"Our Father Which Art in Heaven"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a visit to a stake conference where a dedicated stake president was released after many years of service, which led to a family reunion filled with love and gratitude.
Let me tell you about one of my recent experiences. I was assigned to a stake conference to release the stake president, who had served for many, many years. It was a difficult stake to administer. The stake had been losing population. It was located near one of our major city centers. Industry had moved in. With the growth of industry, many of the members had moved out to the more suburban areas. Because of his assignment, he had stayed in the area to shepherd the flock. He had not found it to ... (continued)
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"Out of Obscurity"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts the story of Gideon's 300 warriors and the lesson of humility it teaches, relevant to the Church's experience.
As if comparative obscurity, smallness as to scale, and ample human imperfection in the membership of His Church were not enough, the Lord wants a humble as well as a pure people. Thus, the lesson taught ancient Israel is still relevant: only three hundred warriors were used by Gideon to triumph over Israel"™s enemies, "lest Israel vaunt themselves." (SeeJudg. 7:2
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"Out of Obscurity"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker narrates how Winston Churchill defended the proselyting rights of LDS missionaries in Britain, an episode largely ignored by secular history.
In 1910"“11 a young Home Secretary defended, in Parliament, the proselyting rights of LDS missionaries in Britain. Amid parliamentary pressures, Winston Churchill held fast for religious tolerance. Major biographies on Churchill are silent on those episodes, the outcome of which was vital to us, but not the stuff of secular history.
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"Out of Obscurity"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the challenges and opportunities that come with the Church's increasing visibility and the adversary's efforts to dim the gospel light.
Among other things, the past obscurity of the Church is giving way to visibility. Obscurity denotes that which is "generally unknown" and "withdrawn from the centers of activity": hence, the obscure is often misunderstood.
The Lord described how He will bring His latter-day work "forth out of obscurity and out of darkness."D&C 1:30see also1 Ne. 22:122 Ne. 1:232 Ne. 27:29Thus, as foreseen, Christ and His work are becoming a light which can no longer be hidden. (SeeD&C 14:9This emerging real ... (continued)
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"Out of Obscurity"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker uses historical examples to illustrate how significant spiritual events often go unnoticed or unrecorded by secular history.
The Chinese in the Ch"™in Dynasty were busy with stones and the Great Wall of China. They could scarcely be expected to know about Daniel"™s stone cut out of the mountain without hands. (SeeDan. 2:31"“45
About when Lehi and his pioneering party landed in the Americas, Solon, the Greek reformer, was striving to end economic distress caused, partly, by an 18 percent interest rate.
As Pompey conquered Jerusalem, two thousand stripling warriors were fighting for Nephite liberty. Approximately ... (continued)
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"Out of Obscurity"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker discusses the lack of secular historical evidence for events like the Exodus and the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, emphasizing the importance of scriptural records.
Precisely which pharaoh was in power during the time of the great and tumultuous events associated with Moses and the Exodus? There is little in the secular record to affirm those events which Christians and Jews alike regard as being of major significance.
There appears to be precious little secular history which records the drama associated with the arraignment, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus"”for Pilate, just more trouble but temporary political gain:
"And the same day Pilate and Herod wer ... (continued)
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"Out of Obscurity"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares anecdotes of past Church leaders like Moses, Paul, and Joseph Smith, who, despite their imperfections, were chosen by God and contributed significantly to His work.
Moses was described as the most meek man upon the face of the earth. (SeeNum. 12:3Yet Moses had a brief moment when he rashly declared, "Hear now, ye rebels; mustwefetch you water out of this rock?"Num. 20:10italics added.) Even so, the Lord readied remarkable Moses for later service, including that atop the Mount of Transfiguration. (SeeMatt. 17:1"“4
After Paul wrote his touching epistle on love to the Saints at Corinth (see1 Cor. 13he wrote to Galatian members, using some stinging and sarc ... (continued)
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"Out of Small Things"
Elder Stephen A. West
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A homeless woman interrupts a sacrament meeting to sing and pray, and is embraced by a member, illustrating the parable of the good Samaritan.
