Gen Conf Oct 2017 Sun aft

"Each of us came to earth having been given the Light of Christ. As we follow the example of the Savior and live as He lived and as He taught, that light will burn within us and will light the way for others." —Pres Thomas S Monson

How are you sharing your light with others this week? #TempleSquare

Talk Summaries

The Trek Continues

Elder M. Russell Ballard 
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Although it is appropriate and important to remember the historic 19th-century Mormon pioneer trek, we need to remember that “the trek through life continues!” for each of us as we prove our own “faith in every footstep.” …

A trek back to our Heavenly Father is the most important trek of our lives, and it continues each day, each week, each month, and each year as we increase our faith in Him and in His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

We must be careful where our footsteps in life take us. …

• Today I repeat earlier counsel from Church leaders. Brothers and sisters, keep the doctrine of Christ pure and never be deceived by those who tamper with the doctrine. …
• Do not listen to those who have not been ordained or set apart to their Church calling and are acknowledged by common consent of the members of the Church.
• Be aware of organizations, groups, or individuals claiming secret answers to doctrinal questions that they say today’s apostles and prophets do not have or understand.
• Do not listen to those who entice you with get-rich schemes. …

In some places, too many of our people are looking beyond the mark and seeking secret knowledge in expensive and questionable practices to provide healing and support. …

I testify that “the trek continues,” and I invite you to stay on the gospel path as you continue pressing forward by reaching out to all of God’s children in love and compassion that we may unitedly make our hearts pure and our hands clean to receive the “multiplicity of blessings” awaiting all who truly love our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son.

God’s Compelling Witness:

The Book of Mormon

Tad R. Callister 
Sunday School General President

The Book of Mormon is not only the keystone of our religion, but it can also become the keystone of our testimonies so that when trials or unanswered questions confront us, it can hold our testimonies securely in place. This book is the one weight on the scales of truth that exceeds the combined weight of all the critics’ arguments. Why? Because if it is true, then Joseph Smith was a prophet and this is the restored Church of Jesus Christ, regardless of any historical or other arguments to the contrary. For this reason, the critics are intent on disproving the Book of Mormon, but the obstacles they face are insurmountable, because this book is true. …

The Book of Mormon is one of God’s priceless gifts to us. … As Saints, we not only have the privilege to defend the Book of Mormon but the opportunity to take the offense—to preach with power its divine doctrine and bear witness of its crowning witness of Jesus Christ.

I bear my solemn testimony that the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God. It is God’s compelling witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ, the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith, and the absolute truth of this Church.

Apart, but Still One

Elder Joni L. Koch 
Of the Seventy

In the Church, in spite of our differences, the Lord expects us to be one! He said in the Doctrine and Covenants, “Be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine” [D&C 38:27].

As we enter a meetinghouse to worship as a group, we should leave behind our differences … and instead concentrate on our common spiritual objectives. Together we sing hymns, ponder about the same covenants during the sacrament, say simultaneously an audible “amen” after talks, lessons, and prayers. …

These things that we do collectively help create a strong sense of oneness within the congregation.

However, what really determines, solidifies, or destroys our unity is how we act when we are apart from our fellow Church members. …

… Our words about our fellow beings should reflect our belief in Jesus Christ and His Atonement and that in Him and through Him, we can always change for the better! …

It is also likely that we will all experience some correction from our ecclesiastic leaders, which will be a test on how united we are with them. …

… I testify that as we decide to be one with the members and leaders of the Church—both when we’re assembled together but especially when we are apart—we will also feel more perfectly united with our Heavenly Father and the Savior.

Do We Trust Him?  Hard is Good

Elder Stanley G. Ellis 
Emeritus Member of the Seventy

Hard makes us stronger, humbles us, and gives us a chance to prove ourselves. Our beloved handcart pioneers came to know God in their extremities. Why did it take two chapters for Nephi and his brothers to obtain the brass plates and only three verses to enlist Ishmael’s family to join them in the wilderness? It seems the Lord wanted to strengthen Nephi through the struggle of obtaining the plates.

The hard things in our lives should come as no surprise. One of the earliest covenants we make with the Lord is to live the law of sacrifice. Sacrifice by definition involves giving up something desirable. With experience we realize it is a small price to pay in relation to the blessings that follow. …

Each of us may have a different opinion about what is hard. Some may consider it hard to pay tithing when finances are tight. Some leaders find it difficult to expect the poor to pay tithing. It may be hard for some of us to go forward with faith to marry or to have a family. There are those who find it hard to “be content with [what] the Lord hath allotted unto [them]” (Alma 29:3). It may be hard to be content with our current calling. Church discipline may seem very hard, but for some it marks the beginning of the true repentance process.

Regardless of the issue, hard can be good for those who will move forward with faith and trust the Lord and His plan.

