"Why Can"™t We?"
Elder David B. Haight
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
A stake president calls Melchizedek quorum leaders to be trained in priesthood organization and reactivation, contrasting with a story of a farmer who didn't realize his wagon's rear wheels were off.
Today stake presidents are calling Melchizedek quorum leaders who are being taught and trained in effective principles of priesthood organization and reactivation. These new leaders are alert and not like the farmer Elder Sterling Sill referred to who was hauling produce to market in his wagon drawn by two horses. The horses were having a difficult time and the grade seemed very steep. Finally the farmer asked a stranger, "How far is it to the top of this hill?" The stranger said, "You"™re n ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Will I Be Happy?"
Elder James E. Faust
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts seeing a picture of a sad-faced little girl in a stake president's office in Brisbane, Australia, with the caption 'Will I Be Happy?'
Recently I saw on the wall of a stake president"™s office in Brisbane, Australia, a picture of a sad-faced little girl. Above the picture was written "Will I Be Happy?" I suppose everyone in the world could ask that question: "Will I be happy?" The Savior himself prayed that all of his disciples "might have "¦ joy fulfilled in themselves"John 17:13
Forgiveness
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"Will I Be Happy?"
Elder James E. Faust
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a personal anecdote about his Aunt Angie, who handmade 175 quilts for her extended family as a labor of love.
My Aunt Angie has hand made 175 quilits for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and others. They are works of art; but more important, each is a labor of love. She can say to a member of her extended family, as she presents a specially made quilt, "Except when I pricked my finger, with every stitch I thought of my love for you."
Forgiveness
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"Willing to Submit"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker refers to the story of a righteous young man who, despite his fine attributes, lacked full submission to the Lord when faced with a particularized challenge from Jesus and went away sorrowing.
Though possessed of other fine attributes, we may still lack this one quality. Such was the case with the righteous young man who knelt sincerely at Jesus"™ feet. Lacking one thing, he went away sorrowing and unsubmissive when a particularized challenge was given. (See Mark 10:21"“22; Luke 18:22"“23)
Forgiveness
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"Willing to Submit"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker mentions Saul, initially chosen by God, who became encrusted with ego and power, contrasting his later state with a time when he was humble.
Saul, when chosen, was "A choice young man, "¦ and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he." (1 Sam. 9:2) Later, he became encrusted with ego and puffed by power. Samuel then recalled a time when Saul "wast little in [his] own sight." (1 Sam. 15:17)
Forgiveness
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"Willing to Submit"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker imagines what might have been if Enoch had refused God's call, suggesting he would have missed out on leading the City of Enoch and a future glorious greeting.
Suppose Enoch had demurred when called by the Lord? He would have gone on being a good person, serving the Lord part-time, living in a city which was a slum compared to the glorious City of Enoch; nor would Enoch be a part of that scene of glorious greeting yet to come. (See Moses 7:63)
Forgiveness
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"Willing to Submit"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker ponders the potential loss if Peter had not immediately left his fishing nets to follow Jesus, missing out on significant spiritual experiences.
Suppose Peter had not left his nets "straightway"? (See Mark 1:18) He might have become the respected president of the local Galilean fishermen"™s association. But he would not have been on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, Moses, and Elias and heard the voice of God. (See Matt. 17:4)
Forgiveness
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"Willing to Submit"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts the story of three young men who expressed their willingness to face a fiery furnace rather than serve false gods, using their words 'but if not' to illustrate submission to God's will.
We have been given three special words"”but if not"”by three submissive young men who entered their fiery furnace, knowing "our God "¦ is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, "¦ But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods." (Dan. 3:17"“18, italics added.)
Forgiveness
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"Willing to Submit"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on Jesus' experience in Gethsemane, emphasizing His astonishment and suffering as He faced the reality of the Atonement, despite knowing intellectually what He had to do.
Later, in Gethsemane, the suffering Jesus began to be "sore amazed" (Mark 14:33) or, in the Greek, "awestruck" and "astonished." Imagine, Jehovah, the Creator of this and other worlds, "astonished"! Jesus knew cognitively what He must do, but not experientially. He had never personally known the exquisite and exacting process of an atonement before. Thus, when the agony came in its fulness, it was so much, much worse than even He with his unique intellect had ever imagined! No wonder an ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible"
Elder Russell M. Nelson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The Israelites led by Moses and later by Joshua were able to cross bodies of deep water, which were divinely parted to allow them to reach their destination safely.
The expression deep water means danger! That very hazard challenged the Israelites led by Moses at the Red Sea (see Ex. 14:15–31). Later, they were led by Joshua to the river Jordan at flood time (see Josh. 3:7–17). In each instance, deep water was divinely divided to allow the faithful to reach their destination safely.
Forgiveness
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"With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible"
Elder Russell M. Nelson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A terminally ill man's wife asked for a blessing of peace and endurance rather than healing, demonstrating her focus on eternity.
Recently I visited the home of a man terminally ill. The stake president introduced me to the man’s family. His wife demonstrated such focus when she asked for a blessing for her dying husband—not for healing, but for peace, not for a miracle, but for ability to abide to the end. She could see from an eternal viewpoint, not merely from the perspective of one weighted with the responsibilities of her husband’s day-to-day care.
