"Follow It!"
Elder Paul H. Dunn
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts an experience with a sports idol who used inappropriate language in a speech, and how he confronted him about it, inspired by the example of a prophet.
Like many of you, I am frequently before those who are not of our faith, and the challenge is great and wonderful. Not long ago I was given a little honor before a great group of non-Latter-day Saint athletes. In the proceedings of the convention, one of my great idols, a Hall of Famer, was to take the rostrum and speak to us. Being the great athlete that he was, respected by many, I was shocked to hear his language as he repeatedly took the name of the Lord in vain. As I sat there, I wondered, ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Follow It!"
Elder Paul H. Dunn
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker tells the story of how his high school coach taught him the importance of commitment and principles through a baseball team contract and a tough decision during a championship game.
I thought of another great man in my life"”a coach who has affected my life for eternity. I am pleased to announce that he and I are engaged together in learning more fully the gospel of Jesus Christ in a missionary effort. I will never forget the day I walked into his office, scared to death as fifteen-year-olds are, trying to sign up for a varsity team. I stood outside his door for the better part of five minutes; and then, when I got the courage, I knocked timidly. The voice said, "Come in! ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"Follow Me"
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A rich young man was unable to follow Jesus because he couldn't leave his net of wealth, despite having obeyed all commandments from his youth.
Later, the net of wealth entrapped a rich young man who claimed that he had obeyed all the commandments from his youth. When he asked the Savior what else he should do to have eternal life, the Master said, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." When the young man heard that, "he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."3Matt. 19:21"“22
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"Follow Me"
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Peter, Andrew, James, and John, prosperous fishermen, immediately left their nets and livelihood to follow Jesus when He called them.
They were fishermen before they heard the call. Casting their nets into the Sea of Galilee, Peter and Andrew stopped as Jesus of Nazareth approached, looked into their eyes, and spoke the simple words, "Follow me." Matthew writes that the two fishermen "straightway left their nets, and followed him." Then the Son of Man approached two other fishermen who were in a ship with their father, mending their nets. Jesus called to them, "and [James and John] immediately left the ship and their fathe ... (continued)
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"Follow Me"
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a personal story of balancing a demanding job, church service, and family life, finding strength in choosing to follow the Savior.
We can easily get our lives out of balance. I remember a few years that were particularly challenging for me. Our family had grown to seven children. I had served as a counselor in the bishopric and was then given the sacred call as bishop of our ward. I was striving to manage our business that required long hours each day. I pay tribute to my wonderful wife, who always made it possible for me to serve the Lord. There was simply too much to do in the time available. Instead of sacrificing things ... (continued)
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"Follow Me"
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A young woman faced ostracism from her family for choosing to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but she remained steadfast in her faith.
I have had the opportunity to speak with a woman who heard the call of the Savior when she was 18. Her father, who was a high official in another church, became angry with her and forbade her from being baptized. He let her know that if she became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she would be ostracized from the family. Even though the sacrifice was great, this young woman heeded the call of the Savior and entered the waters of baptism. Her father could not accept her ... (continued)
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"For a Bishop Must Be Blameless"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recalls being part of a committee reviewing changes in bishops and feeling concerned about the number of bishops recommended for release due to health, family, or employment issues.
Some years ago I was assigned to a committee responsible for reviewing all changes in bishops. We would bring forward our recommendations for consideration at a meeting in the temple attended by the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve. I became alarmed at the number of bishops recommended for release because of health reasons, family difficulties, or employment problems. Even though the number was not large as a percentage of the total, I felt any number was too high because these gre ... (continued)
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"For a Bishop Must Be Blameless"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a personal story of his deep sorrow when leaving a bishopric due to an employment opportunity, and the touching farewell from his fellow bishopric members who stayed up all night to say goodbye.
When I was six months old, my father was called to be the bishop of our ward. He served until after my eighteenth birthday. Within a few years of my marriage, I was called into a bishopric. I soon discovered the love which is generated within a bishopric as they serve together. An employment opportunity came to me after about three years of service, and it seemed appropriate that I accept it. It was with deep sorrow that I left the association of this bishopric. On our final night in the communi ... (continued)
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"For a Bishop Must Be Blameless"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a humorous exchange during an interview with a General Authority, where he and his bishop jokingly accused each other of minor faults to avoid being called into a new stake presidency, but the strategy failed.
Some years later I was called to serve in another bishopric. Again this love developed as we had opportunity to meet so often to direct the affairs of the ward. A little over a year later, a change was to be made in our stake presidency. The bishop and I were called in to be interviewed by the General Authority who was making the change. The first question the General Authority asked was, "How do you get along with your bishop? Is he a good leader?" Then I started to express in glowing terms m ... (continued)
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"For a Bishop Must Be Blameless"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a touching memory of his father, who was a bishop, shedding tears when announcing his release from the calling, teaching the family the joy of Church service.
I learned a great lesson the night before my father was released as a bishop. It was the first time I had really ever seen my father shed tears. He called the family together to announce that his term of service as a bishop was over. Then, with tears streaming down his face, he told us how he would miss the calling, even though it had been a burden at times and had occupied a great deal of time. He taught us a real-life lesson of the true joy of Church service. It was not until then that I fully ... (continued)
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"For I Will Lead You Along"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts how some Christian believers have prematurely expected the Second Coming by focusing on a few prophecies and neglecting others, and warns against both smugness and complacency.
