"The Lord Bless You"
President Thomas S. Monson
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recalls the passing of Elder Derek A. Cuthbert and his testimony, acknowledging his accomplishments despite health challenges, and offers prayers for his family.
We miss the association of Elder Derek A. Cuthbert, who was called to his heavenly home on April 7, 1991. We recall his testimony of truth concerning this work and marvel at all he was able to accomplish, even with limitations of health. In our prayers we remember his dear wife, Muriel, and each member of his family.
Forgiveness
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"The Lord Bless You"
President Thomas S. Monson
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
President Benson loves meeting and shaking hands with children and youth, and enjoys singing 'A Mormon Boy' to them.
How President Benson loves meeting and shaking hands with children and youth! He has traveled throughout the Church and has always taken great pleasure in singing to the children the song "A Mormon Boy."
Forgiveness
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"The Lord Bless You"
President Thomas S. Monson
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
A humorous letter from a little girl to President Benson shows her innocence, as she refers to the Bible verse 'Blessed are the peacemakers' in relation to his pacemaker.
President Benson receives many letters from children. Sometimes they are humorous, other times tender. When President Benson was hospitalized and the doctors provided a pacemaker to help regulate his heart, one little girl wrote in and said, "Dear President Benson, I know you will be all right because the Bible says, "˜Blessed are the pacemakers."™"Matt. 5:9
Forgiveness
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"The Lord Bless You"
President Thomas S. Monson
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
President Benson attended parts of the conference despite his advanced age and health limitations, and the speaker conveys the prophet's love and counsel on his behalf.
Traditionally, the President of the Church provides closing remarks at the conclusion of conference. How we would enjoy hearing from President Benson! We are grateful that now, in his ninety-third year, he is free from pain, able to move about, meet on occasion with the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve, and be the recipient of your faith, your prayers, and your expressions of love for him. All of us were gratified that President Benson was able to attend a portion of the opening sessio ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"The Lord Bless You"
President Thomas S. Monson
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
A father writes about how his young son was positively impacted by President Benson's message of God's love, even when we make mistakes.
He wept when I shared with him a letter I received from a child"™s father. The letter began, "This past April, my wife and I were watching the Sunday afternoon session of conference. Our three-year-old son, Christopher, was standing on a chair at the kitchen counter playing with Play-Doh, listening to conference on the radio. As we entered the kitchen at the end of President Benson"™s comments to the children, Christopher reported excitedly, "˜That man on the radio said that even when we ma ... (continued)
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"The Lowly Cigarette"
Elder Mark E. Petersen
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The speaker expresses gratitude for the faith and strength of the youth, particularly their participation in the conference through singing and other activities.
GRATITUDE FOR FAITH OF YOUTH
I have been more than happy with the participation of the young people in this conference. Like you, I was thrilled in my soul by the singing of the Brigham Young University chorus, yesterday; by the Aaronic Priesthood chorus in our priesthood meeting last night, and now again, by the singing of these wonderful young people from Ricks College. I am glad for them. As I have visited the various stakes and met with your young people in firesides and other meetings, I ha ... (continued)
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"The Lowly Cigarette"
Elder Mark E. Petersen
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The speaker tells a hypothetical story of a young person who starts smoking, illustrating how the decision to smoke can lead to a chain of negative consequences, including choosing friends who smoke, developing other harmful habits, distancing oneself from church activities, and impacting future marriage and family life.
CIGARETTE HABIT DETERMINES COURSE OF LIFE
If you adopt the cigarette habit, it will, in large measure determine the kind of life you are going to live, the kind of friends you will have, the kind of person you are going to marry, even the kind of children you may have. Do you regard that as an extreme statement? Let us think about it for a few moments.
If, at your house, you happen to take a newspaper or a magazine which carries cigarette advertising, and those alluring advertisements tempt you ... (continued)
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"The Lowly Cigarette"
Elder Mark E. Petersen
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The speaker poses rhetorical questions about the value of religion, suggesting that a life without religion is undesirable and full of negative consequences.
