Saturday, March 31, 2012

General Conference Sat aft 31 Mar 2012


Elder Jeffrey R Holland
Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard and the 11th hour offer: They would receive the same wages. Surely, such compassion was not previously known.
There will be times when someone else gets an unexpected blessing. We are not diminished when someone else gets added upon.
Envy is a mistake that just keeps on giving.  “Downing another quart of pickle juice whenever another has a happy moment.”
Coveting, envying and demeaning does not elevate your standing. Be Kind. Be grateful that God is Kind. 
The formula of FAITH is to hold on. Work it through. Don’t dwell on old issues and grievances.  Don’t hyper-ventilate about something that happened at 9 in the morning when the Lord of Heaven is trying to reward you at 6 pm. Matthew_20_1_-_The_labourers_and_vineyard
Mortals will always struggle to measure up to the immortal hopes placed before them.
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard is a story about God’s goodness. About the Savior’s Atonement. A story about Grace. A story about being merciful especially when they don’t think they deserve it. John_15_5_-_I_am_the_vine__ye_are_the_branchesIt’s a message about Forgiveness. You have not traveled beyond the reach of Divine Love. Nothing can not be undone. There is nothing that cannot be realized.

The Lord of the Vineyard stands beckoning. Come and Feast, without money or price, at the table of the Lord.  If you’ve made Covenants, keep them. If you’ve made Covenants and broken them, Repent and be Forgiven. Accept the Atoning Gift of the Lord Jesus Christ.












Elder Robert D Hales
We should strive to come back into the Light of the Savior’s Love. As our spiritual desires increase, we become spiritually reliant to follow the Savior. We become converted and spiritually reliant as we prayerfully live worthy to partake of the Sacrament and worthy to obtain a temple recommend.
The Sacrament gives us the opportunity to come to ourselves and change our lives to follow the Savior and return back to the fold of our Heavenly Father.



Jesus and the SacramentWe can receive power from on high to face our challenges. Divine power comes from Temple Ordinances where we serve in following the Savior.  The purpose of temporal and spiritual self-reliance to is get us higher grounds where we can also lift others.



The Prodigal Son DID come home. The Father did NOT forget him. Reminders that no blessings will be withheld if we faithfully endure walking the path back to our Lord by being able to say I worthily partake of the Sacrament; I worthily hold a temple recommend; and I sacrifice and serve others in following the Savior.








Elder David S Baxter
There are many good women across the Church who exhibit resilience as you suffer and sacrifice over the years. With God’s help, you need not fear for the future.
In the Kingdom of God, there are NO second-class citizens.
You will be glad to be apart of the Lord’s Church that holds out the Doctrines and Hope for the future of your children.





Jesus and Woman at well l53
You are never totally alone.


As you move forward in FAITH, Heaven will move with you. When you lift to lift the burdens of others, yours are lifted, too.



Lines of hopeful credit given to those whose coffers seem empty return blessings upon you also.















Elder Ulisses Soares


“Let us not be weary in well-doing.”
To enhance our Spirit, we must put away all uncleanliness. We must encourage righteous living. Don’t given up.
George Albert Smith often repeated the counsel his grandfather used to give to his family: “There is a line of demarcation well defined between the Lord’s territory and the devil’s territory. If you will stay on the Lord’s side of the line you will be under his influence and will have no desire to do wrong; but if you cross to the devil’s side of that line one inch you are in the tempter’s power and if he is successful, you will not be able to think or even reason properly because you will have lost the Spirit of the Lord.”



Jesus loving shepherd Do my actions place in the Lord’s or the enemy’s territory?



“But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God….For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.” (Moroni 7:13, 16)















Elder Quentin L Cook
Diligently try to live Christ-like lives as His Disciples.
We do not judge.Our desire is for all to awaken fully to their faith, and to be in tune with the sacred music faith. We are to rescue and pray that they will hold to the iron rod. 
Avoid being overly judgmental.
Example is particularly important. What we are speaks loudly. 

ArtBook__112_112__FamilyPrayer____Praying with Children may be more important than any other example. 
“And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.”  (2 Nephi 25: 26)
Faithful members must hold fast to the rod of iron by reading the sacred scriptures.  It is important to gain a spiritual testimony of the restored Gospel.
Read, Ponder and Ask of God IS the Answer!
Book of Mormon testifiesWe need to continually read and ponder the scriptures. Read the Book of Mormon regularly.