Essential Truths - Our Need to Act

Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella 
Of the Seventy

Millions who have already joined the Church, as well as the many who are being converted and baptized each week, have gained a testimony of the First Vision. The Holy Ghost can repeat this witness often to each of us as we strive to live the simple truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The First Vision and the Prophet Joseph Smith brought forth additional knowledge and truth that are essential to our happiness in this life and our exaltation in the presence of God. …

An essential truth we learn from the First Vision and the Prophet Joseph Smith is that God calls prophets, seers, and revelators to instruct, guide, warn, and lead us. …

Another truth we learn because of the First Vision and the Prophet Joseph Smith is the true nature of God. Just imagine how blessed we are to know that God is a being with a body of flesh and bones as tangible as ours, that we can worship a God who is real, whom we can understand, and who has shown and revealed Himself and His Son to His prophets. …

From the First Vision and the Prophet Joseph Smith, we received knowledge of the reality and sacred mission of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the cornerstone of our religion.

Seek Ye Out of the Best Books

Elder Ian S. Ardern 
Of the Seventy

We live in a day in which misinformation about our beliefs abounds. …

[The warnings] of our prophets and apostles remind us that we must do all we can to fortify ourselves spiritually against words of opposition and deception. …

… Our spiritual roots go deeper as sincere personal and family prayer become bastions of our faith, as we repent daily, seek the companionship of the Holy Ghost, and learn of our Savior and His attributes and strive to become like Him.

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the Light of the World, and He beckons us to follow Him. …

Questions about our Church history and beliefs do arise. … The best counsel was given by the Apostle James: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God” (James 1:5). …

With all our prayer, study, and pondering, there may still remain some yet-to-be-answered questions. … Such questions are an invitation to build our faith. … It is the very essence of religion not to have a sure answer to every question, for this is one of the purposes of faith. …

Let each of us live … so that we will remain “firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end” (Alma 27:27).

Love One Another as He Has Loved Us

Elder Jose L. Alonso 
Of the Seventy

During the Last Supper, the Savior gave a new commandment to His disciples, saying:

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” [John 13:34–35].

The Savior’s disciples were given a new commandment to do something more, something greater, and something more divine. This new commandment and invitation is summarized in the key phrase “as I have loved you.” …

In today’s world of so much suffering for different circumstances, sending a text message with a funny emoji or posting a nice picture with the words “I love you” is good and valuable. But what many of us need to do is leave our mobile devices behind and, with our hands and feet, help others in great need. Love without service is like faith without works; it’s dead indeed.

The pure love of Christ, which is charity, not only inspires us to act and provide service but also to have the strength to forgive, regardless of the situation. …

I know that our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, love us and are willing to help us to act as we love one another as They have loved us. And I know that by serving and forgiving others with real love, we can be healed and receive the strength to overcome our own challenges.

The Voice of the Lord

Elder Neil L. Andersen 
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

General conference is one of the very important times [Jesus Christ] gives direction to His Church and to us personally. …

In the commotion and confusion of our modern world, trusting and believing in the words of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve is vital to our spiritual growth and endurance. …

As you listen, the messages you receive may be very literal or they may be customized just for you. …

I promise you that as you prepare your spirit and come with the anticipation that you will hear the voice of the Lord, thoughts and feelings will come into your mind that are customized especially for you. You have already felt them in this conference, or you will as you study the messages in the weeks ahead. …

The teachings of general conference are the considerations the Lord would have before us now and in the months ahead. …

Often, His voice directs us to change something in our lives. He invites us to repent. He invites us to follow Him. …

There is a treasure chest of heavenly direction awaiting your discovery in the messages of general conference. The test for each of us is how we respond to what we hear, what we read, and what we feel. …

I promise that as you hear the voice of the Lord to you in the teachings of this general conference and then act on those promptings, you will feel heaven’s hand upon you, and your life and the lives of those around you will be blessed.

See also 187th Semiannual General Conference talk summaries and photo galleries

Gen Conf Oct 2017 Sun am

Talk Summaries

That Your Joy Might Be Full

Jean B. Bingham 
Relief Society General President

Lasting joy is found in focusing on our Savior, Jesus Christ, and living the gospel as demonstrated and taught by Him. The more we learn about, have faith in, and emulate Jesus Christ, the more we come to understand that He is the source of all healing, peace, and eternal progress. …

No matter what we have suffered, He is the source of healing. Those who have experienced any manner of abuse, devastating loss, chronic illness or disabling affliction, untrue accusations, vicious persecution, or spiritual damage from sin or misunderstandings can all be made whole by the Redeemer of the world. However, He will not enter without invitation. We must come unto Him and allow Him to work His miracles. …

Are our testimonies built on the bedrock foundation of Jesus Christ and His gospel? When the storms of life press upon us, do we frantically look for a how-to book or an internet post for help? Taking the time to build and strengthen our knowledge and testimony of Jesus Christ will yield rich dividends in times of trial and adversity. Daily reading of scriptures and pondering the words of living prophets, engaging in meaningful personal prayer, mindfully partaking of the sacrament each week, giving service as the Savior would—each of these simple activities becomes a building block for a joyful life.

Has the Day of Miracles Ceased?

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom 
Of the Seventy

My limited knowledge cannot explain why sometimes there is divine intervention and other times there is not. But perhaps we lack an understanding of what constitutes a miracle.

