"Serve God Acceptably with Reverence and Godly Fear"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The story of Alma the Younger's transformation from a sinful and worldly young man to a redeemed servant of God after an angelic visitation.
The story of Alma the Younger provides a wonderful illustration of the reverence we feel in our hearts when we come to know God. As a young man, he had chosen to be sinful and worldly. Alma was so astonished when an angel appeared to him and called him to repentance that he became dumb and so weak he could not move. After two days and two nights, when Alma’s limbs received their strength, he stood up and began to speak unto the people about how he had been redeemed of the Lord. Alma was b ... (continued)
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"Serve God Acceptably with Reverence and Godly Fear"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The contrast between two area conferences, one with a lack of reverence due to continuous movement and whispering, and the other with a profound hush and attentive congregation, attributed to the reverence the people felt for God and His servants.
Several years ago, I had the opportunity of traveling with the President of the Church to attend a series of area conferences. I will never forget the contrast between two conferences that were held just a few days apart. The first area conference was held in a large arena, and as we sat on the stand, we noticed continuous movement by the people. We saw individuals throughout the arena leaning over and whispering to family members and friends seated next to them. Giving the members the benefit o ... (continued)
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"Serve God Acceptably with Reverence and Godly Fear"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A personal story of the speaker's childhood, where a bishop taught him and other children the importance of reverence for their newly dedicated chapel through a guided tour and explanations of various symbols and dedicatory elements.
I remember as a young child being taught a valuable lesson by my bishop. President Heber J. Grant had just visited our community to dedicate our new chapel. Our bishop was so impressed with the dedicatory prayer that the next Tuesday when we held Primary he attended with us. He wanted to teach us to have respect for the building which had just been dedicated as a place of worship.
The bishop took us on a tour of our new chapel and showed us the various features of the building to impress upon us ... (continued)
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"Serve God Acceptably with Reverence and Godly Fear"
Elder L. Tom Perry
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker's granddaughter, Diana, demonstrates her understanding of reverence during a church service by adjusting her behavior and encouraging her father to do the same during the sacrament hymn.
One Sunday, my granddaughter Diana, who is four years old, was sitting next to her father at church. Diana sat reverently, enjoying the comfort of her father’s arm holding her close to him. However, when the bishop stood up and announced the sacrament hymn, Diana gently lifted her father’s arm from off her shoulder and placed it in his lap. Then she sat up straight and folded her arms. She looked over at her father and encouraged him to do the same.
Diana’s message to her fa ... (continued)
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"Set in Order Thy House"
Elder Russell M. Nelson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts a family rafting trip down the Colorado River where he was thrown from the raft into the rapids but eventually rescued by his family.
Years ago when Sister Nelson and I had several teenaged daughters, we took our family on a vacation far away from telephones and boyfriends. We went on a raft trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. As we started our journey, we had no idea how dangerous this trip could be.
The first day was beautiful. But on the second day, when we approached Horn Creek rapids and saw that precipitous drop ahead, I was terrified. Floating on a rubber raft, our precious family was about to plunge ... (continued)
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"Set in Order Thy House"
Elder Russell M. Nelson
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Before the most dangerous part of the rafting trip, the speaker held an emergency family council and instructed his family to cling to the ropes of the raft, and his youngest daughter to hold onto him while he held the rope, which led them to safely navigate the rough rapids.
The next several days were pleasant and delightful. Then came the last day, when we were to go over Lava Falls, known as the most dangerous drop of the journey. When I saw what was ahead, I immediately asked to beach the raft and hold an emergency family council meeting, knowing that if we were to survive this experience, we needed to plan carefully. I reasoned with our family: "No matter what happens, the rubber raft will remain on top of the water. If we cling with all our might to ropes secur ... (continued)
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"Settle This in Your Hearts"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on a previous plea made from the pulpit 18 years ago for people to fully engage with the Church, and now addresses those who are already inside but not deeply committed.
Eighteen years ago from this same pulpit, I pled with those who stood indecisively on the "porch" of the Church to come fully inside. (SeeEnsign,Nov. 1974, pp. 12"“13.) Today my plea is to those members already inside but whose discipleship is casual, individuals whom we love, whose gifts and talents are much needed in building the kingdom!
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"Settle This in Your Hearts"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker tells the story of Amulek, who knew the gospel truths but chose not to acknowledge them and was busy with worldly cares.
Casual members are usually very busy with the cares and the things of the world"”much as honorable Amulek once was. Called many times, he would not hear. He really knew concerning the truths of the gospel, but Amulek would not acknowledge that he knew.Alma 10:4"“6
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"Settle This in Your Hearts"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker warns that a decision to seek greater consecration will reveal personal deficiencies, as seen in the story of the rich young man and Ananias and Sapphira from the scriptures.
Likewise it is only fair to warn that any determination to seek greater consecration will soon expose what we yet lack, a painful but necessary thing. Remember the rich, righteous young man who was told by Jesus, "One thing thou lackest"?Mark 10:21Ananias and Sapphira, otherwise good members of the Church, "kept back" a portion instead of consecrating their all.Acts 5:1"“11
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"Settle This in Your Hearts"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker references the story of Moses parting the Red Sea as an example of the need for obedience in narrow and difficult passages.
Remember how, with Pharaoh"™s angry army in hot pursuit, ancient Israel aligned themselves with the Lord"™s instructions? Moses stretched forth his hand and the Red Sea parted. With towering walls of water on each side, Israel walked through the narrow passage obediently, and no doubt quickly! There were no warnings about conforming on that day!
