"Except the Lord Build the House"
Elder Oscar A. Kirkham
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Napoleon's reflection on the power of the spirit is mentioned, emphasizing that it always overcomes the sword.
Napoleon said there are two powers in the earth: that of the spirit and that of the sword. Then in a moment of reflection he added, 'But the spirit always overcometh the sword.'
Forgiveness
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"Except the Lord Build the House"
Elder Oscar A. Kirkham
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A story of brotherhood is shared where twenty-one men came to offer comfort and assistance to a family who lost their son in an accident.
Let us work for the brotherhood of man. I was happy to receive a report from one of our seventies quorums in Utah County. On the highway one day an automobile ran over a fine boy and killed him. The father and mother were broken-hearted. But the next morning twenty-one men were on the porch. Twenty-one men were extending love and comfort"”showing real brotherhood in offering their services to bless that home.
Forgiveness
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"Except the Lord Build the House"
Elder Oscar A. Kirkham
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the faith and responsibility of Americans, particularly those of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in shaping the destiny of the world.
Someone has said recently, and I sincerely believe that it is true, that what America says and does in the next fifty years will mark the destiny of the world. How important is our place among the children of men! And we, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the majority of us tucked away in these western hills, having received the word of God"”how great is our responsibility and opportunity!
Forgiveness
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"Except the Lord Build the House"
Elder Oscar A. Kirkham
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares Brigham Young's counsel on always including the Lord in one's activities and judgments.
From this very pulpit Brigham Young counseled with the Saints. When you go into the field to plow, be sure you take the Lord with you. When you go about your business, be sure the Lord is with you, also in your dealings with men. And here are his words further, 'No man of counsel should sit to judge the people but what should judge in the Lord, that he may righteously and impartially discern between right and wrong, truth and error, light and darkness, justice and injustice. Should any legislatu ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Except the Lord Build the House"
Elder Oscar A. Kirkham
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The United Nations' initial avoidance of vocal prayers and eventual agreement on a minute of silent personal devotion is discussed, leading to the creation of a chapel for prayer in their New York City building.
You and I are living in a great time. But in my reading and in my meditations I have been tremendously interested in what fifty-nine nations of this earth are now doing about these great principles of which we speak. When they first met in San Francisco, they said, 'No, we cannot have vocal prayers. Here is the Confucianist, here is the Buddhist, here is the Jew, here is the Christian. We must have no certain prayers.' They started about their business, and soon they found that something greater ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Except the Lord Build the House"
Elder Oscar A. Kirkham
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a story of a Hawaiian woman who collected a significant donation from a Chinese friend for the building of a temple, highlighting the friend's generosity and belief in the blessings of giving.
I walked down the street of a small village in Maui one day with a Hawaiian woman, one of the presidency of the Relief Society. As we walked along, she said, 'You see that building over there? Well, I have a very dear friend, a Chinese woman, who lives there. I went to visit her when we were building the temple at Laie. I asked her if she would like to contribute to the building of the temple. And although not a member of the Church, she said, 'Oh, yes, I believe in temples; I'd love to assist.' ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Except Ye Repent..."
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a family feud over an inheritance that led to a divided family at a funeral, illustrating the need for repentance and forgiveness.
I saw one family split wide apart, half of the brothers and sisters on one side, and half on the other, in a most disgraceful feud. At the funeral half of them sat on one side of the aisle and half on the other. They would not speak to each other. The property involved was worth only a few thousand dollars, and yet they are avowed enemies.
Forgiveness
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"Except Ye Repent..."
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker tells of a woman who was critical of her stake president and had committed adultery herself, highlighting the hypocrisy of judging others while being guilty of greater sins.
I met a woman once, demanding and critical. She accused her stake president of harshness and would have displaced him if she could. She had committed adultery, and yet with her comparative debt of 600,000 pence she had the temerity to criticize her leader with a hundred pence debt.
Forgiveness
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"Except Ye Repent..."
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the condemnation of the Pharisees by Jesus for honoring past prophets while rejecting living ones, and relates it to the importance of listening to the living prophet of the Church.
When the prophet on Friday morning opened this glorious conference and bore his testimony to this world, I wonder if it affected all of you as it did me. My mind went back to the twenty-third chapter of Matthew where the Lord Jesus Christ was speaking to people who disregarded the solemn and sacred things that were there for their acceptance. In words condemnatory he said:
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets and garnish the sepulchres of th ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Except Ye Repent..."
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker describes the ancient Apostles' failure to forgive one another, which led to their affliction and chastening, emphasizing the importance of forgiveness.
Even the ancient Apostles suffered on this account: "My disciples, in days of old, sought occasion against one another and forgave not one another in their hearts; and for this evil they were afflicted and sorely chastened.
"Wherefore I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin"D&C 64:8-9
Forgiveness
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"Except Ye Repent..."
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares the story of the unmerciful servant from the Bible to illustrate the gravity of being unforgiving, even after having been forgiven a great debt oneself.
Another impressive example of unholy judging comes to us in the Lord's parable of the unmerciful servant who owed to his lord ten thousand talents but being unable to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant fell down and begged for a moratorium, and when the compassionate lord had loosed him and forgiven his debt, this conscienceless person straightway found one of his fellowservants who owed him an hundred pence ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Except Ye Repent..."
