A Crown of Thorns, a Crown of Glory
Elder James E. Faust
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A family member's dog, Ben, instinctively knew to seek help from his master to remove a painful thorn from his paw.
One of the members of our family has a remarkable dog named Ben. A few years ago, on a beautiful fall day, some of us were walking in the fields. Ben was going back and forth in front of us, sniffing the ground, tail wagging, and obviously enjoying himself. After a while we sat down on a ditch bank to rest and could feel the warmth of the autumn sun caressing us. Ben came limping up to his master and, with a pained look in his eye, held up his front paw. Ben’s master gently took his paw i ... (continued)
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A Crown of Thorns, a Crown of Glory
Elder James E. Faust
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on Jesus' familiarity with slivers and thorns as a carpenter and the symbolic act of the soldiers crowning Him with thorns during His crucifixion.
As a carpenter, Jesus would have been familiar with slivers and thorny woods. As a child, He would have learned that one rarely gets a sliver when working the wood in the right direction. He would also have known more than any how slivers—small and painful—divert attention from important matters. The scourging of Jesus took place partly with thorns: “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. “And ... (continued)
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A Defense and a Refuge
President Boyd K. Packer
- Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Brigham Young and others climbed Ensign Peak and raised Heber C. Kimball's yellow bandana on a walking stick as an ensign to the nations.
On July 26, 1847, their third day in the valley (the second having been the Sabbath), Brigham Young, with members of the Twelve and some others, climbed a peak about one and a half miles from where I now stand. They thought it a good place to raise an ensign to the nations. Heber C. Kimball wore a yellow bandana. They tied it to Willard Richards"™s walking stick and waved it aloft, an ensign to the nations. Brigham Young named it Ensign Peak.
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A Defense and a Refuge
President Boyd K. Packer
- Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts an experience at a symposium where he was asked if Mormons have horns, and he humorously replied about combing his hair to hide them.
Years ago, I was at a symposium at a college in Oregon. Present were a Catholic bishop, a rabbi, an Episcopalian minister, an Evangelical minister, a Unitarian clergyman, and myself. The president of the school, Dr. Bennett, hosted a breakfast. One of them asked which wife I had brought. I told them I had a choice of one. For a second, I thought that I was being singled out for embarrassment. Then someone asked the Catholic bishop if he had brought his wife. The next question came from Dr. Benne ... (continued)
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A Defense and a Refuge
President Boyd K. Packer
- Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Elder Robert C. Oaks reminded a meeting of an accord signed on the USS Missouri that ended World War II, contrasting it with the ongoing war against terrorism and wickedness.
A few weeks ago in one of our meetings, Elder Robert C. Oaks, one of the seven Presidents of the Seventy (a retired four-star general and commander of NATO air forces in Central Europe), reminded us of an accord signed by 10 nations on board the battleshipMissouriin Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, which ended World War II. Some of us were in Asia at the time. Said Elder (General) Oaks: "I can"™t even imagine a circumstance today in which such a meeting could be held or such an accord could be ... (continued)
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A Disciple of Christ
President Marion G. Romney
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
Jesus teaches about the cost of discipleship through interactions with various individuals who express a desire to follow Him, emphasizing the need for effort and sacrifice.
Here are some examples. In the Gospel according to Luke he said:
"It came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
"And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
"And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
"Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach ... (continued)
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A Disciple of Christ
President Marion G. Romney
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
Jesus further emphasizes the need to prioritize duty to God over personal or worldly demands, even if it means forsaking one's own family or life.
Jesus was not looking for, or calling, men to do lip service only. He a wanted them to realize that following him meant effort and sacrifice. Luke tells us of an occasion when "there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
"If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
"And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
... (continued)
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A Disciple of Christ
President Marion G. Romney
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
Jesus advises to count the cost of discipleship, comparing it to a person who plans to build a tower and must first ensure they can afford to complete it.
As to counting the cost, Jesus pointed out the wisdom of doing so even with respect to mundane projects:
"Which of you," he said, "intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
"Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
"Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish."Luke 14:28"“30
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A Disciple of Christ
President Marion G. Romney
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The Lord reminds the Saints in Missouri that the establishment of Zion depends on their obedience, and that tribulation will precede the blessings of Zion.
At this juncture, to calm them down a little and impress upon them the fact that the establishment of Zion would depend upon their obedience to his law, the Lord said to them:
"Hearken, O ye elders of my church, and give ear to my word, and learn of me what I will concerning you, and also concerning this land unto which I have sent you.
"For verily I say unto you,blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the s ... (continued)
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A Disciple of Christ
President Marion G. Romney
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The Saints in Missouri are instructed on specific commandments to follow, emphasizing love for God and neighbor, gratitude, and worship, to prove themselves as true disciples.
Then he named some specific things that these Saints had to learn to do before they prospered in Zion:
"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Thou shalt not steal; neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it.
"Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.
"Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
"And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the ... (continued)
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A Disciple of Christ
President Marion G. Romney
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The Saints in Missouri failed to establish Zion due to a lack of dedication and obedience, leading to their expulsion, but the Lord promises success to those who heed His words.
This is not the occasion to review the history of the Saints in Jackson County, Missouri. Suffice it to say that they did not demonstrate the necessary dedication and commitment to establish Zion at that time. On February 24, 1834, after they had been "driven and smitten by the hands of [their] enemies"D&C 103:2the Lord told the Prophet Joseph that the reason he had permitted their expulsion was so "that those who call themselves after my name might be chastened for a little season with a sore ... (continued)
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A Disciple, a Friend
Bishop Richard C. Edgley
- First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a positive experience with Reverend Charles Taylor, who after studying the teachings of the Mormon Church, recognized that Mormons are Christians and expressed his admiration for their Christlike behavior.
After being introduced to a few basic doctrines of the Church, the Reverend Charles Taylor, a minister friend of mine, called to tell me of his enlightened understanding of the gospel. With some excitement he stated: "When you take the time to study the teachings and the doctrines of the Mormon Church, it becomes clear that Mormons are truly Christians. In fact, I have never met more Christlike people than the Mormons I have recently become acquainted with."
I responded that I would be interes ... (continued)
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A Disciple, a Friend
Bishop Richard C. Edgley
- First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a time when a personnel director and his secretary, Darlene, visited him to discuss whether Mormons are Christians, based on Darlene's doubts influenced by her minister.
Some years ago when I was working in a different organization, our personnel director, a devout Catholic, came into my office with his secretary, Darlene. I could readily see that Darlene was not there of her own free will and would rather be elsewhere. The personnel director"™s greeting words to me were, "Will you please tell Darlene that Mormons are Christian. I have been arguing with her for over half an hour, and I cannot convince her of that fact. She needs to hear it from you."
My firs ... (continued)
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A Disciple, a Friend
Bishop Richard C. Edgley
- First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on his father's final moments, where his father expressed hope that the Savior would find him worthy to be called His friend, prompting the speaker to ponder his own discipleship and relationship with Christ.
In the last moments of my father"™s righteous and exemplary life, with all of the strength he could muster, he uttered in a hardly audible voice, "I only hope the Savior will find me worthy to call me His friend." Oh, to be called a friend of the Savior! As my father yearned, I also wondered, would Christ count me as one of His sheep? Would He see me striving to exemplify His teachings and live His divine principles? Would He call me a disciple? Would He call me a friend? This is what really ... (continued)
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A Divided Christianity
Elder Mark E. Petersen
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The Savior's teachings were hard for people to accept, leading to anger and persecution, including attempts on his life.
When the Savior was on earth and taught his pure doctrine, many refused to listen to him. Some were offended by what he said and became so angry that they sought his life, and eventually him.
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A Divided Christianity
Elder Mark E. Petersen
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The apostles faced disbelief and persecution as they continued Jesus' work after his ascension.
Following his ascension into heaven, his disciples endeavored to carry on his work, but they also were misunderstood, disbelieved by most, and severely persecuted.
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A Divided Christianity
Elder Mark E. Petersen
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The doctrine of Christ's divinity and his miracles led to accusations of blasphemy and being associated with the devil.
The doctrine which first challenged the credulity of the people was the teaching that Christ was the Son of the living God. This led his critics to call him a blasphemer. When he exhibited his divine power in healing the sick and giving sight to the blind, they called him Beelzebub and said he was of the devil.
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A Divided Christianity
Elder Mark E. Petersen
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The resurrection was hard to believe for many, leading to rejection and disbelief.
When the apostles proclaimed his resurrection, again there was disbelief. Had anyone ever come back from the dead? Who in all his life had seen a dead man rise from his grave in physical reality and walk and talk and eat? The idea of a resurrection seemed completely incredible and was much too hard for most people to believe, so they turned away.
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A Divided Christianity
Elder Mark E. Petersen
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker asserts that the Latter-day Saints have an important message regarding the divisions in Christianity and the restoration of the gospel.
We Latter-day Saints have long been concerned about the divisions in Christianity. The question 'Which church is right?' is often on our lips. In all sincerity and in deep solemnity before God, we declare that we Latter-day Saints have an important message for all mankind that is most pertinent to this point. In the spirit of Mr. Scharper's ecumenical book, we ask both Catholics and Protestants to listen to the authentic features of Mormonism.
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A Divided Christianity
Elder Mark E. Petersen
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
Early Christian believers disagreed on the nature of God and the necessity and method of baptism, leading to divisions.
But a new difficulty arose. They did not all believe alike. Certain of them had one interpretation of the sacred word while others had contrary views. For example, differences arose among the believers pertaining to the nature of God. What is God like? That was the question. Is he a person? Is he a shapeless, indescribable spirit, or is he a mere influence for good, filling the universe? The believers could not agree among themselves. Even on such a simple thing as baptism, conflicts arose among ... (continued)
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