THE VALUE OF RELIGION
Let me ask you one other thing: What do you think of religion, anyway? Is it worth while? Is it worth the trouble we go to? Does it do any good in the world? Or would we be better off without it?
I once read an advertisement which asked this question: 'How would you like to live in a town in which there were no churches?' And then it listed the crime and the violence and the debauchery and the filth and the heartbreak and the sorrow and the disappointment associated with pe ... (continued)
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"The Morning Breaks; the Shadows Flee"
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
- Of the Council of the Twelve
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📖 general conference
The talk describes the darkness of the night and the behaviors of various nocturnal animals, creating an analogy for spiritual darkness.
When the sun goes down and the dusk of day deepens into night, then darkness reigns. During the night, darkness is everywhere and the vision of all is dimmed; none can see afar off. Though the heavens teem with stars"”an uncounted host of them"”and though the moon"”she who rules the night"”reflects her rays of borrowed light, yet the darkness is not pierced; the blackness of the night continues.
Deep shadows hide the beasts of forest and field. Wildcats stalk their prey in silence. Packs ... (continued)
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"The Morning Breaks; the Shadows Flee"
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
- Of the Council of the Twelve
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📖 general conference
The talk then describes the coming of dawn as a metaphor for the return of spiritual light and truth.
But finally a distant dawn is heralded. The morning stars shine forth more brightly than their fellows. A few rays of light part the darkness of the eastern sky, a sky still spotted with clouds. Beyond the mountains, not many leagues away, a new day is gestating in the womb of nature. As the earth turns slowly on its decreed course, the dawn brightens; the light of the morning increases; darkness flees. The stars no longer shine; the moon hides her face; their reflected glimmerings no longer pie ... (continued)
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"The Morning Breaks; the Shadows Flee"
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
- Of the Council of the Twelve
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📖 general conference
The speaker uses the historical period of spiritual darkness after the priesthood was taken away to illustrate the loss of divine guidance and the prevalence of false teachings.
When the gospel sun went down almost two millennia ago, when the priesthood was taken away and a dreary dusk descended in the congregations that once had known light, when light and truth no longer shone forth from heaven, and when those on earth no longer were taught and directed by apostles and prophets, then spiritual darkness reigned. Darkness covered the earth and gross darkness the minds of the people. (SeeIsa. 60:2The dark ages had their beginning, and the light of heaven no longer dwelt ... (continued)
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"The Morning Breaks; the Shadows Flee"
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
- Of the Council of the Twelve
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📖 general conference
The talk describes the efforts of reformers and the eventual establishment of religious freedom in America, leading to the restoration of the gospel.
But finally the heralds of a distant dawn came forth. There was a Calvin, a Zwingli, a Luther, a Wesley; there were wise and good men"”morning stars who shone more brightly than their fellows"”who arose in every nation. There were men of insight and courage who were sickened by the sins and evils of the night. These great souls hacked and sawed at the chains with which the masses were bound. They sought to do good and to help their fellowmen"”all according to the best light and knowledge t ... (continued)
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"The Morning Breaks; the Shadows Flee"
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
- Of the Council of the Twelve
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📖 general conference
The talk concludes with the restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith and the subsequent outpouring of spiritual gifts and truths.
When the set time had fully come"”when the day for the promised restoration of all things was at hand"”the Lord in heaven, in his infinite wisdom, mercy, and goodness, sent from the courts of glory that eternal spirit whose foreordained mission it was to usher in the dispensation of the fulness of times. Joseph Smith began his mortal life. It was December 23, 1805. The sun was then just hidden by the mountain peaks.
Then one glorious day in the spring of 1820"”our tradition says that it wa ... (continued)
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"The Peaceable Followers of Christ"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
Colonel Thomas L. Kane, a nonmember of the Church, recounted his discovery of the deserted city of Nauvoo, which was once vibrant and industrious but had been abandoned by the Saints due to persecution.