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts the story of Stephen, who forgave his accusers as they stoned him to death, and Joseph Smith, who moved to his death with a spirit of forgiveness.
Remember that we must forgive even if our offender did not repent and ask forgiveness. Stephen yet in his young life had mastered this principle. His accusers, unable to find anything against him other than fancied blasphemy, stoned him to death. Not waiting for them to repent, Stephen displayed his saintliness by using his last breath to forgive them saying: "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge"Acts 7:60They had taken his very life, and yet he forgave them. The Prophet Joseph moved to his ce ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Except Ye Repent..."
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker cites the example of Jesus forgiving his crucifiers without waiting for them to repent, demonstrating the highest form of forgiveness.
The Lord Jesus also gave to us the lesson. Before they asked forgiveness, before they repented, while they were still in their murderous passion, he found it in his heart to forgive them and to ask his Father to ". . . forgive them; for they know not what they do"Luke 23:34He did not wait till his crucifiers, the high priests, scribes, elders, and Pharisees, should have a change of heart, but forgave them while they were yet covered with his life's blood.
Forgiveness
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"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ"
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts how one of his teenage daughters claimed to be in love with eight boys, some of whom she had never dated or met, and how her list changed rapidly, leading to the realization that she was just in love with the idea of love.
A personal experience illustrates that point. Sister Oaks and I are the parents of six, including four daughters. Our youngest daughter is still in her teens. As parents, we have learned a lot about teenage girls. I remember when one of our teenage daughters announced that she was in love with eight boys. She produced a list of their names. I made silent note of the fact that she had never even dated some of these boys, and one of them she had never even met. Within a few weeks she dropped sever ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ"
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Elder John H. Groberg learns an important lesson about the nature of prayer and faith when an older man on a sailboat in the Tongan islands advises him to pray for a good wind rather than a tail wind, considering the needs of others.
The conviction that the Lord knows more than we do and that he will answer our prayers in the way that is best for us and for all of his other children is a vital ingredient of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This important reality is beautifully described in an experience recorded in Elder John H. Groberg"™s recent book,In the Eye of the Storm.He describes a lesson he learned as a young missionary traveling on a sailboat in the Tongan islands.
"We would always pray for protection, success, an ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ"
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Elder Heber J. Grant prays for his dying wife, feeling he lacks the strength to have her die and affect his children's faith. His twelve-year-old daughter receives a divine assurance that her mother's death is the will of the Lord.
I read of a young woman who exercised that kind of faith and trust. For many months her mother had been seriously ill. Finally, the faithful father called the children to her bedside and told them to say good-bye to their mother because she was dying. The twelve-year-old daughter protested:
"Papa, I do not want my mamma to die. I have been with her in the hospital "¦ for six months; time and time again "¦ you have administered to her, and she has been relieved of her pain and quietly gone to s ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Fear Not to Do Good"
President Gordon B. Hinckley
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts how President Spencer W. Kimball and President Romney were unable to address the congregation, leading to a humorous remark by President Romney about leaving the responsibility to the 'kids'.
My brethren and sisters, ordinarily President Spencer W. Kimball would be occupying this position. I am satisfied that many of you were seriously disappointed that you have not had the opportunity of seeing him or hearing from him on this occasion. As I indicated yesterday morning, he is showing the effects of his advanced age and the rigorous life which he has lived. However, he rises each day and dresses, and we consult with him frequently. If President Kimball could not be here, President Rom ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Fear Not to Do Good"
President Gordon B. Hinckley
- Second Counselor in the First Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a story about a luncheon with the emperor of Japan in San Francisco, where a gentleman commented on the remarkable integration and lack of culture shock experienced by Mormon families moving to Japan.
When the emperor of Japan was in the United States some few years ago, I attended a luncheon for him in San Francisco. We sat at a table with three other couples who had had extensive experience in Japan and who had resided there at one time or another while working in government, business, or educational employment. One of the gentlemen said to me, "I have never seen anything like your people. We had many Americans come to Japan while we were there, and most of them experienced a severe cultura ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Fear Not: For They That Be with Us Are More"
Sharon G. Larsen
- Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a time when Elisha the prophet reassured his worried companion, who was outnumbered by the Syrian army, by saying that those with them (on the Lord's side) are more than those against them.
Elisha the prophet was surrounded by the whole Syrian army determined to kill him. He reassured his worried and only companion, who was busy counting Syrian heads, that when we are on the Lord"™s side, regardless of numbers or worldly power, we are in the majority. I testify that the consoling words of Elisha to his young friend are still true today: "They that be with us are more than they that be with them"2 Kgs. 6:16The Lord will surround and protect our young people with chariots of fire ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Fear Not: For They That Be with Us Are More"
Sharon G. Larsen
- Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a personal story of farming with her dad and how they would talk about anything during lunch, creating a safe space for her to ask questions and understand her father's concerns and love.
I used to farm with my dad. I didn"™t always enjoy it, but when lunchtime came we"™d sit in the shade of the tall poplar trees, eat our lunch, and talk. My dad didn"™t use this as a golden teaching moment to lay down the law and straighten out his daughter. We just talked"”about anything and everything. This was the time I could ask questions. I felt so safe I could even ask questions that might provoke him. I remember asking him, "Why did you embarrass me in front of my friends last wee ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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