"If Thou Endure It Well"
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The father of the prodigal son endures his son's misconduct without bitterness and welcomes him back with love.
When I think of the Savior’s admonition to do cheerfully all things that lie in our power, I think of the father of the prodigal son. The father was heartbroken by the loss and conduct of his wayward son. Yet we have no mention of his lamenting, 'Where did I go wrong?' 'What have I done to deserve this?' Or, 'Where did I fail?' Instead he seemed to have endured without bitterness his son’s misconduct and welcomed him back with love. 'For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he ... (continued)
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"If Thou Endure It Well"
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A young woman named Diane, a former gymnast, becomes paralyzed but continues her life with determination, graduating from college and becoming a teacher.
Let me take a few minutes to tell you about a beautiful young lady of whom we are all very proud. I will identify her as Diane because that is her real name. Diane was captain of the University of Utah’s first national women’s championship gymnastics team. In Miami, Florida, for the first-ever American professional tour, she over-rotated on a practice vault, landed on her neck, and damaged her spinal cord. Her slender, delicate body, which had endured hundreds of hours of demanding ... (continued)
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"If Thou Wilt Be Perfect"
Elder Eldred G. Smith
- Patriarch to the Church
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a dispute between a stake board member and a ward officer over the roles their daughters were given in a roadshow, highlighting the issue of pride and self-righteousness.
There was a discussion recently between a member of a stake board and a ward officer over a roadshow that had just been presented. The stake officer was highly indignant because the daughter of the ward leader had a speaking part while her own daughter was only in the chorus.
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"If Thou Wilt Be Perfect"
Elder Eldred G. Smith
- Patriarch to the Church
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker refers to a film shown at a priesthood meeting that illustrated the difficulty of repentance and the mindset of individuals who feel they cannot achieve exaltation due to past mistakes.
The film we saw at the priesthood meeting the other night was a good example which shows that there are many of these people. I have heard some say that they have been told that because of their past acts they cannot receive the blessings of exaltation anyway, even if they went to the temple, so why try?
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"If Thou Wilt Be Perfect"
Elder Eldred G. Smith
- Patriarch to the Church
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker draws a parallel between the attendees seeking spiritual guidance and the story of a young man who asked Jesus how to achieve eternal life but turned away when asked to give up his wealth.
In my mind I see a parallel in these gatherings to the young man who asked the Savior, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments He saith unto him, Which? Jesus enumerated a number of things to do and he answered, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, g ... (continued)
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"If Thou Wilt Be Perfect"
Elder Eldred G. Smith
- Patriarch to the Church
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker tells of the Savior preaching repentance to the more righteous survivors of the great destruction at the time of his crucifixion, as recorded in the Book of Mormon.
Let us not be so self-righteous that we think that we have no need repentance, for the Savior himself preached repentance to the more righteous who were spared from the great destruction at the time of his crucifixion. At that time, on this hemisphere there was darkness for three days and great destruction; many cities and all their inhabitants were destroyed. Then the voice of the Lord was heard declaring that the more wicked had been destroyed, and the more righteous had been saved. To the r ... (continued)
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"If Thou Wilt Enter into Life, Keep the Commandments"
Elder Robert D. Hales
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The Prophet Joseph Smith faced his challenges without wavering, fulfilling the Lord's commandments even as he went 'like a lamb to the slaughter'.
The Prophet Joseph Smith went "like a lamb to the slaughter"D&C 135:4never wavering as he fulfilled the Lord"™s commandments.
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"If Thou Wilt Enter into Life, Keep the Commandments"
Elder Robert D. Hales
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Jesus Christ lived a life of compassion, performed miracles, and completed His divine mission through the atoning sacrifice, showing obedience to His Father's commandments until the end.
And think of our Savior"™s example. He taught us how to live by the way He lived. Think of His tender compassion as He worked miracles and as He cared for the poor and the afflicted. He humbly chose to be obedient to His Father"™s commandments"”and He endured to the end, fulfilling His divine mission and completing the atoning sacrifice for all mankind.
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"If Thou Wilt Enter into Life, Keep the Commandments"
Elder Robert D. Hales
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Abinadi, a prophet, preached repentance to a wicked people and their king, risking his life. King Noah ordered his execution, but Abinadi stood firm, delivered his message, and was eventually put to death by fire for not denying God's commandments.
The Savior said, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments"Matt. 19:17I would like to tell you a story, brethren"”a true story about a man named Abinadi. Abinadi was a prophet who preached repentance to a wicked people and a wicked king. He preached boldly and courageously, knowing that he was putting his own life in jeopardy because of his words.
Wicked King Noah angrily ordered his priests to kill Abinadi. King Noah said, "Away with this fellow, and slay him; "¦ for he is mad." ... (continued)
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"If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Lehi's dream about the tree of life represents the love of God and the word of God as a rod of iron leading to it, but also shows the temptations and mocking from the great and spacious building that lead people astray.
Lehi had a marvelous dream while he journeyed with his family into the wilderness. This dream or vision of the tree of life, symbolically presented, provides us with much knowledge about life and the course we should follow. The scriptures record:
"And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.
"And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I behe ... (continued)
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"If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
President Spencer W. Kimball emphasized the importance of preparedness and being actively engaged in a positive program of preparation, rather than just avoiding evil.
