God"™s Favourite
By Elder Karl D. Hirst
- Of the Seventy
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
The speaker encourages those who feel unlovable due to personal flaws to remember that God's love is always within reach, and self-loathing is not a part of our life's tasks.
You might know something secret about yourself that makes you feel unlovable. However right you might be about what you know about yourself, you are wrong to think that you have put yourself beyond the reach of God"™s love. We are sometimes cruel and impatient toward ourselves in ways that we could never imagine being toward anyone else. There is much for us to do in this life, but self-loathing and shameful self-condemnation are not on that list. However misshapenwemight feelweare,Hisarms are ... (continued)
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God"™s Favourite
By Elder Karl D. Hirst
- Of the Seventy
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
The speaker reassures that God's love never departs from us, comparing its constancy to the permanence of mountains, and suggests that temples and covenants are ways to feel God's love.
When we don"™t feel the warmth of divine love, it hasn"™t gone away. God"™s own words are that "the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but [His] kindness shall not depart from [us]."13[Isaiah 54:10]So, just to be clear, the idea that God has stopped loving should be so far down the list of possible explanations in life that we don"™t get to it until after the mountains have left and the hills are gone!
I really enjoy this symbolism of mountains being evidence of the cert ... (continued)
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God"™s Favourite
By Elder Karl D. Hirst
- Of the Seventy
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
The speaker ponders the reasons why we may not always feel God's love, suggesting that hardships can dull our feelings, and encourages exploring different expressions of divine love.
So if God"™s love does not leave us, why don"™t we always feel it? Just to manage your expectations: I don"™t know. Butbeingloved is definitely not the same asfeelingloved, and I have a few thoughts that might help you as you pursue your answers to that question.
Perhaps you are wrestling with grief, depression, betrayal, loneliness, disappointment, or other powerful intrusion into your ability to feel God"™s love for you. If so, these things can dull or suspend our ability to feel as we ... (continued)
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God"™s Favourite
By Elder Karl D. Hirst
- Of the Seventy
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
The speaker suggests that Jesus might choose to meet us in our personal suffering and deepest need, a place where we feel alone but are not, as He is already there waiting for us.
I wonder, if Jesus were to choose a place where you and He could meet, a private place where you would be able to have a singular focus on Him, might He choose your unique place of personal suffering, the place of your deepest need, where no one else can go? Somewhere you feel so lonely that you must truly be all alone but you aren"™t quite, a place to which perhaps only He has travelled but actually has already prepared to meet you there when you arrive? If you are waiting for Him to come, mi ... (continued)
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God"™s Intent Is to Bring You Home
By Elder Patrick Kearon
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 April 2024
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts observing a policeman enjoying his power to turn cars away at a roadblock, which serves as a metaphor for God's plan being about welcoming rather than turning people away.
Several months ago, when my wife and I were visiting another country for various Church assignments, I woke up early one morning and looked blearily outside our hotel window. Down below on the busy street, I saw that a roadblock had been set up with a policeman stationed nearby to turn cars around as they reached the barrier. At first, only a few cars traveled along the road and were turned back. But as time went by and traffic increased, queues of cars began to build up.
From the window above, ... (continued)
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His Hand Ready to Help Us
By Elder Juan Pablo Villar
- Of the Seventy
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a childhood experience at the beach in Chile where he was caught by a large wave and rescued by his brother Claudio.
When I was a child, as a family we went on vacation to a beach on the coast of my native country, Chile. I was excited to spend some days enjoying the summer with my family. I was also thrilled because I thought I could finally join in and do what my two older brothers usually did for fun on the water.
One day my brothers went to play where the waves were breaking, and I felt big and mature enough to follow them. As I moved toward that area, I realized the waves were larger than they appeared fr ... (continued)
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His Hand Ready to Help Us
By Elder Juan Pablo Villar
- Of the Seventy
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
The speaker describes a second incident where he was caught by a wave, and after being rescued again by his brother Claudio, he learned to dive through the waves.
Claudio told me I needed to attack the waves. I told myself I would surely lose that battle against what seemed like a huge wall of water.
