"The Pure Love of God"
Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Years later, Joseph F. Smith returned to Hawaii and was warmly greeted by the Saints, including an elderly blind woman who had cared for him during his illness as a young missionary.
Many years later this boy again visited the Islands in the company of a member of the Presiding Bishopric, Bishop Charles W. Nibley, who later became a member of the First Presidency. As they landed in the harbor at Honolulu, many native Saints greeted them. They brought lots of leis and all kinds of beautiful native flowers. Both of them were loaded with leis upon leis. The young man, who was now an old man, had more than anyone else. A great Hawaiian band was playing a welcome to them, and eve ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Royal Law According to the Scriptures"
Elder Marion G. Romney
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts their recent meetings with stake and ward welfare workers, praising their courage and dedication.
During the last few weeks it has been my pleasure to meet with stake and ward welfare workers in 136 stakes. During the next few weeks I hope to meet the rest of you. In passing I might say that of the 136 stake presidents in these stakes, only three "fled the realm" when they saw us coming. All the rest of you stood and took it. Your courage and strength are admirable and very much appreciated.
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Royal Law According to the Scriptures"
Elder Marion G. Romney
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker describes the various labors and contributions of church members in welfare activities, highlighting their service and sacrifice.
As evidence of your love for your neighbors, you carry on in your numerous welfare activities. At the coal mine, in the mills and factories, in canneries, you toil. In orchards, fields, and on the ranches, you endure the heat and the cold. On construction jobs and in sewing rooms, you labor. You battle floods and disease. You sit in council late into the nights, wrestling with problems of policy and procedure incident to your divine service. You find work for the unemployed. In times of d ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Royal Law According to the Scriptures"
Elder Marion G. Romney
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the history of the Saints' efforts to live the 'royal law' and the challenges they faced, including the story of the Saints being driven from Missouri.
In the early 1830's, the Lord directed the Saints to implement the "royal law" by living the United Order. In this they failed. Because they did not learn to impart of their substance as becometh Saints to the poor and afflicted among themD&C 105:3the Lord permitted them to be driven from Missouri, and the requirement that they live the United Order was withdrawn. But the "royal law" was not withdrawn. It remained in full force. At least partially to fulfil it, the Saints, since then, have ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Royal Law According to the Scriptures"
Elder Marion G. Romney
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a personal anecdote about President George Albert Smith's generous contributions of clothing for people in Europe, contrasting it with less thoughtful donations from others.
I know President George Albert Smith understood this scripture. I remember when we were gathering clothes to ship to Europe for our people in distress. I remember the packages he sent. In one were two suits of clothes, direct from the cleaners. I doubt if President Smith had ever worn them. In another came shirts from the laundry, wrapped in cellophane paper, ready to be worn. In other packages we received were thousands of pounds of clothing, much of it ragged, dirty, and unfit to wear. I ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Shield of Faith"
President Boyd K. Packer
- Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Joseph Smith's prophetic words to the Twelve Apostles about the importance of passing on the keys of the priesthood to ensure the continuation of the Church's leadership.
Shortly before the Martyrdom, in a meeting attended by nine members of the Twelve, the Prophet Joseph Smith prophetically said: 'Brethren, the Lord bids me hasten the work in which we are engaged. Some important scene is near to take place. It may be that my enemies will kill me. And in case they should, and the keys and power which rest on me not be imparted to you, they will be lost from the earth. But if I can only succeed in placing them upon your heads, then let me fall a victim to murderou ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Shield of Faith"
President Boyd K. Packer
- Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Moses, with the help of Aaron and Hur, holding up his hands during the battle against the Amalekites, which ensured Israel's victory.
The raising of the hands has been a custom since ancient times, symbolized when Moses was confronted by the Amalekite robbers, the destroyers of the wilderness. 'Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Shield of Faith"
President Boyd K. Packer
- Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
President Spencer W. Kimball's declaration of holding the real keys of the priesthood during a visit to a church in Copenhagen with statues of Christ and the Twelve Apostles.
In 1976 following a conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, President Spencer W. Kimball invited us to a small church to see the statues of Christ and the Twelve Apostles by Bertel Thorvaldsen. The 'Christus' stands in an alcove beyond the altar. Standing in order along the sides of the chapel are the statues of the Twelve, with Paul replacing Judas Iscariot. President Kimball told the elderly caretaker that at the very time Thorvaldsen was creating those beautiful statues in Denmark, a restoration o ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Spirit Beareth Record"
Elder Boyd K. Packer
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the sacred nature of certain spiritual experiences, comparing them to temple ordinances, and explains why they are not openly discussed.
There are some things just too sacred to discuss. We know that as it relates to the temples. In our temples, sacred ordinances are performed; sacred experiences are enjoyed. And yet we do not, because of the nature of them, discuss them outside those sacred walls.
It is not that they are secret, but they are sacred; not to be discussed, but to be harbored and to be protected and regarded with the deepest of reverence.
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Spirit Beareth Record"
Elder Boyd K. Packer
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a powerful spiritual witness that President Joseph Fielding Smith is the prophet of God, which occurred when unexpectedly encountering him in an elevator.
Some weeks before the meeting of last April, I left the office one Friday afternoon thinking of the weekend conference assignment. I waited for the elevator to come down from the fifth floor.
As the elevator doors quietly opened, there stood President Joseph Fielding Smith. There was a moment of surprise in seeing him, since his office is on a lower floor.