President Spencer W. Kimball admonished us:
"In reviewing the Lord"™s counsel to us on the importance of preparedness, I am impressed with the plainness of the message. The Savior made it clear that we cannot place sufficient oil in our preparedness lamps by simply avoiding evil. We must also be anxiously engaged in a positive program of preparation."
He also said: "The Lord will not translate one"™s good hopes and desires and intentions into works. Each of us must do that for himself" ( ... (continued)
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"If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the modern temptations of materialism and the financial burdens that come with seeking instant gratification through debt.
It is this part of Lehi"™s dream I would like to comment on today. The current cries we hear coming from the great and spacious building tempt us to compete for ownership in the things of this world1 Ne. 11:36We think we need a larger home, with a three-car garage, a recreational vehicle parked next to it. We long for designer clothes, extra TV sets, all with VCRs, the latest model computers, and the newest car. Often these items are purchased with borrowed money, without giving any thought to ... (continued)
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"If Ye Be Willing and Obedient"
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the importance of duty while standing before the statue of Lord Nelson in Trafalgar Square, London, and recalls Nelson's words and sacrifice during the Battle of Trafalgar.
Recently I stood in Trafalgar Square in London and looked up at the statue of Lord Nelson. At the base of the column are his words uttered on the morning of the Battle of Trafalgar: "England expects that every man will do his duty." Lord Nelson was killed on that historic day in 1805, as were many others; but England was saved as a nation, and Britain became an empire.
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"If Ye Be Willing and Obedient"
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
President Harold B. Lee had a similar experience to the previous story, where his mission field in the Western States led to the development of his great qualities.
I think I should add that a man who sits here behind me, President Harold B. Lee, went to the same field, under similar circumstances, and out of that obedience came some of those great and marvelous qualities which we have witnessed in his life, and for which we dearly love him.
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"If Ye Be Willing and Obedient"
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a personal memory of being inspired by President Heber J. Grant's recitation of Nephi's commitment to obey the Lord's commandments.
I recall sitting in this Tabernacle when I was fourteen or fifteen"”up in the balcony right behind the clock"”and hearing President Heber J. Grant tell of his experience in reading the Book of Mormon when he was a boy. He spoke of Nephi and of the great influence he had upon his life. And then, with a voice ringing with a conviction that I shall never forget, he quoted those great words of Nephi: "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no c ... (continued)
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"If Ye Be Willing and Obedient"
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker tells the story of Commander William Robert Anderson, who carried a card in his wallet with words of faith and obedience as he accomplished a dangerous submarine voyage beneath polar ice.
What marvelous things happen when men walk with faith in obedience to that which is required of them! I recently read the interesting story of Commander William Robert Anderson, the naval officer who took the submarine Nautilus beneath the polar ice from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, a daring and dangerous feat. It recounted a number of other exploits of similar danger. It concluded with a statement that he carried in his wallet a tattered card that had on it these words, which I comm ... (continued)
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"If Ye Be Willing and Obedient"
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker draws inspiration from the story of the boy Samuel in the National Art Gallery of Britain and his obedience to God's voice, which led Samuel to become a great prophet.
Facing Trafalgar Square in London is the National Art Gallery of Britain, in which hangs Sir Joshua Reynolds"™ painting of the boy Samuel, who as a child heard a voice and replied, "Speak; for thy servant heareth."1 Sam. 3:10
From that day Samuel walked in obedience to the commandments of God and became the great prophet of Israel. He it was who selected and ordained both King Saul and King David. And it was to Saul that he declared in a rebuke that has rung down through the ages, ""¦ to ob ... (continued)
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"If Ye Be Willing and Obedient"
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker admires the simple and unquestioning obedience of the Prophet Elijah to the Lord's command to hide by the brook Cherith, which saved him from calamity.
I draw strength from a simple statement made concerning the Prophet Elijah, who warned King Ahab of drought and famine to come upon the land. But Ahab scoffed. And the Lord told Elijah to go and hide himself by the brook Cherith, that there he should drink of the brook, and that he would be fed by the ravens. [See1 Kgs. 17:1"“4And the scripture records a simple and wonderful statement: "So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord."1 Kgs. 17:5
There was no arguing. There was no exc ... (continued)
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"If Ye Be Willing and Obedient"
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker empathizes with Moses' feelings of inadequacy when called by Jehovah to lead Israel out of Egypt, and how the Lord reassured Moses of His support.
It is not always easy to be obedient to the voice of the Lord. We may feel inadequate. I frequently draw comfort from the conversation Moses had with Jehovah, who called him to lead Israel out of Egypt. Moses was a fugitive and a herder of sheep. How totally inadequate he must have felt!
"And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent "¦ but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." (And then I can almost hear him say, "Please don"™t ask me.")
"And the Lord said unto him, Wh ... (continued)
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"If Ye Be Willing and Obedient"
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
- Of the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
Heber C. Kimball overcame his self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy to fulfill his missionary call to England, which led to a successful establishment of the Church there.
In 1837, when the Church was struggling in Kirtland, Ohio, the Prophet Joseph Smith called Heber C. Kimball to go to England to open the work there. Brother Kimball exclaimed in self-humiliation: "O, Lord, I am a man of stammering tongue, and altogether unfit for such a work; how can I go to preach in that land, which is so famed throughout Christendom for learning, knowledge and piety "¦ and to a people whose intelligence is proverbial!"
But then on reflection he added: "However, all these c ... (continued)
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