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and keeping His Commandments is the defining test of mortality. Resolve to awaken with a greater desire to be in tune to the music of faith and reality of His Atonement.
























Elder Richard G Scott

Thank-you to the inspiration that comes from the other side of the veil.
Pres. Joseph F. Smith said,  ”I believe we move and have our being in the presence of heavenly messengers and of heavenly beings. We are not separate from them. We begin to realize more and more fully, as we become acquainted with the principles of the Gospel, as they have been revealed anew in this dispensation, that we are closely related to our kindred, to our ancestors, to our friends and associates and co-laborers who have preceded us into the spirit world. We cannot forget them; we do not cease to love them; we always hold them in our hearts, in memory, and thus we are associated and united to them by ties that we can not break, that we can not dissolve or free ourselves from. If this is the case with us in our finite condition, surrounded by our mortal weaknesses, shortsightedness, lack of inspiration and wisdom from time to time, how much more certain it is and reasonable and consistent to believe that those who have been faithful, who have gone beyond and are still engaged in the work for the salvation of the souls of men, the opening of the prison doors to them that are bound and proclaiming liberty to the captives who can see us better than we can see them; that they know us better than we know them. Jesus Parting the Veil_McNaughtonThey have advanced; we are advancing; we are growing as they have grown; we are reaching the goal that they have attained unto; and therefore, I claim that we live in their presence, they see us, they are solicitous for our welfare, they love us now more than ever. For now they see the dangers that beset us; they can comprehend better than ever before, the weaknesses that are liable to mislead us into dark and forbidden paths. They see the temptations and the evils that beset us in life and the proneness of mortal beings to yield to temptation and to wrong doing; hence their solicitude for us and their love for us and their desire for our well being must be greater than that which we feel for ourselves.”  (Conference Report, April 1916, p.3)
We always hold them in our hearts. Those who have gone beyond can see us and are solicitous for our well-being. Relationships can be strengthened through the veil.  We can recognize the separation is temporary.
We need to learn to ask. That is how revelation is received. Fast and pray to find scriptures that will be helpful. Ponder and pray to know if there is more the Lord wants you to do.
Yielding to emotions such as anger will drive away the Holy Ghost. Be cautious with humor. A good sense of humor helps revelation. Loud laughter does not.  Careful quiet speed can enhance revelation. Good eating habits increase our capability to be healthy to listen to the Spirit.
Revelation can be given in a dream. Inspired communication in the night can be given by the Spirit.  The Lord can bring anything to our remembrance. Inspiration carefully recorded will enhance our ability to recall and enhance our ability to recognize spiritual promptings and know what to do.
Sanctify ourselves =  keep my commandments and makes the counsel seem clearer.
When we are acting as instruments on behalf of others, the Lord can piggy-back directions for our own benefit. Recognizing answers to prayer can be difficult. It is much wiser to seek to know what to do. Then we can qualify for Divine Power.Jesus Parting the Veil_McNaughton b
The Lord has said in Latter-day revelation:  “…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.  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;  Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart.” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:14-16)
Look for evidence in your own life that God may have already answered you. To more closely follow Divine Guidance, the greater will be our happiness here. The disposition to do right brings peace and happiness. Wrong choices can be forgiven through the atonement of Jesus Christ.
You will always be prompted to know what to do – as you meet the conditions for Divine Guidance in your life. Having communication with our Father in Heaven is not a trivial matter.

General Conference Sat am ReCap 31 Mar 2012

Pres. Thomas S Monson
No cause, no force in the world can stop the Work of God!  Words of Joseph Smith:  “the standard of truth has been erected: no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing, persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” (History of the Church, 4:540).    
There is much that is good and uplifting! 13th Article of Faith: “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able tJesus Peace is Coming_McNaughton bo endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”
I thank-you for your Faith and Devotion to the Gospel….for the service you provide…helps to accomplish the purposes of the Lord on earth.
We’ve come to be instructed and inspired. Our Heavenly Father is mindful of each of us and our needs.






