"I Did Not Reach This Place By Myself"
Elder Ronald E. Poelman
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker compares their unexpected calling to a high position to a little turtle found on top of a fence post, implying they did not get there on their own but with help from others.
I accept this calling with faith and hope. Like the little turtle who found himself on the top of a fence post, I know that I did not reach this place by myself.
Forgiveness
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"I Did Not Reach This Place By Myself"
Elder Ronald E. Poelman
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a spiritual experience from nearly thirty years ago where they received confirmation through the Holy Spirit that Jesus is the Savior, leading to a series of other spiritual convictions.
Nearly thirty years ago, in response to my earnest study and fervent prayer, the Holy Spirit confirmed to me the fact that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of each individual soul. From that conviction, and by that same Spirit, has followed the knowledge that his gospel is eternally true, that it has been restored to the earth, that the scriptures"”which I love"”including the Book of Mormon, are divine records, that Joseph Smith and his successors, including Spenc ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"I Have a Work for Thee"
Elder John C. Pingree Jr.
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A young man used his artistic gifts to create religious illustrations, including a portrait of the Savior, inspiring others in their discipleship.
One young man produced illustrations to promote religious values. My favorite is a portrait of the Savior, a copy of which hangs in our home. This brother developed and used his artistic gifts. Working through him, Heavenly Father has inspired others to improve their discipleship.
Forgiveness
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"I Have a Work for Thee"
Elder John C. Pingree Jr.
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A discouraged sister was told by the Lord that her personal ministry was to 'notice others,' leading her to joyfully serve those who are often overlooked.
Sometimes we feel that we don"™t have any particularly important gifts. One day, a discouraged sister pleaded, "Lord, what is my personal ministry?" He answered, "Notice others." It was a spiritual gift! Since then, she has found joy in noticing those who are regularly forgotten, and God has worked through her to bless many.
Forgiveness
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"I Have a Work for Thee"
Elder John C. Pingree Jr.
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
After being laid off, a human resources executive started a company to help others find employment, inspired by his patriarchal blessing.
After a successful human resources executive was laid off, he read his patriarchal blessing and felt inspired to start a company to help other professionals find employment. (He even helped me find work when our family returned from serving a mission.) The Lord used his trial as a stepping-stone to bless others, while providing him with a more meaningful career.
Forgiveness
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"I Have a Work for Thee"
Elder John C. Pingree Jr.
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A couple who experienced a stillbirth channeled their grief into providing counseling and support to other parents facing similar situations.
A young couple experienced a stillbirth. With broken hearts, they decided to honor their daughter by providing counseling and material support to parents enduring similar situations. The Lord has worked through this couple because of their specialized empathy, developed through adversity.
Forgiveness
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"I Have a Work for Thee"
Elder John C. Pingree Jr.
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A man ran for public office, guided by faith, and although he didn't win, he raised important community issues.
One brother, concerned with local government decisions, felt impressed to run for public office. Despite a daunting campaign process, he exercised faith and gathered the resources to run. Ultimately, he did not win but felt the Lord gave him guidance and strength to raise issues important to the community.
Forgiveness
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"I Have a Work for Thee"
Elder John C. Pingree Jr.
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A single mother raising children with developmental disabilities found strength from the Lord to meet her family's needs.
A single mother, raising children with developmental disabilities, questioned whether she could adequately meet her family"™s needs. Though it has been difficult, she feels strengthened by the Lord to fulfill her most important mission successfully.
Forgiveness
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"I Have a Work for Thee"
Elder John C. Pingree Jr.
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Mother Teresa humbly attributed her work to God, comparing herself to a pencil in His hand.
When a reporter tried to recognize Mother Teresa for her life"™s mission to help the poor, she retorted: "It"™s [God"™s] work. I am like a "¦ pencil in his hand. "¦ He does the thinking. He does the writing. The pencil has nothing to do with it. The pencil has only to be allowed to be used."
Forgiveness
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"I Have a Work for Thee"
Elder John C. Pingree Jr.
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Girish Ghimire from Nepal helped over 1,500 refugees from Nepal settle in Utah, served as a branch president for a Nepali-speaking branch, and translated the Book of Mormon into Nepali.
Consider Girish Ghimire, who was born and raised in the country of Nepal. As a teenager, he studied in China, where a classmate introduced him to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Eventually, Girish came to Brigham Young University for graduate work and met his future wife. They settled in the Salt Lake Valley and adopted two children from Nepal.
Years later, when more than 1,500 refugees from camps in Nepal were relocated to Utah, Girish felt inspired to help. With native-language fluency and cultura ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"I Have a Work for Thee"
Elder John C. Pingree Jr.
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A family moved to a less affluent neighborhood to help those in need, and a medical professional provided free care one day a week for uninsured patients.
One family moved to a new city. Instead of finding a home in an affluent neighborhood, they felt impressed to locate to an area with considerable social and economic needs. Over the years, the Lord has worked through them to support many individuals and to build up their ward and stake.
