General Conference Saturday Afternoon Session April 5, 2008

They gave the statistical report this afternoon. We are over 13 million members.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks - Apostle (Audio, Video)
Testimony

"What do we mean when we testify and say that we know the gospel is true? Contrast that kind of knowledge with “I know it is cold outside” or “I know I love my wife.” These are three different kinds of knowledge, each learned in a different way. Knowledge of outside temperature can be verified by scientific proof. Knowledge that we love our spouse is personal and subjective."

Elder Oaks again gave guidelines about what a testimony is not. This is at least the second time I have heard this topic covered in the last couple of years.

He said that a testimony is not:

• A travelogue
• A health log
• An expression of love for family members.
• A sermon

He shared that President Kimball stated that once one starts preaching to another, their testimony has ended. (See The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball (1982), 138. )

He talked about how we can be as sure about the truthfulness of gospel principles by study and practice as a scientist is about scientific truths through his study and practice.

How do we gain a testimony?

• Desire to know.
• Ask in sincere prayer. DnC 42:61, Alma 5:46
• Acquiring a testimony is not a passive thing but a process in which we are expected to do something.
• Bare it. Testify of what you do know.
• Partake of the sacrament.

We have a duty to share our testimonies. Those who know should tell those that do not.

Children should be encouraged to define themselves by their testimony rather than by sports achievements and such.

Testimonies can be shared privately with an acquaintance or in public to a group or meeting.

We are united in following our leaders and also independent in choosing for ourselves.

Knowledge encourages obedience and obedience increases knowledge. As a scientist obeys the principles in an experiment he will learn more about that principle.

Elder Robert D. Hales - Apostle (Audio, Video)

Gaining a Testimony of God the Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost
The solemn assembly was not a vote. It was a commitment.

"People all over the world, of every creed and persuasion, search and struggle to know, Who is God? What is His relationship to Jesus Christ? And what is our relationship with Them?"

He talked about God and Jesus being separate distinct beings. He quoted the 1st Article of Faith. "We ^abelieve in ^bGod, the Eternal Father, and in His ^cSon, Jesus Christ, and in the ^dHoly Ghost. " He talked about Joseph Smith finding out through personal experience the nature of God the Father and Jesus Christ by seeing them.

Elder Hales gave some scriptures that show that they are two beings and he talked of Jesus being the literal Son of God.
Matthew 3:16–17, Luke 9:35, 3 Nephi 11:7, Joseph Smith—History 1:17, John 17:24, Matthew 26:39, Luke 23:46

Elder Gerald N. Lund - Seventy (Audio, Video)
Opening Our Hearts
Personal Revelation
Elder Lund said, "The voice of the Spirit is described as still and small and one that whispers.⁴ How can a voice be still? Why is it likened to a whisper? Because the Spirit almost always speaks to our minds and to our hearts⁵ rather than to our ears."

The condition of our hearts affects our sensitivity of spiritual things. The scriptures talk much of having soft hearts and pure hearts.

Elder Carlos H. Amado - Seventy (Audio, Video)

Service, a Divine Quality

He talked about three purposes of the savior's life. His atoning Sacrifice, His Doctrine, His Service to the Children of God.

"As Heavenly Father’s Only Begotten Son in the flesh, He inherited all of His Father’s divine qualities, and from His earthly mother, Mary, He inherited mortal characteristics."

Mosiah 5: 13 - "For how ^aknoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?"

Mosiah 2: 17 - "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn ^awisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the ^bservice of your ^cfellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. "

Elder William R. Walker - Seventy (Audio, Video)
Three Presiding High Priests
He talked about how the leadership of the church are in three. Bishoprics, stake presidencies, and even the first presidency.

Elder Richard G. Scott - Apostle (Audio, Video)
To Heal the Shattering Consequences of Abuse
He talked to the victims about relying on Christ to find healing. He talked to the abusers about relying on Christ to repent and change.