Often we describe a miracle as being healed without a full explanation by medical science or as avoiding catastrophic danger by heeding a clear prompting. However, defining a miracle as “a beneficial event brought about through divine power that mortals do not understand” gives an expanded perspective into matters more eternal in nature. …

A critical question to ponder is “Where do we place our faith?” Is our faith focused on simply wanting to be relieved of pain and suffering, or is it firmly centered on God the Father and His holy plan and in Jesus the Christ and His Atonement? …

Today I testify of miracles. Being a child of God is a miracle. Receiving a body in His image and likeness is a miracle. The gift of a Savior is a miracle. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is a miracle. The potential for eternal life is a miracle.

… Our supreme focus should be on the spiritual miracles that are available to all of God’s children. No matter our ethnicity, no matter our nationality, no matter what we have done if we repent, no matter what may have been done to us—all of us have equal access to these miracles.

Exceeding Great and Precious Promises

Elder David A. Bednar 
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

One of the great challenges each of us faces every day is to not allow the concerns of this world to so dominate our time and energy that we neglect the eternal things that matter most. …

The Apostle Peter reminds us, … “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world” [2 Peter 1:4; emphasis added]. …

God promises His children that if they follow the precepts of His plan and the example of His Beloved Son, … then by virtue of the Savior’s redemption, they “shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God” [D&C 14:7]. Eternal life is the ultimate exceeding great and precious promise. …

Priesthood ordinances and sacred covenants … are the means God has appointed whereby we receive His exceeding great and precious promises. Ordinances that are received worthily and remembered continually open the heavenly channels through which the power of godliness can flow into our lives. Covenants that are honored steadfastly and remembered always provide purpose and the assurance of blessings in both mortality and for eternity. …

The Sabbath day and the temple, respectively, are a sacred time and a sacred space specifically set apart for worshipping God and for receiving and remembering His exceeding great and precious promises to His children. …

… Leaving our homes to spend time in Sunday meetings and to enter the sacred space of a temple is vital but insufficient. Only as we bring the spirit and strength derived from those holy activities back with us into our homes can we sustain our focus upon the great purposes of mortal life and overcome the corruption that is in the world.

Turn to the Lord

Bishop W. Christopher Waddell 
Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric

There will be times in our lives when we find ourselves on an unexpected path. … How do we respond when events, often out of our control, alter the life we had planned or hoped for? …

… Although each “change” may be unique to our individual circumstances, there is a common element in the resulting trial or challenge—hope and peace are always available through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Atonement of Jesus Christ provides the ultimate corrective and healing measures to every wounded body, damaged spirit, and broken heart. …

… We cannot control all that happens to us, but we have absolute control over how we respond to the changes in our lives. This does not imply that the challenges and trials we face are of no consequence and easily handled or dealt with. It does not imply that we will be free from pain or heartache. But it does mean that there is cause for hope and that due to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can move forward and find better days—even days full of joy, light, and happiness. …

Whatever change in life’s circumstance may come our way, and whatever unexpected path we may have to travel, how we respond is a choice. Turning to the Savior and grasping His outstretched arm is always our best option.

Lord, Wilt Thou Cause That My Eyes May Be Opened

Elder W. Craig Zwick 
Emeritus Member of the Seventy

The gospel mentors us to look beyond what we see. To look beyond what we see, we must look at others through the eyes of our Savior. The gospel net is filled with people in all their variety. … We must look past the easy assumptions and stereotypes and widen the tiny lens of our own experience. …

We live in a world that feeds on comparisons, labeling, and criticism. Instead of seeing through the lens of social media, we need to look inward for the godly attributes to which we each lay claim. …

… Truly loving others requires the ongoing practice of accepting the best efforts of people whose life experiences and limitations we may never fully know. …

As members of the Church, we have been gifted personal spiritual alarms that warn us when we are looking with only mortal eyes away from salvation. The sacrament is our weekly reminder to continually focus on Jesus Christ that we might always remember Him and that we might always have His Spirit to be with us. Yet we sometimes ignore these feelings of reminder and alarm. When we have Jesus Christ at the center of our lives, He will cause that our eyes may be opened to larger possibilities than we alone can comprehend.

Fear Not to Do Good

President Henry B. Eyring 
First Counselor in the First Presidency

Last April, President Thomas S. Monson gave a message that stirred hearts across the world, including mine. He spoke of the power of the Book of Mormon. He urged us to study, ponder, and apply its teachings. He promised that if we dedicated time each day to studying and pondering and kept the commandments the Book of Mormon contains, we would have a vital testimony of its truth, and the resultant testimony of the living Christ would see us through to safety in times of trouble. …

In a season of increasing tumult in the world, those increases in testimony have driven out doubt and fear and have brought us feelings of peace. …

The Lord told His leaders of the Restoration, and He tells us, that when we stand with faith upon His rock, doubt and fear are diminished; the desire to do good increases. As we accept President Monson’s invitation to plant in our hearts a testimony of Jesus Christ, we gain the power, the desire, and the courage to go to the rescue of others without concern for our own needs. …

We cannot foresee the details, but we know the larger picture. We know that in the last days, the world will be in commotion. … And we know that the Lord’s true disciples will be worthy and prepared to receive Him when He comes again. We need not fear.

