding our family of traditions and cultural practices that were contrary to gospel culture. You could just imagine the immense pressure they received from family and friends to hold on to certain traditions even though they were contrary to the gospel.”
“The gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to change. “Repent” is its most frequent message, and repenting means giving up all of our practices—personal, family, ethnic, and national—that are contrary to the commandments of God. The purpose of the gospel is to transform common creatures into celestial citizens, and that requires change.
“The traditions or culture or way of life of a people inevitably include some practices that must be changed by those who wish to qualify for God’s choicest blessings.” (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Repentance and Change,” October 2003 General Conference)
“Our Savior experienced and suffered the fulness of all mortal challenges. … He therefore knows our struggles, our heartaches, our temptations, and our suffering, for He willingly experienced them all as an essential part of His Atonement. And because of this, His Atonement empowers Him to succor us—to give us the strength to bear it all.” (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ,” October 2015 General Conference)
“I was reminded that when we strive to follow the Savior, He will use us to bless others. Through our example and service to others, they will feel the Savior’s love for them.”
“During his ministry Jesus taught, ‘Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you.’ Later, he told his Apostles, ‘Hold up your light that it may shine unto the world,’ adding, ‘Behold, I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do.’” (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “The Light and Life of the World,” October 1987 General Conference)
Mosiah 8:17
17 But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known.
Elder Jorge T. Becerra, “Tithing—Putting God First”
Alma 7:3
3 And behold, I have come having great hopes and much desire that I should find that ye had humbled yourselves before God, and that ye had continued in the supplicating of his grace, that I should find that ye were blameless before him, that I should find that ye were not in the awful dilemma that our brethren were in at Zarahemla.
Alma 7:18
18 For as I said unto you from the beginning, that I had much desire that ye were not in the state of dilemma like your brethren, even so I have found that my desires have been gratified.
James 1:8
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Moses 5:5–7
5 And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.
6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.
7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
“The answer came to me after pondering and desiring to put God first.”
“I know that the people are in difficult circumstances. I know that many of them are unemployed. I know that many of them work for very meager wages. I know that they live in simple and inadequate little houses, the only thing they can afford. I believe they will not walk out of poverty unless they pay their tithing. … Now is the season in which to establish strength in the gospel, and that involves the payment of tithing. … It is obedience to the commandment of the Lord that really matters” (General Authority training meeting, Oct. 2, 2001).
“I am certain that the payment of tithes and offerings will enhance our spiritual capacity as we put God first and offer our “firstlings of [the] flock” (Moses 5:5).”
“The imagery of the ‘windows’ of heaven used by Malachi is most instructive [see Malachi 3:10]. Windows allow natural light to enter into a building. In like manner, spiritual illumination and perspective are poured out through the windows of heaven and into our lives as we honor the law of tithing” (Elder David A. Bednar, “The Windows of Heaven,” October 2013 General Conference).
“I witness that Jesus Christ is the perfect example of how to put God first in our lives. I witness that He laid down His life as a symbol of complete submission to His Father’s will.”
President Henry B. Eyring, “Prayers for Peace”
John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
“The world today seems to be in commotion. There are wars and rumors of wars. The economies of whole continents seem to be faltering. Prophesied wickedness seems to be accelerating as the Savior’s return draws nearer.”
“Yet despite turmoil and difficulty, faithful Latter-day Saints in hardship across the world have flooded heaven with prayers.”
“You may have seen in your congregations and in your homes that prayers have not only been more numerous but more heartfelt.”
Psalm 9:9–10
9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
Luke 11:9–10
9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
“Opening the windows of heaven through fervent prayer does not require the use of many words or flowery language. Rather, the diligence in prayer which Heavenly Father requires of us is to ‘pour out [our] souls’ in private places and have our hearts ‘drawn out in prayer unto him continually.’”
Matthew 6:6–8
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Mosiah 24:12–15
12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.
13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
“As we pray continually, no matter the circumstances of life, the Lord will offer us His peace and abiding support. I am reminded of the example of the sons of Mosiah, who had success in preaching the gospel and were made spiritually strong because they prayed constantly.”
Alma 17:3
3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God
“It is significant that their spiritual strength came from continued prayer rather than waiting to pray until a moment of crisis when they desperately needed divine help. Consistent prayer during joyous times and also during seasons of distress and grief will surely be rewarded according to His will and perfect timing.”
Alma 7:27
27 And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good works, from this time forth and forever. And thus I have spoken. Amen.
John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
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