Pres. Boyd K Packer
Repentance and the lasting hope that Forgiveness brings will always be the answer.
If in this life we only have hope in Christ, we of all men are most miserable.
I can understand the feelings expressed by the Savior towards little children.
The Gospel is a powerful influence. I hope to be judged as good as the man of my father.
In all that we do, we must be “Family Friendly”. Family Time is sacred and should be protected. We have the willingness and the witness that our Families can be Forever. The Family is the basic organization in Time and Eternity.Jesus Eternal Families through Christ_JudithMehr


Sis. Cheryl A Esplin
“The Lord has clearly commanded that parents are to teach their children to do good (see Alma 39:12 ) and to teach them ‘the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, [or] the sin [shall] be upon the heads of the parents. . . .’” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1992, 105; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 75–76 ).
The Lord instructs parents to teach their children to UNDERSTAND the Doctrine.
Help our children to get Doctrine into their hearts and the very fiber of their beings. Jesus blesses the children Angels attend Help our children to feel the Spirit and then recognize what they are feeling.
Be alert and recognize teaching moments. If we are ready, and let the Spirit guide, our children will be taught the Doctrine.
All learning is best understood where the Spirit is present.
















Elder Donald L Hallstrom
This is a MAGNIFICENT Church! Beautiful meetinghouses; Majestic Temples; Missionaries serving through-out the world; Humanitarian Service; Welfare; Community of Saints willing to serve one another. There is nothing like it!
As a youth, I saw Pres. David O McKay. I remember what I saw and felt.
Activity in the Church is a highly desirable goal; but is insufficient and is outwardly expressed. The things of the Gospel are spiritually discerned: our Faith, our Repentance, our Covenants. Jesus walking with children
Focus on the Gospel:
1. Deepen our foundation of Deity. Mindfully to pray to the Father in the name of Son, and seek the Holy Ghost.
2. Focus on the Ordinances and Covenants.  Intently prepare to receive them. Use the weekly gift of the Sacrament.
3. Unite the Gospel with the Church. Concentration on the Gospel, the Church will become more and not less in our lives.
The Lord wants the members of His Church to be converted to His Gospel!









Elder Paul E Koelliker
How can we help others to know that we love them?
Army of righteous disciples return and become key contributors to the Work of the Church.
We can learn from Nephi who said, “I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.” (1 Nephi 10:17)
Patterns are templates; guides; repeating steps to enable to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
jesus blesses nephite_childrenWhen we yield to His Will and Live His Pattern, we will Know His Doctrine and be blessed by Spirit of the Holy Ghost.
Faithful disciples of Jesus Christ follow the Pattern taught by the Savior to Love One Another. Heavenly Father’s arms are constantly extended to say “I love you”.












Elder Dallin H Oaks
“His precious blood he freely spilt;
His life he freely gave,
A sinless sacrifice for guilt,
A dying world to save.” 
(How Great the Widsom and the Love, by Eliza R Snow, Hymn #195)
That Sacrifice, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, is the Center of His Gospel and His Church.
As members of the Church, we offer a small imitation of His own sacrifice by offering our time, talents and love in serving one another.
“Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven.”
No group makes more sacrifices than the members of His Church.
Jesus Gethsemane_ Our lives and service most appropriately show our sacrifice in following our Savior.  Serving a mission is a small sacrifice for disciples of Christ.
Acts of volunteering and service remind us of the Savior’s words as He taught His disciples, 'For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it' (Luke 9:24).
We, followers of Christ, must make our own Sacrifices to prepare for our Destiny.







Pres. Henry B Eyring
Give me this mountain. Give me the challenges.
I felt a desire to be more like Him and prayed for help. My prayer was answered.
Emotional and physical challenges can cause us to cry out, “Why has this happened to me?”
The Lord answered this to the Prophet Joseph Smith:
“ And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.”  (Doctrine and Covenants 122: 7-9)
No better answer as to why trials come.
Jesus Christ_gethsemane Del_Parson_
The Savior suffered for us. Said He:  “Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.
“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
“But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
“Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—
“Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.
“Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power; and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit.”  (Doctrine and Covenants 19:15-20)
You and I have Faith that the way to rise above trials is to believe that there is indeed Balm in Gilead and in the Lord’s promise that  He will not forsake us.  If the foundation of Faith is not embedded in our hearts then we will crumble.
Serving others and God, persistently, turns trials into unshakeable Faith. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith and words of testimony, “I Know that My Redeemer Lives”, Repentance and Forgiveness brings Peace and Hope.  His Love is Unfailing!
Jesus He Lives