See also 187th Semiannual General Conference talk summaries and photo galleries

Women’s Gen Conf Session Oct 2017

Our 4 Generation tradition continues! We attend together to remember that we are and eternal family…’of the royal house of the kingdom of God, children of Heavenly Parents, who reign throughout the universe.’
Talk Summaries

Turn On Your Light  

Sharon Eubank First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

For my text I am going back almost 40 years to a remarkable prophecy written by President Spencer W. Kimball. …

“… Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world … will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world” [“The Role of Righteous Women,” Ensign, Nov. 1979, 103–4]. …

… How do we play our part? What should we do? President Kimball refers to five things:

The first is to be righteous. …

The second is to be articulate. …

The third is to be different. …

The fourth is to be distinct. …

And finally, the fifth is to do one through four in happy ways. …

The prophets are calling on us, my sisters. Will you be righteous? Will you articulate your faith? Can you bear being distinct and different? Will your happiness in spite of your trials draw others who are good and noble and who need your friendship? Will you turn on your light?

Abiding in God and Repairing the Breach 

Neill F. Marriott Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency

We are here on this earth to learn and grow, and the most important learning and growing will come from our covenant connection to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. From our faithful relationship with Them comes godly knowledge, love, power, and capacity to serve. …

… Our sins and pride create a breach—or gap—between us and the font of all love, our Heavenly Father.

Only the Savior’s Atonement can cleanse us of our sins and close that gap. …

… The Savior repaired the breach—or distance—between us and Heavenly Father. He, through His great atoning sacrifice, opens the way for us to partake of God’s loving power, and then we are enabled to repair the “waste places” in our personal lives. Healing emotional distance between each other will require our acceptance of God’s love, coupled with a sacrifice of our natural selfish and fearful tendencies. …

Our Father’s infinite love reaches out to us, to bring us back into His glory and joy. He gave His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to repair the breach that gapes wide between us and Him. Reunion with Father in Heaven is the essence of lasting love and eternal purpose. We must make the connection with Him now to learn what really matters, to love as He loves and grow to be like Him.

Value beyond Measure 

Joy D. Jones Primary General President

The Spirit will confirm to each of us individually our divine worth. Truly knowing that you are a daughter of God will affect every aspect of your life and guide you in the service you render each day. …

… No matter what, we always have worth in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.

Despite this marvelous truth, how many of us struggle, from time to time, with negative thoughts or feelings about ourselves? I do. It’s an easy trap. Satan is the father of all lies, especially when it comes to misrepresentations about our own divine nature and purpose. Thinking small about ourselves does not serve us well. Instead it holds us back. …

Sisters, let’s not be confused about who we are! While it is often easier to be spiritually passive than it is to put forth the spiritual effort to remember and embrace our divine identity, we cannot afford that indulgence in these latter days. May we, as sisters, “be faithful in Christ; … may Christ lift [us] up, and may his sufferings and death, … and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in [our minds] forever” [Moroni 9:25].

Three Sisters 

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Second Counselor in the First Presidency

If you find yourself worrying about what other people say about you, may I suggest this antidote: remember who you are. Remember that you are of the royal house of the kingdom of God, children of Heavenly Parents, who reign throughout the universe.

You have the spiritual DNA of God. You have unique gifts that originated in your spiritual creation and that were developed during the vast span of your premortal life. You are the child of our merciful and everlasting Father in Heaven, the Lord of Hosts, the One who created the universe, spread the spinning stars across the vast expanse of space, and placed the planets in their appointed orbits. …

The promises of praise and acceptance by the world are unreliable, untrue, and unsatisfying. God’s promises are sure, true, and joyful—now and forever.

I invite you to consider religion and faith from a higher perspective. Nothing offered in the great and spacious building can compare with the fruit of living the gospel of Jesus Christ. …

You cannot allow circumstances to make you sad.

You cannot allow them to make you mad.

You can rejoice that you are a child of God. You can find joy and happiness in the grace of God and in the love of Jesus Christ.

You can be glad.

Gen Conf–Sun AM–2 Oct 2016 Session

President Thomas S. Monson

The Perfect Path to Happiness

This is the truth!

Our Father’s plan for our happiness and our salvation is shared by our missionaries throughout the world. Not all who hear this divine message accept and embrace it….

However, men and women everywhere…

recognize its truths, and they plant their feet on the path that will lead them safely home. Their lives are forever changed.

Essential to the plan is our Savior, Jesus Christ. Without His atoning sacrifice, all would be lost. It is not enough, however, merely to believe in Him and His mission. We need to work and learn, search and pray, repent and improve. We need to know God’s laws and live them. We need to receive His saving ordinances. Only by doing so will we obtain true, eternal happiness.

We are blessed to have the truth. We have a mandate to share the truth. Let us live the truth, that we might merit all that the Father has for us. He does nothing save it be for our benefit. He has told us: “This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).

From the depths of my soul, and in all humility, I testify of the great gift which is our Father’s plan for us. It is the one perfect path to peace and happiness both here and in the world to come.

My brothers and sisters, I leave with you my love and my blessing as I close, and I do so in the name of our Savior and Redeemer, even Jesus Christ, amen.

Deseret News Faith Summary

President Russell M. Nelson

Joy and Spiritual Survival

The joy Latter-day Saints feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives…

When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation ... and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening — or not happening — in our lives Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy. … For Latter-day Saints, Jesus Christ is joy!

