"Feed My Sheep"
Elder David B. Haight
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The Fossums describe their dedication to their mission, including waking up early for bus rides and starting a music class, which led to the development of a new chorister in one of the branches.
To show what can be accomplished with such love and dedication, let me share with you again the words of the Fossums. They said, "To visit one of our branches we get up at 4:00A.M.on Sunday to catch an early bus. Sister Fossum started a little music class with the sisters during the priesthood hour. She taught the basics of directing music and discovered a thirteen-year-old girl with a perfect sense of time, who now leads the singing in sacrament meeting. Now that branch has a chorister." Brot ... (continued)
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"Feed My Sheep"
Elder Richard P. Lindsay
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the impact of receiving a congratulatory letter from the Presiding Bishopric as a young deacons quorum president, praising their attendance records.
Some years later in 1940 as a ward deacons quorum president, I received a letter from the Presiding Bishopric of the Church, signed by LeGrand Richards, Marvin O. Ashton, and Joseph L. Wirthlin. This letter said in part, "The Presiding Bishopric of the Church extends to the Presidency of the Taylorsville Ward deacons quorum congratulations and best wishes on achieving more than 90% attendance in priesthood and sacrament meeting for the year 1939." Can you imagine, brethren, the impact of this ... (continued)
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"Feed My Sheep"
Elder Richard P. Lindsay
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts the teachings and influence of a deacons quorum adviser who emphasized living by the Word of Wisdom, serving the Lord, and caring for each other.
As we sat each Sunday morning in the dimly lit basement room of a nineteenth-century-built chapel, this great deacons quorum adviser poured out his heart to his young flock of eager youth. With pure love and plain words he told us of the folly of using harmful substances revealed by the Lord in the Word of Wisdom. He emphasized the need for us to be clean in body and mind in our personal lives and to be worthy to serve the Lord in the mission field. I remember that at appropriate times, with tea ... (continued)
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"Feed My Sheep"
Elder Richard P. Lindsay
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker describes how the deacons quorum reached out to less-active members by bringing priesthood lessons and fellowship to their homes, and how these members later served in significant Church positions.
When one member of our quorum from a less-active family suffered a prolonged illness and could not attend priesthood meetings, we would go to his home, and he would there receive the weekly priesthood lesson and the fellowship of quorum members. When another less-active member, whose single parent was not a member of the Church failed to attend, priesthood sessions were held in his home as well. Both of these young men in more recent years have blessed countless Church members as they have been ... (continued)
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"Feed My Sheep"
Elder Richard P. Lindsay
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a personal story with his grandchildren about his son's experience with the death of two lambs, emphasizing the importance of being present and responsive to those in our care.
Since recently returning from a three-year Church assignment in Africa and becoming reacquainted with our twenty-three grandchildren, Sister Lindsay and I have often been requested on such visits to tell these grandchildren a bedtime story that is, first, true; second, exciting; and third, one they have never heard before. All you grandpas here tonight can understand the challenge which such a request represents. One such true story did come to my mind, however, as we visited recently in the hom ... (continued)
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"Feed My Sheep"
Elder Ben B. Banks
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
During a mission tour in New Zealand, the speaker encountered a lost baby lamb on the road, which the bus driver later returned to its mother in a meadow.
Several years ago my wife, Susan, and I had the opportunity to tour the New Zealand Christchurch Mission with President and Sister Melvin Tagg. President Tagg suggested as part of the mission tour we include a preparation day and take a bus trip to see the beautiful Milford Sound. Part of the trip involved stopping at several beautiful scenic sites along the way. At one of those stops, as we walked back to the bus, I became curious about a group of passengers standing in a circle on the road tak ... (continued)
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"Feed My Sheep"
Elder Ben B. Banks
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a story about a six-year-old boy who got lost in a supermarket and called out specifically for his mother, Martha, to find her among many other mothers.
The story is told of "the six-year-old who got lost from his mother in a large supermarket [and] began to call frantically, "˜Martha, Martha."™ When the mother was found and they were reunited, she said, "˜Honey, you should not call me Martha; I am "Mother" to you,"™ to which the little fellow rejoined, "˜Yes, I know, but the store was full of mothers and I wanted mine"™" (Spencer W. Kimball,Faith Precedes the Miracle[1972], 117).
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"Feed My Sheep"
Elder Ned B. Roueché
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts his time as a young missionary in Mexico, where he helped a less-active member ordained as a deacon to return to church, become properly prepared for his priesthood duties, and change his life.
When I was a young missionary serving in Mexico, I was called to serve as branch president in a small town in the state of Veracruz. When my companion and I were reviewing the membership records of our little branch, we found the record of a brother who had been ordained a deacon but had not been attending the meetings.
We arranged to make a visit with him. While visiting him, we invited him to come to the meetings and serve in his priesthood responsibilities. The following Sunday he came but wa ... (continued)
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"Feed My Sheep"
Elder Ulisses Soares
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The Savior ministered to Jairus's daughter, who was dying, by going to his house and raising her from the dead, demonstrating patience and love.
As we study the scriptures, we notice that the Savior ministered to people according to their specific needs. A good example of this occurred when He was near Capernaum, and Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, fell down at Jesus"™s feet and pleaded with the Lord to come into his house and bless his daughter, who was dying. Jesus went with Jairus even though the crowd made it difficult for Him to move fast.
And then a messenger came telling Jairus his daughter was already dead. Even grieving as h ... (continued)
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"Feed My Sheep"
Elder Ulisses Soares
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a personal story about how his bishop prepared him for missionary service, showing care and providing guidance over several years.
