"By Way of Invitation"
Sister Betty Jo N. Jepsen
- First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a personal longing to experience the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ, similar to the Wise Men and shepherds, and reflects on the innate desire to come unto Christ.
As I read the account of the birth of my Savior, I long to have the experience the Wise Men had"”to be led by a star; or to experience what the shepherds did"”to be invited to Bethlehem, invited by a choir of angels. I want to kneel at the manger and smell the clean straw and see that tiny baby with His earthly mother, to witness for myself this miracle. I believe that in every mortal there is an instinctive desire to come unto Christ.
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"By Way of Invitation"
Sister Betty Jo N. Jepsen
- First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on feeling overwhelmed with their calling but trusts in the Lord for courage, and encourages stepping out of comfort zones to grow and serve in building the Lord's kingdom.
There are times I feel overwhelmed with the calling I have, but I trust in the Lord to give me courage and help me do His will. Likely most of you want to feel secure, safe, and quietly live within boundaries which are familiar and comfortable. However, without the risk of new experiences and challenging calls to serve, we fail to grow, and are not as useful in the work of building the Lord"™s kingdom as we need to be.
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"By What Power "¦ Have Ye Done This?"
President James E. Faust
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts visiting World War I sites in France where his father fought and reflects on his father's and relatives' sense of duty despite the horrors of war.
Earlier this year, my three sons and I visited the sites in France where my father fought in the U.S. Army in World War I. Great was the suffering and terrible were the consequences to all involved in that war. Millions lost their lives. Although my father was not killed, he carried mental and physical scars until he died. Despite his terrifying experiences, he prefaced his diary as follows: "If I had to do it again, I would do it because it was my duty."1[George A. Faust diary, in author"™s ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"By What Power "¦ Have Ye Done This?"
President James E. Faust
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
President Hugh B. Brown, before becoming a General Authority, served in the Canadian army and was asked by a sick young man, whom he had taught in Sunday School, to give him a priesthood blessing.
Before President Hugh B. Brown was a General Authority, he served in England as an officer in the Canadian army and had great power. Men stood at attention before him and called him "sir." One day Brother Brown received a message that he was wanted in the hospital. When he got there, someone directed him to a little room where a sick young man lay. Brother Brown remembered that he had once been that young man"™s Sunday School teacher. "Brother Brown," said the young man, "would you use you ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"By What Power "¦ Have Ye Done This?"
President James E. Faust
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker describes the hardships faced by Zion's Camp, including George A. Smith's experiences with difficult conditions and a close encounter with a rattlesnake.
The first of these tests was Zion"™s Camp in the spring and summer of 1834. The second came just four years later in removing thousands of Saints from the state of Missouri to Illinois. Twelve years later came the epic exodus from Illinois to Winter Quarters and the next year to the mountain valleys of the western part of the continent.
Zion"™s Camp was formed to reestablish the Saints in Jackson County, Missouri. In this "effort to redeem Zion,"6[B. H. Roberts, introduction toHistory of t ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"By What Power "¦ Have Ye Done This?"
President James E. Faust
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
Daniel Stillwell Thomas, despite having limited resources, sent his wagon back to assist in removing the poor Saints from Missouri, reflecting the priesthood duty to care for others.
In the bitter cold of February 1839, Daniel Stillwell Thomas reflected, "Before we crossed [the Mississippi River] we unloaded our wagon and sent it back to asist[sic]in removing the poor and thus to save their lives the mob still threatning them."12["To the Editor and Readers of the Lehi Post" (n.d.), Historical Department, Archives Division, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3.]Daniel Thomas had five children and only one pair of shoes between them, yet he still sent the wag ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Called and Prepared from the Foundation of the World"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The talk describes a past human utopia achieved by the City of Enoch, which is detailed in the writings found.
This new information about Enoch is eighteen times that which is in the Bible. Further, we learn from it that a human utopia was once actually achieved, as we receive a portrait of a special people, the City of Enoch. (SeeMoses 7:17"“19
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Called and Prepared from the Foundation of the World"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Moses was commanded to write truths that would be taken away but would be restored in the last days, which have now been restored in the present.
Commanded to write of these truths, Moses was also told that many of the things he would write would later be taken away. Nevertheless, these would be "had again" among the children of men in the last days. (SeeMoses 1:40"“41
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Called and Prepared from the Foundation of the World"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The talk imagines the discovery of ancient writings from biblical figures like Enoch, Abraham, and Moses, revealing profound truths about the creation of the world and God's purposes.
What if in tomorrow"™s newspapers and on television scholars excitedly announced that dozens of pages of startling and significant writings, including those of Enoch, Abraham, and Moses, had been found? These startling writings inform us, among many important things, how the Lord tutored Moses, told him of other worlds, and then in regal response told Moses why God created and peopled this planet. (SeeMoses 1:4"“6, 8, 10, 30, 37"“39Isa. 45:18These writings indicate that Abraham and others ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Called and Prepared from the Foundation of the World"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The talk recounts how Adam gathered his righteous posterity before his death, blessed them, and prophesied, with the Lord appearing at this family gathering.
These tremendous discoveries likewise show us that the gospel of Jesus Christ was taught and its ordinances administered in Adam"™s time, in the dawn of human history. (SeeMoses 5:58"“59Furthermore, Adam gathered his righteous posterity together three years before his death. He instructed them, blessed them, and prophesied concerning the future. The Lord even appeared at this very special family gathering. (SeeD&C 107:53"“57
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Called and Prepared from the Foundation of the World"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Brigham Young expressed a deep yearning to meet someone like Moses who could tell him about God and heaven, which was fulfilled through Joseph Smith's revelations.