Church members can focus on joy… Life is filled with detours and dead ends, trials and challenges of every kind….Each of us has likely had times when distress, anguish, and despair almost consumed us. Yet we are here to have joy? Yes! The answer is a resounding yes!…

Our missionaries teach and baptize to bring joy to the people of the world…

Just as the Savior offers peace, He also offers an intensity, depth, and breadth of joy that defy human logic or mortal comprehension….

Members can claim that joy by looking to the Savior….  We can give thanks for Him in our prayers, and by keeping covenants we’ve made with Him and our Heavenly Father. As our Savior becomes more and more real to us, and as we plead for His joy to be given to us, our joy will increase……

As in all things, Jesus Christ is our ultimate exemplar. ... In order for Him to endure the most excruciating experience ever endured on earth, our Savior focused on joy….

And what was the joy that was set before him? Surely it included the joy of cleansing, healing, and strengthening us; the joy of paying for the sins of all who would repent; the joy of making it possible for you and me to return home — clean and worthy — to live with our heavenly parents and families…..

Joy is a gift for the faithful. It is the gift that comes from intentionally trying to live a righteous life, as taught by Jesus Christ….

The Savior taught us how to have joy….

When we choose Heavenly Father to be our God, and when we can feel the Savior’s Atonement working in our lives, we will be filled with joy. Every time we nurture our spouse and guide our children, every time we forgive someone or ask for their forgiveness, we can feel joy…..

Every day that you and I choose to live celestial laws, every day that we keep our covenants and help others to do the same, joy will be ours…..

♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ A Day of Joy and Gladness! ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬

Deseret News Faith Summary

 

Elder Peter F. Meurs

The Sacrament Can Help Us Become Holy

Mmultitude of blessings are available to Latter-day Saints as they increase their preparation and spiritual participation in the ordinance of the sacrament….

These blessings are available to us because of the love of our Father in Heaven and the infinite atoning sacrifice of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ….

Five ways to increase the impact and power of our regular participation in the sacred ordinance of the sacrament, an ordinance that can help us become holy:

1.  Prepare in advance. We can begin our preparation for the sacrament well before sacrament meeting begins…

2.  Arrive early. Our sacrament experience can be enhanced when we arrive well before the meeting and ponder as the prelude music is played….

3.  Sing and learn from the words of the sacrament hymn. The sacrament hymn is an especially important part of our sacrament experience. Music elevates our thoughts and feelings….

4.  Spiritually participate in the sacrament prayers. Instead of tuning out the familiar words of the sacrament prayers, we can learn much, and feel even more, as we participate spiritually by considering the commitments and associated blessings included in these sacred prayers.

5.  Ponder and remember Him as the sacrament emblems are passed. The reverent moments as priesthood holders pass the sacrament can become sacred to us…

Deseret News Faith Summary

 

Linda S. Reeves

The Great Plan of Redemption

When we sincerely repent of our sins are truly gone—without a trace!…

….the unselfish and Christlike thing to do is to confess and repent. This is Heavenly Father’s great plan of redemption…

Through the atoning sacrifice of the Savior, Jesus Christ, and sincere repentance, every person is able to receive a remission of his or her sins….

The greatest miracles in this life are not the parting of the Red Sea, the moving of mountains, or even the healing of the body…..

The greatest miracle happens when we humble approach our Father in Heaven in prayer;….fervently plead to be forgiven, and then are cleansed of those sins through the Atoning sacrifice of our Savior…..

Deseret News Faith Summary

 

Elder M. Russell Ballard

To Whom Shall We Go?

As these disciples left, Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, 'Will ye also go away?'

"Peter responded: 'Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art Christ, the Son of the living God'" (John 6:67-69).

If you live as long as I have, you will come to know that things have a way of resolving themselves. An inspired insight or revelation may shed new light on an issue. Remember, the Restoration is not an event, but it continues to unfold….

Never abandon the great truths revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith….

Never stop reading, pondering, and applying the doctrine of Christ contained in the Book of Mormon….

Never fail to give equal time to the Lord through honest attempts to understand what the Lord has revealed….

“We must not assume…that just because something is unexplainable by us, it is unexplainable.” [Elder Neal A Maxwell]

Remember the plan of salvation gives mortal life a meaning and purpose and direction…..

Accepting and living the gospel of Christ can be challenging. It has always been thus, and it will ever be…..In the end, each one of us must respond to the Savior’s question, ‘Will ye also go away?’…

Always remember the Savior is on board and is able to rebuke the storm with His command, ‘Peace, be still.’

He will never abandon His Church and … He will never abandon any one of us….

Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer, and His restored gospel will lead us safely back to the presence of our Heavenly Parents if we remain on the gospel path and follow in His footsteps.

Deseret News Faith Summary

 

Bishop Dean M. Davies

The Blessings of Worship

Worship is essential and central to spiritual life….

It is something we should yearn for, seek out, and strive to experience….

One of the most remarkable and tender experiences recorded in holy scripture is the account of the visit of the Savior to people in the Americas following His death and Resurrection…

When Latter-day Saints worship God, they approach Him with reverent love, humility, and adoration…

We acknowledge and accept Him as our sovereign king, the Creator of the universe, our beloved and infinitely loving Father. We respect and revere Him. We submit ourselves to Him. We lift our hearts in mighty prayer, cherish His word, rejoice in His grace, and commit to follow Him with dedicated loyalty….