Brothers and sisters, over the sweep of Christian history, some believers have, by focusing on a few prophecies while neglecting others, prematurely expected the Second Coming. Today, while we are obviously closer to that great moment, we are in the same danger.
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"For I Will Lead You Along"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker tells of the conditions in Lot's day, marked by gross wickedness and oppressive behavior, and the neglect of the poor.
Those in Lot"™s day ate, drank, bought, sold, planted, and builded amid gross wickednessLuke 17:28vexing Lot with their "filthy conversation," or, as it says in the Greek, they "oppressed [him] by [their] outrageous behavior"2 Pet. 2:7In their grossness, there was also gross neglect of the poor (seeEzek. 16:49
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"For I Will Lead You Along"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares a prophecy from President Brigham Young, who foresaw the Church spreading and growing, but also the rise of Satan's power in proportion to the spread of the Gospel.
This "great division" is what President Brigham Young also saw, saying: "It was revealed to me in the commencement of this Church, that the Church would spread, prosper, grow and extend, and that in proportion to the spread of the Gospel among the nations of the earth, so would the power of Satan rise" (inJournal of Discourses,13:280).
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"For I Will Lead You Along"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the assurance given to the Prophet Joseph Smith that those who seek to destroy him will be confounded, and the righteous need not fear.
In 1836, the Prophet Joseph pled with the Lord "to confound, and astonish, and to bring to shame and confusion, all those who have spread lying reports abroad, over the world"D&C 109:29As a people, we were so blessed recently, and we will be again.
Forgiveness
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"For I Will Lead You Along"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker expresses gratitude to the Savior for bearing the weight of humanity's sins, including his own, during the Atonement in Gethsemane and on Calvary.
I thank the Savior personally for bearing all which I added to his hemorrhaging at every pore for all of humanity in Gethsemane. I thank Him for bearing what I added to the decibels of His piercing soul-cry atop Calvary [seeMatt. 27:46,50in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Forgiveness
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"For I Will Lead You Along"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker references the biblical story of Noah's time, describing it as a period of disobedience, wickedness, and ignorance to Noah's prophetic message, with the people being unaware until the flood came.
We are told, by way of example, that some conditions preceding the second coming of the Savior will be as in the days of Noah (seeMatt. 24:37"“39and "also as it was in the days of Lot"Luke 17:28Noah"™s time was one of disobedience and wickedness. People were uncomprehending and "knew not until the flood came"Matt. 24:39see alsoGen. 6:51 Pet. 3:20The choking cares and pleasures of this life led to the general rejection of Noah"™s prophetic message. Two especially interesting words are u ... (continued)
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"For Man Is Spirit"
Elder Marion D. Hanks
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A young man who lost his father early in life asks an elderly doctor, a friend of his father, what kind of man his father was. The doctor turns the question around, asking what kind of father the young man would choose to be for his own children, leading to the young man's realization of his responsibility in shaping his future family.
There is a story in point which I thought of as I read last night. A young man who had lost his father in his earliest years went to an elderly medical man who had been a close friend of his father and asked the doctor what kind of man his father had been. The old doctor answered the question with a question: "Suppose you could have chosen your father"”that is, what kind of man he would be"”what would your choice have been?"
The young man replied that he would have chosen one who was courage ... (continued)
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"For Such a Time as This"
Mary Ellen Smoot
- Relief Society General President
📅 0
📖 general conference
Esther, an orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, becomes queen and risks her life to save her people from Haman's plot, ultimately succeeding and saving the Jewish nation.
In the Old Testament we read about Esther and Mordecai, who worked for King Ahasuerus. Mordecai took in Esther as his own daughter after her parents passed away. He brought her to the palace. Esther pleased the king, and he made her his queen (seeEsth. 2:17 Meanwhile, Haman, a leader in the king"™s court, became angry with Mordecai because he would not pay obeisance to Haman. Therefore, Haman plotted to destroy Mordecai and all the Jews. Realizing the grave danger which loomed over his people, ... (continued)
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"For Such a Time as This"
Mary Ellen Smoot
- Relief Society General President
📅 0
📖 general conference
A Relief Society sister in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with faith and determination, sets a goal for her husband's baptism and her sons' reactivation in the Church, which is miraculously achieved.
I would like to illustrate the fulfillment of President Packer"™s promise in the life of a Relief Society sister in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This sister was faithful. She joined the Church 18 years ago and believed with all of her heart that she could have a family united in the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, her husband was not prepared to make the necessary lifestyle changes. He supported her decision but would not join. She had two sons who were being influenced by the decisions of her h ... (continued)
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"For Such a Time as This"
Mary Ellen Smoot
- Relief Society General President
📅 0
📖 general conference
A woman survives a near-fatal car accident and pleads with God to live long enough to see her daughters married in the temple, a promise that is fulfilled before she passes away from cancer.
Years ago, a faithful father and mother were traveling with three of their six daughters from Utah to Washington. About 13 miles out of Baker, Oregon, the car spun out of control, left the road, and rolled two and a half times. The second time it rolled over, the mother, who was driving, and her youngest daughter, who was 10 years old, were thrown from the car. Because the car did not have enough momentum to complete the third roll, it rocked back and pinned the mother and her daughter beneath i ... (continued)
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