One Sunday, right in the middle of the branch sacrament meeting, a woman walked in the door off the street. She was a homeless woman who was wearing dirty, ragged clothes, coughing, choking, and blowing her nose into a filthy handkerchief. In a loud, hoarse voice she said, "I want to sing! I want to pray!" and walked right to the front row and sat down next to a member who was wearing a white blouse, leaned against her, and laid her head on her shoulder. The member immediately put her arms aro ... (continued)
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"Out of Small Things"
Elder Stephen A. West
- Of the Seventy
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📖 general conference
A poor woman contributes a few coins as tithing and offers a piece of dried-up bread for the sacrament, reminiscent of the widow's mite.
A second experience in the branch dealt with a kind and conscientious woman who faithfully turned in envelopes containing a few coins for payment of her tithing. One day as she came to church, she was also holding in her hand a plastic sandwich bag with a piece of dried-up bread in it. She handed the plastic bag to us and said: "If you are going to belong to a church, you ought to contribute. I can"™t contribute much, but I can contribute the sacrament bread." As we used her bread for the sa ... (continued)
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"Out of Small Things"
Elder Stephen A. West
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
An African member of the branch gives additional money to a robber, who then ensures the member's safety, illustrating Christ's teachings on giving.
A third experience in the branch came during a discussion the members were having in Sunday School concerning when you should give to those who ask you for aid. One of the members, who had come with his wife from Africa to further his education, raised his hand and told us of the following experience. As he had been walking home in the neighborhood, he had been approached by a man who put a pistol to his chest and demanded all his money. Our member took the money from his pockets and handed it o ... (continued)
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"Out of Small Things"
Elder Stephen A. West
- Of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A nine-year-old girl about to be baptized in Texas expresses her understanding of Jesus's ownership of all things and her desire to stay in 'Jesus' house.'
Finally, may I tell you of a nine-year-old Spanish-American girl I interviewed one evening in Texas for baptism. I asked her if she knew who Jesus was. Her answer was, "Yes." "Who is He?" I asked. Sweeping her hand over her head and gesturing at everything in sight, she said, "He owns all of this!" Could any nine-year-old, or perhaps any of us, have summed it up any better? In only five words she had described the Savior with simple clarity: "He owns all of this!" When the interview was ... (continued)
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"Overcome "¦ Even As I Also Overcame"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The poet-prophet Jacob observed the pain of covenant-breaking among Church members, which caused deep wounds and sorrow.
The poet-prophet Jacob witnessed among Church members how covenant-breaking wounded "delicate minds" and how hearts were "pierced with deep wounds"Jacob 2:9, 35He was "weighed down" and so heavy with sorrow because some members esteemed their covenants so lightlyJacob 2:3As I witness some of today"™s walking wounded, I understand Jacob"™s feelings as never before!
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"Overcome "¦ Even As I Also Overcame"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Jesus' suffering in Gethsemane and the shedding of His blood were part of His atonement, which occurred before the crucifixion.
I turn now to the conclusion of Jesus"™ mortal Messiahship. Luke reported Jesus"™ sweating in Gethsemane "as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground"Luke 22:44This fact is fully validated in the "other books" of restoration scripture1 Ne. 13:39"“40"Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, "¦ to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit"”and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink"D&C 19:18
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"Partakers of the Glories"
President Elaine L. Jack
- Relief Society General President
📅 0
📖 general conference
The Saints in Mistolar faced a devastating flood that destroyed their chapel, homes, and crops, but they remained faithful and grateful despite their hardships.
