A New Witness for Christ
President Ezra Taft Benson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker testifies to the world that the record of Joseph is the Book of Mormon, which, like the Bible, contains the history of a people, their land, prophets, and a visitation from Jesus Christ.
We testify to the world that we have the record of Joseph—even the Book of Mormon. Like Judah, Joseph had a people—the Nephites and Lamanites. Like Judah, Joseph had a land—the Americas. Like Judah, Joseph had prophets, and his descendants also had a visitation from Jesus Christ, even the resurrected Lord.
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A New Witness for Christ
President Ezra Taft Benson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
President Marion G. Romney established a daily routine of reading the Book of Mormon for thirty minutes each morning, which he felt kept him in harmony with the Spirit of the Lord.
President Marion G. Romney understood this. Years ago he started a daily procedure, which he recommended to us, of reading the Book of Mormon each morning for thirty minutes. 'I know that it kept me in harmony,' he said, 'so far as I did keep in harmony, with the Spirit of the Lord.' Then he added, 'It will hold us as close to the Spirit of the Lord as anything I know.' (In Conference Report, Apr. 1949, pp. 36, 41.)
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A Pattern for All
Elder Merrill J. Bateman
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
The speaker shares a personal testimony of the truth of Joseph Smith's First Vision and the Book of Mormon.
The Holy Spirit has whispered to my soul that Joseph saw the Father and the Son in the Sacred Grove and that the Book of Mormon is true. I am grateful for the additional knowledge concerning the Savior"™s Atonement contained in the Book of Mormon.
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A Pattern for All
Elder Merrill J. Bateman
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
The speaker shares a story of a young Hispanic woman and a Japanese friend who felt the influence of the Holy Spirit and recognized the truth of the Restoration.
That is why a young Hispanic woman suddenly realized that she was more than a speck in the universe when the Holy Spirit gave her a witness of the Restoration. She felt God"™s love, that she was His daughter, and realized that He knew her. It also explains why the plan of salvation seemed familiar to my Japanese friend as the missionaries taught him and as the Holy Spirit confirmed his purposes on earth and his potential.
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A Pattern for All
Elder Merrill J. Bateman
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the universal nature of the restored gospel in response to a radio program participant's skepticism about the Church's international appeal.
Recently, a participant on a radio program questioned the international appeal of the Church, given its origins in New York, its headquarters in Utah, and the Book of Mormon story of an ancient American people. As I thought of friends in Asia, Africa, Europe, and other parts of the world, it was apparent that the discussant did not understand the universal nature of the restored gospel or the all-encompassing applicability of its ordinances, covenants, and blessings. The worldwide significance o ... (continued)
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A Pattern for All
Elder Merrill J. Bateman
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
Jesus's parable of the wicked husbandmen is recounted, illustrating the rejection of prophets and Jesus's own fate.
One of the most illuminating passages of scripture regarding this sequence of apostasy and restoration is found in Jesus"™s parable of the wicked husbandmen (seeMark 12:1"“10In the parable, Jesus reminds the people of the many prophets who have been sent through the ages to raise up righteous nations. He then states how the messengers were rejected again and again. Some were beaten and sent away empty. Others were killed. And then, prophesying about His own ministry, Jesus tells His listener ... (continued)
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A Pattern for All
Elder Merrill J. Bateman
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
The speaker explains how Jesus's unique parentage allowed Him to perform the Atonement and how He understands and can help each of us.
Unlike mortals who inherit the seeds of death from both parents, Jesus was born of a mortal mother but an immortal Father. The seeds of death received from Mary meant that He could die, but the inheritance from His Father gave Him infinite life, which meant death was a voluntary act. Thus, Jesus told the Jewish people, "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself"John 5:26
On another occasion He stated:
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because ... (continued)
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A Pattern for Peace
Bishop W. Christopher Waddell
- Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric
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📖 general conference
A daughter and son-in-law were teaching a Primary class when the son-in-law had to escort an energetic boy out of the room, who then exclaimed his difficulty in thinking about Jesus.
A few years ago, our daughter and son-in-law were asked to team teach a Primary class of five active four-year-old little boys. Our daughter was the designated teacher and our son-in-law the designated enforcer, doing their best to maintain a sense of calm amidst occasional chaos in order to teach gospel principles to the children.
During one especially rough class, after a number of warnings to an energetic little boy, our son-in-law escorted the four-year-old out of the classroom. Once outside ... (continued)
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A Pattern for Peace
Bishop W. Christopher Waddell
- Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric
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📖 general conference
During a stake conference in South America, the speaker met Brother Tumiri, who was grieving the loss of his infant son and worried about not seeing him again, as they hadn't been sealed to him in the temple.
During a stake conference assignment a few years ago while serving in South America, I met a couple that was grieving the recent death of their infant son.
It was in an interview during the course of the conference that I first met with Brother Tumiri and learned of his loss. As we spoke, he shared that not only was he deeply saddened by the death of his son, but he was also devastated at the thought of never seeing him again. He explained that as relatively new members of the Church, they had s ... (continued)
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A Pattern for Peace
Bishop W. Christopher Waddell
- Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker clarified to Brother Tumiri that his son, born in the covenant, was sealed to him and his wife, and later comforted Sister Tumiri with the same assurance, providing her with peace.
Recognizing a possible misunderstanding, I explained that he would indeed see his son again, if he remained faithful, because the sealing ordinance that had bound him to his wife and daughters was also sufficient to bind him to his son, who had been born in the covenant.
Amazed, he asked if this was really true, and when I confirmed that it was, he then asked if I would be willing to speak with his wife, who had been inconsolable during the two weeks since their son"™s death.
