Participate to Prepare for Christ"™s Return
By Elder Steven D. Shumway
- Of the Seventy
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
John, a man not active in the Church, was visited by his bishop and then his stake president, who called him to serve in the bishopric shortly after he quit smoking, marking a spiritual turning point for him and his family.
John was not active in the Church when his bishop visited and told him that the Lord had a work for him to do. He invited John to quit smoking. Although John had tried many times to stop, this time he felt an unseen power helping him.
Just three weeks later, the stake president visited John. He called him to serve in the bishopric. John was shocked. He told the stake president he had just quit smoking. If this meant he would have to abandon his tradition of attending professional football games ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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Personal Preparation to Meet the Savior
By Elder Dale G. Renlund
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
A girl in Primary expresses her anxiety about the Second Coming, fearing the bad things that will happen before Jesus comes again.
However, a girl in Primary recently told me that she becomes anxious whenever the Second Coming is mentioned. She said, 'I'm scared because bad things are going to happen before Jesus comes again.'
Forgiveness
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Personal Preparation to Meet the Savior
By Elder Dale G. Renlund
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
The parable of the ten virgins is recounted, where five virgins were prepared with oil for their lamps and five were not, symbolizing the need to be spiritually prepared.
The Savior first told the parable of the ten virgins. In this parable, ten virgins went to a wedding feast. Five wisely brought oil to fill their lamps, and five foolishly did not. When the bridegroom's imminent arrival was announced, the foolish virgins left to buy oil. When they returned, it was too late; the door to the feast was shut.
Forgiveness
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Personal Preparation to Meet the Savior
By Elder Dale G. Renlund
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
The parable of the talents is shared, where servants are given different amounts of money and expected to increase it, teaching the importance of magnifying our abilities.
The Savior then told the parable of the talents. In this parable, a man gave differing amounts of money, referred to as talents, to three servants. To one servant he gave five talents, to another he gave two, and to a third he gave one. Over time, the first two servants doubled what they had received. But the third servant simply buried his single talent. To both servants who had doubled their talents, the man said, 'Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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Personal Preparation to Meet the Savior
By Elder Dale G. Renlund
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
Zusya of Anipol, an 18th-century Hasidic scholar, fears not living up to his potential when facing God, illustrating the importance of being true to oneself.
Consider this insight provided by the 18th-century Hasidic scholar Zusya of Anipol. Zusya was a renowned teacher who began to fear as he approached death. His disciples asked, 'Master, why do you tremble? You've lived a good life; surely God will grant you a great reward.' Zusya said: 'If God says to me, 'Zusya, why were you not another Moses?' I will say, 'Because you didn't give me the greatness of soul that you gave Moses.' And if I stand before God and He says, 'Zusya, why were you not anoth ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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Personal Preparation to Meet the Savior
By Elder Dale G. Renlund
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
The parable of the sheep and goats is told by the Savior, highlighting the importance of serving others as a way of serving God.
Finally, the Savior told the parable of the sheep and goats. When He returns in His glory, 'before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.' Those on His right became heirs in His kingdom, and those on His left received no inheritance. The distinguishing characteristic was whether they fed Him when He was hungry, gave Him drink when He w ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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Personal Preparation to Meet the Savior
By Elder Dale G. Renlund
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
The poem 'Farmer Paavo' tells of a farmer who, despite repeated crop failures, works hard and shares his eventual bounty with a needy neighbor, exemplifying selfless service.
The divine impulse to serve others is illustrated in a poem written in the 19th century by the Finnish poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg. My siblings and I repeatedly heard the poem 'Farmer Paavo' throughout our childhoods. In the poem, Paavo was a poor farmer who lived with his wife and children in the lake region of central Finland. Several years in a row, most of his crops were destroyed, whether through the runoff from the spring snowmelt, summer hailstorms, or an early autumn frost. Each time the ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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Receive His Gift
By Elder Patrick Kearon
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
The speaker recalls wanting a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang toy car as a child, feeling disappointed when their father didn't bring it back from a trip, but then receiving it as a birthday gift and feeling immense gratitude and joy.
When I was about seven years old, living with my parents in Arabia, a children"™s film calledChitty Chitty Bang Bangwas released. The film is about a magical car that can drive itself, float on water, and even fly! I knew that back home in England they made a miniature toy car just like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and oh, how I wanted one! You could pull a lever, and the toy car"™s wings would pop out! My father went on a business trip to England and asked if I wanted him to bring anything back ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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Receive His Gift
By Elder Patrick Kearon
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
The speaker shares how finding faith in his mid-20s led to the realization that he is a son of God, and how this understanding, reinforced by scripture and spiritual practices, reshaped his perspective on past sorrows and pains.
Since finding my faith in my mid-20s, I have awakened to the realisation that I truly am a son of God. The more fully I internalise this gift, the more keenly I know who I am and how completely I am loved. Some things that have helped me grow in understanding are the words of scripture, my patriarchal blessing, temple worship, serving others, expressing gratitude, and sacred prayer with my Father. I marvel at how earlier sorrow, pain, and grief in my life would have been reframed, soothed, and m ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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Reverence for Sacred Things
By Elder Ulisses Soares
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
Moses experiences a sacred moment at the burning bush on Mount Horeb, which transforms him from a shepherd to a prophet.
In the book of Exodus, we travel with Moses to the slopes of Mount Horeb as he turned aside from his daily cares—something we all should be willing to do—to see the burning bush that was not consumed. As he approached, “God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And [God] said, … put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.â€1[Exodus 3:4–5]In great reverence, h ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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Reverence for Sacred Things
By Elder Ulisses Soares
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
The speaker recalls a personal moment of reverence and assurance received while praying at the cemetery before burying his second child.