Elder L. Tom Perry - Apostle (Audio, Video)
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Rom. 1: 16 - For I am not ^aashamed of the ^bgospel of Christ: for it is the ^cpower of God unto ^dsalvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The desired results of the picture in the cookbook can only be achieved by following the recipe. So it is with the gospel. "If directions are not followed or an ingredient is left out or miscalculated, the desired taste and appearance are seldom attained."

Baptism is a gate, because it is an entry into a covenant.

Saturday March 31, 2007 - Morning Session of General Conference

General Conference
News Story from Deseret News
Morning Session
F. Michael Watson (Audio, Text ) gave the statistical report. A hundred thousand or so short of 13 million. Just under 300,000 convert baptisms this year.

Elder Richard G. Scott - Apostle (Audio, Text)
Prayer
The most powerful being in the universe encourages us to have audience with him on a daily basis. This is extended to everyone no matter of worldly status. The audience can be for as long as we want.

Prayers could be improved by:
1. Trying to ask for what he wants for us and not what we want for ourselves.
2. When we don't feel like praying or don't feel worthy of prayer is when we need to pray the most.
3. Don't wait until we encounter a totally over powering problem to go to God in prayer.
4. Do your part to study the problem and work on a solution yourself while waiting on the Lord.

Answers don't necessarily come while you are praying. They come as we exercise faith through our obedience.

Elder Jay E. Jensen - Seventy(Audio, Text)
Music in our meetings should not be a performance. Music becomes a performance when it draws attention to itself.

Music has great power. We can prepare ourselves to receive the messages of church meetings by coming early and listening to the prelude music.

Sing hymns as lullabies for our children.

Inappropriate music drives the Spirit from us.

Elder John B. Dickson - Seventy(Audio, Text)
Directed to the youth of the church.
Word of Wisdom
He said that we are less tempted by things we haven't partaken of. That is a different that what some say about trying something to find out you won't like it or the teaching that one should take time to "sow their wild oats" before they settle down.

Choose before you have to choose. Choose now that vulgar words and jokes will never fall from your lips. Choose now that you will never lie or cheat.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland - Apostle(Audio, Text)
He talked of James counseling us that he that bridals his tongue control the entire body is a perfect man. A horse can be controlled with a bit in his mouth. A boat is controlled with a comparably small rudder. The savior said, "Not that which goeth into the mouth ^adefileth a man; but that which cometh out of the ^bmouth, this defileth a man." (Matt. 15: 11)

He condemned abuse (verbal, physical, emotional, sexual, or any kind) and also gossip and backbiting. He said to speak positively about everyone including ourselves. "The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh, but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones."—Apocrypha., Ecclesiasticus 28:17 He noted that verbal abuse knows no gender.

One should never call their children names. We should also be careful when comparing children. When we say that one child is smart and one is pretty. All the children here is that one of not smart and one is not pretty.

He said that we should be cheerful. No misfortune is so bad that whining can't make it worse. There was undoubtedly someone in the golden age of society who complained that everything was too yellow.

Elder David A. Bednar - Apostle (Audio, Text)
He talked of how a pickle is created by a specific process. If you alter that process it does not become a pickle. You must prepare the cucumber by cleaning it properly and submerse it in salt brine for a certain time. If you just sprinkle it with salt or just occasionally dunk it in the brine you will not get a pickle.

We must be prepared and follow the process to become born again. Just occasionally reading our scripture, praying, going to church, giving service, performing any of the other parts of the gospel of Jesus Christ does not make us born again. We must be totally immersed in the gospel. Also, the process takes time. It does not happen immediately. One must keep immersed and keep at it.

President Thomas S. Monson - 1st Counselor to the Prophet (Audio, Text)
He shared some thoughts on the hope we have after death. Death is not like some imagine. It is much like going into another room.

He quoted from Acts 7 to talk about the resurrection. "55 But he, being full of the ^aHoly Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the ^bglory of ^cGod, and ^dJesus ^estanding on the ^fright hand of God," We see here the distinct beings, God the Father and His son Jesus Christ.