"Thou Shalt Give Heed unto All His Words"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
President Hinckley proposed a fast and testimony meeting without business items to conclude the year, century, and millennium, which resulted in a spiritual feast with strong testimonies from the First Presidency and the Twelve.
Before the final meeting of the First Presidency and the Twelve last year, President Hinckley, sensing the forthcoming changes about to occur, proposed that we come to the temple fasting and conclude our year, the century, and a millennium with a fast and testimony meeting. So not to detract from the spirit of testimony, he requested that we dispense with any business items at this special meeting and save them for the new year.
The meeting was a spiritual feast filled with the witness and testi ... (continued)
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"Thou Shalt Give Heed unto All His Words"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
During the Church's 100th anniversary, a special conference was broadcast via radio, allowing members worldwide to listen to the proceedings, including an address by President Heber J. Grant.
In another era, we find another prophet using new media to have his message reach the hearts of the people. There was a special conference held at the time the Church reached its 100th birthday. We find this record from the 100th annual conference, held in the Tabernacle on Sunday, April 6, 1930:
"In accordance with instructions previously issued by the First Presidency of the Church, the following program was carried out in all the wards and branches of the Church, commencing at 10:00 a.m., Sun ... (continued)
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"Thou Shalt Give Heed unto All His Words"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
King Benjamin prepared to pass leadership to his son and wanted to leave his testimony to his people, so he instructed his son to gather the people to hear his words, which were also written and distributed to ensure everyone received them.
I am reminded of the great sermon King Benjamin delivered to his people, which is found in the first chapters of the book of Mosiah. This righteous king had served his people long and faithfully. It was time to turn the leadership over to his son. But before doing so, he wanted to leave his witness and testimony of his Lord and Savior to his people. He wanted first to instruct his sons "that "¦ they might become men of understanding; and that they might know concerning the prophecies which had ... (continued)
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"Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods"
Elder Russell M. Nelson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recalls military training where they learned to respond to commands but never heard the command to 'face upward,' which is a metaphor for looking to God.
Facing you, I am reminded of military days long ago when our platoon heard shouts from a sergeant: "Attention!" "Right face!" "Left face!" "About face!" We learned to respond to those orders with instant precision. In retrospect, I don"™t recall ever having heard his command to "face upward." Yet scriptures tell us to "look to God and live."1Alma 37:47see alsoPs. 5:3Alma 5:19Alma 37:37
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"Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods"
Elder Russell M. Nelson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A newspaper reporter's confusion over the nationality of General Authorities leads to an explanation that they represent the Lord, not their native countries.
I perceived such confusion in the mind of a newspaper reporter who asked one of our leaders when a representative of such-and-such a country would become a General Authority. While that question was being answered, I thought about our beloved General Authorities born in the countries of Asia; of Europe; of North, Central, and South America; and of the islands of the sea. Though these Brethren come from many nations and speak several tongues, not one of them was called to represent his native cou ... (continued)
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"Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods"
Elder Russell M. Nelson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on a vision Joseph Smith had where the Twelve Apostles did not notice Jesus among them, emphasizing the importance of looking up to the Lord.
The importance of looking up to the Lord is also emphasized in a vision to the Prophet Joseph Smith, dated 21 January 1836: "I saw the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb, who are now upon the earth, who hold the keys of this last ministry, in foreign lands, standing together in a circle, much fatigued, with their clothes tattered and feet swollen, with their eyes cast downward, and Jesus standing in their midst, and they did not behold Him. The Savior looked upon them and wept" (Teachings of the Pro ... (continued)
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"Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness"
Elder George F. Richards
- President of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A small boy asks his father which is worse, to steal or to bear false witness, and concludes that bearing false witness is worse because its effects cannot be undone.
A small boy returned from Sunday School one morning and found his father reading the newspaper. He called to his father, "Daddy, Daddy, which is worse, to steal or to bear false witness?" The father raised his glasses and, looking over his newspaper, answered let's see, the Lord said, "Thou shalt not bear false witness"Ex. 20:16He also said, "Thou shalt not steal"Ex. 20:15What do you think about it, Sonny?" "Why, it's worse to bear false witness." "How do you make that out?" "Well, if I were to ... (continued)
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"Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness"
Elder George F. Richards
- President of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A woman confesses to spreading scandal and is told by a priest to scatter thistle seeds, then later realizes the impossibility of undoing her actions when asked to gather them back.
A woman to the Holy Father went,Confession of sin was her intent;And so her misdemeanors, great and small,She faithfully rehearsed them all.And chief in her category of sin,She owned that she a talebearer had been"”Had carried a bit of scandal up and down,To all the long-tongued gossips of the town.The Father, for other sins granted the absolution asked him; But, while for all the rest he pardon gave,He told her this offense was very graveAnd that to do fit penance, she must go,Out by the ways ... (continued)
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"Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery"
President Milton R. Hunter
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A young man confessed to committing adultery two years prior and was experiencing such mental anguish that he sought church discipline to help alleviate his suffering.
About a year ago a young man came to my office and wept as if his heart would break. He said, "I committed adultery about two years ago. The sin is causing me such mental anguish that I cannot bear it any longer. If I must be excommunicated, please have the Church take action soon. My suffering is beyond description. I want to do what I can to pay for that terrible sin."
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"Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery"
President Milton R. Hunter
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A mother of five children wept as she recounted her husband's affair with another man's wife, leading to misery, sorrow, and brokenhearted children.
