"Till We Meet Again"
President Gordon B. Hinckley
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📖 general conference
The speaker offers a prayer for faith, love, charity, perseverance, protection, and guidance for those in battle, and pleads for the cause of peace and mercy from God for the nation and its allies.
O God, our Eternal Father, Thou great Judge of the Nations, Thou who art the governor of the universe, Thou who art our Father and our God, whose children we are, we look to Thee in faith in this dark and solemn time. Please, dear Father, bless us with faith. Bless us with love. Bless us with charity in our hearts. Bless us with a spirit of perseverance to root out the terrible evils that are in this world. Give protection and guidance to those who are engaged actively in carrying forth the thin ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"To Be Learned Is Good If "¦"
Elder Boyd K. Packer
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
In the early days of the Church, converts were counseled to gather to Zion, which was under persecution and strengthened by their numbers, leading to the Church opening schools due to the lack of public ones.
There is much said in the scriptures about the gathering of the Saints. In the early days, the call went out to converts all over the world to gather to Zion. And they came, first as a trickle, and then as a stream. The Zion to which they came was under terrible persecution and was greatly strengthened by their very numbers.
Because there were no public schools, the Church opened schools. Even in our own generation, schools have been established where there were none.
Forgiveness
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"To Be Learned Is Good If "¦"
Elder Boyd K. Packer
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The speaker recalls attending stake conferences to recruit students for Church schools and mentions a shift in the gathering of Saints, as declared by Bruce R. McConkie and President Harold B. Lee, emphasizing local gathering within one's nation.
Something of the spirit of gathering touched our schools. I can remember, as supervisor of seminaries, attending stake conferences with the General Authorities to recruit students for our Church schools.
In an area conference held in Mexico City in 1972, Bruce R. McConkie said: "[The] revealed words speak of "¦ there being congregations of "¦ covenant people of the Lord in every nation, speaking every tongue, and among every people when the Lord comes again. "¦
"The place of gathering for the ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"To Be Learned Is Good If "¦"
Elder Boyd K. Packer
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The speaker and Sister Packer announced the end of a family tradition where their children and some grandchildren attended BYU, advising future generations to attend institutes of religion if they cannot attend a Church school.
This summer at a family reunion, Sister Packer and I announced the end of a family tradition. Our ten children and some of our grandchildren have attended BYU. It will not be possible for all of our grandchildren to follow that tradition.
We advised them to follow the counsel of the Brethren. If they cannot attend a Church school, and this will be increasingly the case, they should gather with other members of the Church at a school where an institute of religion is available to them. Then, as t ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"To Be Learned Is Good If "¦"
Elder Boyd K. Packer
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The speaker recounts encouraging a young man who had left high school and entered the military to return and finish his education, which he did successfully, providing for his family and encouraging his children's education.
On one occasion, I spent a few minutes with a young man who had left high school and entered the military. Now he was trying to decide what to do with his life. I encouraged him to return to finish high school.
I did not provide him with money; the Church had no school for him, not even a scholarship. In those few minutes, I simply taught him that self-reliance which is such a part of our way of life. Even though over age, he returned to finish high school, and now he provides for his family and ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"To Fill the Whole Earth"
Elder Franklin D. Richards
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
Joseph Smith's First Vision where he was told by God not to join any existing sects as they were all wrong.
When Joseph Smith, the boy Prophet, went into the woods in the spring of 1820 and asked God, 'Which of all the sects is right and which shall I join?' he said, 'I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong—that they teach for doctrine the commandments of men, having a form of godliness but they deny the power thereof' (see JS—H 1:18-19).
Forgiveness
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"To Fill the Whole Earth"
Elder Franklin D. Richards
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The speaker's visit to the missions on the east coast and the positive report of missionary work and convert baptisms there.
Sister Richards and I have recently returned from the missions on the east coast, and we bring greetings from the missionaries to their families and friends. There are now twenty stakes on the east coast with over 2,000 missionaries in the eight missions. The field is white and is being harvested there. Convert baptisms continue to increase.
Forgiveness
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"To Fill the Whole Earth"
Elder Franklin D. Richards
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The early growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after its organization, including the first public sermon and baptisms.
The Lord set April 6, 1830, as the date that his Church should be organized on this earth—just 133 years ago yesterday. It was organized by six persons at the home of Peter Whitmer, Sen., in upper New York state. The members began to share their message with their friends and their neighbors, and the Church enjoyed rapid growth. At the same place the next Sunday, Oliver Cowdery commenced the public ministry of the Church by giving the first gospel sermon in a public meeting called for tha ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"To Fill the Whole Earth"
Elder Franklin D. Richards
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Sidney Rigdon's conversion and testimony after missionaries visited Ohio.
Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, Peter Whitmer, Jun., and others were sent out as missionaries in the fall of 1830. They met Sidney Rigdon in Ohio, and after a brief but prayerful investigation, Sidney Rigdon received a testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and that the authority to act in the name of God had been restored. He asked to be baptized and was baptized. Shortly thereafter, he held a group meeting in which he warned his neighbors and bore his testimony that the gospel had ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"To Fill the Whole Earth"
Elder Franklin D. Richards
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The missionary journey of the apostles to England in 1839 and their success despite arriving penniless.
The apostles are special witnesses of Christ and hold the keys of the foreign ministry of the Church. Accordingly, seven of the Twelve set out for England in the late summer of 1839 without purse or scrip, and leaving their families destitute of many of the comforts of life. About a year later, in the spring of 1841, just before leaving for home Brigham Young wrote in his journal, 'It truly seemed a miracle to look upon the contrast between our landing and departing from Liverpool. We landed in ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"To Fill the Whole Earth"
Elder Franklin D. Richards
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The growth of the Church from its centennial in 1930 to the time of the talk, with increased membership, stakes, missions, and missionaries.