On the plains of Paraguay sits the tiny village of Mistolar. It is located on a large stretch of land in a desolate area near the Pilcomayo River. There in this small farming community is a branch of the Church. In June of 1987, with the melting snows of the Andes, the river which was their lifeline for crops was also the source of their destruction. It overflowed its banks not once but twice, forcing the Saints to relocate and then relocate again. They lost everything: their chapel, their homes ... (continued)
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"Partakers of the Glories"
President Elaine L. Jack
- Relief Society General President
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recalls personal experiences of receiving priesthood blessings, including a healing blessing as a child, a patriarchal blessing from her grandfather, and the peace felt when receiving priesthood offices and blessings.
When hands are laid on my head in a personal priesthood blessing, I feel enveloped in the love of the Savior. I know that the brother who is administering that blessing is acting in the name of the Lord. In Mistolar, 39 of the men held the Melchizedek Priesthood"”and used it to bless their people.
When I was a child I received a blessing of healing, which I attribute to the power of the priesthood and the faith of my believing parents. Several years later I distinctly remember the pressure of ... (continued)
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"Partakers of the Glories"
President Elaine L. Jack
- Relief Society General President
📅 0
📖 general conference
A Relief Society president in Ghana treasures her temple recommend as a symbol of her worthiness and willingness, despite being unable to afford a trip to the temple.
A Relief Society president in Ghana understood the "glories" related to the temple. Talking to some visitors to her ward, she took a small folded piece of paper from her purse and said reverently, "I am a temple recommend holder." It may be years before she can afford to go to the temple in London or Johannesburg, but she has a reminder that she is worthy and willing. The Lord asks no more. (See Don L. Searle, "Ghana: A Household of Faith,"Ensign,Mar. 1996, 37.)
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"Pay Thy Debt, and Live"
Elder Ezra Taft Benson
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A widow in debt was at risk of losing her sons to slavery, but Elisha performed a miracle that allowed her to sell oil, pay her debt, and live off the rest.
In the book of Kings we read about a woman who came weeping to Elisha, the prophet. Her husband had died, and she owed a debt that she could not pay; and the creditor was on his way to take her two sons and sell them as slaves. By a miracle Elisha enabled her to acquire a goodly supply of oil. And he said to her: Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest 2 Kgs. 4:1-7
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"Pay Thy Debt, and Live"
Elder Ezra Taft Benson
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on his own early family life, where he and his wife lived humbly, using a card table for dining and entertaining a college department head, emphasizing the importance of living within one's means.
As I look back on the establishment of my own home I'm grateful for a companion who, although accustomed to many of the luxuries of life, was willing to start humbly. Vividly, I recall her doing the washing by hand until we could buy a secondhand washer. There was no overstuffed furniture; there was no carpeting on the floors. As a graduate student on a $70-a-month scholarship, I recall entertaining at dinner the head of the department at the college. He sat down at a card table—which was ... (continued)
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"Ponder the Path of Thy Feet"
Elaine L. Jack
- Relief Society General President
📅 0
📖 general conference
A 93-year-old sister in Idaho reflects on her life, acknowledging both happiness and sorrow, similar to the solitary paths and agony borne by Jesus Christ.
A 93-year-old sister in Idaho describes her path with, 'I have had happiness and much trouble, much sorrow.' Our experiences help us understand where she's been. Though our Lord Jesus Christ could have called down the powers of heaven, his paths were often solitary and his agony—in the end—borne by him alone.
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"Ponder the Path of Thy Feet"
Elaine L. Jack
- Relief Society General President
📅 0
📖 general conference
A mother of five in South Carolina, bedfast due to a back injury, receives help from her ward's 'little mercy squads' who care for her and her household needs.
I heard from a mother of five small children in South Carolina. She had injured her back and was totally bedfast. She wrote to me of the 'little mercy squads' in her ward who had cared for her night and day: 'They fed me, conquered my mending pile, cleared the tears from my eyes, and administered therapy in the night. All the time they assured me it was no bother; they just wanted to learn more charity and just needed someone to practice on.'
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