As I saw him framed in the doorway, there fell upon me a powerful witness"”there stands the prophet of God. That sweet voice of Spirit that ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Spirit Beareth Record"
Elder Boyd K. Packer
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares an anecdote about Karl G. Maeser, who illustrated the importance of following the path marked by the priesthood using poles in the snow as a metaphor.
Karl G. Maeser was taking a group of missionaries across the Alps. As they reached a summit, he stopped. Gesturing back down the trail to some poles set in the snow to mark the way across the glacier, he said, "Brethren, there stands the Priesthood. They are just common sticks like the rest of us "¦ but the position they hold makes them what they are to us. If we step aside from the path they mark, we are lost."1[Alma P. Burton,Karl G. Maeser, Mormon Educator(Deseret Book Co., 1953), p. 22.]
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Spirit Giveth Life"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A missionary in training struggling with Spanish is placed next to missionaries studying more complex languages, making Spanish seem easier in comparison.
I am told that on occasion when a missionary in training feels that the Spanish he is called upon to master appears overwhelming or just too hard to learn, he is placed during the luncheon break next to missionaries studying the complex languages of the Orient. He listens. Suddenly Spanish becomes not too overpowering, and he eagerly returns to his study.
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Spirit Giveth Life"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker felt prompted to visit an older, inactive couple on the wife's birthday, leading to their reactivation in the church.
As a bishop, I worried about any members who were inactive, not attending, not serving. Such was my thought as I drove down the street where Ben and Emily lived. They were older—even in the twilight period of life. Aches and pains of advancing years caused them to withdraw from activity to the shelter of their home—isolated, detached, shut out from the mainstream of daily life and association. I felt the unmistakable prompting to park my car and visit Ben and Emily, even though I w ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Spirit Giveth Life"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker describes a powerful moment when a stake president was released and the entire congregation stood to acknowledge his service, as prompted by the Spirit.
For my second example I turn to the release of a stake president in Star Valley, Wyoming—even the late E. Francis Winters. He had served faithfully for the lengthy term of twenty-three years. Though modest by nature and circumstance, he had been a perpetual pillar of strength to everyone in the valley. On the day of the stake conference, the building was filled to overflowing. Each heart seemed to be saying a silent thank-you to this noble leader who had given so unselfishly of his life f ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Spirit Giveth Life"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts giving a priesthood blessing to his friend Stan, who was seriously ill and considering ending his life, leading to Stan's recovery and reaffirmation that we do not walk alone.
Finally, I testify that we do not walk alone. Stan, a dear friend of mine, was taken seriously ill and rendered partially paralyzed. He had been robust in health, athletic in build, and active in many pursuits. Now he was unable to walk or to stand. His wheelchair was his home. The finest of physicians had cared for him, and the prayers of family and friends had been offered in a spirit of hope and trust. Yet Stan continued to lie in the confinement of his bed at the university hospital. He desp ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Standard of Truth Has Been Erected"
President Boyd K. Packer
- Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the story of Joseph Smith's First Vision, where Joseph was attacked by darkness and an evil power but was able to overcome it by calling upon God.
Remember the First Vision when young Joseph knelt in the grove. Immediately thick darkness gathered around him. He was seized by the power of the enemy, an actual being from the unseen world. He did what every one of you can do. He called upon God, and the evil power left him.
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Standard of Truth Has Been Erected"
President Boyd K. Packer
- Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a personal experience where he was sent to meet with powerful officials who were obstructing the Church's work. He sought advice from President Harold B. Lee, who reminded him of the Church's strength and numbers compared to its early days.
When I was young and very new in my calling, I was sent east to meet with powerful, prominent officials who were blocking our work. As I left for the airport, I stopped to see President Harold B. Lee and asked, “Do you have any parting counsel?â€
“Yes,†he said, “just remember this isn’t 1830, and there aren’t just six of us.â€
That erased fear. I pled our cause. The problem was resolved.
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Standard of Truth Has Been Erected"
President Boyd K. Packer
- Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker encourages the youth to remember that they are not alone and to stand firm in their beliefs, using the example of Moroni who stood alone but fulfilled his father's commandments.
If you, our youth, feel alone, remember there are millions of you in the Church now. Tens of thousands of you at this moment serve missions. You are a visible example, a testimony of the Restoration, even to those who will not listen to your message. Wherever you are—in school, at work or play, in the military—you are never alone.
Now words can be used as weapons against you. If they throw the worddiversityat you, grab hold of it and say, “I am already diverse, and I intend t ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Tongue of Angels"
Elder Robert S. Wood
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recalls overhearing a conversation among grandchildren where one corrected another for using the word 'stupid,' reflecting good parental influence on language.
I recently overheard a conversation among some of our young grandchildren. One of them apparently used the wordstupid.Eight-year-old Nicholas, recently baptized, commented that perhaps one should not say that, as it was a "bad word." It was evident that there had been some good influence from Mom and Dad.
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"The Tongue of Angels"
Elder Robert S. Wood
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares an observation about improved atmosphere in New York City due to enforcement of small ordinances, drawing a parallel to the importance of daily speech and acts of edification.
I recently commented to a friend from New York City that I thought the atmosphere had improved markedly in the city over the past years and wondered why. He noted that his wife is a municipal judge, and they were enforcing the little things, like ordinances against spitting and jaywalking, and the big things were being affected thereby.
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →