"Called As If He Heard a Voice from Heaven"
Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Terry, a deacon, made a lifelong commitment to pray every day after a walk and prayer with his adviser.
Some years back, Terry, a deacon, was at Tracy Wigwam on an overnight camp. That night a full moon hung overhead. The adviser took Terry by the arm and said, 'Let's go for a walk.' They went several hundred feet from the cabins. The adviser said, 'Terry, let's kneel here and have a prayer.' They knelt together and prayed. After the prayer Terry's adviser said to him, 'Terry, do you pray?' Terry answered that he did not. 'Terry, will you commit to pray every day all the rest of your life?' Terry ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Called As If He Heard a Voice from Heaven"
Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Vaughn Featherstone was influenced by his Scoutmaster, Bruford Reynolds, who believed in him and helped him develop leadership skills.
A French scientist, Rene de Chardin, said, 'Someday after we have mastered the winds and the waves, the tides and gravity, we will harness for God the energies of love, and then for the second time in the history of the world men will have discovered fire.' Such is the love of a great man in my life, Bruford Reynolds. When I was a boy of eleven, I used to go over to the old Richards Ward every Tuesday night. The Scouts would be having their troop meeting. I would lie on the ground and watch thro ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Called As If He Heard a Voice from Heaven"
Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Vaughn Featherstone honored his former Scoutmaster, Bruford Reynolds, at a reunion and later visited him in the hospital shortly before his passing.
About five years ago I called Bruford Reynolds on the phone. He was bishop at the time. I said, 'May I be invited to speak at your sacrament meeting sometime in the near future?' He said, 'We are not supposed to ask General Authorities.' 'You aren't,' I said. 'I am asking you.' He then said, 'I would love to have you come on Easter.' So I prepared a talk on the Savior's life. When I began to speak, I first told the people in his ward what a wonderful man their bishop had been in my life. I told ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Called to Serve"
Elder Robert L. Backman
- Of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts the transformation of his grandson from a typical selfish teenager to a selfless missionary, detailing the steps of his preparation and the change in his attitude.
This summer, our first grandson was called on a mission. We watched with anticipation and excitement as he prepared for that great adventure. We saw a transformation take place as he experienced his farewell, his temple endowment, and his entrance into the Missionary Training Center. It was a literal miracle to see a typical selfish teenage boy become a selfless servant of God. He became a man overnight. We thrilled at his letters from the Training Center in which he told his friends to get with ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Called to Serve"
Elder Robert L. Backman
- Of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a portion of a letter his grandson wrote to a nonmember friend, encouraging them to commit to the gospel and the steps necessary for baptism.
Let me share a portion of a letter he wrote to a nonmember friend who is investigating the Church:
“It’s great to hear you’ve taken the discussions. They are really cool. Let me tell you something about commitment. You have just got to make it. Get committed! Read the Book of Mormon. I did it in nine days, and I only read for one and a half hours a day. Get committed to attend church every week. It is a commandment of God, and it’s necessary for baptism. Get committed ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Called to Serve"
Elder Robert L. Backman
- Of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker tells a story of a missionary who had difficulty getting along with companions until he was paired with a missionary who found common ground with him, illustrating the importance of companionship and unity.
One of the missionaries who served with me had a difficult time getting along with companions. I was required to transfer them frequently because they could not take it. Finally, I asked one of my finest missionaries to become his companion, urging him to do all he could to help his fellow missionary love his work. As I approached a conference in the city where they were laboring, I feared he, like his predecessors, would ask for a transfer. To my surprise, when I asked how he was getting along ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Called to Serve"
Elder Robert L. Backman
- Of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a teenage girl's experience working with lady missionaries and the impact of their love and recognition of everyone as a child of God.
Recently, I attended a stake conference where a beautiful teenage girl told of her experience of working with a companionship of lady missionaries. With deep emotion she spoke of the love they exhibited toward everyone, friendly or unfriendly, responsive or abusive. They recognized that each person they met was truly a child of God, dearly loved by him. Could they do less? That love rubbed off on everyone they contacted, even warming their relationship with each other.
Forgiveness
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"Called to Serve"
Elder Robert L. Backman
- Of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker uses the biblical story of Elisha and his servant to illustrate the importance of being in tune with the Holy Spirit in missionary work.
You will understand, as Elisha’s young servant came to understand when he discovered the city surrounded by the Syrian army. Running to Elisha in panic he asked: “Alas, my master! how shall we do?â€
Elisha answered: “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
“And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of ho ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Called to Serve"
President Thomas S. Monson
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
Elder LeGrand Richards reminds others to be understanding of a young missionary's mistake by highlighting the natural immaturity that comes with youth.
I remember a meeting where we of the First Presidency and the Twelve were reviewing a youthful mistake made by a missionary. The tone was serious and rather critical, when Elder LeGrand Richards said, "Now, brethren, if the good Lord wanted to put a forty-year-old head on a nineteen-year-old body, He would have done so. But He didn"™t. He placed a nineteen-year-old head on a nineteen-year-old body, and we should be a bit more understanding." The mood of the group changed, the problem was sol ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Called to Serve"
President Thomas S. Monson
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
A wise leader of a basketball team in the Twenty-fifth Ward of the Pioneer Stake decided to have two balanced teams play different periods of the game, ensuring all young men had equal playtime and high morale.
I remember in my youth a basketball team from the Twenty-fifth Ward of the Pioneer Stake that had ten young men participating. A wise leader decided not to play just the five best, with the other five substituting here and there. Rather, he formed two teams with balanced ability and age. One team of five played the first and third periods, while the remaining team of five played the second and fourth periods. It was not a contest between bench warmers and active players, but a situation where mo ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Called to Serve"
President Thomas S. Monson
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
Craig Dearden, an eleven-year-old boy, uses his recently acquired Scouting swimming skills to save his younger brother Scott from drowning in a pool.
A few years ago a Scouting skill saved a life"”in my own family. My nephew"™s son, eleven-year-old Craig Dearden, successfully completed his requirements for Scouting"™s swimming award. His father beamed his approval, while mother tenderly placed an affectionate kiss. Little did those attending the court of honor realize the life-or-death impact of that award. Later that very afternoon, it was Craig who spotted a dark object at the deep end of the swimming pool. It was Craig who, without f ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Called to Serve"
President Thomas S. Monson
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
Bishop Monson feels prompted to visit an older couple, Ben and Emily, on Emily's birthday, which leads to their return to active participation in the Church.
As a bishop, I worried about any members who were inactive, not attending, not serving. Such was my thought one day as I drove down the street where Ben and Emily lived. They were older"”even in the twilight period of life. Aches and pains of advancing years caused them to withdraw from activity to the shelter of their home"”isolated, detached, shut out from the mainstream of daily life and association.
That day I felt the unmistakable prompting to park my car and visit Ben and Emily, even t ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Called to Serve"
President Thomas S. Monson
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
Jiri and Olga Snederfler, faithful Church members in Czechoslovakia, respond to calls to serve in the Freiberg Germany Temple, with Jiri having previously played a key role in the Church's recognition by the Communist government.
Let me provide an example. When I first visited Czechoslovakia, accompanied by Hans B. Ringger, long before the freedom bell sounded, I was met by Jiri Snederfler, our leader through this dark period, and Sister Olga Snederfler, his wife. I went to their home in Prague where the branch met. Displayed on the walls of the room in which we assembled were picture after picture of the Salt Lake Temple. I said to Sister Snederfler, "Your husband must truly love the temple."
She responded, "I, too; I ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Can There Any Good Thing Come Out of Nazereth?"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The Angel Gabriel announces to Mary in Nazareth that she will conceive Jesus, who will be called the Son of God.
To a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, came the Angel Gabriel, sent from God. To a virgin whose name was Mary, he declared, "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
"And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
"He . . . shall be called the Son of . . . God"Luke 1:30-32
Forgiveness
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"Can There Any Good Thing Come Out of Nazereth?"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Jesus heals a man who had been unable to walk for 38 years, telling him to rise, take up his bed, and walk.
Next, let us journey to Bethesda to inquire of him who now walks, but who for 38 long years walked not. "When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?" The impotent man's reply of frustration, mingled with hope, was met with the gentle, yet divine command, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."John 5:6-8
Forgiveness
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"Can There Any Good Thing Come Out of Nazereth?"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Philip of Bethsaida feels joy upon hearing Jesus Christ's call to follow him and shares the news with Nathanael, who skeptically asks if anything good can come out of Nazareth.
With such a promise ringing in his ears, can you and I appreciate the supreme joy and overwhelming exultation that coursed through one called Philip when he heard the Savior of the world speak unto him those immortal words, that divine injunction, "Follow me"John 1:43The dawn of promise had dispelled the night of despair. The King of kings, the Lord of lords had comeRev. 19:16
Such knowledge could not be hidden, nor could Philip of Bethsaida keep to himself such glad tidings. Philip findeth Nath ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Can There Any Good Thing Come Out of Nazereth?"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus Christ and baptizes Him in the Jordan River, bearing witness that Jesus is the Son of God.
First let us turn to him of whom Jesus himself spoke: "Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist"Matt. 11:11John, "the Baptist," stands forth like a colossus from the bleakness and confusion"”the "wilderness" of his own age. Knowing that one "mightier than he"Matt. 3:11was coming, he threw himself with superhuman fervor into the task of "making straight the way."John 1:23His was the agony, and the distinction, of being both an ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Can There Any Good Thing Come Out of Nazereth?"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A man born blind recounts how Jesus healed him, giving him sight, and stands firm in his testimony despite skepticism from others.
Second, let us turn to Judea and examine the testimony of one who was born blind"”him for whom it was always night. No day"”just night. But let him provide his own account"”how darkness was turned to light. Astonished neighbors, noting his newly acquired vision, asked: "Is not this he that sat and begged? . . .
". . . others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
"Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
". . . A man that is called Jesus ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Can There Any Good Thing Come Out of Nazereth?"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Jesus raises Jairus's daughter from the dead, demonstrating his power over life and death.
Jesus of Nazareth restored sight, removed lameness, but could it be true that he raised the dead to life?
In Capernaum, Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came to the Master, saying, "My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live." Then came the news from the ruler's house, "Thy daughter is dead," to which the Christ replied: "Be not afraid, only believe." He came to the house, passed by the mourners and said ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Can There Any Good Thing Come Out of Nazereth?"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A soldier writes to his mother before battle, expressing his readiness for death because he is 'square with God.' His mother later learns of his death, finding peace through Christ.
With sorrow we read each day of young men and those not so young who bravely die, who give their all upon the altar of freedom.
In a hurried moment, one such took in hand a stubby pencil, a scrap of paper, and wrote to anxious love, "Soon we go into battle. The enemy is well fortified; loss of life will be heavy. Mom, I hope I live, but I'm not afraid to die, for I'm square with God."
Mother received the precious note. On the same day another message arrived. "We regret to inform you that your s ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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