Worshipping God is such an essential element in the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ that if we fail to receive Him in our hearts, we will seek for Him in vain in our councils, churches, and temples….

As we worship, our souls are refined and we commit to walk in the footsteps of our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ…

It is my witness that true worship will transform ordinary Church meetings into extraordinary spiritual feasts. It will enrich our lives, broaden our understanding, and strengthen our testimonies…

Through sincere and heartfelt worship Church members blossom and mature in hope, faith, and charity….

Through that process, we gather heavenly light into our souls that infuses our lives with divine meaning, abiding peace, and everlasting joy.

That is the blessing of worship in our lives.

Deseret News Faith Summary

 

Elder Lynn G. Robbins

The Righteous Judge

There is only one way to judge righteous judgment, as Jesus Christ does, and that is to be as He is….

A righteous judge would respond to confessions with compassion and understanding. An erring youth, for example, should leave the bishop's office feeling the love of the Savior through the bishop, and enveloped in the joy and healing power of the Atonement …..

The Lord's way of disciplining His people is to lovingly and patiently teach them, often by chastening them…

Compassion doesn’t nullify the need for discipline….

Because the Lord wanted to teach Joseph a heart-changing lesson, He required a heart-rending sacrifice of him — sacrifice being an essential part of discipline….

Through the sweet irony of sacrifice, people actually gain something of eternal worth — His mercy and forgiveness, and eventually 'all that [the] Father hath'" (Doctrine and Covenants 84:38)….

Scriptures teach that the time to reprove someone is when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, not when moved upon by anger…

To remember a child's true identity is a gift of foresight, that divinely inspires the vision of a righteous judge.

There is only one way to judge righteous judgment, as Jesus Christ does, and that is to be as He is. Therefore, “what manner of men [and women] ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (3 Nephi 27:27).

Deseret News Faith Summary

 

President Henry B. Eyring

Gratitude on the Sabbath

The Sabbath is such a moment….a day of gratitude and love….

What matters most is the love we feel for the givers of the gifts…

God is the giver of the gifts and gratitude is how we give Him thanks….

The Lord’s words for how to give thanks and how to love on the Sabbath:

“I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him. Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things. Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:5, 7-9).

♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ “Count Your Many Blessings” ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬

Some are close to feeling that, at least for them, all is lost.♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ I hope and pray that what I say about being grateful on the Sabbath will be helpful to make doubts fly and for singing to start in your hearts ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬♩ ♪ ♫ ♬

One blessing for which we can be grateful is that we are there in that sacrament meeting at all….The fact that we are able to gather with even one other Saint and partake of the sacrament will help us begin to feel gratitude and love for God’s kindness….

We can be grateful when the Holy Spirit confirms to us that the words of the sacrament prayers, offered by humble priesthood holders, are honored by our Heavenly Father…

Of all the blessings we can count, the greatest by far is the feeling of forgiveness that comes as we partake of the sacrament….

We will feel greater love and appreciation for the Savior, whose infinite sacrifice made possible our being cleansed from sin. As we partake of the bread and water, we remember that He suffered for us. And when we feel gratitude for what He has done for us, we feel His love for us and our love for Him….

The Lord is building His kingdom quietly through His faithful and humble shepherds, with little fanfare…

You and I are witnesses that whenever we have kept our covenants with God, especially when it was hard….

He has heard our prayers of thanks for what He has already done for us and has answered our prayer for strength to endure faithfully. More than once He has made us cheerful as well as strong….

You could begin today with a private and family prayer of thanks for all God has done for you….

You could pray to know what the Lord would have you do to serve Him and others….

You could pray to have the Holy Ghost tell you of someone who is lonely or in need to whom the Lord would have you go…..

Your prayers will be answered and as you act on the answers you will receive, you will find joy in the Sabbath….

I testify that this is the Church of Jesus Christ and that He will honor the covenants you make and renew with God….

Your very nature will be changed to become more like the Savior. You will be fortified against the temptation and against feelings of doubt….

You will find joy in the Sabbath, I so promise you.

 

Deseret News Faith Summary

Gen Conf–Priesthood Session-1 Oct 2016

…to learn how to be better Brothers to each other and how to bless thy daughters……

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Emissaries to the Church

May we briefly examine the priesthood duty that has been described as ‘the Church’s first source of help’ to its individuals and families…

A monthly visit in each home is the ideal….

…pursue the scriptural mandate to ‘visit the house of each member,’ establishing a schedule that would get us to homes…

….using any of the means the Lord has provided….

Lift your vision of Home Teaching: Please in newer, better ways, see yourselves as emissaries of the Lord to His children….

As for what ‘counts’ as home teaching, everything counts, every good thing you do ‘counts’, so report it all!

The report that matters most is how you have blessed and cared for those within your stewardship….

What matters is that you love your people and are fulfilling the commandment to ‘watch over the Church always’[D&C 20:53].….

My, Brethren of the Holy Priesthood…..we are asking you as Home Teachers to be God’s emissaries to His children… to love and care and pray for the people you are assigned, as we love and care and pray for you.

May you be vigilant in tending the flock of God in ways consistent with your circumstances…

Elder LeGrand R. Curtis Jr.