As a new big wave approached, Claudio quickly said, "Look at me; this is how you do it." Claudio ran toward the incoming wave and dove into it before it broke. I was so impressed with his dive that I lost sight of the next incoming wave. So again I was sent to the depths of the sea and tossed by the forces of nature. A few seconds later, a hand grasped mine ... (continued)
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His Hand Ready to Help Us
By Elder Juan Pablo Villar
- Of the Seventy
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
The speaker draws a parallel between his brother's actions and Jesus Christ's role as our rescuer and advocate.
President Russell M. Nelson has invited us to think celestial,1[See Russell M. Nelson, "Think Celestial!,"Liahona, Nov. 2023, 118:"When you make choices, I invite you to take the long view"”an eternal view. Put Jesus Christ first because your eternal life is dependent upon your faith in Him and in His Atonement. "¦"When you are confronted with a dilemma, think celestial! When tested by temptation, think celestial! When life or loved ones let you down, think celestial! Wh ... (continued)
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His Hand Ready to Help Us
By Elder Juan Pablo Villar
- Of the Seventy
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the importance of reaching out to help others, as his brother did for him, and how having an eternal perspective can guide us to provide the right assistance.
If we think celestial, we will recognize Jesus Christ as a flawless example of ministry. There is a pattern for us in the scriptures when He or His disciples reach out to someone in need of help, rescue, or a blessing as they reach out with their hands.4[SeeMatthew 14:31Mark 1:315:419:27Acts 3:73Â Nephi 18:36]As in my story, I knew my brother was there, but being there for me was not enough. Claudio knew I was in trouble, and he went to help lift me from the water.
Occasionally, we think tha ... (continued)
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His Hand Ready to Help Us
By Elder Juan Pablo Villar
- Of the Seventy
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
The speaker compares his brother's persistence in teaching him to overcome the waves to Jesus Christ's persistence in helping us, emphasizing the Savior's role in our eternal progress.
My brother did not give up on me that day but persisted so I could learn how to do it for myself. He persisted, even if that required rescuing metwice. He persisted, even if I could not get it at first. He persisted so I could overcome that challenge and succeed. If we think celestial, we will realize that our Savior will be there as many times as necessary to provide help if we want to learn, change, overcome, cope, or succeed in whatever will bring true and everlasting happiness to our lives.8 ... (continued)
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His Hand Ready to Help Us
By Elder Juan Pablo Villar
- Of the Seventy
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
The speaker concludes by affirming the presence and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose hands were pierced for us and who remains our constant rescuer and advocate.
The scriptures immortalize the symbol and significance of the Savior"™s hands. In His atoning sacrifice, His hands were pierced by nails to affix Him to the cross. After His Resurrection, He appeared to His disciples in a perfect body, but the prints in His hands remain as a reminder of His infinite sacrifice.9[SeeIsaiah 49:16]His hand will always be there for us, even if we cannot see it or feel it at first, because He was chosen by our Heavenly Father to be our Savior, the Redeemer of all hu ... (continued)
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Holiness to the Lord in Everyday Life
By Elder Gerrit W. Gong
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
An administrator at a university feels connected to individuals who have passed on but continue to care about the institution's mission and students.
Holiness to the Lord in everyday life feels like a spark arcing across the veil to connect, comfort, and strengthen. An administrator at a major university says he feels individuals he knows only by reputation praying for him. Those individuals devoted their lives to the university and continue to care about its mission and students.
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Holiness to the Lord in Everyday Life
By Elder Gerrit W. Gong
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
A sister perseveres in her faith and covenants after her husband's infidelity, feeling reassured by a tender voice while folding laundry.
A sister does her best each day, after her husband was unfaithful to her and the children. I deeply admire her and others like her. One day while folding laundry, her hand on a stack of garments, she sighed to herself, "What"™s the point?" She felt a tender voice assure her, "Your covenants are with me."
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Holiness to the Lord in Everyday Life
By Elder Gerrit W. Gong
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
Three friends visit the Bangkok Thailand Temple open house and express profound spiritual feelings and desires for healing, cleansing, and feeling spiritual power.
Of course, holiness to the Lord in everyday life includes coming more often to the Lord in His holy house.
Three friends came to the Bangkok Thailand Temple open house.
"This is a place of super healing," said one.
In the baptistry, another said, "When I am here, I want to be washed clean and never sin again."