My wife and I have personally experienced some sacred mountain moments in reverence as we have strived to apply these principles in our life, which has caused a meaningful transformation in our discipleship. I remember like it was yesterday walking through the cemetery before burying our second child, who was born prematurely and did not survive, while my wife was still recovering in the hospital. I recall praying to God with great fervency and reverence, asking for help to cope with that challe ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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Right Before Our Eyes
By Elder Ronald A. Rasband
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
Joseph Smith prophesied the growth of the Church from a small gathering of priesthood holders to filling the world.
In April 1834 in Kirtland, Ohio, the Prophet Joseph Smith gathered all who held the priesthood into a little schoolhouse about 14 feet (4.3 m) square. We could fit dozens of those schoolhouses in this Conference Center, with room to spare. Joseph Smith said, 'It is only a little handful of Priesthood you see here tonight, but this Church will fill North and South America—it will fill the world.'
Forgiveness
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Right Before Our Eyes
By Elder Ronald A. Rasband
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
Apostles Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, despite personal hardships, set off on a mission to the British Isles with enthusiasm, exemplified by their cheer 'Hurrah for Israel.'
I think of the Apostles Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, who in 1839 set off as missionaries to the British Isles. They were ill; they left families sick and destitute. Nevertheless, the two climbed into a wagon, and while still in sight of their loved ones, Heber said, 'Let’s rise up and give them a cheer.' The two struggled to their feet and shouted, 'Hurrah, hurrah for Israel.'
Forgiveness
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Right Before Our Eyes
By Elder Ronald A. Rasband
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
The entire stake presidency in Uganda was enrolled in BYU–Pathway, demonstrating the global reach and impact of Church education.
When I was meeting with stake leaders in Uganda, I learned that the entire stake presidency was enrolled in BYU–Pathway. The more prepared we are temporally and spiritually, the more we can thwart the adversary’s cunning attacks.
Forgiveness
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Right Before Our Eyes
By Elder Ronald A. Rasband
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
Elder Melvin J. Ballard's 1926 prophecy about the growth of the Church in South America was fulfilled, as witnessed by the speaker in Mendoza, Argentina.
Last year I was privileged to preside at the dedication of the Mendoza Argentina Temple. In my message, I referred to Elder Melvin J. Ballard’s 1926 prophecy that the work of the Lord would grow slowly for a time in South America, 'just as an oak grows slowly from an acorn. It will not shoot up in a day,' but thousands would join the Church, and the nations of South America would become 'a power in the Church.' I saw that prophecy fulfilled right before my eyes.
Forgiveness
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Right Before Our Eyes
By Elder Ronald A. Rasband
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
Missionaries in Lima, Peru, echoed the enthusiasm of early Apostles by cheering 'Hurrah for Israel,' showing their commitment to the hastening of the Lord's work.
I saw that same enthusiasm for the Lord’s work in Lima, Peru, when I met with missionaries from the missionary training center and missions in Lima. What a sight! I saw the hastening right before my eyes. There are now seven missions in just the city of Lima. At the end of our meeting, the missionaries had a special surprise for me. They rose up and cheered, 'Hurrah for Israel.' I will never forget that moment; I wish all of you could have been there. Right before my eyes were missionarie ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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Spiritually Whole in Him
By President Camille N. Johnson
- Relief Society General President
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
Ten lepers were healed by Jesus, but only one returned to express gratitude and was made spiritually whole in addition to being physically healed.
Ten lepers hollered to the Savior, "Have mercy on us." And Jesus did. He told them to show themselves to the priest, and as they went, they were cleansed of the disease.
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, shouted praises to God. He returned to the Savior, fell at His feet, and expressed gratitude.
And the Savior said to him who was thankful, "Thy faith hath made thee whole."1[SeeLuke 17:11"“19The term "made whole" was translated from a Greek word that means to save, to resc ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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Spiritually Whole in Him
By President Camille N. Johnson
- Relief Society General President
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
The Lord told Enos that his faith had made him whole after Enos pondered his father's words, hungered for eternal life, and prayed mightily to God.
The Lord told Enos his faith had made him "whole."4[Enos 1:8]Wholeness came as Enos pondered on the words of his prophet-father, Jacob, as he hungered to understand the opportunity for eternal life, as he cried unto God in mighty prayer. And in that state of desire and humility, the voice of the Lord came to him, announcing his sins were forgiven. And Enos asked the Lord, "How is it done?"5[Enos 1:7]And the Lord responded, "Because of thy faith in Christ, "¦ thy faith hath made thee whole ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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Spiritually Whole in Him
By President Camille N. Johnson
- Relief Society General President
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
The five wise virgins in the parable were prepared with oil for their lamps, representing being whole in Jesus Christ through conversion, while the five foolish virgins were not prepared.
To be whole means to be complete and full. Much like the five wise virgins who had their lamps full with oil when the bridegroom came, we can be whole in Jesus Christ as we fill our lamps with the nourishing oil of conversion to Him.7[SeeMatthew 25:1"“13]In that way, we are prepared for the symbolic wedding supper, His Second Coming.
In the parable all ten of the virgins were in the right location, awaiting the bridegroom. Every one of them came with a lamp.
But when He came, at the unexpected ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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Spiritually Whole in Him
By President Camille N. Johnson
- Relief Society General President
📅 April 2025
📖 general conference
Apostle Paul's affliction, described as a 'thorn in the flesh,' was not removed despite his pleas, but he found spiritual wholeness and strength in Christ.
The Apostle Paul had some kind of affliction"”what he described as a "thorn in the flesh,"17[2 Corinthians 12:7]which three times he had asked the Lord to remove.18[See2 Corinthians 12:8]And the Lord said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."19[2 Corinthians 12:9]To which Paul declared:
"Most gladly therefore will I "¦ glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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