There Is Power in the Book

Every time I open the Book of Mormon it’s like turning a switch – the Spirit flows into my heart and soul….

Whether our testimony of the Book of Mormon comes the first time we open it or over a period of time, it will influence us all of our days if we continue to read it and apply its teachings….

Whether reading it in print or on an electronic device, I have found the same wonderful Spirit flowing from its chapters and verses…...

The greatest power of the Book of Mormon

is its impact in bringing us closer to

Jesus Christ.

It is a strong witness of Him and His Redeeming mission…Through it we come to understand the majesty and power of His Atonement. It teaches His doctrines clearly.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Learn from Alma and Amulek

One of the most bittersweet narratives in all of scripture [is] in Alma chapters 8–16….

Alma did not hesitate. He ‘returned speedily’….

What can I learn from Alma?  How am I like Amulek?

Alma was an exceptionally gifted and capable man. It may have been easy to think that he did not need anyone’s help. Nevertheless, what did Alma do when he returned to Ammonihah?

Alma found Amulek and asked him for help.

And Alma received help.

For whatever reason, sometimes we as leaders are reluctant to find and ask our Amuleks.…

In whatever position you currently serve—whether you are a deacons quorum president, a stake president, or an Area President—to be successful, you must find your Amuleks. …

Too often we hesitate to invite people to use their God-given talents and engage in the great work of salvation….

Think of the Savior – did He begin to establish His Church all alone? No…

His message was not ‘Stand back. I’ll handle this.’ Rather it was ‘Come, follow me.’….

Find them by seeing with your heart. Reach out to them. Teach them. Inspire them. Ask them….

You may be surprised to discover a valiant servant of the Lord who otherwise would have remained hidden…

Listen with your heart and follow the promptings of the Spirit….

There are many Amuleks in the Church today. Perhaps you know one. Perhaps you are one.

The Beloved Savior knows where you are. He knows your heart…He wants to rescue you. He will reach out to you if you just open your heart to Him.

It is my hope that those who have strayed from the path of discipleship—even by only a few degrees—will contemplate the goodness and grace of God, see with their hearts, learn from Alma and Amulek, and  Hear the life changing words of the Savior, ‘Come, Follow Me’.

President Henry B. Eyring

That He May Become Strong Also

The Lord grants His power to those in all priesthood offices who worthily serve in their priesthood duties…..

“I was just as much sustained by the power of God while holding the office of a Teacher…as I ever was as an apostle." [Wilford Woodruff]

That wonderful spiritual possibility of ‘no difference’…..

The Aaronic Priesthood prepares young men for an even more sacred trust…

Every man who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood can be endowed with authority and the privilege of speaking and acting in the name of the Almighty. There is infinity to that power….It is concerned with life and death, with family and the Church, with the great nature of God Himself and His eternal work….

Every holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood has such memories…

Many things may help strengthen our younger brothers to rise up in the priesthood, but nothing will be more powerful than our helping them develop the faith and confidence that they can draw on the power of God….

Faith and confidence won’t stay with them from a single experience of being lifted by even the most gifted...Priesthood holder…

The ability to draw on those powers must be cultivated by many expressions of confidence from those who are more experienced….

The Aaronic Priesthood holders will also need daily and even hourly encouragement and correction from the Lord Himself through the Holy Ghost. That will be available to them as they choose to remain worthy of it…

We understand the power of the faith of a loving mother. Mothers provide that great support to their sons today…

You priesthood leaders and fathers of Aaronic Priesthood holders can work miracles…

You can help the Lord fill the ranks of faithful elders with young men who accept the call to preach the gospel and do it with confidence…

You will see many you have lifted & encouraged stay faithful, marry worthily in the temple and in turn, lift and prepare others….

I thank with all my heart the wonderful people who have lifted me and shown me how to love and lift others.

President Thomas S. Monson

 

Principles and Promises

Those who are obedient to the Lord’s commandments and who faithfully observe the Word of Wisdom are promised particular blessings, among which are good health and added physical stamina…[see D&C 89:18–20]….

May we care for our bodies and our minds by observing the principles set forth in the Word of Wisdom, a divinely provided plan.

With all my heart and soul I testify of the glorious blessings which await us as we do.

Gen Conf–Sat Aft-1 Oct 2016 Session

Elder Quentin L. Cook

Valiant in the Testimony of Jesus

If we are to be valiant in our testimony of Jesus, we must avoid the stumbling blocks that entrap and impede the progress of otherwise many honorable men and women…..

We cannot afford to have our testimonies of the Father and the Son become confused and complicated by stumbling blocks. We cannot fall into that trap. Our testimonies of Them need to remain pure and simple….

Alma contains some of the most magnificent doctrine on the Atonement in all scripture…… Alma established that God’s plan is a plan of Happiness…

Looking beyond the Mark Is a Stumbling Block …

Some members elevate causes, many of which are good, to a status superior to basic gospel doctrine.… If we elevate anything above our devotion to the Savior… then we are looking beyond the mark….

Jesus Christ is the mark!

We need to avoid looking beyong the mark and focus on Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer and follow His Doctrine….

Look always for “stepping stones” that improve lives and ennoble character.