As I was about to have my 12th birthday, my bishop invited me for an interview and taught me how to prepare to receive the Aaronic Priesthood and be ordained a deacon. As the interview was coming to an end, he pulled out a set of forms from his desk and challenged me to fill them out. They were mission call papers. I was astonished. After all, I was only 11. But that bishop had a vision of the future and of the blessings that would be mine if I prepared properly to serve a mission when my time c ... (continued)
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"Finishers Wanted"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on a sign in a furniture store window that reads 'Finishers Wanted,' which prompts him to consider the importance of being a finisher in life and business.
One Wednesday I paused before the elegant show window of a prestigious furniture store. That which caught and held my attention was not the beautifully designed sofa nor the comfortable-appearing chair that stood at its side. Neither was it the beautiful chandelier positioned overhead. Rather, my eyes rested upon a small sign that had been placed at the bottom right-hand corner of the window. Its message was brief: "Finishers Wanted."
The store had need of those persons who possessed the talen ... (continued)
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"Finishers Wanted"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
King David started his reign well but faltered due to his sins with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, failing to finish the race of life honorably.
Could the son of David have been referring to his own father? Judged by any standards, the greatest king Israel ever had was David. Anointed by Samuel, he was honored by the Lord.
In the first flush of his incredible triumphs, David rode the crest of popularity. As he achieved fresh victories, the women greeted him with a new song: ""¦ Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands."1 Sam. 18:7In adoration the people exclaimed: "Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh."2 Sam. 5:1
... (continued)
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"Finishers Wanted"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
A rich young man who kept all the commandments since his youth faltered when Jesus asked him to sell his possessions and follow Him, showing he couldn't finish the race for eternal life.
Lest we lull ourselves into thinking that only the gross sins of life cause us to falter, consider the experience of the rich young man who came running to the Savior and asked the question: "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
Jesus answered him: "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
"He saith unto him, Which?"
To Jesus"™ enumeration of the commandments, "The young man saith "¦ All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I ... (continued)
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"Finishers Wanted"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
Judas Iscariot began as an apostle but ended as a traitor, selling Jesus for silver and ultimately taking his own life, failing to finish his apostolic ministry.
So it was with Judas Iscariot. He commenced his ministry as an apostle of the Lord. He ended it a traitor. For thirty paltry pieces of silver, he sold his soul. At last, realizing the enormity of his sin, Judas, to his patrons and tempters of his crime, shrieked: "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood."Matt. 27:4
Remorse had led to despair, despair to madness, and madness to suicide. He had succeeded in betraying the Christ. He had failed to finish the apostolic ministry to ... (continued)
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"Finishers Wanted"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
Job, despite losing his possessions, being scorned by friends, and tempted by his wife, remained faithful and finished his life's race with integrity.
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright and one that feared God and eschewed evil. Pious in his conduct, prosperous in his fortune, Job was to face a test that would tempt any man.
Shorn of his possessions, scorned by his friends, afflicted by his suffering, even tempted by his wife, Job was to declare from the depths of his noble soul: ""¦ behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high."Job 16:19""¦ I know that my redeemer liveth ... (continued)
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"Finishers Wanted"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
Paul the apostle transitioned from sinner to saint, faced many trials, but finished his ministry with faith, declaring he had fought a good fight and kept the faith.
Following the earthly ministry of the Lord, there were many who, rather than deny testimony of him, would forfeit their lives. Such was Paul the apostle. The impulse of his father to send him to Jerusalem opened the door to Paul"™s destiny. He would pass through it and help to shape a new world. Gifted in his capacity to stir, move, and manage groups of men, Paul was a peerless example of one who nobly made the transition from sinner to saint. Though disappointment, heartache, and trial were t ... (continued)
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"Finishers Wanted"
Elder Thomas S. Monson
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
A missionary who struggled with reading and felt inadequate to continue his mission was inspired to finish after receiving a simplified version of the Book of Mormon suitable for his reading level.
Frequently his help comes silently"”on occasion with dramatic impact. Such was my experience of some years ago when, as a mission president, I was afforded the privilege of guiding the activities of precious young men and women, even missionaries whom he had called.
Some had problems, others required motivation; but one came to me in utter despair. He had made his decision to leave the mission field when but at the halfway mark. His bags were packed, his return ticket purchased. He came by to ... (continued)
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"Follow It!"
Elder Paul H. Dunn
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recalls a physician who performed his open heart surgery and later gave a Sunday School address that deeply touched him.
The great events of this conference have brought back to my remembrance an experience of last December. One of the physicians who attended my open heart surgery of a few months ago asked if I would participate with him on a Sunday School program. I followed him at the pulpit. He gave a tremendous address. As he took his seat, I felt prompted to say, because I felt it, "Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that this man has touched my heart very deeply."
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"Follow It!"
Elder Paul H. Dunn
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a lesson from a wise teacher about being strong and creating one's own path, and a reminder from his father about the importance of a good name.
I remember a great, wise teacher who said, "Paul, always keep in mind that a strong man and a waterfall always channel their own paths." And I remember a dad who said, "I gave you a great name; remember, a good name is better than a girdle of gold."
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"Follow It!"
Elder Paul H. Dunn
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reminisces about his first bishop, a man of great faith, who taught him an important verse about listening to one's conscience.
My mind goes back just a week ago when I was privileged to attend a stake conference in Oregon. Lo and behold, in the audience was my very first bishop, a man of great faith and capacity. (I had never known a bishop until I was fifteen years old and had moved to Hollywood, California.) He stood over six feet tall, weighing well over 200 pounds, with a heart to match"”and he has never let go since. I remember under his tutelage memorizing this little verse: "Remember, Paul," he said, "there i ... (continued)
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