A medical professional maintained a typical practice but felt guided to set aside one day each week to provide free care to individuals with no health insurance. Because of this man"™s and his wife"™s willing ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"I Have Gained"
Elder S. Dilworth Young
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker's increased need for physical assistance and his humorous reference to feeling like someone who is mentioned after they've died, akin to Golden Kimball's experience.
Since last Friday the number of people who stop and offer their arms as I walk or climb stairs has increased fourfold. I assure you that I am not retired; I am retreaded. There have been several times when I have looked about as my name is mentioned with affectionate tones, as did Golden Kimball, wondering who had died.
Forgiveness
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"I Have Gained"
Elder S. Dilworth Young
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on his personal growth and understanding of service through the words of President J. Reuben Clark.
Now the only limit to my personal service, which I myself originate, is my strength of body, facility of mind, and compassion of heart. I have gained a personal knowledge and understanding of the meaning of the words of President J. Reuben Clark: Not where I serve, but how.
Forgiveness
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"I Have Gained"
Elder S. Dilworth Young
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker affirms his faith in the church, his support for President Kimball and his counselors, and his love for them.
This is the church of Jesus Christ. I mean by that that it belongs to him. He restored it personally by calling Joseph Smith. I sustain President Kimball and his counselors. I do more than that: I love them more than I find words to properly express. I pray that we all may satisfy them with our work from now on, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Forgiveness
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"I Have Gained"
Elder S. Dilworth Young
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker's friend asks how he can bear his loss, to which he responds that he has gained new friends, opportunities, and the chance to serve.
A friend said to me last Friday, "How can you bear what you have lost?" I replied, "I have lost nothing. Rather I have gained." I have gained a new group of close friends and associates in a quorum which I hope will have such unity of purpose that it will be as a banner of righteousness before the world. I have gained seven leaders far beyond me in ability strength, and wisdom, which, had there not been this enlargement, I could not have had. I have gained the opportunity to serve rather tha ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"I Have Gained"
Elder S. Dilworth Young
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts his experiences with various leaders and his anticipation for his next adventure in gaining.
I have gained a chance to pause briefly and measure what I have learned in my association with the First Council over the many years as its members have done their work and passed on. I was a soldier in a war in which President Brigham H. Roberts was the chaplain of the regiment. I have listened in happy enjoyment to the wisdom as well as the humor of President J. Golden Kimball, not from the pulpit, but at home. I served for twenty-six months as the close servant of President Samuel O. Bennion. ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"I Have Gained"
Elder S. Dilworth Young
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker describes the process of change within the church leadership, expressing gratitude for being included and consulted, and witnessing the formation of the First Quorum of Seventy.
Before I close I must say that throughout the process of the changes you have witnessed, we have been kept informed and have been consulted constantly for our feelings and input by President Kimball and his counselors. This thing has not, as Paul said, been done in a corner. It is right. It is inspired. Its time has come. It could not be stayed. I sat in the temple Wednesday last and looked at the two presiding quorums, the First Presidency and the Twelve. I had borne in on me the great increase ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"I Have Gained"
Elder S. Dilworth Young
- Of the First Quorum of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker believes he has unique talents to contribute to the First Quorum and expresses his commitment to serving where President Kimball directs.
I believe there are some things yet to be done as a member of the First Quorum that only I have the talent to do. The same is true for my other colleagues who with me join this Quorum. If I can exercise that talent and perform well, I shall be satisfied. I know that what has been done by the prophet of the Lord, exercising his inspired right to organize to fit the circumstance of 1976, is right. It is my hope to continue to serve where President Kimball would have me serve. It will give me compl ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"I Have Given You an Example"
Elder Richard G. Scott
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on how his grandmother influenced his and his brother's spiritual lives by expressing the importance of baptism and regular church attendance, leading to their baptisms and continued support in their religious activities.
When I was a young child, my father was not a member of the Church and my mother had become less active. We lived in Washington, D.C., and my mother"™s parents lived 2,500 miles (4,000 km) away in the state of Washington. Some months after my eighth birthday, Grandmother Whittle came across the country to visit us. Grandmother was concerned that neither I nor my older brother had been baptized. I don"™t know what she said to my parents about this, but I do know that one morning she took my b ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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"I Have Given You an Example"
Elder Richard G. Scott
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares how his future wife, Jeanene, influenced his decision to serve a mission by stating her intention to marry a faithful returned missionary, leading him to serve a mission and later marry her in the temple.
Later, as I was about to graduate from the university, I fell in love with a beautiful young woman named Jeanene Watkins. I thought she was beginning to have some deep feelings for me also. One night when we were talking about the future, she carefully wove into the discussion a statement that changed my life forever. She said, "When I marry, it will be to a faithful returned missionary in the temple."
I hadn"™t thought much about a mission before then. That night my motivation to consider m ... (continued)
Forgiveness
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