Being valiant in our testimony of Jesus is a stepping stone towards qualifying for the Savior’s grace and the Celestial Kingdom,” he concluded. “ Jesus Christ is the only name under heaven by which we may be saved.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

Look to the Book, Look to the Lord

As you look to the Book, you look to the Lord…

Can you see the Book of Mormon as your KEYSTONE to your testimony?

Pres. Benson: “There are three ways in which the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. It is the keystone in our witness of Christ. It is the keystone of our doctrine. It is the keystone of testimony.
The Book of Mormon is the keystone in our witness of Jesus Christ, who is Himself the cornerstone of everything we do. It bears witness of His reality with power and clarity….”

I have learned that one is never too young to seek and receive a personal testimony of the Book of Mormon….Each of you young men, young women and children can have the same feelings…..When you read the Book of Mormon and pray with a desire to know it is true, you too can receive the same impression in your heart….

You can easily find time to study the Book of Mormon…and you can enjoy it…

The Book of Mormon can become the keystone of one's testimony….. Spiritual witnesses can lead to the Book of Mormon becoming the Keystone of your testimony.

In gospel terms, it is a gift and a blessing from the Lord that the keystone of our religion is something as tangible and graspable as the Book of Mormon and that you can hold it and read it. Can you see the Book of Mormon as your keystone, your spiritual center of strength?…

The Book of Mormon is centered on Christ with some form of His name mentioned nearly every 1.7 verses….

You will pore through the passages of this precious book and encounter your beloved Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, on nearly every page…

The truths you will find there will uplift and inspire you in a similar way. They will strengthen your faith, fill your soul with light, and prepare you for a future you scarcely have the ability to comprehend.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Abide in My Love

God’s love is infinite and it will endure forever. But what it means for each of us depends on how we respond to His Love….

To 'continue in' or 'abide in' the Savior's love means to receive His grace and be perfected by it…..

To receive His grace, we must have faith in Jesus Christ and keep His commandments, including repenting of our sins, being baptized for the remission of sins, receiving the Holy Ghost, and continuing in the path of obedience…

Because no unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God, Christ atoned for the sins of the world….

From the Book of Mormon we learn that the intent of Christ's suffering — the ultimate manifestation of His love — was 'to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they many have faith unto repentance…(Alma 34:15-16).

Repentance, then, is His gift to us, purchased at a very dear price….

As we come to trust rather than resist our divine Teacher, He can work with us to enlighten and lift us to a new reality….

Each of us can love and serve God and be empowered to bless our fellow man….

What a precious gift is divine love!

Will you not love Him who first love you? Then keep His commandments….

Will you not be a friend to Him who laid down His lie for His friends?  Then keep His commandments….

Will you not abide in His love and receive all that He graciously offers you? Then keep His commandments!

 

Elder W. Mark Bassett

For Our Spiritual Development and Learning

The Lord’s pattern for learning is timeless, and requires faith and trust from the student…

Truths Nephi described as written for our learning and profit….Nephi’s example of seeking knowledge included (1) a sincere desire, (2) humility, (3) prayer, (4) trust in the prophet, and an exercise of (5) faith, (6) diligence, and (7) obedience….

Faith and trust in the Lord require us to acknowledge that His wisdom is superior to our own…

We must also acknowledge that His plan provides the greatest potential for spiritual development and learning…

Each is expected to "hope for things which are not seen, which are true…

The companionship of the Holy Ghost will aid in spiritual development and learning….

As we acknowledge that we are the workmanship of a wise and devoted Father in Heaven, O then, why not allow Him to guide our spiritual development and learning according to His will and pleasure rather than our own.

 

Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita

Be Ambitious for Christ

Be ambitious for Christ…

Being ambitious for Christ means being motivated, focused and dedicated to His work…

Being ambitious for Christ means that we serve faithfully and diligently in our wards and branches without complaint and with joyful hearts…

Our missionaries serving throughout the world are beautiful examples of those who are truly ambitious for Christ….

In our lives we experience trials, but if we are ambitious for Christ, we can focus on Him and feel joy even in the midst of them…

Our Redeemer is the ultimate example. He understood His holy mission and was obedient to the will of God the Father. What a choice blessing it is to bring His wonderful example to our remembrance each week as we partake of the sacrament.

We are amibitious for Christ when we:  Serve Faithfully, Accept Humbly, Endure Nobly, Pray Fervently, and Partake Worthily.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Sharing the Restored Gospel

Sharing the Restored Gospel is a life-long Christian duty.

First, we can all pray for desire to help with this vital part of the work of salvation…

Second, we can keep the commandments ourselves. Faithful members will always have His Spirit to be with them, to guide them as they seek to participate in the great work of sharing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.…

Third, we can pray for inspiration on what we can do in our individual circumstances to share the gospel with others….

Sharing the gospel is not a burden but a joy. What we call ‘member missionary work’ is not a program but an attitude of love and outreach to help those around us. It is also an opportunity to witness how we feel about the restored gospel of our Savior

As an Apostle of the Lord, I urge every member and family in the Church to pray for the Lord to help them find persons prepared to receive the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. …

I promise that with faith in the Lord’s help, we will be guided, inspired, and find great joy in this eternally important work of love. We will come to understand that success in sharing the gospel is inviting people with love and genuine intent to help them, no matter what their response.