The third said, "Can you feel the spiritual power?"
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Holiness to the Lord in Everyday Life
By Elder Gerrit W. Gong
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
During a family reunion talent show, Grandpa Gerrit Gong and two grandchildren competed in a dad jokes contest against an AI programmed to tell jokes in Gerrit W. Gong's style.
Our recent Gong family reunion included a fun talent show, complete with a dad jokes contest.
But this contest was unusual. On one team was Grandpa (me) and two of the grandchildren, ages 12 and 11. On the other team was an artificial intelligence (AI) program prompted by a cousin to tell dad jokes in the style of Gerrit W. Gong. Grandpa Gerrit Gong versus AI Gerrit Gong.
The grandchildren and I went first.
What do you call a dinosaur who crashes his car? Tyrannosaurus Wrecks.
AI Gerrit Gon ... (continued)
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Holiness to the Lord in Everyday Life
By Elder Gerrit W. Gong
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
A young married couple shares their experiences with gospel covenants, sacrifice, and service, including the wife's struggle with her testimony of tithing and being singled out for her beliefs, and the husband's decision to serve a mission over playing college baseball.
Holiness to the Lord in everyday life looks like two faithful young adults, married for a year, sharing with authenticity and vulnerability gospel covenants, sacrifice, and service in their unfolding lives.
She begins, "In high school, I was in a dark place. I felt like God wasn"™t there for me. One night, a text from a friend said, "˜Hey, have you readAlma 36ever?"™
"As I started reading," she said, "I was overcome with peace and love. I felt like I was being given this big hug. When I r ... (continued)
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Holiness to the Lord in Everyday Life
By Elder Gerrit W. Gong
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
A senior missionary shares how he overcame guilt about serving a mission after his father's death, including a dream where his father appeared content with his decision to serve.
Our treasury of missionary holiness-to-the-Lord blessings is rich and full.
Now with a 48-year perspective, a senior missionary shares, "My dad wanted me to get a college education, not go on a mission. Shortly after that, he had a heart attack and died at age 47. I felt guilty. How could I make things right with my father?
"Later," he continues, "after I decided to serve a mission, I saw my father in a dream. Peaceful and contented, he was happy I would serve."
This senior missionary contin ... (continued)
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Holiness to the Lord in Everyday Life
By Elder Gerrit W. Gong
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
A young returning missionary learns to let God prevail in his life, including an experience where he blessed a very sick person with peace and comfort instead of recovery.
Holiness to the Lord in everyday life looks like a young returning missionary who learned to let God prevail in his life. Earlier, when asked to bless someone who was very sick, this missionary said, "I have faith; I will bless him to recover. Yet," the returning missionary says, "I learned in that moment to pray not for what I wanted but for what the Lord knew the person needed. I blessed the brother with peace and comfort. He later passed away peacefully."
Forgiveness
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Holiness to the Lord in Everyday Life
By Elder Gerrit W. Gong
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
A sister yearns for a relationship with her father for 50 years, which is eventually healed through regular temple attendance and mutual expressions of love.
For 50 years, another sister yearned for a relationship with her father.
"Growing up," she says, "there were my brothers and my dad, and then there was me"”the only daughter. All I ever wanted was to be "˜good enough"™ for my dad.
"Then my mom passed away! She was my only liaison between my dad and me.
"One day," the sister said, "I heard a voice say, "˜Invite your dad and take him to the temple with you."™ That was the beginning of a twice-a-month date with my daddy to the house of ... (continued)
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Holiness to the Lord in Everyday Life
By Elder Gerrit W. Gong
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 October 2024
📖 general conference
Jean Gong, the speaker's mother, passes away shortly before her 98th birthday, leaving a legacy of faith and covenant trust in the Lord.
Holiness to the Lord in everyday life includes tender moments when loved ones pass. Earlier this year, my dear mother, Jean Gong, slipped into the next life days before her 98th birthday.
If you asked my mother, "Would you like rocky road, white chocolate ginger, or strawberry ice cream?" Mom would say, "Yes, please, may I taste each one?" Who could say no to your mother, especially when she loved all of life"™s flavors?
I once asked Mom which decisions had most shaped her life.
She said, ... (continued)
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