General Conference Sunday Afternoon Session April 6, 2008

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland - Apostle (Audio, Video)

“My Words . . . Never Cease”

Some Christians, because of their love for the Bible, state that there can be no more word from God than the Bible. He stated that we respectfully reject such a unscriptural mandate.

He commented on the statement in the Book of Revelation that states not to add to "this book". He stated that much of the Bible was written after that. He also stated that the Bible was not bound together as a complete collection until much after the Book of Revelation.

Moses 1:4

4 And, behold, thou art my son; wherefore ^alook, and I will show thee the ^bworkmanship of mine ^chands; but not all, for my ^dworks are without ^eend, and also my ^fwords, for they never cease.

The Old Testament does not lose value in our eyes when we are presented with the New Testament.

Joseph Smith—History 1:12

12 Never did any passage of ^ascripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed ^bwisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects ^cunderstood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible.
Thus one of the great purposes of continuing revelation through living prophets is to declare to the world through additional witnesses that the Bible is true. “This is written,” an ancient prophet said, speaking of the Book of Mormon, “for the intent that ye may believe that,” speaking of the Bible. (See Mormon 7:9)

D&C 10:52

52 And now, behold, according to their faith in their prayers will I bring this part of my gospel to the knowledge of my people. Behold, I do not bring it to ^adestroy that which they have received, but to build it up.

The scriptures are not our final authority. God is our final authority.

"In a sense Joseph Smith and his prophetic successors in this Church answer the challenge Ralph Waldo Emerson put to the students of the Harvard Divinity School 170 years ago this coming summer. To that group of the Protestant best and brightest, the great sage of Concord pled that they teach “that God is, not was; that He speaketh, not spake.”"
(“An Address,” The Complete Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson (1929), 45.)

Elder David A. Bednar - Apostle(Audio, Video)

Ask in Faith

The principle of asking in faith.

We can all improve our consistency and efficacy of our person and family prayers.

Joseph did not go to the grove to ask which church was right, but which to join.

James 2:20

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that afaith without bworks is dead?

Faith is a principle of action and power.

Prayer requires holy communication and consecrated work.

Prayer requires honesty, effort, and commitment

It is our responsibility to find people for the missionaries to teach. The missionaries are full time teachers. It is our job to find.

Ether 12: 6

6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that afaith is things which are bhoped for and cnot seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no dwitness until after the etrial of your faith.

Elder W. Craig Zwick - Seventy (Audio, Video) We Will Not Yield, We Cannot Yield

The scoffing of the world is loneliness trying to make itself feel better.

1 Nephi 8:33

33 And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of ascorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.

Elder Robert R. Steuer - Seventy (Audio, Video)

The Power of Light and Truth
He talked about the things he noticed about light as a child using a flashlight. He compared that to the light of the Gospel.

He noted things about Gospel light that Alma found. "...the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had . . . more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.” (Alma 31:5)

Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander - Seventy (Audio, Video)
One among the Crowd
He talked about various crowds. He talked of the crowds around the woman who had an issue of blood that pressed throught he crowds to touch the hem of Jesus' garment. He talked about the crowd of priests and the King Noah that Alma went contrary to in order to accept the truth that Abinidi taught from Christ. He talked of the crowd of people in the spacious building in Lehi's dream.

He noted that struggling against the crowd can be tough, but Jesus can reach us even in among the crowds.

Elder Lance B. Wickman - Seventy (Audio, Video)
Today

Alma 34:32–34

32 For behold, this ^alife is the time for men to ^bprepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of ^cthis life is the day for men to perform their ^dlabors.

33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many ^awitnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not ^bprocrastinate the day of your ^crepentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the ^dnight of ^edarkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful ^acrisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth ^bpossess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.

Jesus' decent below all things allows up to rise above all things.

Elder Craig C. Christensen - Seventy (Audio, Video)
A Book with a Promise

We have the benefit of living scriptures as well as canonized scriptures.

He presented a set of scriptures to a friend with that friend's name embosses on each volume. The friend asked, “Why do we need additional witnesses of Jesus Christ other than the Bible?” They asked him why he thought it might be important. "He suggested that since there appeared to be so many variations of the Bible and its teachings, we needed some kind of clarifying voice, something that would help us understand the Bible better."

Elder M. Russell Ballard - Apostle (Audio, Video)
Daughters of God

Mothers
"There is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood."

Cut out extra commitments. Cut out time wasting activities like soap operas and surfing the internet.

“Behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6).

President Thomas S. Monson - Prophet (Audio, Video)
Abundantly Blessed

President Monson stated, "We've had rapid-fire messages from a lot of speakers, but every one touched on a very important subject."

He also said a few words about his father.

Sunday March 2, 2008 - Sunday Services Cumberland Ward

Sunday School
Book of Mormon Lesson 8
“O How Great the Goodness of Our God”
2 Nephi 9 and 10
Jacob is the one now writing.

It was expressed by a class member that the atonement is a natural law just like gravity.

Another expressed that everything that comes before us is a choice and that if we do not look at it that way then we may be wasting our probation. We need to learn to make correct choices. Many more things than we think about is a choice that matters. Perhaps not the choice itself, but maybe the process of considering the choice. 2 Nephi 9:27 - "But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state!" also talks about wasting our probation."

2 Nephi 9:5-7 -

" 5 Yea, I know that ye know that in the body he shall show himself unto those at Jerusalem, from whence we came; for it is expedient that it should be among them; for it behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto man in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become subject unto him.

6 For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord.

7 Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more."

No matter how they lived their life everyone will be resurrected because of the atonement. Many look at death as a horrible, permanent separation from our loved ones.

Death is physical death. Hell is spiritual death or the separation from God permanently.

Priesthood
Cleanliness
If we are not clean it makes us ill. It can draw bugs. Bugs lay eggs and they can be transmitted on people. Those bugs can be then transferred to other people's homes or the church.

It was talked about that uncleanliness can impede the spirit. It can also take up time trying to deal with the clutter that many times accompanies or causes uncleanliness.

At the end of class the missionaries followed up on the message they gave a few weeks ago on doing missionary work.

Doctrine and Covenants 11: 3-4, 27 -

3 Behold, the field is white already to harvest; therefore, whoso desireth to reap let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God.

4 Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God.

27 Behold, I speak unto all who have good desires, and have thrust in their sickle to reap.

Rev. 14: 6 - "And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe."

Sunday December 23, 2007 - Sunday Services Cumberland Ward

Sunday School
Lesson 46 - He Will Dwell with Them, and They Shall Be His People
Revelation 5-6, 19-22
The first three chapters of the book of Revelation deal with John's time. The rest of the book deals with future events after John.

The events of these days can cause fear and despair. Fear can lead to inaction, being too scared to act. It can keep us from doing good. Even though these times are especially rough the Book of Revelation shows us that Satan has fought against the righteous in all time periods. In the end Satan will be bound and Christ will reign in peace.

Lion of David is Jesus.

Each seal that is opened represents a thousand year period in the history of Earth.

Many see the book of Revelation as fire and brimstone, but it is a book of great hope for those who are faithful.

Priesthood
Ensign November 1977 - Elder Bruce R. McConkie - The Ten Blessings of the Priesthood
"There are in this greater priesthood five offices or callings—elder, seventy, high priest, patriarch, and apostle—yet the priesthood is the same; and the priesthood is greater than any of its offices. We are a kingdom of brethren, a congregation of equals, all of whom are entitled to receive all of the blessings of the priesthood. There are no blessings reserved for apostles that are not freely available to all the elders of the kingdom; blessings come because of obedience and personal righteousness, not because of administrative positions. "

The Gospel is the Good News or the plan of salvation.

There is a difference between predestined and foreordained. Predestined means you have no choice. Foreordained means you have been chosen, but you have your choice to live up to your potential or not.