Approximately ninety years later at the centennial conference held in Salt Lake City on April 6, 1930, President Heber J. Grant reported that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had a living membership of 700,000 souls, 104 stakes, twenty-nine missions, and 2,226 missionaries. Convert baptisms in 1929 amounted to 6,511. And now—today—as in earlier days, missionaries are leaving their families, comfortable homes, and worldly interests behind and are going forth with the ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"To Honor the Priesthood"
Elder J. Richard Clarke
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
Mary Barfuss, Bob's mother, used to pray in detail for her son's needs during his mission but later simplified her prayers to a plea for him to honor his priesthood.
When Bob Barfuss was on his mission, his mother, Mary, prayed each day, reminding the Lord, in detail, of Bob"™s needs. One day she concluded that maybe she shouldn"™t take so much of the Lord"™s time with her long list of concerns. She said, "I just condensed it to: Heavenly Father, please bless Bob to honor his priesthood."
Forgiveness
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"To Honor the Priesthood"
Elder J. Richard Clarke
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
A young man was nonchalant about being sustained to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, not realizing the significance of the honor.
At a recent stake priesthood meeting, a young man was sustained to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. When congratulated, the boy"™s response was surprising: "Why? That"™s no big deal, is it?"
Forgiveness
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"To Honor the Priesthood"
Elder J. Richard Clarke
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
Rick Dove, a young priest from Tucker, Georgia, chose to leave a rock concert because he felt out of place and remembered his identity as a priesthood holder.
I was proud of a young priest, Rick Dove of Tucker, Georgia, who reported his experience at a rock concert. He observed the drinking, dress, profanity, and general crudeness of the young people there. He said, "I suddenly remembered who I am and felt that I was out of place; so I left."
Forgiveness
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"To Honor the Priesthood"
Elder J. Richard Clarke
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
The speaker witnessed a high priest looking at inappropriate material in a magazine shop, prompting reflections on the importance of maintaining moral standards.
Sometimes we forget who we are. The other day, I stopped at a magazine shop to buy a newspaper. I was shocked to see a man whom I knew well, a high priest, viewing a magazine in the "adults only" section. He was unaware that I saw him. I was quite disappointed. The thought occurred to me: What if I had been his son, who looked to his dad as a hero?
Forgiveness
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"To Honor the Priesthood"
Elder J. Richard Clarke
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
John Anderson, an eighteen-year-old with muscular dystrophy, had a profound impact on his priests quorum through his faith and the service opportunities he provided.
An inspiring funeral was held for eighteen-year-old John Anderson. John was a remarkable young man who courageously battled muscular dystrophy and lost. He was confined to a wheelchair during his Aaronic Priesthood years. Conspicuous at the funeral were devoted members of his priests quorum. John"™s influence upon his quorum was profound, and yet he never played a football game, nor went camping with them, nor danced, nor did any of the usual teenage activities. It was his faith and commitment ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"To Honor the Priesthood"
Elder J. Richard Clarke
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
During a hospital tour, Dr. Harold Hulme, a deacons quorum adviser, proudly explained to a nurse that his young deacons were capable of handling responsibilities at twelve years old.
We expect a lot from our Aaronic Priesthood brethren, and, properly trained, they seldom disappoint us. I remember when Dr. Harold Hulme served as bishopric adviser to a deacons quorum. They were invited to tour a hospital. As he introduced his quorum to the nurses, one of them said, "How unusual. The deacons in our church are older men." Dr. Hulme replied, "Well, our deacons are outstanding young men. They can handle it when they are twelve years old!"
Forgiveness
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"To Honor the Priesthood"
Elder J. Richard Clarke
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
During the Southern California fires, a van filled with quorum members helped dig a trench to protect a brother's home, humorously convincing the police that they were all his brothers.
Remember a few years ago when devastating fires burned out of control in Southern California? As fierce winds blew, the public was restricted from the area by police. A few families were allowed to remain and try to save their homes. Soon a van arrived at one house, filled with brethren from the quorum, carrying their shovels. They were asked: "How did you get past the police barricade?" Response: "It was easy. We just told them our brother lives here." The count was soon up to thirty-nine b ... (continued)
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"To Honor the Priesthood"
Elder J. Richard Clarke
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
An elders quorum took over the operation of a farm for a member who fell ill, demonstrating their commitment to help one another.
Elder Matthew Cowley once asked an elders quorum president how his elders were getting along as a quorum. "Do you do anything to help one another?" "Oh, yes," was the response. "We"™ve got a member of our quorum in the hospital in New Mexico. He was a vigorous young man, buying a farm, a hard worker with a lovely family. All of a sudden he was stricken." That could have meant the end of his farm and family security. The elders quorum president said, "That was our loss as much as for his ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"To Honor the Priesthood"
Elder J. Richard Clarke
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Kirk Barnett, an elders quorum president, comforted an elderly woman awaiting surgery in a hospital, exemplifying the caring capacity of priesthood service.
Many times we magnify our callings individually, quietly, without fanfare. I"™m thinking of an elders quorum president, Kirk Barnett of Las Vegas. Visiting a hospital early one morning, he was impressed to ask if any other LDS were there. He was told of an elderly grandmother awaiting her first surgery for a brain hemorrhage. She had no family or friends present, no one to encourage her. She was terrified! President Barnett sat with her for two hours. His hand was white from her strong grip. S ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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