Before the Restoration, the void was very real. Prior to meeting Joseph Smith, Brigham Young said he would have crawled around the earth on his hands and knees to meet someone like Moses who could tell him anything "about God and heaven." (InJournal of Discourses,8:228.) Through Joseph Smith we have additional pages from Moses about God and heaven. We have only to reach to the bookshelf or go to priesthood meeting. Perhaps the way is almost too easy and too simple; we might be more appreciativ ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Called and Prepared from the Foundation of the World"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The talk reflects on the journey to the City of God, where we will not be strangers, having been there before, and where the residents keep the first and second great commandments.
We will not be strangers in the City of God. We were there before, when the morning stars sang together and the sons of God shouted for joy at the prospects of this stern but necessary mortal existence. (SeeJob 38:4"“7What we sang then was doubtless an anthem of praise far greater than the "Hallelujah Chorus," more glorious than Moses"™ and Israel"™s song after crossing the Red Sea. (SeeEx. 15:1"“2
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Called and Prepared from the Foundation of the World"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The talk concludes by urging priesthood holders to be doers and messengers of the gospel, drawing inspiration from the dedication of Ether and the courage of Abinadi.
Brethren, these plain and precious doctrines restored in our time through the Prophet Joseph Smith are pulsating with perspective and are so light-intensive, like radioactive materials, that they must be handled with great care. To life"™s great questions about identity and meaning come the Restoration"™s resounding answers. Accompanying these affirming "Yes, yesses!" are the guiding rules or necessary "No, noes!" These restored truths are not mysterious, but wondrous. These truths do no ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Called As If He Heard a Voice from Heaven"
Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A great opera singer expressed her deep motherhood by stating her favorite child is the one who needs her the most at any given time.
And President Harold B. Lee related: 'Someone asked [a great opera singer who had a large family] which of her children was her favorite. Her reply revealed the depth of her true motherhood: 'My favorite child is the one who is sick until he gets well or the one who is absent until he returns.'' (inChurch News,13 June 1964, p. 14.)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Called As If He Heard a Voice from Heaven"
Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A young man sarcastically responded to a salesman's question about his mother's presence while he was practicing piano.
A salesman approached a door. Inside, a young man was dutifully, dully practicing the piano. The salesman said, 'Young man, is your mother home?' The boy replied, 'What do you think?'
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Called As If He Heard a Voice from Heaven"
Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
John Sonnenberg's wife humorously responded to a bus driver's amazement at her large family by saying it's not a picnic.
John Sonnenberg, a great Regional Representative, related this experience as a young dentist. They had seven children, all young, and only one car. When his wife went to town she had to take the bus. One day she and the seven children were waiting for the bus. When the bus stopped, the children and Sister Sonnenberg boarded. She put her token in and then stood and put one token in the box for each of her seven children. The bus driver was amazed, and he said, 'Lady, are these all your children, ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Called As If He Heard a Voice from Heaven"
Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Henry Eyring humorously responded to President Spencer W. Kimball's question about his cane, attributing it to 'style'.
Henry Eyring, a leading scientist and a great teacher who recently passed away, would have contests with his students. Even in his mid-sixties he could standing broad jump to the top of his desk. He challenged university students to a thirty- or forty-yard foot race. One day just a few short years before he died, he was in the Church Administration Building. His brother-in-law, President Spencer W. Kimball, came out of his office and saw Henry Eyring standing there with a cane. He said, 'Henry, ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Called As If He Heard a Voice from Heaven"
Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A young man at a missionary preparation workshop decided to go on a mission after initially being disinterested and making fun of the activities.
This past summer at the Nauvoo Aaronic Priesthood Encampment, special missionary preparation workshops were held. Bishops conducted these sessions with their Aaronic Priesthood. Every young man was given his own missionary preparation book. Two thousand young men participated in this activity. A bishop reported that one young man would not get involved. He lazed on the grass a few feet from the group. He would occasionally laugh or seem to make fun. He would not participate, as he had no intenti ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Called As If He Heard a Voice from Heaven"
Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
At a banquet for Eagle Scouts, all 1,150 attendees committed to go on a mission, including a Catholic boy who later joined the Church with his family.
A year ago at Flagstaff, Arizona, a special banquet for Eagle Scouts was held. There were 1,150 Eagle Scouts. John Warnick, the director of Mormon Relationships, invited all those who would commit to go on a mission to stand. All 1,150 stood. Later, one of the young men, a Catholic boy, went to the bishop and said, 'I am not a Mormon, and I committed to go on a mission. What do I need to do?' The bishop said, 'Let's talk to your parents.' During the visit with the family, it was decided that the ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →
"Called As If He Heard a Voice from Heaven"
Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A counselor in the bishopric saved a drowning boy during a prayer at a ward mutual swimming party.
A ward mutual was having a swimming party. The bishopric attended, dressed in suits. Many of the youth had already been in swimming. Everything stopped while a great old high priest gave an opening prayer. During the prayer there was a splashing in the pool. The counselor in the bishopric said: 'I think I have always been practical enough, so I opened one eye to see who it was that was so irreverent as to swim during the prayer. A twelve-year-old Spanish boy, who could not swim, had somehow gott ... (continued)
Forgiveness
Read Full Talk →