A few months ago a mother of five children came to my office. She wept bitterly as she told me that her husband had spent most of his time during the past year with another man"™s wife. She explained that on a number of occasions she followed him in her car to the other woman"™s place. Naturally, the sinful husband was miserable, the wife was very sorrowful, and the children were brokenhearted. ""¦ wickedness never was happiness."Alma 41:10
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"Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery"
President Milton R. Hunter
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The Bible recounts the downfall of great men like Samson, Solomon, and David due to their inability to uphold the law of chastity.
The Bible contains excellent examples of men who otherwise would have been great. But when they broke the law of chastity it broke them. For example, Samson, a man of powerful physical strength, with an uncontrollable lust for women, was betrayed by Delilah and finally committed suicide while in chains of bondage to the Philistines [seeJudg. 16:17"“30God blessed Solomon with great wisdom [see1 Kgs. 4:29"“30nevertheless, he debauched his life with numerous concubines [see1 Kgs. 11:1"“3 Davi ... (continued)
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"Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery"
President Milton R. Hunter
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Joseph, the servant of Potiphar, resisted the advances of Potiphar's wife and maintained his chastity, even though it resulted in him being falsely accused and imprisoned.
Perhaps the most famous Bible example of a stalwart and noble man who was tempted but retained his chastity was Joseph, the young, handsome servant of Potiphar, the Egyptian ruler. He resisted the vile allurements of Potiphar"™s wife, refusing to commit adultery with her. Joseph"™s reply was: ""¦ how "¦ can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? "¦"Gen. 39:9, 12And then he fled from her presence. Rather than betray his ideals, he went to jail, where he was confined in a dungeo ... (continued)
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"Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery"
President Milton R. Hunter
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Alma admonished his son Corianton to repent from his sin with the harlot Isabel, emphasizing the abomination of such acts in the sight of the Lord.
The Book of Mormon is very explicit regarding the seriousness of sex immorality. Alma"™s son Corianton committed sin with the harlot Isabel. Alma, being a good father and a great prophet of God, declared unto his son: "Know ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost? "Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, "¦ for except ye do thi ... (continued)
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"Thou Shalt Receive Revelation"
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker describes the unique nature of revelation given to the Latter-day Saints, setting them apart as a peculiar people chosen by God.
I shall speak of one of the greatest gifts ever received by mortal men. It is a superlative spiritual endowment which in its very nature sets the Latter-day Saints apart from the world and makes them a peculiar people. It is a gift which the Lord always gives to his people, which identifies them as the chosen of God, and without which nothing else of a religious nature has any especial value or enduring worth.
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"Thou Shalt Receive Revelation"
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker concludes with a witness of the truth of the doctrines of revelation and the promise of continued divine knowledge and guidance.
Now may I bear a solemn witness, one borne of the Spirit, that these doctrines are true, that the Lord God is raining down righteousness upon his people, and that he will continue to do so until that perfect day when they know all things and become as he is. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.
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"Thou Shalt Receive Revelation"
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker emphasizes the importance of revelation for the guidance of the Church and individuals, and prays for the Holy Spirit to confirm the truth of his words.
I shall speak of revelation, of the opening of the heavens, of revelation as it is given to prophets and apostles for the guidance of the Church and the world, and also of revelation to the Saints in general for their own guidance and that of their families.
I have sought diligently for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in preparing these words and now pray"”sincerely and devoutly"”that your hearts may be open as you hear them, that your bosoms will burn with living fire, and that you will kno ... (continued)
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"Thou Shalt Receive Revelation"
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker explains that revelation allows mortals to comprehend the infinite and eternal, and that God has provided a way for this to happen through the Holy Ghost.
How does a gracious God commune with his children on earth? How can those of us on earth, whose experiences are bounded by time and space and frailties of the flesh, comprehend that which is infinite and eternal? By what means can mortal eyes see within the veil, or the ears of earth hear the voices of eternity?
It is truly a strange thing for prophets to speak of future events as though they were present before their seeric eyes. It is truly a wondrous thing for earthbound eyes to pierce the fo ... (continued)
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"Thou Shalt Receive Revelation"
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts the visitation of the Father and the Son to Joseph Smith in 1820 and subsequent visitations by other heavenly beings to restore priesthood keys and gospel truths.
The Father and the Son rent the heavens and came down to Joseph Smith in the spring of 1820 to usher in the dispensation of the fulness of times. From these two glorious personages he then received the promise that if he remained true and faithful he would be the instrument in their hands of restoring the fulness of the everlasting gospel.
The Lord Jehovah"”the God of our Fathers; the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the Lord Omnipotent who was born of Mary in Bethlehem of Judea"”appeared i ... (continued)
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"Thou Shalt Receive Revelation"
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker testifies of the continuous revelation in the Church, including the revelation to President Spencer W. Kimball regarding priesthood availability to all races and nations.
The voice of God"”speaking audibly after the manner of our language, and also speaking by the power of the Spirit in the minds of men"”has been heard over and over again in our day.
Times without number faithful members of the Lord"™s church have labored and struggled with near unsolvable problems, have reached what seemed to them to be proper solutions and have then received a spiritual confirmation certifying to the truth and verity of their decisions.
We cannot speak of revelation witho ... (continued)
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"Thus Saith the Lord"
Elder Theodore M. Burton
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker had misconceptions about South America, expecting it to be primitive, but was surprised to find modern cities and warm people.
About a month ago I was sent by the First Presidency to hold a series of Church conferences in South America. Frankly, I didn"™t know quite what to expect of that land. I had thought of South America as a rather primitive jungle area. I expected the people to be a little backward, perhaps in need of education and training in the ways of modern civilization. When I saw those countries and their people, I couldn"™t have been more astonished. I saw great cities there with ultra-modern, high-ris ... (continued)
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