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"Settle This in Your Hearts"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker mentions the story of Jesus in Gethsemane and on Calvary, emphasizing the importance of His Atonement and what it would mean if His ministry had been without it.
Consider, what if Jesus"™ Mortal Messiahship had consisted only of remarkable sermons? Or was further enhanced with healings and other miracles"”but without Gethsemane"™s and Calvary"™s awful but consecrated hours of the Atonement? How then would we regard Jesus"™ ministry? Where would mankind be?
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"Shake Off the Chains with Which Ye Are Bound"
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
An acquaintance who was a compulsive user of alcohol decided to change doctors instead of his drinking habit when advised by a doctor for his health.
Some years ago I had an acquaintance who had allowed himself to become a compulsive user of alcohol. He drank before he had dinner, and he would have what he called a "bracer" before involving himself in major business decisions. During a routine physical examination one day, a doctor told him that, for the good of his health, he should break the drinking habit. When I asked him what he intended to do, he said, "That"™s easy. I"™ll just change doctors."
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"Shake Off the Chains with Which Ye Are Bound"
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A well-educated woman who was a heavy smoker was able to immediately quit smoking after joining the Church and becoming committed to change.
Another acquaintance is a lovely, well-educated woman who has been a very heavy smoker. She now tells us of a few times she even woke her husband up in the middle of the night and insisted that he go to an all-night store to get her a pack of cigarettes. This couple came in contact with the missionaries, believed their message, and joined the Church. When she knew she had to quit smoking, the woman almost immediately threw off the chains of this habit and became free of tobacco addiction.
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"Shake Off the Chains with Which Ye Are Bound"
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A young husband and father involved in drug abuse stands to lose everything, and his situation exemplifies the desperate chains of addiction.
I am thinking of a young husband and father who is participating in drug abuse. He stands to lose family, employment, personal pride, and his own life. His cries of "I"™m hooked" tug at the soul. The use of cocaine and other drugs causes those involved to become totally chained to their addiction. Those who peddle drugs not only provide chains for others, but shackle themselves with the weights of unrighteousness as well. To those not involved, avoid drugs in any form with all of your might. ... (continued)
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"Shake Off the Chains with Which Ye Are Bound"
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A wife and mother is chained to a life of murmuring and criticism, damaging relationships through gossip and caustic comments.
I am acquainted with a wife and mother who is chained securely at the present time to a life-style of murmuring and criticism. She is the first to point out faults in her husband or to repeat neighborhood gossip. How damaging is a habit that permits fault-finding, character assassination, and the sharing of malicious rumors! Gossip and caustic comments often create chains of contention. These chains may appear to be very small, but what misery and woe they can cause!
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"Shake Off the Chains with Which Ye Are Bound"
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
A man who had drifted from the Church and felt disillusioned was able to break the chains of indifference after hearing a message from general conference that inspired him to return to active participation.
Listen to the words of a friend who understands well the meaning of this scripture, a man who was bound by the chains of indifference. But when he sought God"™s help and turned to righteous principles, those chains were not only broken, but smashed. This letter was received a few weeks ago.
"I was baptized into the Church in March of 1974. At the time, I was employed in a job that required my having to work on Sundays. This, combined with my lack of strength in the gospel, prevented me from be ... (continued)
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"She Is Not Afraid of the Snow for Her Household "¦"
Sister Barbara B. Smith
- Relief Society General President
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the blessings of obedience and preparedness, as those who had followed the counsel of the Brethren were able to share their supplies with the flood victims.
I thought at the time what a blessing it was that those who had been obedient to the counsel of the Brethren had sufficient personal supplies to share with the flood victims. Through this hard experience, lessons in preparedness and provident living were learned for the entire Church.
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"She Is Not Afraid of the Snow for Her Household "¦"
Sister Barbara B. Smith
- Relief Society General President
📅 0
📖 general conference
Six stake Relief Society presidents from Idaho stakes affected by the Teton flood visited the speaker, discussing the service provided by volunteers and Relief Society women during the disaster.
My dear brothers and sisters, last July six stake Relief Society presidents visited me in my office; they were all from Idaho stakes affected by the Teton flood.
They spoke of the labor and love given by thousands of priesthood volunteers and also of the service of countless Relief Society women who washed, scrubbed, cleaned, prepared food, cared for children, and performed other essential services for victims of that terrible disaster.
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"She Is Not Afraid of the Snow for Her Household "¦"
Sister Barbara B. Smith
- Relief Society General President
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recalls visiting the flood area, seeing the organized relief efforts, and the spirit of love and unity among the members who helped the flood victims.
I recalled my own visit to the flood area, where I saw a cultural hall with tables with good clothing, clearly sized and marked; another room with neatly stacked food"”cans of wheat, dehydrated milk, bottled fruit, nonfood items, all donated by individuals acting in spontaneous compassion and generosity. I remembered the spirit of love and unity, as members in nearby areas not affected by the flood opened their homes and shared their food and other supplies with flood victims.
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"She Stretcheth Out Her Hand to the Poor"
Sister Barbara B. Smith
- Relief Society General President
📅 0
📖 general conference
A homebound sister continued to serve as a visiting teacher supervisor by dressing in her prettiest dress before making her monthly service calls, feeling that this act gave her service importance and dignity.
One sister continued to serve as a visiting teacher supervisor when she was ill and homebound. Her Relief Society president reported that, with much effort, this sister put on one of her prettiest dresses before doing the telephoning each month, feeling that this act gave her service importance and dignity as she filled this assignment for the Lord.
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