Colonel Thomas L. Kane, a nonmember of the Church, spoke to the Historical Society of Philadelphia, as recorded in the memoirs of John R. Young. He told them that during his travels a few years before, he had passed through a very unusual city named Nauvoo, a community established on the banks of the Mississippi. He explained that after traveling up the river for some time, he left the steamer and began to travel on land because of the rapids in the river.
While on the road, he had seen only uni ... (continued)
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"The Peaceable Followers of Christ"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
Ammon's story from the Book of Mormon describes his willingness to serve King Lamoni as a servant, which was part of his missionary work among the Lamanites.
The missionary purpose has not changed with time. We recall the account of Ammon in the Book of Mormon. His missionary call was to the land of the Lamanites"”a dangerous assignment. The fate of a Nephite entering the land of the Lamanites was left entirely in the hands of their king, who could slay him, cast him into prison, or force him to leave.
"And thus Ammon was carried before the king who was over the land of Ishmael; and his name was Lamoni; and he was a descendant of Ishmael.
"And the ... (continued)
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"The Peaceable Followers of Christ"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Alma, from the Book of Mormon, had to choose between his roles as chief judge and high priest, ultimately deciding to focus on preaching the word of God to the people.
I often think of the challenge which Alma faced when he could see the urgent need of the people to be taught the importance of having an understanding of the gospel of our Lord and Savior. At that time he served in two positions, that of chief judge and high priest over all the Church. He had to make a choice between the two in order to maximize his effectiveness in serving the people. The book of Alma records:
"And he selected a wise man who was among the elders of the church, and gave him powe ... (continued)
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"The Principles of My Gospel"
By Elder David A. Bednar
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
Elder John Taylor recalls an episode where Joseph Smith explained to a member of the Legislature how he was able to govern the people of Nauvoo by teaching them correct principles and letting them govern themselves.
"Some years ago, in Nauvoo, a gentleman in my hearing, a member of the Legislature, asked Joseph Smith how it was that he was enabled to govern so many people, and to preserve such perfect order; remarking at the same time that it was impossible for them to do it anywhere else. Mr. Smith remarked that it was very easy to do that. "˜How?"™ responded the gentleman; "˜to us it is very difficult."™ Mr. Smith replied, "˜I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves."™"1[John ... (continued)
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"The Principles of My Gospel"
By Elder David A. Bednar
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
President Russell M. Nelson shared his personal understanding of honoring the Sabbath day, which he gained not from lists of dos and don'ts, but from the principle of making the Sabbath a sign between him and God.
"How do we hallow the Sabbath day? In my much younger years, I studied the work of others who had compiled lists of things to do and things not to do on the Sabbath. It wasn"™t until later that I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father. With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don"™ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply as ... (continued)
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"The Principles of My Gospel"
By Elder David A. Bednar
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
President Nelson described his personal revelation about the meaning of the word Israel, which refers to a person willing to let God prevail in their life, and how this principle can influence many aspects of one's life.
Six months ago in general conference, President Nelson described his personal elation as he was led to a new insight about the meaning of the word Israel. He told us that his soul was stirred as he learned that "the very name of Israel refers to a person who is willing to let God prevail in his or her life."10[Russell M. Nelson, "Let God Prevail,"Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 92.] President Nelson then identified a number of important implications that derive from this insight. His mess ... (continued)
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"The Pure Love of God"
Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Elder Joseph F. Smith served as a missionary in Hawaii, where he and his companion faced hardships such as scarcity of food and water, and Elder Smith fell seriously ill but was cared for by a native couple.
I feel so strongly that I should share with you the missionary experiences of Elder Joseph F. Smith. He was sent by the Brethren as a missionary when he was fifteen years of age. At the age of five he had lost his father, and at fourteen he had lost his mother. The record shows that he labored in Maui and in Kohala on the Big Island. Then he was transferred to the island of Molokai as the presiding elder when he was sixteen years old. Every day he and his companion, Elder Thomas A. Dowell, visit ... (continued)
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