Sunday afternoon, ... (continued)
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A Pattern for Peace
Bishop W. Christopher Waddell
- Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric
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📖 general conference
Alma the Younger experienced great torment from his sins, but found peace to his soul when he cried out to Jesus Christ for mercy and received a remission of his sins.
Alma the Younger was compelled to confront his sins when visited by an angel of the Lord. He described his experience in these words:
"My soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.
""¦ Yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments."15Alma 36:12"“13
As serious as his sins were, and in the midst of this ordeal, he continues:
"I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming o ... (continued)
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A Pattern in All Things
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The speaker describes an interaction with a skilled seamstress who emphasizes the necessity of a pattern to predict the outcome of a quilt she is making.
One day I was admiring a beautiful hand-finished quilt made by a skilled seamstress. As we visited together, I learned that she had made many quilts over the years and was well known for her excellent handiwork. To my query, 'Do you ever make one of these quilts without a pattern?' she said, 'How would I know how it might turn out if I didn’t have a pattern to follow?'
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A Pattern in All Things
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The speaker shares a conversation with a drug addict about life's patterns and priorities, which ends with the addict's dismissive response.
In a recent conversation with a drug addict about priorities, life’s patterns, hopes, goals, and purposes, I was grieved when this attractive young lady said, 'God is loving. God is kind. Leave me alone, and never mind.' The wayward and disobedient will never be happy while smothered with Satan’s suggestion that practice makes permanence.
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A Pattern in All Things
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a comforting conversation with a seasoned pilot about the importance of following a landing pattern to ensure safety during turbulent flights.
Over the years I have experienced some uncomfortable times in commercial aircrafts while traveling in turbulent skies. Oftentimes, heavy winds, storms, angry clouds, down drafts, etc., have caused bumpy and anxious moments, particularly when it was time to land. A seasoned pilot gave me comfort once after such an experience when he talked about a landing pattern—the ordered flight path of an aircraft about to touch down. Precise instruments, experience, and trust guide the planes to safet ... (continued)
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A Pattern in All Things
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
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📖 general conference
The speaker recounts the story of Roger Bannister, who overcame his Olympic disappointment to become the first person to run a mile in under four minutes by following a strict pattern of training and living.
One of my favorite sports stories has to do with Roger Bannister, who many years ago participated in the Olympic Games as a champion in the one-mile race. He was supposed to win, but he wound up finishing in fourth place. He went home from the Olympics discouraged, disillusioned, and embarrassed. He had his mind set on giving up running. He was a medical student at the time, and his studies were so demanding. He decided that he’d better get on with life and devote all of his time in prepa ... (continued)
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A Pattern of Righteousness
Janette C. Hales
- Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency
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📖 general conference
The speaker recounts the time she decided to make a sport coat for her husband without any tailoring experience, and how she managed to complete it by breaking down the process into small steps.
Many years ago while my children were very young, the nighttime bottles and the daytime diapers seemed as endless as the frozen ground outside our military apartment. When I feel sorry for myself, it helps me to do something for someone else. That winter my need was great, so I needed a grand solution. I decided to make a sport coat for my husband. Having no experience in tailoring, I began by finding the best pattern and materials on the market. With great enthusiasm I took out the pattern guid ... (continued)
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A Pattern of Righteousness
Janette C. Hales
- Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares an anecdote about her daughter's prayer habits and her own experience with prayer during her student days at BYU, emphasizing the importance of prayer patterns.
When we have learned the importance of prayer, the habit of daily prayer can be reproduced in the lives of others by teaching and good example. My youngest daughter said that prayer became more meaningful to her as she watched her older sister kneel by the bed at night when she thought others were asleep. As a student at BYU, I remember kneeling in prayer with eight roommates each morning at 6:30 and then having breakfast together. Years later, if we missed having prayer with our children, I was ... (continued)
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A Pattern of Righteousness
Janette C. Hales
- Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker describes the scripture reading habits of her daughter and grandsons, illustrating the pattern of scripture study.
Scripture study helps us increase our understanding of the pattern of righteousness. As we live the words of God, we are told, "He will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept."D&C 98:12I am encouraged by the examples of scripture reading I see. I have a daughter who likes to warm her feet before going to bed. I love to see her sitting on the bathroom counter with her feet in a sink of warm water as she reads her scriptures. My two grandsons, ages two and four, report with ... (continued)
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A Pattern of Righteousness
Janette C. Hales
- Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a story by Harold Glen Clark about his experience caring for his elderly grandfather, highlighting the value of service.
Giving loving service is another beautiful pattern of righteousness often learned in our homes. The scriptures teach of the importance of service, and leaders testify of its importance. Harold Glen Clark, the first president of the Provo Temple, wrote a story for his grandchildren called, "Good for One Pass into Heaven." Brother Clark wrote:
"I was thinking of what one thing I had ever done that might have pleased the Lord most. Deacons quorum president? Bishop? Patriarch? Temple president?
"T ... (continued)
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A Pattern of Righteousness
Janette C. Hales
- Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on her feelings of awe and the spiritual magnificence she felt when receiving a blessing from the prophet Ezra Taft Benson, affirming her testimony.
I am grateful to men and women and people of all ages whose lives help us see this pattern of righteousness. I am thankful for a living prophet. A few days after being called as a counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, the First Presidency of the Church approached my chair to set me apart and give me a blessing. I realized the prophet of God was about to lay his hands upon my head, and I was in awe. Following the blessing, as I turned to face the prophet, I was quite unprepared for the ... (continued)
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