Forgiveness
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"With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible"
Elder Russell M. Nelson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A mother with a crippled son is grateful for the opportunity to care for him, knowing his time of suffering is brief compared to eternity.
Elsewhere, a mother with focus nurtures her son, crippled for the whole of this life. Daily she thanks her Heavenly Father for the privilege of laboring in love with a child for whom mortality’s vale of tears will be mercifully brief. Her focus is fixed on eternity. With celestial sight, trials impossible to change become possible to endure.
Forgiveness
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"With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible"
Elder Russell M. Nelson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker, as a medical doctor, has witnessed adversity, including death, suffering, and the struggles of students and young parents.
As a medical doctor, I have known the face of adversity. I have seen much of death and dying, suffering and sorrow. I also remember the plight of students overwhelmed by their studies and of those striving to learn a foreign language. And I recall the fatigue and frustration felt by young parents with children in need. Amidst circumstances seemingly impossible, I have also experienced the joyous relief that comes when one’s understanding is deepened by scriptural insight.
Forgiveness
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"With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible"
Elder Russell M. Nelson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Gideon's army was reduced from twenty-two thousand to three hundred by the Lord's command, and yet they achieved victory over the Midianites.
But when God’s disciple Gideon was leading an army against the Midianites, 'the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many … , lest Israel vaunt themselves … , saying, Mine own hand hath saved me' Judg. 7:2. So the Lord directed Gideon to reduce his numbers. He first decreased the troops from twenty-two thousand to ten thousand. Then the Lord said to Gideon, 'The people are yet too many' Judg. 7:4. So another reduction was made. Finally, only three hundr ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible"
Elder Russell M. Nelson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Sarah, at age ninety, was chosen by the Lord to bear Abraham's birthright son, Isaac, despite the common knowledge that elderly women do not bear children.
Everyone 'knows' that old women do not bear children. So upon whom did the Lord call to bear Abraham’s birthright son? Sarah, at age ninety! When told this was to be, she asked a logical question: 'Shall I [which am old] of a surety bear a child?' Gen. 18:13. From heaven came this reply: 'Is any thing too hard for the Lord?' Gen. 18:14. So decreed, she gave birth to Isaac, to carry the crucial Abrahamic covenant into the second generation (see Gen. 26:1–4, 24).
Forgiveness
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"With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible"
Elder Russell M. Nelson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The virgin Mary was chosen to bear the son of God, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy, despite the common knowledge that a virgin could not have children.
As all knew that an elderly woman could not bear children, it was just as obvious that a virgin could not have children. But Isaiah had made this prophetic utterance: 'The Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel' Isa. 7:14. When Mary was notified of her sacred responsibility, the announcing angel reassured, 'For with God nothing shall be impossible' Luke 1:37.
Forgiveness
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"With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible"
Elder Russell M. Nelson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
In 1830, the restored Church of Jesus Christ was organized with only six members, despite the world population being over one billion, symbolizing a daunting but not impossible task.
Suppose for a moment you are a member of a team. The coach beckons you from the bench and says: 'You are to enter this contest. I not only want you to win; you shall win. But the going will be tough. The score at this moment is 1,143,000,000 to six, and you are to play on the team with the six points!' That large number was the approximate population of the earth in the year 1830 when the restored church of Jesus Christ was officially organized with six members.
Forgiveness
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"With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible"
Elder Russell M. Nelson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Johan Andreas Jensen and his wife, Petra, pioneers of the Church, endured the loss of one of their twin daughters during their journey but remained strong and courageous.
Our pioneer forefathers are good examples. They sang, 'Gird up your loins; fresh courage take' (‘Come, Come, Ye Saints,’ Hymns, 1985, no. 30). They feared no toil and no labor. Among them were Johan Andreas Jensen and his wife, Petra, who left their native Norway in 1863. Their family included six-week-old tiny twin daughters. As handcarts were pulled in their rugged journey, one of those little girls died along the way. The child who survived grew up to become my Grandmother Nelson ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible"
Elder Russell M. Nelson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A couple who joined the Church ten years ago completed a mission and immediately volunteered for another, more difficult assignment in remote areas of the world.
There are pioneers in the Church today just as strong and courageous. Recently, I interviewed a married couple three days after their release as full-time missionaries in a large metropolis. 'We are converts,' they said. 'We joined the Church ten years ago. Even though we just completed a mission, we want to go again! But this time, we would like to volunteer for a more difficult assignment. We want to teach and serve children of God who live in remote areas of the world!'
Forgiveness
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"With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible"
Elder Russell M. Nelson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A faithful Church member was captured as a prisoner of war, but remained faithful, baptizing fellow prisoners, and later became the first stake president of his country and a temple presidency member.
Strength and courage also characterize another couple. As faithful members of the Church, they had always upheld its doctrines, including the twelfth article of faith. When their country went to war, military conscription called the dutiful husband away from his wife before either had learned she was to bear their child. He was captured by enemy troops and taken as a prisoner of war. Months elapsed. Their baby came. Still no word to know whether the new father was alive. A year after his capture ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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